1944-1945 Year Book - the Gatineau Valley Historical Society

Ottawa Ski Club Year Book 1944-45 17
bear-skin robe is tucked around
you. The driver stands up in
his seat and calls a command to
the horse, addressing it affectionately
by its Christian name.
The little beast puts its strength
against the traces. With a few
creaks the sleigh starts to move.,
As it glides smoothly over the
ground these sounds cease and
their place is taken by the gay
tinkle of sleig:h bells.
The air is keen and cold. The
atmosphere is crystal clear. You
see far-stretching views of val·
leys and mountains covered with
a white blanket of snow shaded
with dark Christmas trees. Your
body tingles with health and
your spirits soar with happiness.
Then you ski. You ski ail day,
for as many days as your freedom
lasts. You swoop and leap
and tumble to your heart'~ .content.
The trails are long and
the slopes are steep ... Yes, it is
exciting, skiing in the Laurentians.
In the Gatineau Hills the
sport is, as I have said, less
dramatic. The playground is
oil a smaller scale. Nm· is the
pastime attended by all those
romantic accompaniments of
trains hooting along snow-clad
valleys, sleigh bells tinkling over
mountain roads and Alpine hotels
providing all the extravagant
amenities of civilized life.
But you can't beat the unaffected
pleasantness of skiing there.
The 'bus takes you from Ottawa
and drops you at Chelsea.
Or, if you and your friends have
saved enough gas, you motor to
the beginning of one of the trails
leading into the hills. There you
jump out, fit on your skis, slip a
haversack with your lunch on to
your back and start to glide forwards.
You can enter the precincts
gently by Dunlop's, or more
energetically from Kingsmere
o