Relaying and rallying at 24h BLUE MTN.
SUPPLIED BY KATIE YOUNG
GRAB YOUR SKIS AND HIT THE SLOPES—ALL NIGHT LONG Imagine skiing for 24 hours at Blue Mountain Resort. From noon on Saturday till noon on Sunday. All. Night. Long. Obviously you’d need a relay team (up to 12 people), unless you’re a maniac like Tommy Lam (who has repeatedly raced it solo). You’d have a ton of fun and raise money for a great cause. Win-win, right? That’s what the 24h BLUE MTN event is all about: fun and fundraising, with every donation and pledge directly supporting Special Olympics Ontario and the Blue Mountain
Village Foundation. Held at Blue Mountain Resort on the weekend of February 22 to 23, this is the seventh year of the event that sees racers zoom down Smart Alec and speed to their elite spot on the chair, a full lift line cheering and clanging poles as they pass. “We’ve raised close to $700,000 so far,” says founder Michael Ney. “I was living in Montreal when the [similar] Tremblant event started, and they’re going into their 24th event this year. Last year they raised $6.7 million. This event is fashioned exactly the same. Their event is in December and they already have 435 teams committed. They’ll get to 500-plus teams.” This is the long game plan for Ney. He hopes to see the Blue Mountain event as big and as effective as Tremblant’s, and slowly but surely it’s getting there. With 35 to 40 teams participating each year, Ney is hoping to get 50 registered this year. And the 2025 event will introduce a new challenge. “We’re calling it the Escarpment Cup,” he says. “The trophy will be given out to the private club that raises the most money. One year the Georgian Peaks team raised $26,000 alone.” There’s always the timed-ranking bragging rights, as well. Who can complete the most laps? “The last two years it’s been a team from Beaver Valley that has won the event. It’s a friendly competition.” – C. G. Fuego
Gather your team, sign up as a (crazy) solo or join an existing team at www.24hbluemtn.ca.
CATCH UP AND KICK IN AT THE PURSUITS FILM FESTIVAL Georgian Bay Community School’s Pursuits program is a four-credit high school program that focuses on outdoor and environmental education through experiential learning. The official literature for the long-standing Meaford program describes things like a sense of community, critical thinking, teamwork and transferable skills; in everyday terms, it’s a semester filled with backcountry camping and inclassroom planning. Pursuits takes kids on multiday, education-focused paddling trips in Killarney Provincial Park, on the Bruce Peninsula and elsewhere. The students do all the prep, planning and business end of their adventures under the leadership of Ian Carr. It’s an awesome opportunity. “My brother, sister and I all took the Pursuits program,” says Josh Fletcher, a program alumnus. “We learned so much and really bonded as a group. Georgian Bay is lucky to have something like this; it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that builds community. The program and the film festival showcase how many epic adventures have been had—and can be had—so close to our home.” Of course keeping a program like this alive requires funding. And that’s where the seventh annual Pursuits Film Festival comes in. Taking place at the Meaford Hall November 29, this year’s instalment promises to be a good one. With outdoor-focused movies, guest speakers and a silent auction, the event is always a good time with some of the coolest locals around. Snacks and beverages keep the conversation flowing before the show, and donated items for the silent auction include local experiences and wicked outdoor gear. With acclaimed international films on slate, this is an inspiring evening of outdoor adventure not to be missed. Grab your tickets at meafordhall.ca before they sell out. – Colin Field 76
RETREAT TO THE WINTER WOODS After opening its doors in January last year, Rooted Cold-water immersion. VICTORIA MAE PHOTOGRAPHY Woodland outdoor retreat centre is eagerly preparing for its second full cold season. Their upcoming winter program is stocked with outdoor-themed activities including full moon fire and ice events, sauna and snowshoe experiences as well as new moon couples’ ceremonies and cross-country skiing on their extensive trail network. Nestled in the forest 20 minutes southwest of Collingwood, Rooted Woodland provides a variety of nature-based offerings year-round. Owner and operator Jodie Heffren says winter is a special time to visit, especially with the added benefit of cold exposure after stepping out of the wood-fired sauna. “The most beautiful thing I have witnessed is seeing people coming in and feeling instant relaxation and an ability to ground,” Heffren adds. “They’re definitely leaving more rejuvenated than when they came in.” – Mathew Channer
To learn more, visit www.rootedwoodland.com or follow @rootedwoodland on Instagram.