Issue #27 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

outdoors ottawa

WINTER 2010

Skating Tips What you need to know about your blades

FREE

Your guide to the local outdoor adventure scene Ottawa, Ottawa Valley, Gatineau, Quebec

Winter tent camping All you need to know

Backcountry Calling for help

Alpine Tip Skiing across the spine

Winter Storage

Putting your bike away for the winter

Make your own energy bars this winter Step by step instructions

outdoors ottawa

WINTER

Your skates and you

Camping with winter tents

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5

~ Features

~ Articles

5 Does anyone winter camp with tents? You bet!”

7 Energy bars: how to make your own from scratch 8 Keeping warm is Job 1 for winter camping 10 Calling for help from backcountry trouble 12 The incredible ultralightness of camping 18 Take the road to winter that runs through Lanark 20 Reflect yourself be seen in the dark 23 Teenage outdoor clothing styles 27 Green winter camping no easy ride, but really rewarding 28 Attention Gatineau Park ski enthusiasts!

30 Ottawa’s big tobogganing hills 31 Ecojustice lawyers for the environment

4 Publisher’s Letter 14 Strap on your blades, but ditch them if they’re too old 16 Cool Gear Hot Clothing 21 Play both sides of the fence 22 Put your toys away! How to store your bike for winter 28 Event Calendar and Outdoor Clubs

Keep warm this winter

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Cool Gear Hot Clothing 16

it Readne!

onli

It’s TOTALLY FREE too! There’s loads of info, videos and more about the local outdoor adventure scene, all delivered in this extremely cool animated version.

COVER PHOTO: NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

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PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DAVE BROWN EDITOR: ROGER BIRD CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allen Macartney, Craig Macartney, Kathleen Wilker, Sheila Ascroft, Chris Lennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS National Capital Commission, Gillian Morgan, Dave McMahon, Derek Medland, (istockphoto: Paigefalk, Karen Hermann, Pley, LICreate, lopurice, SBayram) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Dave Brown, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published seasonally every four months and distributed FREE at sports stores all over the region, as well as at 100 other locations.

E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 Fax: 613-860-8687 CONTRIBUTIONS Ottawa Outdoors Magazine welcomes story and photo contributions. All photos should ideally be shot with a high-resolution digital camera, but otherwise scanned at 300dpi resolution and burned onto a CD-ROM or e-mailed. No unsolicited contributions will be returned unless accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Publisher may publish any and all communications with Ottawa Outdoors magazine, and may edit for clarity and style.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. © Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any materials published in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly forbidden without consent of the publisher unless otherwise agreed between partners. Printed in Canada.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER Let is snow.

It was only a few winters ago where we had our second largest snowfall of the year. Pretty amazing considering the pretty barren snowfalls over the last couple of years. Less snow means less fun. Sure it means more work in some areas (snowplows, shovelling driveways), but generally with Ottawa Outdoors readers, snow means fun.

Whether you’re an avid snowshoer through our parks and trails; an alpine or nordic skier; or just like to head to the hills to toboggan with the wee ones, we squeeze out all the fun we can. And that is what this winter issue is about, getting the fun out of winter.

Beginning with our cover story, we have veteran writer Allen Macartney getting us ready to tackle the outdoors in a four-season tent. And as staying warm is important for all of us, check out Craig’s article on page eight with his trusty tips on how to do so.

This issue has articles on where the good toboggan hills are located (page 30); how to store your bike for the winter (page 22); how to be seen in the dark wearing reflective clothing (page 20); and at least a couple of articles on winter getaway destinations.

As always, there’s lots to do, and this issue highlights just a few adventures awaiting you. Enjoy.

Dave Brown, Publisher, Editor-in-chief

ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIPS Ottawa Outdoors Magazine aligns with local and international environmental groups. Recently Ottawa Outdoors Magazine joined and supports the following groups. We encourage you to do the same.

Leave No Trace Canada is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wilderness areas. www.leavenotrace.ca One Percent for the Planet is a rapidly growing network of companies that give at least one per cent of their annual sales to environmental causes. Their commitment provides vital resources and awareness to organizations that work to keep us on a sustainable path. 1%FTP provides members with a straightforward and powerful way to become part of the solution. We are proud supporters of One Percent as a movement as well as their members which include Mountain Equipment Co-op and more than 20 other businesses across Canada. www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

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Are you an outdoor enthusiast who would like to contribute?

To submit articles or photos, all you have to do is e-mail us at: Editor@OttawaOutdoors.ca.

“Does

anyone winter camp with tents?

You bet!”

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY

Winter tent camping.

The thought alone can raise goose bumps on even the most avid camper’s back. But don’t be scared off. You might be missing an incredible outdoor adventure – one experienced by few people.

Unlike camping in a snow trench or snow bank, where the snow walls and roof provide a lot of insulation, paper-thin tent walls offer none at all. Also, winter tenting makes demands on equipment and general outdoor smartsthat exceed the ability of casual summer carcampers.

That said, winter camping in a tent is surprisingly easy and fun – if you plan it fully. So let’s explore how you can ratchet up your outdoor adventure levels to new highs, while staying comfortable and safe.

Like easing into a hot Jacuzzi, winter tent camping demands that you start slowly. Before heading off to La Vérendrye Park in minus-20 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

weather, try it out in your backyard on a relatively warm winter night.

That’s the best way to iron out any planning or equipment kinks. It’s far easier to hustle into the warmth of your home at 2 a.m. if your sleeping bag becomes an icebox.

Use a list to make sure you pack all the necessary equipment, and double-check your pack. I’ve arrived at Algonquin Park one spring in the pouring rain only to discover that my tent fly was still at home. It worked out – barely – during this early May trip, but it would have been a disaster in winter.

What type of special equipment do you need? Though not ideal, most well-made three-season tents can be used in winter for a simple weekend trip. If you don’t have winter sleeping bags, just put one summer sleeping bag inside another one. This is often enough, especially if the bag is extra long.

Campers need much more physical tent space in winter for

extra clothing and for moving around. So use a four-person tent in winter for only two people.

Find a sheltered site near trees to pitch your tent. (Winter winds can bend poles very quickly.) Avoid setting up under a tree. It’s no fun waking up in the middle of the night after a gust of wind has blown a load of snow of a tree and onto your tent.

Wearing snowshoes or skis, stamp out the area for your tent until the snow is firmly packed down. Never shovel down to the frozen ground; a nice snow cushion under your tent offers great insulation.

Now set up your tent as you would in summer. Position the tent with its back to the wind and any foul weather that might appear.

What about staking out your tent? You won’t be able to do it with pegs. Instead, tie the tent floor down to a log or wooden pole that your bury into the snow.

Then unroll your sleeping pads (make sure they’re thick, closedcell,foam pads), and unroll your sleeping bags. Fluff them up so they’ll have lots of loft and warming ability. Be careful not to get any snow into your tent.

Finish of by building a snow wall around your tent. This will offer added protection against the wind.

Pitching a tent in the snow ofers

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its own unique challenges – not all of them necessarily nice. If you start slowly, and build experience gradually, you’ll soon fnd yourself anticipating the frst snowfall with new passion. Gatineau Park is waiting. ~Allen Macartney is an avid camper and regular outdoor adventurist.

WARM WORDS OF WINTER CAMPING WISDOM • Eat a fatty sausage just before bedtime. Your stomach will break down the fat slowly all night, and keep your internal furnace pumping out the heat.

• A tent vestibule is true luxury during winter camping. Some people consider it not just a luxury, but a necessity.

• Get into your sleeping bag warm, after having gone for a short hike – another gem of warm-blooded wisdom.

• Pre-warm your sleeping bag with a hot water bottle or chemical heating pad.

• Wear a warm toque, gloves, fleece neck warmer and polarguard booties to bed.

• Sleep with your face outside your sleeping bag.

This is vital and will avoid moisture buildup inside the bag.

• Each morning shake out your sleeping bag and hang it up to air out. This will get rid of any moisture buildup from sweat the night before.

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www.gvsnowshoes.com

Energy bars Ilka Tarin Tél. : 418 842-0321 itarin@gvsnowshoes.com

Client : GV SNOWSHOES Media : OTTAWA OUTDOORS MAGAZINE Due Date: · November 22, 2010 Size : 4.75" x 4.75"

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FROM SCRATCH

BY CRAIG MACARTNEY Tried those commercial energy bars with the flashy packaging, and none suit your taste? These two recipes will delight your palate and fill you with energy for snowshoeing, skiing or making it comfy through a cold winter night in a tent.

RECIPE 1 You will need: 2 egg whites 24 dried figs 1 cup of oat bran 2 1/2 cups of unbleached flour 1 1/2 tsp of baking soda 1/4 tsp of baking powder 1/3 cup of honey 4 tbsp of orange juice 2 tbsp of lemon juice

1 tbsp of canola oil 1/4 cup of dark corn syrup Preheat your oven to 350 F. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, egg whites, canola oil and corn syrup in a mixing bowl.

Blend the figs, honey, lemon juice and orange juice in a food processor. Pour the contents of the food processor into the mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

Cover a cookie tray with wax paper and mold the mixture into balls. Roll them in the oat bran and place them on the cookie tray. (This recipe makes about 20 balls.) Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, remove from oven and let cool.

Keep the balls in the refrigerator until you are ready to hit the trail.

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Visit Bushtukah this season for Ottawa’s best selection of snowshoes: Atlas, Tubb’s, GV, MSR, Louis Garneau.

Men’s, women’s and kids’ snowshoes together with all your winter clothing and accessories to comfortably enjoy the Ottawa winter!

Chateau Montebello

Each ball contains approximately 150 calories, four grams of protein, one gram of fat and 36 grams of carbohydrates.

RECIPE 2 (allergy alert – this one has nuts and peanut butter, so ensure that your fellow adventurers are allergy free.)

You will need: 3 cups of puffed wheat, Rice Krispies or corn flakes 1/2 cup of chopped nuts 1/4 cup of chopped dried cherries 1/2 cup of chopped pitted dates or raisins 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup of honey 1/4 cup of light corn syrup Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix cereal, nuts, dried cherries and dates or raisins in a bowl.

Combine the peanut butter, corn syrup and the honey in a pot and bring it to a boil, stirring

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Monday-Friday 9am-9pm Saturday 9am-6pm 203 RICHMOND ROAD Sunday 10am-5pm WESTBORO

www.bushtukah.com 613-792-1170 constantly so it does not burn.

After a minute, the mixture should start to thicken. When it does, pour it into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour the mixture onto a greased baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and let it cool. Cut into bars and store at room temperature in airtight containers.

Each bar has 180 calories, four grams of protein, eight grams of fat, and 22 grams of carbohydrates.

(Based on 10 bars per batch.)

When you’re done, you actually know all the ingredients, avoid any chemicals and preservatives in commercial energy bars and have the satisfaction of taking a break on the trail and tasting a job well done. ~Craig Macartney is a regular contributor and enjoys cooking at home.

KARENHERMANN@ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

FOR après-ski atmosphere, the outdoor enthusiast can choose from 70 kms of cross-country ski trails; dogsledding; snowshoeing or skating with the family. Afterwards, cozy-up by the famous towering six-side stone fireplace where you can relax with a nice book or conversation.

Only 1hr away, you can visit their website at www.ChateauMontebello.com

ottawa outdoors 7

Keeping warm is Job 1 for winter camping

BY CRAIG MACARTNEY

Few people enjoy being cold, which likely explains why few give winter camping a try. But there are ways to keep snug and cozy in a winter wonderland.

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beneath you. Between trips, store your sleeping bag open, not rolled up tightly. And fluff it up more when you unroll it for bed. This separates the individual fibres, enhancing heat retention so you sleep comfortably all night. Adding a liner in your sleeping bag increases insulation even more.

In snow shelters, lighting a candle dramatically increases the temperature. Place it carefully where nothing will catch fire and blow it out before you go to sleep.

Dry winter air dehydrates you quickly. Your body needs water to generate heat, so prepare hot, nutritious drinks frequently. Getting enough food and water is one of the best ways to stay warm, so pack lots of high-calorie foods, and snack regularly. Fats and proteins are best for sustaining heat over time. Eat a big dinner before bed to help stay warm through the night, and keep snacks in airtight containers beside your sleeping bag. Remember that crumbs or scents can attract animals.

PHOTO: NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

As with any adventure, planning is key. Check the weather forecast and select clothes and equipment accordingly. Your head and neck lose heat faster than anywhere else, so many people wear a tuque at night to stay warm. But skip a scarf around your neck in the sleeping back, because it might choke you.

Lightweight three-season tents are fine for milder winter conditions, but harsh cold and possible blizzards require a stronger four-season tent capable of withstanding high winds and snow build-up.

Moisture is the enemy. Damp or sweaty clothes and sleeping bags radiate heat so go slow, avoid sweating if you can, and change damp clothes as soon as possible. While cotton and down are very warm, they lose almost all heat retention when wet. Wool and synthetics like polypropylene and synthetic fleece dry readily and will even retain some warmth when wet. They also wick moisture away from your skin.

Dressing in layers will keep you warmer, but go easy on hands and feet. Three pairs of socks packed tightly into your boots restrict the blood circulation that is your heat source. Same thing with tight laces anywhere.

Never sleep on bare, frozen ground. Even packed snow provides effective insulation. Your best bet is a foam sleeping pad to trap and warm the air

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ottawa outdoors 9

Calling for help from backcountry trouble

“Can you hear me now?”

BY KATHLEEN WILKER You don’t have to be far out on the trail before you leave the city and its cellphone coverage behind.

There are three pricey but potentially life-saving alternatives to that nowuseless city phone.

Allan Mulloy at Trailhead rents Iridium satellite phones to trip leaders, outdoor education teachers, science researchers and anyone else who is going backcountry.

To buy one costs $900 plus monthly fees, so most people rent.

At $30 a day, $150 a week and $3.25 a minute for talk time, the phones are a relatively inexpensive way to stay in contact when you’re out of cellphone range. And Mulloy assures us, “As long as you’re not in a valley and you point the antenna at the sky, the phone will work.

“It’s a small cost for being able to communicate,” says Mulloy, who remembers renting a sat phone to a friend who wanted to run the Petawawa River while his wife was pregnant. “My buddy was able to go on the trip because his wife could contact him and ask him to come home when she needed him,” he says.

The Sat phone means that a trifling twisted ankle that would slow you down can be communicated to family and friends. That way they don’t wonder why you’re coming home late. Letting people know that you’re late – but OK – means no pointless, costly search and rescue operations.

Less flexible from the point of view of two-way communication is the Spot Satellite GPS Messenger, sold by DeLorme, and offering automated email communication and tracking.

It retails for $170 www.findmespot.

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ca and offers five functions – SOS, Help, Check in/OK, Custom Message and Track Progress. Separate SOS and Help features mean the difference between calling for a chopper to your GPS co-ordinates because your life is in danger, or just that you need someone to hike in to help bring you out. But these two features do not let you explain what’s going on or the type of help you need. And you won’t be able to hear back whether help is coming, or when.

Using the pre-programmed “custom message” function – something like “park close to my GPS co-ordinates and bring crutches” – along with your “help” function sends more email information to the contacts you’ve set up back home.

The “check in/OK” feature is often used by groups. It’s another way to signal for help. If your contacts don’t receive a “check in/OK” message at an agreed time via email from your SPOT, then they know you could be in trouble.

The “track progress” function is for people who love maps to share

their journey’s progress with friends and family via email. The function is also useful if you’re to meet someone at an agreed site and you want to be sure they’ll be there when they said they would.

If you’re stalled by weather, but otherwise OK, Spot allows friends and family to access your GPS co-ordinates on the personal Google map you’ve signed them up for and by receiving an “OK” message from you.

Delorme has recently released the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with Spot Satellite Communicator, a step up from the regular version. It retails for $550 and has all the abilities of a Spot GPS Messenger, complete access to street and topographic maps, as well as the option of sending text messages. This device allows backcountry trekkers to share their story as it’s unfolding through one-way text messages, but it lacks the twoway communication of a satellite phone.

All three devices are only as good as the life of their batteries, so carry extras. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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ottawa outdoors 11

The incredible ultralightness of camping

BY KATHLEEN WILKER My first canoe camping trip with the Ottawa Outdoor Club (ohoc.ncf.ca) was a lesson in packing light. My husband and I were in charge of the last meal – for 10 paddlers.

Lesson one was plan ahead.

A little research would have told us this meal was going to happen at the put out, where the cars were parked. We could have stored our whole falafel dinner in someone’s trunk instead of packing it for three days.

The falafels themselves weren’t that heavy. But I had worried we hadn’t packed enough food, so I slipped 10 large sweet potatoes into the bottom of my pack before we left. Those sweet potatoes were like a sack of rocks across countless portages.

In the end, we didn’t even eat the darned things, because everyone had wet gear and a long drive ahead, and didn’t want to wait for dinner.

Travelling light is a lesson most of us need to learn over and over again. Experienced hikers, skiers and trippers can botch the enjoyment of even day trips by over-packing.

Too much stuff can leave you head down rifling through a pack for something to throw out when you could be enjoying the view.

Or exhausted and stumbling because you’re carrying way more than what you need. If someone gets sick or injured and you have 12 ottawa

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to haul their gear or if a child needs a shoulder ride, it’s great if your pack is not crammed full.

One way to lighten your load is ultralight gear. And for an overview of the latest and greatest in ultralight, I consulted Ben Seigel, footwear buyer and manager at Trailhead (www.trailhead.ca). He’s informed about boots and all the layers of outerwear. Here are his views and his picks.

BOOTS Seigel’s view is that lightweight footware “doesn’t mean sacrificing durability, support or waterproofing. You’re just going to pay more than you would for an equivalent boot that weighs more.” He likes . . .

Salomon Toundra Mid Waterproof, $180 These have waterproof leather, a textile upper, gusseted tongue and padded collar to keep your feet dry. Lightweight insulation keeps feet warm without weighing you down, and thick treads to prevent slipping on icy trails.

The boot fits into crampons and snowshoes.

Lowa Zephyr GoreTex Boot, $260 This boot is fully waterproof with a Gore-Tex lining and offers lots of support for serious hiking and

snowshoeing. The fit is designed to mimic a running shoe – think light and speedy. An internal nylon stabilizer gives enough rigidity to head off twisted ankles, and a removable contoured insole guarantees a great fit.

OUTERWEAR When it comes to outerwear, “Going ultralight is about layering,” says Seigel. “Your mid layer provides lightweight warmth and an outer shell protects you from wind and snow.” To extend the use of your mid layer, buy a outer jacket with a moisture-resistant shell – don’t get your down jacket wet. A very light outer shell like Gore-Tex fused to PacLite is great for climbing mountain peaks but wears out fast. Gore-Tex fused to ProShell is almost as lightweight, but more durable.

“The outer shell you choose depends on the level of intensity of your winter activity,” says Seigel, who recommends Gore-Tex for hiking and moderate snowshoeing but advises cross country skiers who work up a sweat to avoid this wonder fabric, as they’ll overheat.

Here are Seigel’s mid-layer picks: Diez North Face, $299 Made of 800 fill down (this stuff is hyper warm; normal is 500), this jacket offers superior loft and warmth in an extremely lightweight and highly www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

packable garment. It has no hood.

Arcteryx Atom L T Hoody, $225 A synthetic that is almost as warm and as lightweight as down, this jacket includes a hood and is highly compressible and breathable. “Coreloft” insulation in the torso, arms and hood increases warmth without adding bulk.

For the outer shell, Seigel recommends these.

Arcteryx Beta Ar, $500 A lightweight, packable and durable outer layer made of Gore-Tex ProShell.

Relaxed fit allows for layering. Hood is designed to fit over a helmet; shoulders and elbows are reinforced to withstand wear.

Sugoi Versa Jacket, $130 For winter cyclists, skateskiers and runners, this lightweight outer jacket offers wind and water protection without being too warm. Removable sleeves attached with magnets provide instant ventilation.

Finally there are ultralight accessories for the gear heads among us. Think multi-use.

Outdoor Research Sonic Balaclava, $33 A balaclava that you can wear comfortably as a neck warmer is an invaluable lightweight item for all cold weather conditions. If www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

it’s really cold, layer your balaclava under another hat. A lightweight version fits under a snowboarding helmet.

Adventure medical kit emergency bivvy, $17 This is an upscale version of the old-school silver blankets but more durable, with a zipper to trap body heat.

At just over 100 grams, it’s a little piece of safety that won’t weigh you down.

Lightweight Platypus Wine Preservation, $10 Made of BPA-free plastic, this alternative to a heavy wine bottle is just the thing for a lightweight special dinner in a cabin. And when the wine is finished, the container rolls up like a toothpaste tube so your pack is smaller for the ski home. You rinse and reuse the container, but no soap – over time, soap breaks down the plastic.

Lightweight collapsible stainless steel wine glasses, $10 each Classy and sturdy, not heavy, not bulky. Stem unscrews and nests inside the glass. A lightweight frill.

TIPS FROM THE PROS From mountaineer François Desrochers, who writes in Espaces Magazine www.espaces.ca.

“Going lightweight is something you can have fun with,” he says. “I’ve hollowed out my toothbrush handle to lighten my pack.

“Pack dehydrated food, even if you’re just bringing snacks,” says Desrochers. MEC has a full line of dehydrated meals and snacks from $4 to $15 depending on how gourmet and organic you want to go. If you have dairy or nut intolerances, read the ingredient list to avoid trouble.

For how to dehydrate snacks and meals, check Ottawa Outdoors website for Max Finkelstein’s article “Dehydrating food is simple and fast. dry it, you’ll like it.” Do a search at www.ottawaoutdoors.ca.

Desrochers suggests loading an audio book into your iPod. “When you’re up in higher altitude in the mountains, it’s hard to focus on the page, so listening to your iPod at night in your tent is great.”

For lightweight tips delivered with wit and great illustrations, Desrochers recommends Lighten Up! a Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking, by Don Ladigin, $12.95

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Strap on your blades, but ditch them if they’re too old

BY KATHLEEN WILKER

If you’re still on the old skates Santa brought for Christmas when you turned 16, and wondering why your toes freeze and your feet ache by the time you hit the Bronson Bridge, it’s time for a new set of blades. “Recreational” skates are amazingly warm and comfy. Available in a figure skate blade or a hockey blade, recreational skates are warmer and more comfy than their entry-level figure skates or hockey skates.

Soft Tec Vantage Figure, adults $119, youth $79, child $65 Like the whole Soft Tec line, these Vantage skates sport a fully lined upper and tongue with cushy foam padding so your feet and ankles are well supported. The blades have picks, so if you’re used to skating on a figure skate blade, you’ll feel right at home. But unlike a true figure skate, the blade on the Soft Tec is not designed for jumps.

PHOTO BY NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

These kinds of skates are widely available and we visited the folks at Figure 8 and Hockey one, 380 Industrial Ave. to check out a full line of one variety, Soft Tec recreational skates. They come in a range of colours (including black) for women, men and children. “Soft Tec skates are more comfortable and don’t require long break-in periods before you can enjoy them,” says Figure 8 store owner Jasmin Simard.

Here’s some of what’s on offer in figure, hockey and speed skates.

Soft Tec Elite Figure, adults only, $159 If you’ve got some fancy twirls in you, this professional figure blade is just the thing. Thinsulate insulation keeps chilly toes extra warm.

Soft Tec Hockey, adults $149, youth $79, child $65 Shinny is not allowed on the canal, but local rink rats better watch out when you show up in these ultrawarm and comfortable blades, lined with Thinsulate.

If you’ve been watching Team Canada rock the long and short tracks at the Olympics over the past few winters and think there’s a speed skater inside you, this might be the time for those long skates. Last year there was a short track oval at Dow’s Lake for beginners to borrow speed skates and try them. The Ottawa Pacers www.ottawapacers.ca at Brewer Skate Park offer lessons.

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Speed skating XC Tango blades, $129 These aluminum blades have an extra wide base to attach to crosscountry skate-ski boots.

Speed skating XC Delta blades, $179 The longer nose on these blades helps speed skaters cut through snow on the canal. Zandstra long and short track speed skates, $260 to $500.

With a padded boot for warmth and comfort, these skates will see you zipping down the canal. The folks at Figure 8 recommend the $260 Zandstra short track speed skates for beginners.

RENTALS Recreational and speed skates rentals are available at Figure 8 and Hockey One, but you have to put down a $250 deposit or a credit card.

It’s $12 for first-day rental, $20 for two days and $30 for three days.

You can also rent skates on the canal beside the Mackenzie King Bridge

and at Fifth Avenue. It’s $16 for the first two hours, and $8 for each additional hour. There are discounts for groups of 10 or more, and you can check your boots for free. There’s also a free loan of helmet and wrist guards.

FITTING: IF THE SKATE FITS, WEAR IT Canal skating can be chilly, so try on new skates with the warm socks you intend to wear outside skating. There’s no point testing the fit by lacing up the skates and walking around the store, the way you do with new shoes. That store try-out doesn’t replicate how feet feel in a skate, on ice.

Instead, slide your foot forward in the skate so your toes are touching the front. Lace up, then stand up on your skate and bend your knee.

You should be able to slide a finger between your heel and the back of your skate. Still not sure? Slide

your heel back in place. Re-lace your skate. Stand up and check to make sure you can wiggle your toes comfortably.

HELMETS: FATHEADS, PIN HEADS, ANY HEADS – ALL NEED A GOOD FIT Heads come in all shapes and sizes – round, oval, big and little – so helmets do too. Reeboks are for round heads. Bauers will fit more oval heads. If you’re going to wear your helmet outside, try it on over a snugfitting tuque to insure the right fit.

Before you try your helmet on, open it to its maximum size. Stretch the inner headband slightly as you lower it over your ears. This is especially important if you’re trying a helmet on a child. Once the helmet’s on, gently adjust it in to fit.

Expect to pay $40 to $200 for a helmet depending on brand and level of protection. Helmets are mandatory at City of Ottawa recreational skate classes.

Gear, Clothing and Footwear for the Highest Expectations

Bag a Peak this Winter www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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COOL GEAR ODR GEAR CLOTHING ODR Gear HotShot - $129 This uniquely designed hoodie/jersey combines a stretch-weave outer shell and inner fleece lining to create a wind resistant, breathable layer to keep just the right amount of warmth in and the cold out. Storm cuffs and a sculpted waist give active winter athletes the flexibility to move and adapt to the changing elements at the rink or on the trails. Available in Slate (black), Brick (red) and Concrete (white). Be cool, stay warm and always dare to dangle!

GOSLIDE KICKSLED – $200-$289 Discover the outdoor activity that millions of Scandinavians love.

Alone or with a child sitting up front enjoy the pleasure of winter with a kicksled. Handmade in Finland since 1933 by the largest kicksled maker in the world. This product has a proven track record.

(4) sizes available. The seat can support up to 300 pounds. Excellent materials: spring steel (zinc coated against corrosion) and first grade Finnish birch. Look for it at www.goslide.ca

ODR Gear Block Heater - $24 Tuques are out, helmets are in!

Specifically designed to fit tightly under a hockey or ski helmet, with a minimal profile. The vent lines allow the air to flow in and around your helmet, helping you to maintain a comfortable temperature while active. The lower band hugs your ears, trapping in the heat and fending off the cold. Perfect for runners, bikers, skiers and skaters alike.

Look for these at www.odr-gear.com

VISTEK TENBA SHOOTOUT CONVERTIBLE PHOTO SLING BAG – $104.95 The single-strap Tenba Shootout Sling bag allows you to swing it around for fast shooting without removing the pack.

Sports, wildlife and outdoor photographers will appreciate and think of it as a backpack without the bulk, or a shoulder bag without the strain. Look for it at the Vistek store, or visit www.vistek.ca.

GV CARBON TECH SNOWSHOES – $375 TELESCOPIC ALL-SEASON POLES - $69 Can a snowshoe be sexy? This light snowshoe combines the latest carbon fiber technology with GV knowhow to create a unique and innovative style which will meet the demands of the high tech user. Carbon fiber offers a unique combination of strength, lightness, and flex, which combined with our high end features, such as the Energy Saver TM Pivot Bar, the heel lifter for ascents, and the quick release ratchet buckles, will truly satisfy anyone who enjoys the advantages of the latest technology.

Look for it at www.gvsnowshoes.com.

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LOOXCIE – $199 This incredibly cool hands-free video camera lets you record what you see. No more grappling with video cameras while everyone else is having fun.

Looxcie is always on, capturing life as you live it.

You’ll never again miss a special moment because you forgot to press the record button.

When there’s something you want to share you can send a thirty-second video clip to your friends in real time. Looxcie is more than a wearable camcorder – it’s a complete Bluetooth headset with digital signal processing. This camcorder + headset means you have one less thing to carry.

Look for it at www.looxcie.com www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

HOT CLOTHING ICEBREAKER MEN’S ASPIRING ZIP– $199 You have to feel the softness of our new RealFleece fabric to believe it. When winter’s getting you down, the cosy, luxurious feel of this superb garment will pick you right up again. The Aspiring also boosts a host of extra features, including a wind-beating chin guard and zippered hand and chest pockets. Additionally it has a full zip centre front, set-in sleeves, zippered front hand pockets, zippered chest pocket, centre front interior chin guard and Icebreaker embroidered logo.

Comes in black, and stealth/black.

Look for it at local retailers.

BOOGIE BOARD – $39.95 The next time you reach for a piece of paper and a pen – Don’t! Grab a Boogie Board instead, the tree-friendly alternative to memo pads, sketchbooks, sticky notes, dry erase boards and other writing/drawing mediums that can be re-used over 50,000 times! Great for the home, school, team or work. You’ll love it!

Look for it at www.myboogieboard.com

FOX RIVER VVS LV SKI SOCKS – $12.25 These lightweight ski socks are ideal for wearing with moulded, performance-fit liners.

They are anatomically designed to be left and right foot-specific, for outstanding comfort and performance. Super-soft merino wool and luxurious silk provide natural-fibre comfort and moisture management, while the stretchy spandex enhances the fit. Smooth, flat toe seams reduce bulk inside your boot. Look for it at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

COLEMAN - PROCAT HEATER – $99 Designed for indoor use, though proper ventilation is required, this battery-operated fan provides increased heat circulation up to 20 hours (2 D Batteries not included).

The heater operates with or without batteries and provides flameless warmth. It will use 3,000 BTU and runs up to seven hours on 16.4oz. Coleman propane cylinder (sold separately). Look for it at the SAIL store in the Ottawa Trainyards.

ROOTS MUSIC MUFFS – $29 Connect Roots Music Muffs to any MP3 player with the detachable, cloth-covered, tangle-resistant 3.5 mm audio cord and listen to your music in comfort on a cold winter day. The built-in volume control lets you easily adjust the volume while on the go. An integrated microphone with answer/end button lets you pause the music while you answer a call when used with an iPhone, Blackberry, or other smartphone.

Look for it online, or at local retailers.

ottawa outdoors 17

WINTER GETAWAY

Take the road to winter that runs through Lanark

BY KATHLEEN WILKER There’s the village, and there’s Lanark Highlands Township. Both are worth a trip.

Lanark Village is surrounded by snowy farm fields, rocky hills, Sugar Maple bush and rivers. Established in 1820 by impoverished ex-soldiers and weavers from Scotland, some residents still live on their family’s original land grants. Only an hour from Ottawa, it’s perfect for crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.

Stay for the weekend and you’re in for great hospitality, delightful shops, a taste of history and mapleinspired food. Where else for alpacas on the hoof, a chainsaw museum, pancakes with 50 hungry snowmobilers, a sugar bush trek on vintage snowshoes, and a zip line?

Our first stop on a weekend tour of the village and its surroundings was Clyde Hall B&B, a restored stone home on four hectares beside the Clyde River. Deer drink from the pond out front, breakfast comes with maple syrup from the property’s sugar bush, the rooms are spacious and beautiful and hosts Sherri and Brian Lillico are welcoming and gracious.

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Clyde Hall was originally the home of Alexander Caldwell, whose grist, lumber and woollen mills, grocery stores and potash mines stretched from Lanark county to Quebec and Manitoba. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, it belonged to Sherri Lillico’s grandmother, who ran it as a nursing home.

From Clyde Hall, you can easily cross a bridge over the Clyde River and find yourself in the village of Lanark. Looking down at the icy water, twist your imagination with the idea that this river is also home to “Canoe the Clyde for Cancer,” an annual August fundraiser.

Because of its site across the river, Clyde Hall escaped a devastating 1959 fire which destroyed much of the oldest architecture in the community, though some beautiful stone buildings and board and batten style homes can still be seen on a walk through the village.

We stopped in to visit Mary Vanderhoff, owner of The Nature Lover’s Bookshop and were blown away by the selection of nature books and treasures. Vanderhoff has local topographical maps, bird wands that “read” every barcoded bird call you can imagine and tea towels with loon motifs.

There are books on birds, turtles, wolves, rocks, bees, trees, weather, canoeing, cycling, anything natural and outdoors-oriented. On winter Sunday afternoons, Vanderhoff, a retired diplomat, brings in naturalists for informal talks in her store.

Just down the road from the bookshop is Dawn and Bill

King’s Blackwood Originals Fine Furnishing with handmade furniture, much of it crafted by local carpenters out of local wood.

Breakfast the next day was Belgian waffles and brown-sugarbaked bacon. Fortified, we set out to hike the nearby Purdon Conservation Area. In the 1930s, Joe Purdon discovered a few dozen orchids on this wetlands property. Cross pollinating the plants by hand, trimming the brush and carefully monitoring moisture levels, Purdon grew the original orchids into a colony.

In 1984 Mississippi Valley Conservation acquired the site and continues to manage it. Part of that management is logs with mossy bark over the soggy patches – a cushiony, natural treat for the feet. This short but beautiful 1.3-kilometre trail through forest, wetland and past the orchid colonies is a must. As is a return sometime from mid-June to early July when thousands of showy lady’s slipper orchids are in full bloom. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

The nearby Victory Farms alpaca herd was our next stop that morning. The alpacas are raised by the father and daughter team of Brian and Alana Riff for their luxury fibre and the pleasure of their company. Open to the public Friday to Monday, Victory Farm and Victory Farm Store has alpaca yarn and knits from Canada and Peru for sale. We were charmed by the gentle alpacas. The sound of my camera encouraged one to come closer. After a few moments, my husband had yearlings eating out of his hand.

Our final stop of the weekend was brunch at Wheeler’s Pancake House. Available in the regular version as well as gluten-, dairy- and egg-free versions, these pancakes are light and tasty. Maple pork sausages and French toast are other popular menu items. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

In 1978, Vernon and Judy Wheeler tapped their first maple trees in this 290-hectare sugar bush. It remained just a sugar camp until 1996 when the Pancake House was built in response to hundreds of requests for pancakes. Using hemlock and pine thinned from the maples for the interior and white cedar logs from old local barns, the Wheelers created a large, bright restaurant that now feeds up to a thousand hungry visitors on spring Sundays.

“We didn’t originally intend to build 14 kilometres of cross-country ski trail through the bush,” says Mark Wheeler, Vernon and Judy’s son. “But we needed to access our trees and tap lines by snowmobile and visitors wanted to ski, so it just worked out.” The Wheelers don’t charge visitors to use their trails but if you want to try old-school snowshoeing – and many visitors do – you can rent one of a dozen pairs of traditional snowshoes and tromp through the bush for

$5. No experience necessary.

The Pancake House is right beside the county’s snowmobile trail, and, “In the winter you can sometimes see 50 snowmobiles parked outside,” according to Mark Wheeler.

After pancakes, you can also try the zip line, part of a playground designed by Vernon Wheeler. There are vintage snowshoes in the Maple Museum at the Wheeler site and you can learn about old-fashioned sugar equipment and check out the collections of sap buckets, sugar moulds and spouts.

To keep up with the sap from 15,000 trees, the Wheelers have 180

kilometres of purple tubing running through their sugar bush. Vacuum pumps help draw the sap to the camp’s pans to be boiled into maple syrup. It gets technical too. “The ratio of sap to syrup is 40 litres to one litre,” Wheeler says, which makes for a lot of boiling. “We save 50 per cent on fuel consumption by using reverse osmosis to eliminate the first 20 litres of water and then we boil the rest of it down in our three stainless steel evaporators.”

Mark Wheeler invited us to check out his dad’s brand new chainsaw collection, not yet even open to the public. There are at least 400 of them, organized by colour and age, most attached to posts but some you can pick up some from the floor and test for weight. Up front in the museum are enormous two- and three-person machines.

Vernon Wheeler was once a logger and has been building this collection for years. His wife Judy is just glad he finally has a place to put them all.

ottawa outdoors 19

Reflect yourself BE SEEN IN THE DARK

Five o’clock and it’s already dark outside. The transition from long sunny days to short ones seemingly happens while we’re looking elsewhere and then lasts forever.

Are you prepared to run or bike home in the dark? In the city, you may be able to see where you’re going, but will the traffic see you? A few of Ottawa’s highly experienced athletes/coaches offer ways to reflect yourself.

Rick Hellard (head coach, Zone3sports): “Any reflective clothing makes sense and, from a safety standpoint, no MP3 players when it is dark.”

Rick and most of his clients wear bright blue Zone3sports vests or jackets with lots of reflective piping. They also don’t leave home on winter nights without their Petzl headlamps and stick to the pathways rather than the roads.

Phil Marsh: (Eastern Ontario manager, Running Room Canada): “Our Running Room tech hat has reflective trim that provides visibility in the evenings. We also have a flashing red LED clip-on light that easily identifies you to vehicles whether running, walking, or cycling.”

Phil also says that for more safety, runners should go out as a group.

Geordie McConnell (director, Ottawa Triathlon Club): “Since it’s too warm some nights to wear a jacket, it really comes down to the shoes for me. The feet are moving the most and thankfully almost all manufacturers build the reflective materials into their models.”

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PHOTO BY DAVE MCMAHON

BY SHEILA ASCROFT

To complement the reflective bits on your shoes, consider wearing a reflective wristband and/or ankle straps. They are effective, available almost everywhere and cost little.

Joe Duvall (Run Ottawa Club): “Based on how runners are out on city streets with their back to traffic and wearing friggin iPods, how about a suit of armour?”

Actually, Joe suggests that you pair your reflective jacket with tights that have a reflective strip mid-calf down to cuff. “If night running is routine, any item that you wear from start to finish, and will not be shed due to a change in temperature, should have plenty of reflective value.”

Devashish Paul (triathlete, coach and Xtri.com writer): “Sometimes being lit up with reflective gear makes us feel more secure than we are…. At night, you cannot make eye contact with motorists, so you have to assume that the driver is unaware of your existence. It is best to assume we are invisible and use the roads accordingly.”

Dev says he wears bright colours when out cycling or running. His backpack has reflective tape so that cars can see him and he has a rear tail light on his bike. He suggests sticking to familiar roads so that you know where the sewer grate and potholes are long before you get there and “can gradually manoeuvre

around them safely …nothing worse than suddenly having to swerve out to scare drivers.”

Dave McMahon, coach, Natural Fitness Lab: “Being seen is a challenge. We encourage our runners and skiers to use small flashing LED lights. They last all season and are easy to carry. Our roller skis even have LED lights in the wheels. Reflective arm bands also work pretty well.”

Celia McInnis (year-round cyclist who ain’t afraid of the dark): “I have reflective taping, bags, ankle bands, vests, front and back reflectors, etc. What is most fun and functional though are my Christmas lights – not only do they make me extremely visible, but they also amuse and calm down the motorists.” Toting around the 14.5 pound battery/inverter that powers the lights gives Celia an extra training advantage!

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Play both sides of the fence I always find snow spines visually appealing and tempting to ski.

Unless severely windblown, they are usually loaded with snow and are a lot of fun to play on by slashing turns from one side to the other. On steeper slopes this tactic is also useful for sluff management. To work both sides of a spine try this:

1

Turn across the spine as if it were merely a soft mogul.

2

Link the turn down one side and back to the centre of the spine.

3

Plant your pole on the apex and start a new turn down the other side.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

BY CHRIS LENNON PHOTOS BY GILLIAN MORGAN

ottawa outdoors 21

Put your toys away!

HOW TO STORE YOUR BIKE FOR WINTER

BY SHEILA ASCROFT Remember what your Momma told you. “Put your toys away.” Well, that advice still applies – put your bike away properly for winter. It doesn’t take much effort and you will be rewarded in spring with a ready-to-ride bike when you want it.

Give ’em air It’s also smart to still keep the tires inflated throughout the winter, especially if the bike just stands in a corner of the basement. Without inflated tubes, the weight of the bike will force the tires to slip off the rim and warp. Bad news in spring when you try to inflate the tire and it won’t stay inside the rim. If you can’t be bothered to inflate regularly, then at least rotate the wheels a quarter turn every month to prevent “square tires.”

If storage space is not an issue (some enthusiasts have a dedicated bike room in their basements), simply turn your bike over so there’s no weight on the tires. Put a towel or piece of carpet under the saddle to prevent damage.

Keep the bike warm If possible, store your bike inside where it will stay warm and dry, 22 ottawa

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especially if it has a steel frame. If space is tight, hang the bike by its wheels from hooks in the ceiling. If you have a bit of cash (well, about $200 or so) you could use a bike stand and make your bike part of the interior décor. Minoura’s bike tower (claimed to be the most space-saving telescopic pillar type) runs from floor to ceiling with cradle supports for two or four bikes. The Velo Cache Bike Tower has support arms that adjust independently to hold your bikes at the right angle and height. Check with a bike shop to see the various stands available.

If you really can’t store your wheeled steed inside, just bring in the wheels. Or, if you’re truly cramped, just the tires. They will last longer. But don’t put them near a window where direct sunlight can dry and split their side walls.

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Clean, inspect and tune It’s a drag, but clean your bike now. Yes, now – and you’ll find out if your bottle cage is loose or has lost a bolt, if the frame is dented or the chain is stretching, or if the cables need replacing. Repair what you can, and head to the bike shop for the rest. You’ll avoid the spring rush and your bike will sing like Pavarotti in April.

Cold garages breed rust Unheated garages, sheds or balconies chill steel bikes so far down the scale that condensation builds up inside the tubes. The result is rust. To minimize this, lubricate all moving parts and pre-treat the frame with rust-proofing oil.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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Get the latest in outdoor gear OutdoorRink (ODR) www.odr-gear.com for all occassions.

Check out these styles for running, hockey, winter weather, walking and snowshoeing.

Visit any of these local retailers to pick up these stylish and practical outfits in preparation for the winter season ahead. Enjoy.

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Après Await You Looking for a weekend getaway?

Go to a magical escape a short drive from Ottawa There are few places that look as inviting as the Auberge and Spa Beaux Reves. It is a quaint country inn where you can relax in rooms or suites and enjoy a fine dining experiance in a choice of established restaurants. You’ll absolutely luxuriate with the on-site spa facilities and spa treatment services.

Additionally, they’ve really put in the time to make this short drive from Ottawa truly memorable. Their unique outdoor concept with outdoor heated spas, old stone Finnish sauna, gorgeous restaurant and nature riverside path await Ottawans to discover. They even have quaint massage cabins overlooking the river.

We couldn’t ask more when it comes to adventures too. The owner, Hannes Lamothe, has really put in the time and energy to treat all who come to the Laurentians for adventures and relaxation. There’s dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, alpine ski hills, snowmobiling and certainly snow shoeing to attract us from our Ottawa lairs.

Lastly, after looking at internet reviews, it’s incredible. People visited for a plethora of wonderful reasons, and all gave top reviews. Comments to do with the staff, the relaxing and/or adventurous activies, meals, rooms, and the friendly service were all glowing. There’s no question about it, when you’re looking09:53 for a get away less than two hours from Ottawa, this is it.

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Suites with jacuzzi and fireplace, with a spectacular vue on our enchanted river ottawa outdoors 25

Green winter camping no easy ride, but really rewarding

BY CRAIG MACARTNEY Colourful gear, even bright pink marking tape is a help in dim winter light.

Thanks to the temperature you can skip dishwashing until you return home. Brush snow on utensils and pans to freeze particles and leave them for your next meal.

Scraping it off or tossing it out will attract hungry animals and stain the snow.

When it comes to choosing a campsite, use the designated areas for winter camping set aside in some parks. This localizes human traffic. In remote areas however, camp in unused areas to minimize the effect on the land. Ice and compacted snow melt slowly in spring, cutting into the time needed for the land to recovery. Repeated use of a back-country locale could mean erosion during spring runoff.

Never use someone else’s snow shelter. Old snow shelters quickly become unsafe and may collapse.

If you build one, destroy it when you leave by caving in the roof and spreading the snow around.

Use only designated latrines. This is important in all seasons, but more

PHOTO BY NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

No-trace winter camping is such an ultimate green experience that even your footprints get covered over. At the very practical level, there are no bugs. And for deeper satisfaction, snow-covered trees and terrain absorb sound, and with few neighbours, a winter landscape delivers tranquillity and solitude often missing through summer. At night the crisp air is clearer, and brighter stars pierce a blacker sky.

You can get all this, and the added kick of going green, if you go into it aware of the differences from summer.

Again, to start with the practical, consider trash. Snow can hide trash, but only until spring, so pack out all your garbage. “Who doesn’t” you ask? Well, there are extra accidents in winter. Numb fingers drop stuff into the snow, where it tends to disappear. Repacking canned or wrapped food in colourful containers helps avoid this kind of accidental littering. It helps if you push yourself toward the tidy end of the spectrum and keeping gear collected in a central area of the campsite.

so in winter when the cold slows down waste decomposition.

Despite your need for warmth, fires are not essential to winter camping. They can be a hassle – hard to maintain as snow melts beneath them, producing ash to be disposed somehow that doesn’t stain the scenery. Finding dry wood is a chore. If you must have a fire, use a fire pan – even a cookie sheet will do. Place logs under it for stability and to keep the snow from melting. But best to skip the storybook approach and look fondly on your camp stove instead. They are eco-friendly, require little effort and leave no trace.

There’s a seasonal consideration in late winter. As snow starts to melt, the ground becomes soft and muddy. Staying dry is nearly impossible, and snow shelters sag. Even no-trace camping promotes soil erosion and crushes young plants, so camp after spring run-off, when the soil has firmed up.

Finally, you’re not alone, so think about your possible impact on wildlife. Look around and do your best to figure out how your wild companions live, and where, so you can avoid game trails and areas used by wildlife. In winter, when food is scarce animals seem easy to approach – but only because they are trying to conserve energy. Every disturbance wastes the calories they need for survival, so observe your wild companions from a distance.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawa outdoors 27

Attention Gatineau Park ski enthusiasts!

PURCHASE A LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE GATINEAU PARK SKI MAP WITH ORIGINAL TRAIL NAMES We celebrate the 100th anniversary of skiing in the Ottawa region with this commemorative map. In 1910 the Ottawa Ski Club announced its formation. In 1920 its President, Charles “Mort” Mortureux, bought the first Ottawa Ski Club “lodge” from Garrett Fortune. The place was only a woodcutter’s shack and so became known as Camp Fortune.

The earliest enthusiasms of Ottawa Ski Club members was for ski jumping (they’d had big jumps built in Rockcliffe).

But to use the facilities at Camp Fortune members had to cross-country ski to get there. Cross-country and Alpine skiing popularity grew and so did Camp

Fortune and the network of trails that spread out from it. These trails formed the foundation of the Gatineau Park trail network as it exists today. Sadly the Ottawa Ski Club went bankrupt in the late 1980s.

In 1967 the NRC produced an Experimental Orthophoto Map of Camp Fortune Skiing Area of Gatineau Park. It spans nearly 9.6kms of the heart of Gatineau Park’s historic crosscountry ski trails including forgotten names such as Pipe Dream, Hidden Valley, Mile-a-Minute, and Chicken Run. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ottawa Ski Club a reproduction of this map has been produced with revenues going to support the Canadian Ski Museum. In addition to all the old ski trails, the reproduction adds commemorative signatures from six of the creators who worked on producing the original map. The map can be seen and purchased at the following locations: the Canadian Ski Museum, Trailhead, Fresh Air Experience, and

Bushtukah. Mountain Equipment Coop is also displaying a copy (but not selling it). The NRC have kindly allowed the sale of these maps to continue until all 250 are sold. You can save the shipping fee and get it directly by visiting the Museum. All The Old Trail Names map is only $49.99, and sales also support charity, there’s no HST and only 250 are printed. Purchase it at the locations listed, or online at www.old-gat-map. ca. As well, while you’re at it, sign a petition to rename the trails back to their original names. Register your vote at the following website www.petitiononline. com/GPtrails/petition.html/.

Event Calendar DECEMBER 31, 2010 JANUARY 1, 2011 JANUARY 23, 2011 FEBRUARY 5, 2011 FEBRUARY 20, 2011 FEBRUARY 24 - 27, 2011 APRIL 17, 2011 APRIL 24, 2011 MAY 7, 2011 MAY 8, 2011

26TH ANNUAL RESOLUTION RUN - OTTAWA SEARS GREAT CANADIAN CHILL HYPOTHERMIC HALF MARATHON 2011 WINTERLUDE TRIATHLON WINTERMAN MARATHON, MARATHON RELAYS, HALF MARATHON,10KM, 5KM,& 3KM RUN/WALK OTTAWA BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW 2011 OTTAWA PHYSIO RACE MINTO RUN FOR REACH – 2011 CUMBERLAND DUATHLON AND RELAYS PLACE D’ORLEANS MOTHERS DAY HALF MARATHON, 10KM, 5KM AND KIDS 1 KM

Outdoor Clubs OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUBS Ottawa Orienteering Club

www.ottawaoc.ca

We organize and take part in orienteering events in the Ottawa area.

Ottawa Outdoor Club

http://ohoc.ncf.ca

A rec club with hiking, cycling, canoeing, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Rideau Trail Association

www.rideautrail.org

A hiking club dedicated to maintaining the trail from Kingston to Ottawa.

Ottawa Rambling Club

www.geocities.com/orchike

A club for the adventurous with activities every season.

Oxygène

www.cluboxygene.qc.ca

A Gatineau-based outdoors club.

Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Assoc.

www.ocua.ca

The largest Ultimate (Frisbee) league in the world.

Natural Fitness Lab

www.naturalfitnesslab.com

The largest trail running, and adult nordic skiing club in Canada.

Ottawa Sport and Social Club

www.ossc.ca

A co-ed, rec sport league, with tourneys and social events for adults.

RA Centre Sports Leagues

www.rasportsleagues.com

Men’s & ladies soccer, mixed adult slo-pitch and beach volleyball.

Ottawa Alpine Club

www.alpineclubottawa.ca

The local section of Canada’s national mountaineering organization.

WINTER ALPINE and NORDIC SKI CLUBS

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Camp Fortune Ski Club

www.campfortuneskiclub.ca

New ski club for family ski enthusiasts.

Chelsea Nordiq Club

www.chelseanordiq.ca

A community cross-country and biathlon club in Gatineau Park.

Kanata XC-ski Club

www.kanataxcski.ca

Introducing the sport to families since 1979. Competitive programs too.

Nakkertok XC-Ski Club

www.nakkertok.ca

The largest cross-country ski club in the national capital region.

West Carleton Nordic Ski Club

www.wcnordic.com

An outdoor ski club in the Fitzroy Provincial Park area.

RA Ski and Snowboard Club

www.raski.ca

Active club offering DH and XC skiing, as well as hiking, biking, pub nights and socials.

Snowhawks Ski School

www.snowhawks.com

Ontario’s premier ski and snowboard school for children and adults.

XC Ottawa

www.xcottawa.ca

Great club and resource for xc ski information.

Cross Country Canada

www.cccski.com

Develops and delivers programs to achieve international excellence.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ub

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• Winter fun skiing and snowboarding for all levels.

• We offer great discounts on trips, ski passes, and lessons at local hills and stores.

• Visit our website or come and meet us at one of our pubnights.

www.skiextreme.ca

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ottawa outdoors 29

BY SHEILA ASCROFT

PHOTO BY DEREK MEDLAND

It doesn’t matter whether you’re sliding down a snowy hill on a vintage wooden toboggan or a modern plastic sled or even a piece of cardboard, the thrill is the same.

Speed, flying snow and laughter.

Ottawa is blessed with some BIG hills and lots of smaller ones too.

Check out the City’s list of 50 “approved hills” for locations.

Carlington Park Ski Hill (937 Clyde Avenue) is probably the steepest toboggan hill in Ottawa, but it does have some gradual runs.

Be careful though as the east side of the hill has playing field fencing and that sledding is prohibited near the staircase. Park at the J. Alph Dulude Arena.

Green’s Creek Conservation Area (off Bearbrook Road, between St. Joseph Blvd. and Innes Road) is another great sliding location with straight wide open run, no obstructions, and thankfully is bermed away from the creek.

Lighting and parking provided.

Mooneys Bay Park (2960 Riverside Drive) is a large man-made hill with gradual to semi-steep slopes. It has some deliciously long run outs, and trees and lampposts are padded.

Beware of the chain-link fence to the north side of the hill – it’s a potential collision hazard. Park at Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

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Walter Baker Park (in Kanata, near Hazeldean and Terry Fox roads) is a big man-made hill with great long runs –and equally long climbs!

The light posts are padded and directional containment fencing help keep you safe. Park at the Kanata Recreation Complex.

However, you have to walk a bit as there is no parking nearby.

The National Capitol Commission (NCC) also operates two of the best known local slopes – Bruce Pit in the west end and Conroy Pit in the east end. Bruce Pit (Cedarview across from Bell

Bridlewood Park (75 Bridlewood Drive) is a large man-made hill with a steep walking grade (it is worth the climb). Soccer posts are padded and parking provided.

Loyola Park (Loyola Avenue) has both steep and gradual slopes on this large natural hill with open spaces and clear long run outs. Note that parking is on street only.

Ski Hill Park (704 La Vérendrye Drive) is a really big multi-level natural hill, well bermed, with gradual slopes and turns. Be cautious though, northwest side of the hill is protected by hay sacks.

Old Tenth Line (between St. Joseph and Tenth Line) is a natural neighbourhood hill with both gradual and steep slopes, no obstructions, and long runs.

High School in Bell’s Corners) has a few rules though: no dogs, no snowboards, no building moguls allowed. Conroy Pit (Conroy Road south of Hunt Club) has the same rules, but offers nighttime sledding as it is lit from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (access by Parking lot number P17).

Motorists are asked to drive with caution along the access road to the hill. For more info: 613-239-5000.

Finally, there is the well-known and oft-used Arboretum Hill at the Experimental Farm (access from Queen Elizabeth Drive traffic circle).

Managed by Agriculture Canada, this super-steep hill is posted with no-sledding signs, so use at your own risk. Be careful! There are a few large trees in the run out and the nearby creek isn’t always frozen solid.

PHOTO BY NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION

Ottawa’s big tobogganing hills

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

PROFILE

Ecojustice lawyers for the environment Even the environment needs a good lawyer. That’s the philosophy behind Ecojustice, a non-profit charity that uses the law to protect and restore the Canadian environment.

With offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Alberta, Ecojustice has also partnered with the University of Ottawa to create the uOttawa-Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic, established in 2007.

“We’re part law firm, part education centre,” says clinic director Will Amos.

“We’re training the next generation of environmental law and policy leaders here.”

The clinic got its first taste of high-profile action when residents near a Quebec City cement factory brought forward a class action seeking compensation for damage caused by the factory’s operation, including noise, odour, and dust problems.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, and at issue was the right of citizens to launch lass action lawsuits over environmental harm.

In November 2008, the Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision allowing groups to do exactly that, and declared that so-called nuisance claims only require proof of “abnormal inconvenience.”

“The result is that future environmental nuisance claims will be more easily proven, and polluters will have even more incentive to clean up to avoid being sued by neighbours,” Amos says.

Now, after three years of legal victories and in the midst of juggling files on offshore oil drilling and a proposed Canadian Bill of Environmental Rights, the clinic is searching for additional funding to continue the partnership between Ecojustice and the university.

“We’ve only just started to make headway on these sprawling environmental issues, one case at a time,” Amos says. “With the right funding, our potential for landmark victories is limitless.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the uOttawa-Ecojustice Clinic, or about funding opportunities, please email wamos@ecojustice.ca.

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