2015-OOM-Winter

OTTAWA 

WINTER ISSUE 

OTTAWA • GATINEAU • ONTARIO • QUEBEC • US & BEYOND 

OUTDOORS 

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ADVENTURE | TRAVEL | FAMILY | HOME | HEALTH 

A skating rink 

through the woods 

AN ADVENTURE LIKE NO 

OTHER THIS WINTER 

Snow adventures 

in Quebec 

Fatbiking from 

Ottawa to Greenland 

TORCHES AND XC SKIING 

THE PONTIAC BY FIRELIGHT 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 

MARCH 19-20, 2016 | EY CENTRE 

GO BEYOND 

GORP WITH 

THESE SIX 

TRAIL 

SNACKS

Sore feet, ankles or knees 

affecting your sports 

performance? 

YOU ARE NOT BORN PERFECT! 

Feet are the foundation of your body 

and you are not born perfect! You may 

have one foot over or under pronating or 

one longer leg forcing your overall 

musculoskeletal system to run out-ofalignment 

and out-of-balance. 

GET YOUR FEET ALIGNMENT CHECKED! 

When driving, if you see premature and 

abnormal wear on your tires you head to 

the garage to have the wheels balanced 

and the alignment checked and reset. So 

know that pain in your feet, ankles or 

knees whenever you ski, skate, snowshoe, 

run, hike, walk or stand is not normal! 

GIVE AN EDGE TO YOUR SPORTS! 

“Foot misalignment may be a huge 

contributing factor if not the root 

cause of your sports injuries, 

decreased performance and pain in 

your weight bearing joints,” says 

Pierre Dupont, doctor of podiatric 

medicine, registered chiropodist and foot 

specialist. He invites you to scan his 

website and to download his new ebook. 

OttawaFootPractice 

“For a safer and better sports experience” 

www.ottawafootpractice.com 

(613) 595-9700 

Pierre Dupont 

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 

28 Deakin Street, Suite 101 | Ottawa, ON, K2E 8B7

OTTAWA 

Like/follow us on Facebook, twitter & 

pinterest @ottawaoutdoors 

OUTDOORS 

WINTER ISSUE 

22 Fatbiking from 

Ottawa to Greenland 

DISCOVER OUTDOOR 

19 ADVENTURE IN 

EASTERN TOWNSHIPS 

04 Publisher’s letter 

05 Skiing under starlight where no 

trail existed before 

06 Skating through woods on a 

snowy evening 

10 Alpine ski tips 

11 Beyond Gatineau Park 

13 Choose the perfect camp 

flashlight 

15 Ottawa’s natural environment 

16 WD-40 to the rescue 

17 Way beyond GORP 

18 Discover outdoor adventure in 

Eastern Townships 

22 Taking on Greenland by bike 

26 Winter in Ottawa is fat bike 

season 

27 Outdoor Clubs 

29 Borneo’s mysterious Mount 

Kinabalu 

33 Business Spotlight 

34 Cool Gear Hot Clothing 

35 Winter running for the Ottawa 

athlete 

36 Don’t get freeze-dried this 

winter 

38 The amazing space blanket 

Cover Photo by Arrowhead Provincial Park 

BLUNDSTONES 

FROM GLEBE 

TROTTERS 

34 

Check out our Cool Gear 

section and get ideas 

for winter footwear that 

stands out. 

read it online 

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca ottawaoutdoors I 03

DAVE BROWN 

PUBLISHER 

Editor-in-chief 

Ottawa Outdoors 

ottawaoutdoors.ca 

SHOW OWNER 

The Outdoor & 

Adventure Travel Show 

adventureottawa.com 

PUBLISHER 

Editor-in-chief 

Fish, Hunt & Ride 

fishhuntandride.ca 

PUBLISHER’S LETTER 

IN LIKE A LAMB 

Winter once again is on its way, but this time it’s making 

us wait for the fun to begin. 

As we wrap up another year, in your hands you have 

the winter issue of Ottawa Outdoors and it holds the 

key to adventure to come. 

If you just can’t let go of your two-wheelers then you’re gonna love 

learning about fatbiking through the winter. These fat tires give you the 

ability to bike on trails around the region (p. 26). And for a bonus, head 

over to (p.22) and read about how a couple of guys rode their fatbikes 

across Greenland in the company of a guide and sled dogs. Amazing! 

The other amazing winter activities to try this year include both 

cross-country skiing and ice-skating actually through the woods! Both the 

Pontiac in Bistol, Quebec and Arrowhead Provincial Park have the trails 

all marked with tiki torches so you’re sure to enjoy the experience. 

If alpine skiing is your passion then take notice of the local ski hill ads 

as well as solid advice from Chris Lennon (p. 10). 

Our resident expert Allen Macartney continues to educate our 

outdoors minds with tips and advice. In this issue he shares: the uses of 

WD40 (complete with a humourous illustration, p. 16); new trail treats 

beyond GORP, p.17; and how safety blankets will do as they promise 

p.38. And lastly he keeps us safe in his Surival column about surviving an 

automobile crash p.36). 

And as much as our region is a haven for outdoor adventure, let’s not 

forget our Ontario and Quebec neighbours. Over on (p.11) and (p.18) 

Katharine Fletcher provides you all sorts of details on what to do in the 

Eastern Townships and beyond Gatineau Park. There are some beautiful 

deep-country experiences waiting for you this winter. Jump in. 

Lastly as Ottawans love to travel enjoy not only that fatbiking through 

Greenland piece mentioned above, but take a gander at (p.29) and 

explore Borneo’s mysterious Mount Kinabalu. 

So there you go. Cover-to-cover of outdoor adventure. Articles to 

educate you and a list of outdoor clubs (p.27) to connect with to have 

experts lead the way. 

Winter is coming, be adventurous, be a lion out there! 

mail me your comments: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca 

Mark your calendars for 

March 19-20, 2016! 

March 19-20 

5TH YEAR | EY CENTRE 

THE TEAM 

OTTAWA 

OUTDOORS 

MAGAZINE 

PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

DAVE BROWN 

EDITOR 

ROGER BIRD 

WRITERS 

ANDREA CRANFIELD, SHEILA 

ASCROFT, CHRIS LENNON, 

KATHARINE FLETCHER, ALLEN 

MACARTNEY, MARTIN BISSIG, BRUCE 

SACH, LAURIE SETO, PHIL MARSH, 

DAVE WESTERN 

PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS 

GILLIAN MORGAN, ERIC FLETCHER, 

ARROWHEAD PROVINCIAL PARK, 

KEVRON2001 - FOTOLIA, KEITH 

MILNE, GORD COULTHART, MARTIN 

BISSIG, CAROLE JOBIN 

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 

Dave Brown, Publisher | Ottawa Outdoors 

Magazine is an independent publication 

published seasonally every four months 

and distributed FREE at sports stores and a 

hundred other locations around the region. 

E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca 

Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 

Fax: 613-482-4997 

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED 

Ottawa Outdoors welcomes story and photo 

contributions. Publisher may publish any and 

all communications with Ottawa Outdoors, and 

may edit for clarity and style. Indexed in the 

Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. 

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. 

Reproduction of any materialspublished 

in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly 

forbidden without consent of the publisher. 

Printed in Canada 

March 19-20, 2016 


04 I ottawaoutdoors www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Skiing under starlight where no 

trail existed before 

SKI PONTIAC OFFERS SPLENDOR AND TRANQUILITY IN BRISTOL, QUE. 

By Andrea Cranfield 

Put together crisp, white snow under a 

full moon, a calm evening with black 

sky pin-pricked by millions of stars. 

And you’re on skis. Hard to beat? 

Connie Renaud, the co-founder of Ski 

Pontiac, thinks so. 

In 2011, Renaud and Shirley Russell 

launched Ski Pontiac, an organization that 

offers about 15 kilometres of groomed trails 

in Bristol, Que. – about an hour from Ottawa 

– for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. 

“I got tired of going out on my own and 

creating my own trails. That’s hard work,” 

said Renaud. “That’s what I used to do, 

and it was OK if it didn’t snow, but if it 

snowed … it would take me twice as long to 

make a path with my skis. I’d come home 

totally exhausted. 

“Finally one day I said there has to be a 

better way.” 

Renaud and Russell applied for a grant and 

received $10,000 from MRC (municipalité 

régionale de compté) Pontiac, and Ski Pontiac 

was born. 

“A lot has happened in five years,” said Renaud. 

“We have gained a lot, we have done a 

lot, probably more than I had ever expected.” 

The organization survives on donations, 

grants and hard-working volunteers. 

Last year, more than five kilometres of 

trails were cleared. “We spent three 

solid weeks out in the field developing 

those trails,” said Renaud. “It is a lot of 

work.” 

This past fall, volunteers spent about 

10 hours putting up signs and more 

than 30 hours clearing the trails and 

getting them ready for winter. 

Always looking to push forward and 

develop the organization, Renaud heard 

about a moonlight ski at another hill three 

years ago and decided to try the idea at Ski 

Pontiac. She and Russell bought 60 copper 

torches and spaced them out over about 

three kilometres of trails. 

The citronella-fueled torches lined the 

trails with dancing yellow flames, 

complementing the moon’s glow and 

casting shadows of skiers and snowshoers 

passing by. 

“It’s like you’re in another world, it’s 

incredible,” said Renaud. “You get so 

wrapped up in the full moon and the glow 

that it projects and you see the shadows on 

the white snow and the trails are lit with the 

torches. It’s an incredible scene.” 

Ski Pontiac holds moonlight events every 

winter from 5 to 9 p.m., whenever there is a 

full moon. Afterwards, it’s time for food and 

drink all around. They are scheduled for: 

– Dec. 26, meet at Coronation Hall, 206 

River Road, Bristol 

– Jan. 23, meet at Pine Lodge, 6 Pine 

Lodge Road, Bristol 

– Feb. 20, Coronation Hall again 

All Ski Pontiac asks for is a donation – 

“how Ski Pontiac operates” – in return for 

using the trails. 


SKATING 

THROUGH 

WOODS ON 

A SNOWY 

EVENING 

By Sheila Ascroft Photos: Arrowhead Prov. Park 

Walking in a winter 

wonderland is an iconic 

if clichéd image, but how about 

a skate though snow-quiet 

woods on oh-so-smooth ice. 

You can do it along the 1.3-kilometre 

groomed ice skating trail in Arrowhead 

Provincial Park, through evergreen forest in 

the heart of Muskoka. John Leadston, the 

park’s assistant superintendent, created the 

trail in 2011 after he got tired of the park’s 

tiny skating rink and wanted more people to 

enjoy the outdoors. Since then, thousands of 

skaters have found the groomed trail much to 

their liking. 

It’s a 350-kilometre drive to the Huntsville 

area, but certainly worth a visit if you’re 

travelling nearby. “It’s just so incredibly 

stunning, especially at night, to skate through 

the woods by firelight. It’s date night, it’s 

family night and it’s even a little romantic. We 

see moms and dads stroller skating, couples, 

grandparents, kids,” said Leadston, known 

locally as the “passionate park’s guy.” 

The trail drew 20,000 people last year – 

most from Muskoka, the Barrie area or 

Toronto, but some came all the way from 

Scotland and New Zealand. It’s become one 

of the region’s most popular winter 

attractions, so the best time to skate is midweek 

when it’s less crowded and the Zambonismooth 

ice is in prime condition. 

It’s open Monday to Friday from noon to 

6 p.m. with an 11 a.m. opening on weekends, 

except for those special Saturday nights (see 

below). The cost is $16 per vehicle for a day 

pass, which covers not just for skating, but 

snowshoeing, tubing and skiing as well. Skate 

rentals and skate sharpening are available too. 

Arrowhead hosts Fire and Ice Nights on 

Saturday usually starting the end of 

December and running to the end of 

February if weather permits. Hundreds of 

Tiki torches illuminate the ice trail as it 

weaves through a snowy forest, which is not 

only scenic but serves as a windbreak, 

something Rideau Canal skaters would 

welcome. Warming cabins and picnic tables 

along the way make for rest and a snack. 

Leadston is a fund of ideas – including a 

snow sculpture contest – to attract more skaters. 

It’s called “Art Froid,” and the creations 

decorate his long, winding forest rink. 

For more info call 705-789-5105 or check 

out: www.ontarioparks.com/park/arrowhead, 

or www.discovermuskoka.ca/ice-skating-trailarrowhead.html 

Ottawa’s own skating pleasures 

If Arrowhead seems like a long drive even 

for a long skate, there’s no shortage of rinks 

for newbies and seasoned skaters in 

Ottawa’s own backyard. Checking out all of 

them reveals a range of experience on ice. 

Rideau Canal Skateway 

Ottawa’s most famous rink is designated 

by Guinness World Records as the world’s 

largest. You can skate from downtown to 

Dows Lake and see the central city from a 

different perspective. If the weather’s nasty, 

heated cabins along the way are cozy, warm 

and washroom-equipped. They make it easy 

to rest and change from boots to skates. The 

Skateway is open 24 hours a day, seven days 

a week from about late January to late 

February, depending on ice conditions. 

Skate rentals are available in front of the 

National Arts Centre and at the Fifth 

Avenue rest stop. Sled rentals are available 

for non-skaters. >>>>see page 8 


Governor General’s skating rink 

The rink at Rideau Hall was originally 

built in 1872, during the term of the Earl of 

Dufferin, Canada’s third governor general. 

Along with his wife, Lady Dufferin, who 

quickly became a keen skater herself, he 

organized skating parties. The tradition 

continues today, with the public invited on 

Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. 

from early January to early March – 

depending on weather and ice conditions. 

There’s a wood stove in the nearby changing 

cabin. No reservations needed. 

Sens rink of dreams 

Located in front of Ottawa City Hall on 

Laurier Avenue, the Sens Rink of Dreams 

(uh, named after Ottawa’s beloved NHL 

team, if there’s anyone out there who 

didn’t know!) is open round the clock 

seven days a week. The surface is 

refrigerated, so the ice is less dependent 

on weather and can be skated from about 

mid-November to mid-March. The rink is 

lit with multi-colored LED lights, there’s a 

changing cabin and picnic tables. It’s 

free. No skate rentals on site. 

Lansdowne Park skating court 

As part of the newly renovated Lansdowne 

Park, just south of Ottawa’s downtown core, 

this refrigerated outdoor skating rink is the 

new one in town. Its season stretches from 

roughly mid-November to mid-March and is 

free. Skate rentals are not available at this 

site. If you need a break, there’s a 

BeaverTails concession. Killaloe Sunrise and 

hot chocolate anyone? 

Brewer Oval 

Skate like a champion or at least where 

Olympians Ivanie Blondin and Vincent de 

Haître trained to become champions. 

Ontario’s only 400-metre speed skating oval 

is volunteer run and open to the public daily 

from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Tuesday 

evenings when the Ottawa Pacers train or 

when there’s a tournament or event. The 

oval is not just for speed skaters though; 

hockey players and recreational skaters 

including children are welcome. Brewer 

Park is on Bronson Avenue across the road 

from Carleton University. 

MacGregor Point Provincial Park 

Located on the shores of Lake Huron near 

Port Elgin, this park has a 400-metre skating 

loop – not as long as Arrowhead’s trail, but it 

too winds through snowy woods. It has a small 

heated hut for lacing up, and nearby campsites 

can be used for winter campfires and picnics. 

Cost per vehicle is $10.75 for the day or 

$6.50 for four hours. Info at 519-389-9056. 

Algonquin Park 

A skating rink is offered as an extra activity 

for those winter camping at Mew Lake 

Campground, but anyone who drives there 

can skate. One of several “developed camping” 

areas, Mew Lake has seven yurts (spacious 

tent-like structures with basic furniture and 

electric heat; reservations needed) if you want 

something more than a tent. The campground 

has a fully winterized comfort station with 

flush toilets, showers, and laundry. 

THE FUTURE 

OF FASTER SKIING 

YOUR DESTINATION FOR AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE 

5607 Hazeldean Road | Ottawa | 613-831-3604 

203 Richmond Road | Ottawa | 613-792-1170 

shop online at bushtukah.com 


860 Bank St. (613) 231-6331 

www.glebetrotters.com 

"THE BIGGEST SELECTION 

IN THE REGION." 

BLUNDSTONE – FOR THE PLACES YOU GO IN THE SNOW.

One foot at a time 

Skier: Chris Lennon | Photos: Gillian Morgan 

1 

One of the things 

skiers have on 

our snowboard 

brethren is the ability 

to work our feet and 

legs independently 

simply because our 

feet aren’t locked onto a 

single board. This is an 

advantage when holding 

an edge on steep terrain, 

but in this sequence 

I’m using my legs 

independently to help step 

into the air off a small 

feature. 

2 

1 – At times it’s helpful 

to drive the knee of 

one leg into the air, in 

much the same way you 

would make a lay-up in 

basketball (as opposed 

to springing straight up 

off two feet to snag a 

rebound). 

2 – Then spring into the 

air off the opposite foot. 


BEYOND 

GATINEAU 

PARK 

A ton of varied snow action 

on the Quebec side 

By Katharine Fletcher Photos: Eric Fletcher 

Snowshoe trails lead past ancient trees at 

Forêt La Blanche near Buckingham. 

When people in the Ottawa-Gatineau area 

want to go skiing or snowshoeing, they likely 

think first of Gatineau Park’s 200 kilometres 

of classic cross-country tracks, 45 kilometres 

of back-country trails, and 60 kilometres for 

snowshoes. 

However, although just about everybody 

loves the Park, there are other wonderful spots 

to explore. These are some of our faves – 

including two that are new to us. 

La Route des zingues 

Northeast of Gatineau, and 110 kilometres 

from Ottawa, the village of Duhamel on the 

north tip of Lac Simon is gateway to an 

exhilarating network of trails called La Route 

des Zingues. Its trails connect to la Réserve 

faunique de Papineau-Labelle. 

In autumn 2015 we hiked here with 

trailblazer extraordinaire Richard Chartrand, as 

well as Duhamel tourism co-ordinator Martine 

Caron. Chartrand said the name of the trail is a 

play on words. “‘Dingue’ means ‘crazy’ in 

French. So, we thought, you have to be crazy to 

Ski Out 

Mountain, Lake & Land 


the dream become reality. Ski Pontiac was 

their idea in 2011, and it’s now a network of 

roughly 15 kilometres of groomed, tracked 

trails for skiing and snowshoeing. 

This place works for novices, because the 

network wends through sheltered woods and 

out onto the open and flat Pine Lodge golf 

course, so there’s almost no elevation change. 

But make no mistake, the forests and wild 

views are pretty. 

Special treats include full-moon skis (the 

first one Dec. 26) community events where 

people end up at nearby Coronation Hall for 

hot apple cider or coffee, and apple-inspired 

desserts. Ski Pontiac trails connect Bristol 

and Norway Bay, villages on the north shore 

of the Ottawa River about 75 kilometres 

from the capital. – www.skipontiac.ca 

Trails groomed for the Gatineau Loppet can be enjoyed by skiers for the full season. 

build trails, bridges and everything here! And 

the name evolved and stuck.” 

We cannot wait to return in winter to 

snowshoe through this forest which offers 

sections of old growth. The vistas are 

breathtaking, so take camera and binoculars as 

well as snacks and water. No shelters here, so be 

prepared. 

Ski Pontiac’s trails in Bristol include both 

forest and fields. 

More info at www.municipalite.duhamel. 

qc.ca, and at www.baliseqc.ca/hiver/regions/ 

outaouais/route-des-zingues 

Forêt la Blanche 

My snowshoes make their familiar blend of 

swish, swoop and crunch as my moccasin lifts 

out and over the snow, then plunges into it. 

I’m not among the fastest athletes on the 

block, but take my time, pausing to breathe in 

forest scent, peering and crouching to 

compose and capture iPhone photos, and 

simply standing, listening to the rustle of last 

year’s beech leaves in the breeze or the rat-atat-tat 

of a downy woodpecker. 

I’m in La Blanche Forest, a forest and 

ecological centre 10 minutes north-east of 

Buckingham, Que. Just getting there is 

inspiring, through undulating hills and 

villages that time has forgotten. Trails are open 

from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday and 

Sunday the Interpretation Centre is open too. 

Trees more than 400 years old grow here. 

There’s a magic to the towering old trees, and 

layman-language science in the interpretive 

signs along the trails, explaining this forest’s 

rare biodiversity. Check it out at blogen. 

foretlablanche.org. 

Ski Pontiac, Bristol, Que. 

When Connie Renaud and Shirley Russell 

in Bristol, Que. decide to do something, 

everyone who knows them anticipates their 

energy and organizational skills that will see 

Mont Chilly, near Fort-Coulonge 

Deep in the heart of the Pontiac region of 

l’Outaouais find Mont Chilly’s downhill ski 

and boarding runs, where six of them 

descend a 165-metre vertical drop. Owner 

Richard Hernberger calls it “skiing … all 

about the way it used to be, where the terrain, 

grooming and lift system are not all shined 

up and polished. It’s a great experience and 

the opportunity to give people a way to get 

out and enjoy skiing at a reasonable price.” 

This one is still on our to-go list, but 

aficionados call these runs “sweet,” with 

black diamond and double black trails 

aplenty for extremely challenging fun. 

Get there for the Dummy Races where people 

make various sizes and shapes of figures 

that are towed uphill, then sent downhill. 

Hernberger says, “It’s a riot watching them!” 

The Hernberger family built Laurentian 

Lodge in 1977, where you’ll find a hamburger-style 

menu. Gear rental is available, 

including repair, sharpening and waxing. No 

overnight accommodation. Try Spruceholme 

Inn, Fort Coulonge (spruceholmeinn.com). 

Mont Chilly – 120 kilometres from 

Ottawa – is typically open weekends starting 

with the Christmas Holidays and on 

Wednesdays, but call 819-683-3595 for 

hours of operation and a snow report, or go 

to www.montchilly.ca. 

More cross-country action 

Head’s up! The Canadian Ski Marathon 

takes place Feb. 19-21. Check these races 

online. One on Saturday Feb. 20 goes 76.3 

kilometres from Gatineau to Montebello. 

The Gatineau Loppet takes place Feb. 26-28 

and includes a linear race (51-kilometre 

classic) from Wakefield to Mont-Bleu. Ski 

Tour Canada is held March 1 in Gatineau. 

It’s winter. Grab the kids. Gear up. Go 

outside and play. 

~ Katharine and Eric Fletcher are 

freelance writer-photographers. Contacts are 

fletcher.katharine@gmail.com or 

katharinefletcher.com 


CHOOSE THE 

PERFECT CAMP 

FLASHLIGHT 

By Allen Macartney 

Buying a new flashlight used to be pretty 

easy. They all had tiny but ordinary light 

bulbs that burned out every year, and used 

two heavy C or D batteries that lost most 

power within half an hour. Would you like a 

red one or a silver one? Simple. 

Today, you face a bewildering array of 

flashlights, spotlights and headlamps that 

offer everything from low voltage headlamps 

to million candlepower spots. Or 

there are those with adjustable focus, waterproof 

to 100 metres below the surface, 

rechargeable, on and on. You can pay from 

a buck to $300. 

Any good news? Yes, you can get an excellent 

flashlight for about $12 and a 

quality headlamp for about $30. But you 

have to know what to look for. 

The key factors to consider are the flashlight’s 

light output (measured in “lumens”), 

size and weight, battery type and 

run time. Most lights today have LED 

(light emitting diode) bulbs that are incredibly 

reliable, use almost no power and 

last for decades before burning out. Don’t 

even think about buying anything but an 

LED light. 

Start by identifying exactly where and 

how you’ll be using the light. Unless 

you’re setting out on a two-week, ultralight, 

mountain backpacking trek, you’ll 

want several ways to light up your campsite 

– at least one flashlight and a headlamp. 

Let’s start with a flashlight. Buy one that 

produces at least 150 lumens. That’s power 

aplenty without leaking light pollution 

into the wild. Most flashlights have low, 

medium and high settings depending on 

how much power they use and light they 

project. The higher the setting, the quicker 

the batteries will run down. Buy a smallish 

flashlight with batteries that last at least 

eight hours on its lowest setting. 

A headlamp is great if you love reading 

late into the night in your tent. It also 

helps when cooking in the dark. Your 

hands will be free to slice and dice, without 

having to fumble with a flashlight. The 

most important features are weight and 

adjustable settings. Weight is important 

because your neck won’t welcome a heavy 

headlamp, though most of today’s headlamps 

are lightweights. If your tent mate 

or mates want to sleep, anyone reading 

with a powerful light will draw flak. A low 

setting will provide enough for reading. 

What type of batteries are best? I stick to 

the common, cheap AA and AAA, available 

at any grocery, hardware or drugstore in 

the Western world. And there are rechargeable 

ones – perfect if you have a 

lightweight solar recharging unit with you. 

Avoid specialty batteries. They’re costly 

and not widely available. 

Whether you’re trying to find your 

campsite when paddling toward shore 

after sundown, or weaving your way to the 

privy through the trees, let there be light 

– a good reliable flashlight that is. 

Photo by kevron2001 | Fotolia 

Noel Hendrickson 

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OTTAWA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 

KATHARINE 

FLETCHER 

EL NINO 

AND THE 

BLOB 

C 

anadians love 

talking about 

the weather and I’m 

no exception. This 

winter’s weather buzz 

is about 2015 being 

an El Niño year, bigtime. 

The Weather 

Network’s Doug 

Gillham has noted, 

“We are in the midst 

of a rapidly strengthening El Niño event 

which will likely peak later this fall as one 

of the strongest El Niño events on record.” 

El Niño is a complex series of climate events 

created in late December during some years by 

unusually warm waters off the coastlines of Peru 

and Ecuador. 

NASA’s website explains, “South American 

fishermen have given this phenomenon the 

name El Niño, Spanish for ‘the Boy Child,’ 

because it comes about the time of the celebration 

of the birth of the Christ Child. During 

an El Niño, the physical relationships between 

wind, ocean currents, oceanic and atmospheric 

temperature, and biosphere break down into 

destructive patterns that are second only to the 

march of the seasons in their impacts to weather 

conditions around the world.” 

What does that mean to us, here in the Ottawa 

region? Nobody knows for certain, but here’s what 

we may encounter. (And check out the forecast 

maps at TheWeatherNetwork.com, which show 

a fascinating difference between early- and latewinter 

weather patterns.) 

Although El Niño winters are often mild – like 

in 1982-83 and 1997-78 – there’s no guarantee. 

In fact, this winter of 2015-16 is forecast to start 

mildly but turn cold later on. 

One factor is The Blob. No, I’m not talking 

about the 1958 movie of the same name – a pile 

of gelatinous goop sets about swallowing a town 

– but the cold produced by this oceanic phenomenon 

may give us the shivers. 

This unusual mass of warmer-than-normal 

ocean water south of Alaska and off our west coast 

has been called “The Blob” by meteorologists. 

With a two-year lifespan already, it has so far 

affected North American weather such that we’ve 

experienced two of the coldest winters in living 

memory. 

Consequences of extreme weather events include damage from sudden ice buildup: here, slow 

moving ice slabs jammed a bend in the Black River north of Waltham, and raised the level by 

almost two metres in less than an hour. 

No one know whether The Blob will persist. 

But if it does, our mild November might herald a 

cold late winter. 

As I write this column in mid-November, my 

Quyon farm has experienced darned few nights 

of hard frost. The tomatoes are long gone, but 

I’m still pulling carrots and beet greens, chard 

and kale are still producing. Go figure. When 

Eric and I first moved north of Quyon to our 

farm bordering Gatineau Park, locals told us our 

garden would get a hard frost the first full moon 

of September. 

So much for folk wisdom. It’s November and 

I’m still picking Swiss chard. Is this El Niño or 

the inexorable progress of climate change? I expect 

the two are related, and that human activity 

is likely affecting El Niño temperatures. 

All to say that I’m relieved that our federal government 

is now taking climate change seriously, 

and that our prime minister is taking a team to 

the Paris climate change conference. Canada has 

a great deal of work ahead to re-establish itself as 

a world leader on environmental issues, rather 

than as a backward, if not thuggish, petro state. 

Looking ahead to slopes and forested trails 

blanketed in deep snow, I hope The Blob does its 

work and keeps a mild winter in check. After all, 

I’d like to avoid a repeat of the ice storm of ’98, 

that other remarkable El Niño winter. 

Wouldn’t you? 

~ Katharine Fletcher is author of Historical 

Walks: The Gatineau Park Story, and Capital 

Rambles: Exploring the National Capital Region. 


WD-40 to the rescue 

MULTI-USE SPRAY INDISPENSABLE 


Too often you don’t find out what’s broken 

or needing a tune-up until you’re 

in the bush, many kilometers from civilization. 

That’s why I usually carry a small can 

of WD-40 in my kitchen camping pack. 

The company lists 2,000 uses for this 

product (which is mostly fish oil), and many 

of those uses are perfect for outdoor 

enthusiasts, summer or winter. This stuff 

goes way beyond just cleaning and 

lubricating. A small squirt of WD-40 drives 

out moisture, to prevent rust and corrosion – 

something to think about when putting 

equipment away in the basement at the end 

of the season. 

In winter it’s perfect for thawing frozen 

pump handles on portable stoves on cold 

mornings. It keeps snow from sticking to 

shovels, and lubricates and keeps rust off ski 

and snowshoe bindings. Want to loosen old 

wax from skis and snow boards? Spray on a 

bit of WD-40, then scrape it away. 

In summer it’s excellent for lubricating 

stove pumps and levers that have a thin rust 

buildup. Squirt a little inside your Coleman 

stove leather pump gasket to make it slide like 

new. At the end of each trip, spray a mist of 

WD-40 around your camp stove before 

wiping it clean. Grease, grit and dirt will lift 

off easily. 

A bit of WD-40 makes tent and sleeping 

bag zippers zip with renewed enthusiasm. It 

stops squeaks and lubricates any moving part: 

hinges on coolers, pocket knives, folding tent 

poles. It even dissolves sticky sap and gunk 

off your tent, clothes or fingers – presto! 

Hikers can spray it on leather boots to 

protect, soften, clean and create a water 

barrier. It’ll do the same to leather knife 

sheaths. 

WD-40 will speed your bicycle along any 

trail. It lubricates and prevents rust buildup 

on brakes, shifters, pedal bearings, shocks, 

spokes, gears and chains. It makes cleaning 

the frame much easier because it breaks 

down grease and grime. 

It’s amazing what a bit of processed fish oil 

can do. 

Chateau Montebello 

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 45min away, visit their 

website at: 

www.fairmont.com/montebello 


Way beyond GORP 

SIX INSPIRING TRAIL MIXES 


If you’re tired of the standard GORP (good old raisins and peanuts) trail mix, treat your taste buds to something 

more exotic. From sweet to savoury and everything in between, trail mixes have come a long way – sometimes 

down a distinctly Canadian trail – since they were first marketed in 1968 by Hadley Fruit Orchards in southern 

California. 

Not only does a trail mix pack a strong caloric punch for strenuous outdoor activities, but it’s easy to carry and 

perfect for sharing a snack along the trail. 

INGREDIENTS 

Let’s start with the basics: nuts, seeds, dried fruit, grains, sweets and spices. Brimming with protein, unsaturated 

fats, fibre, antioxidants, vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals, nuts and seeds are loaded with all the 

nutritional extras for cold weather skiers or campers (seeds are safe for anyone with nut allergies). Almonds, 

pistachios and walnuts are great nuts to toss in with a smaller amount of higher-calorie pecans and pine nuts. 

Pumpkin, sunflower, hemp and flax seeds are tasty choices. 

Look for dried fruit with little or no added sugar or preservatives. Dried apples, cranberries, cherries, blueberries, 

raisins, banana chips and figs provide fibre and energy. To add a sweet zip, sprinkle in butterscotch 

chips, yogurt-covered raisins or chocolate-covered coffee beans. Yum! 

Grains have complex carbohydrates to provide extra fibre, boost energy levels and make you 

feel full and satisfied. Avoid highly processed cereals that add unnecessary levels of sugar. 

Include whole wheat crackers, granola, toasted oats, pretzels or slightly crushed 

shredded wheat cereal to your trail mix. 

With those ingredients in mind, here’s six somewhat exotic recipes for winter 

treks. Experiment with your own mixing ratios and measurements to create the 

perfect flavour “al dente.” 

TROPICS IN JANUARY 

Combine a generous portion of cashews, 

brazil nuts and dried mango, with 

coconut flakes and banana chips. Add a 

pinch of cinnamon. 

HIGH-OCTANE POWER 

Combine pistachios, walnuts and 

peanuts with dried blueberries, figs, flax 

seeds and milk chocolate chips. 

CEREAL LOVERS UNITE 

Mix bran flakes, shredded wheat, 

granola, cashews and sunflower seeds, 

with a handful each of dried cranberries 

and blueberries. 

SAVOURY SEEDS 

Mix chopped almonds, pumpkin and 

sunflower seeds with yogurt-covered 

raisins, and just a touch of garlic powder. 

RICH AND CREAMY ENERGY 

Start with a handful of coconut flakes, 

then add white chocolate chips, 

hazelnuts and pine nuts. Finish with a 

hefty dash of chocolate-covered coffee 

beans – a caffeine-fueled energy punch. 

CAJUN A-GO-GO 

Combine almonds, pecans and walnuts 

in a bowl, then stir in sunflower and 

pumpkin seeds. Finish off with chili 

and garlic powder, ground cumin and 

cayenne. That’ll heat your socks! 

Say goodbye to boring trail mix via your 

imagination and get your trail buddies to 

guess the ingredients with a toque over their 

eyes. That’s Canadian eh? • 


Discover outdoor adventure in 

Eastern Townships 

By Story by Katharine Fletcher | Photos Eric Fletcher 

The Eastern Townships isn’t just that region southeast of 

Montreal where Conrad Black started his newspaper empire 

(buying The Eastern Townships Advertiser in 1969). It’s also 

home to crime novelist Louise Penny, who sets her Inspector 

Gamache series in the hamlet of Three Pines. 

It’s an area where forested hills and gentle 

valleys, honestly quaint villages just like Three 

Pines (hopefully without the murders), and a 

variety of outdoor fun awaits. Such as … 

Well, a happy spectrum from biking and 

hiking, horseback riding, parachuting, crosscountry 

skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing 

at Owl’s Head and Mont Sutton, and more. 

And let’s not forget le terroir (fresh, local 

foods) that Quebec is justly famous for. 

Foodies can drop in anywhere, or try the wine 

route (La Route des Vins de l’Estrie), the 

English Tea route, or opt for Bromont’s 

chocolate festival in late May. 

But what particularly grabbed our attention 

last winter was Hok skiing. 

It happened along Au Diable Vert’s forested 

trails near Sutton, Que. Owner Jeremy 

Fontana asked us whether we’d ever done it. 

“If you’re just getting back into skiing after 

your shoulder injury, you’ll find they’re easy to 

manage. You can climb any hill and then 

glide down. Sweet!” 

I had just told him I was recovering after an 

injury and tendonitis, not quite ready for 

cross-country skis yet. Eric and I had our 

snowshoes for Au Diable Vert’s trail network. 

But why not give the Hoks – a hybrid 

between skis and snowshoes – a go, Fontana 

suggested? 

“At 1.5 metres they’re short, broad, feature 

a handy universal binding and have skins on 

their base, so you can easily climb any of our 

wooded trails. I bet once you try them, you’ll 

buy a pair. They’re great for breaking trail in 

our wooded hills because they’re like a hybrid 

between skis and snowshoes.” 

The “skin” is a piece of synthetic fur on 

their base, allowing skiers to ascend 

mountains without wax and then glide 

downhill. We loved them. I want some for 

Christmas. 

Fontana’s was right: they’re perfect for 

action on his 130-hectare property. When the 

day is done, you can stay overnight in 

whimsical (have to see them to believe it) 

cabins in the forest. From some visitors, the 

attraction is the panorama of ridge upon ridge 

of forested mountains extending to the 

horizon. His 14 kilometres of private trails 

connect to 65 more in the Sutton 

Environmental Park network and in Sentiers 

de l’Estrie. 

Putting on the Hoks is easy, step in and 

fasten bindings which resemble contemporary 

snowshoe gear. Then we were off, poling 

through a meadow’s deep powder drifts. With 

no one to impress, we stopped often, 

absorbing the views, then entered the verge of 

the forest where posted maps explain the trail 

network. 

We did the 14 kilometres, crossing several 

fancifully built bridges – all worth a selfie 

because they’re so creatively functional. 

The cabins are equally original. Some are on 

stilts overlooking a valley; one is igloo-shaped; 

but our hands-down fave reminded us of that 

English nursery rhyme about the crooked man 

who walked a crooked mile and lived in “a 

little crooked house.” 

Accommodations are rustic. No electricity or 

plumbing. Free firewood for the wood stove. 

Bring sleeping bags, food, and gear as if you 

were camping. To get to the cabins, many 

guests haul sleds piled with food, water, and 

gear. Otherwise, staff bring everything on a 

4WD vehicle and light the stove so it’s warm 

when you arrive. 

For serenity, for the Hok ski experiment, for 

the thrill of new trails, Au Diable Vert’s hard 

to beat. 

But it doesn’t end there. Picturesque Sutton 

and vicinity has more. 

We snowshoed Plein Air Sutton Cooperative’s 

private trails. Blessed with a postcard-perfect, 

blue-sky day and deep powder 

snow, we discovered turns in the trail that 

The whimsical “Dreamcatcher” tree cabin at Au 

Diable Vert can accommodate eight people. 


WEBSITES 

• Eastern Townships Tourism: easterntownships.org 

• Sutton (including Plein Air Sutton.coop): http://infosutton.com 

• Le Pleasant Hotel and Café: lepleasant.com/en 

• Musée du Chocolat de Bromont: lemuseeduchocolatdelaconfiseriebromont.com. 

Come back in spring for the chocolate festival, May 16-24 

• Balnea Spa: balnea.ca 

offer counselling services for 

oth individuals and couples 

either English or French. 

ervices are provided in a 

rofessional and welcoming 

tmosphere that is fully 

nfidential. 

R 

e 

• Anxiety 

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• Depression 

• Loss and bereavement 

• Men and Intimacy 

• Relationship distress 

• Spiritual concerns 

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• Trauma 

• Work-related anxiety 

613.850.1012 

rvcounselling.ca 

afforded breathtaking views of the mountains. 

In a few hours we met only four other skiers, a 

population density we prefer to crowds. 

The Co-op offers 32 kilometres of groomed 

cross-country trails, 26 classic and six backcountry. 

Rustic shelters with outhouses and 

wood stoves for heating and cooking are 

available. Unlike Au Diable Vert, we packed 

our gear in and out on our own. These are 

reservable Adirondack-style shared spaces, 

with six rudimentary bunks. You may be alone 

or sharing with others. 

Returning to the starting point’s circa 1840 

log cabin which acts as a visitor’s centre, we 

appreciated the wood stove heat sinking into 

our bones. Delicious – just like the coffee. Skis 

and snowshoes can be rented here. 

Nonetheless, some prefer softer beds. Enter 

Michel Gagné and Bertin Jacques’ Le 

Pleasant Hotel and Café in Sutton where we 

enjoyed a quiet, comfortable stay and terrific 

terroir. Gagné and Jacques know all the best 

spots, and we had coffee at Le Cafetier 

Sutton, one of many “Cafés de Village.” 

Jacques explained these Cafés comprise 

an Eastern Townships network for locals 

and visitors to enjoy terroir in a convivial 

ambience. We had visited one in nearby 

Bromont – the Musée du Chocolat – so we 

looked forward to a similar treat in Sutton. 

Talking about comfort, spas ease sore 

muscles and in Bromont we tried Balnea Spa. 

Go. After outdoor adventures? Blissful! • 

Revive 

of you 

Cross-country skiers on a trail at 

Plein Air Sutton Co-operative. 

MARCH 16–17, 2013 

ERNst & young centre, ottawa 

door golf league 

functions or just a 

l photographic 

ers who’ve played 

it’s unbelievable! 

artoon courses 

CPGA pro 

ators 

le, big screen tv 

ith us! 

b 

or Golf Club 

n. rs 

nt. 

rené 

VandenBeRG 

couNsELLiNg sERvicEs 

I offer counselling services for 

both individuals and couples 

in either English or French. 

Services are provided in a 

professional and welcoming 

atmosphere that is fully 

confidential. 

• Anxiety 

• Chronic illness 

• Depression 

• Loss and bereavement 

• Men and Intimacy 

• Relationship distress 

• Spiritual concerns 

• Self-esteem 

• Suicidal ideation 

• Trauma 

• Work-related anxiety 

• 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. 

613.850.1012 

rvcounselling.ca 

National Capital 

www.skiextreme.ca 

National Capital 

National Ski Capital Club 

Ski Club 

Family Family Skiing Skiing Made Made Affordable 

• • Discounted lift lift tickets at at local 

hills and hills and Tremblant 

REAL ESTATE BROKER 

• Full • season Full season equipment 

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rentals Real rentals Estate for kids Broker (adults and & kids) adults 

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• Discounted Tremblant • Discounts for Goods & Services 

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• 2014 Ski Vacations (France, BC, etc.) 

• 2015 • Annual Ski Vacations Membership (Vermont, only $30BC, etc...) 

• Annual Membership – $27 

www.ncskiclub.ca 

www.NCSkiClub.ca 

Chateau Montebello 

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 

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca 

Help us protect what you 

60A 

love 

Colonnade R 

Phone: (613) 28 

www.cop 

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca ottawaoutdoors I 19 

ng.

Like/follow us on Facebook, 

twitter & pinterest @ 

ottawaoutdoors 

OTTAWA • GATINEAU • ONTARIO • QUEBEC • US & BEYOND 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 

This 5th annual 

Outdoor and 

for MARCH 19-20, 2016! 

Adventure Travel 

Show is organized by 

the Ottawa Outdoors 

Magazine team, our 

partners and 15+ years 

of experience bringing 

you all things to do with 

outdoor adventure. 

See you there! 

March 19-20 


OTTAWA 

UPCOMING ISSUE 

OUTDOORS 

TRAVEL | FAMILY | HOME | FITNESS | ADVENTURE 

YOGA 

FOR 

CAMPERS 

p 48 

NORTHERN TOURS 

FOR CYCLISTS 

PADDLE THE 

RIDEAU 

+ 

CALENDAR 

OF EVENTS & 

OUTDOOR CLUBS 

BACKPACKING ON 

THE CHEAP 

What to see and 

where to go 

The 5th annual Outdoor & Adven 

For Ottawa-Gatineau Outdoor Enthusiasts | Mar 19-20, 20 

Buy tickets in advance at www.AdventureOttawa.ca

l 

l 

y 

r 

. 

! 

The 5th annual show for outdoor enthusiasts! 

Paddling Exhibitors 

Camp & Fish Exhibitors 

Cycling Exhibitors 

AdventureTravel Exhibitors 

nture Travel Show 

2016 | EYCentre at 4899 Uplands Drive 

ADVENTURE STAGE 

• An amazing line-up 

of local guest 

speakers on stage 

all day, both days! 

• Becky Mason and 

Kevin Callan on 

canoeing and 

camping 

• Road & Mt.Bike 

experts 

• Triathlon experts 

• Photography experts 

• Obstacle course tips 

• Fishing experts 

ACTION THEATRE 

• Enjoy exciting action 

videos all day long 

• How-to experts 

holding clinics and 

answering questions 

• Challenge games for 

serious gear prizes 

40’ DEMO POOL 

• SUP DEMOS & 

Instruction 

• SUP YOGA DEMOS 

• SEA KAYAK DEMOS 

• FOR THE KIDS 

• Scavenger Hunt 

• Games and other 

activities 

OTHER FEATURES TO 

BE ANNOUNCED 

SOON! :) 

Spread the word and plan to come to the show!

Taking on 

Greenland 

by bike 

AN EXCLUSIVE FEATURE for 

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine 

Story and photos 

by Martin Bissig

ARCTIC CIRCLE 

TRAIL NEVER 

TESTED ON 

FATBIKE WHEELS 

IN WINTER 

“ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE on the right 

flight?” a nice woman asked us at 

Copenhagen’s Air Greenland check-in. She 

was processing our bike bags as we headed for 

Greenland in mid-winter. The next few weeks 

would prove whether this was actually a good 

idea. We had about as much knowledge of the 

world’s largest island as this airport staffer 

had about our fat bikes. 

I had learned from a friend about 

Greenland’s 160-kilometre Arctic Circle 

Trail. Far from civilization, it begins in the 

glaciers of Kangerlussuaq and ends at the 

coastal town of Sisimiut in Greenland’s 

southwestern corner. During summer it takes 

about 10 days to hike this distance on foot. 

But Internet research and emails confirmed 

that the trail was less than ideal for mountain 

bikes in summer. The ground can be boggy, 

the mosquitoes are aggressive, and paths are 

poorly marked. 

Since summer biking would be split 

roughly 40 per cent biking and 60 per cent 

pushing, I dropped the summer option fast. 

Together with Claude Balsiger, my partner 

for crazy expeditions in the Himalayas, and 

Swiss Valais mountain guide Fabian Mooser, 

we brainstormed Plan B. The hype around fat 

bikes fit into our ideas enough to make our 

expedition possible: the first trip down the 

Arctic Circle Trail by bike in winter. 

Our hotel (more like a barracks) in 

Kangerlussuaq was right beside its airport 

runway. From here, we took a charter bus to 

where we had decided to start – the icefall of 

the Russell Glacier (Russells Gletscher in 

Danish), 40 kilometres east, ancient ice and a 

famous Greenland tourist attraction. As they 

climbed up on the ice, Claude and Fabian 

were a stark contrast to the cold blue glacier 

– in orange helmets and neon yellow-and-blue 

clothing. I sent them back again and again so 

I could shoot more photos. 

But we made it back before dusk to our onehorse 

town, with the first 20 per cent of our 

trek behind us. We had another three days for 

the entire 160 kilometres of the Arctic Circle 

Trail itself. Questions abounded. What are 

snow conditions? Where can we stay? Can fat 

bikes handle the entire route? 

Jens Erik had the answers. This Greenland 

giant (shoe size 21 in U.S. measure) was our 

guide, and he wrangled 16 dogs to haul our 

gear sled. He knew the terrain and traversed 

the Kangerlussuaq-Sisimiut route several 

times every year. 

Martin Bissig, cyclist Claude Balsiger, cyclist Jens Erik, guide 

Across fjords and lakes to 

Kanoo Camp 

Our planned day tours were between 52 

and 60 kilometres, way longer than anything 

possible in summer. In winter, ice metresthick 

covers fjords and lakes, so instead of the 

exhausting effort to follow the coastline, 

smooth ice was our road, and we could speed 

on top of skidoo and dogsled tracks because 

fat tires could span them. They made an 

almost perfect bike trail across the arctic snow. 

During our first longer break, we realized 

we had to slow down. Even with daytime 

temperatures between minus 10C and -30C, 

we broke into sweat every time we got moving. 

And nature’s refrigerator froze that moisture 

stiff in minutes. So we slowed our pace to 

match Jens Erik and his dogs. It made no 

sense to go faster because everything we 

needed was on the sled. Keeping within a few 

metres of his team, we chatted about his life 

in Greenland. 

We had found ourselves wondering why 

anyone would settle in one of Earth’s most 

extreme locations. Winter is more or less dark 

around the clock, and the thermometer only 

ventures above freezing in four months of 

summer. Agriculture and livestock farming 

are scant, just about everything has to be 

imported, and prices are in the arm and a leg 

range. Yet here was a 25-year-old, six-and-ahalf-foot 

man who loved his dogs, the hunt, 

and his rough, hard way of life. Our once-in-alifetime 

adventure was just another day at the 

office for him, and he wouldn’t trade it for 

anything. And he’s not alone. More than 

55,000 people occupy this barren corner of 

the world. 

After a lot of ups and downs, we conquered 

our first 59 kilometres and 750 metres of 

elevation in just under eight hours and 

reached Kanoo Camp. Not impressive. Half a 

ratty, hopelessly holed canoe were the only 

remains of a failed business there, but the hut 

itself offered more comfort than we expected. 

The oven warmed up quickly and we hung 

damp clothes and shoes above it to dry. There 

were even decent beds with mattresses. In 

candlelight over bowls of musk ox ragout, we 

discussed tomorrow’s route with Jens Erik. 

A cold start into the day 

At 7 a.m. we thrust open the hut door and 

for a few seconds couldn’t see a thing. It was 

-29C outside and cold air rushed in to fog up 

the room like a smoke machine. The dogs 

yawned and howled after a night chained 

outside. Jens Erik fed his team, we strength- 


ened ourselves with muesli. Our clothes were 

dry enough to wear, the Rocky Mountain fat 

bikes had thawed, and we were warm. 

The first 25 kilometres were pretty easy, 

across a frozen lake with a steel-blue surface 

contrasting with the glistening white wonderland 

around it. It was the end of March, 

so the sun was still low in the sky, providing 

great light for taking pictures. The batteries of 

my Canon camera were holding up, partly 

because I kept spares close inside my clothes 

so they wouldn’t die in the cold. 

At lunch we could see our first serious incline, 

a zigzag up 400 metres to a mountain 

chain. To us, it looked too steep for the dogs to 

haul the heavy sled up. But Jens Erik went 

ahead while we took in some sun and then 

reduced our tire pressure from 7.2 to roughly 

4.4 psi to gain more traction. Except for a few 

metres, we handled the first part of the ascent 

by bike. We were steaming out of every gap in 

our clothing and knew that whatever was wet 

would freeze later. So we shed clothes, even 

gloves, for part of the way. Our guide and the 

sled were waiting two-thirds of the way up and 

we set out to conquer the rest of the elevation 

together. When it got really steep, Jens Erik 

hopped off the sled, reducing the load by a 

good 130 kilos, and the dogs prevailed. 

The rest of the day was child’s play. Casually 

cruising, we reached our second hut in late 

afternoon – after 52 kilometres and almost 

900 metres of elevation – and spent the night 

in close quarters. A Greenland family had 

bunked down for an extended weekend, and 

their snore philharmonic drove us out for a 

night in the common room. It turned out to be 

a wise choice in more ways than one, because 

its large windows provided a spectacle we had 

hoped for. Green shimmering northern lights 

lit up the night sky. 

For me this meant climbing out of the sleeping 

bag, putting on winter clothes, unfolding 

the tripod and going out into the cold. The 

camera caught – thanks to 30- to 60-second 

exposures – more color than seen by the naked 

eye. After an hour I had a trove of images, 

numb fingers, and a frozen-stiff remote cable. 

Back to civilization 

On our fourth and last day, 56 kilometres 

still separated us from the coast and our final 

destination Sisimiut. Jens Erik pointed on the 

map to a chain of hills in the second half of 

this day’s route. When this 600-metre barrier 

was behind us, we would coast right into town. 

As we got closer to the top, there was more 

traffic. Snowmobiles sped past us, dog sleds 

going the other way, even local hikers. People 

knew each other, and exchanged greetings and 

news. Even though Sisimiut is relatively large 

by Greenland standards with 5,000 

inhabitants, it is still quaint and everyone 

knows everyone. 

The uphill in front of us resembled a ski 

slope, a wide, white stretch all the way to the 

pass. Again, we deflated tires and fought our 

way to the top, drawing glances and thumbups 

from the locals. The dogs seemed to have 

just as much energy as on the first day. 

After a good 90 minutes, we reached the 

pass. The dogs caught the scent of home and 

pulled like crazy. We skipped lunch and shot 

down the mountain towards the sea, past a ski 

lift, then a cross-country trail. The 

snowmobiles count went up drastically, then a 

row of houses in the distance. There was 

nothing stopping us and definitely nothing 

stopping the dogs. A smiling Jens Erik banned 

any more photo ops because the dogs pressed 

on regardless of his commands. 

In 20 minutes we were back in civilization. 

After a round of hugs and high-fives with Jens 

Erik, we said our goodbyes to our loyal fourlegged 

team-mates and to our guide. A warm 

shower and a deerburger awaited us in the 

best hotel in town. 

When we flew back to tiny Kangerlussuaq, 

Greenland’s air transport hub, we thought 

about the Air Greenland lady. If we meet her 

again we’ll tell her that biking in Greenland in 

winter is the coolest thing we’ve ever done. 

“Get ready for more bike bags soon.” 

~ Martin Bissig is a freelance photographer 

based in Switzerland specializing in travel and 

adventure stories. Countless trips have brought 

him to the most remote places in the world. • 


Calling all Ultimate players! 

Mad Trapper 

Snowshoe 

Ultimate 

Time to play with a 

disc in the snow while 

wearing snowshoes! 

February 14, 2016 

1 day, 24 teams 

• 24 mixed teams of 5 players 

• part of Winterlude Celebration 

• first of its kind, be a part of it! 

• teams will converge on the 

Great Lawn of Lansdowne Park for 

the coveted award to determine 

Canada’s Top Winter Snowshoe 

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Winter around Ottawa 

is fat bike season, so 

mind your manners! 

GREAT TRAILS ARE ALL AROUND US 

By Sheila Ascroft | Photos Ottawa Mountain Biking Association 

Trail etiquette is important wherever 

you are outdoors, but especially if it’s 

fat biking on a shared trail with crosscountry 

skiers and snowshoers. They may 

not expect (or even want) to see a bike 

coming down a forest trail. 

Essentially, fat bikers should yield to both. 

Fat biking has gone mainstream with 

more and more big-name bike makers 

putting out new models. Dave Macki, coowner 

of Phat Moose Cycles (on Hawthorne 

Avenue near Main Street) said, “Brands like 

Surly have been making their Pugsley for 

years. Salsa made one for a long time as well, 

but now everyone under the sun makes a fat 

bike.” Which highlights the need to behave 

courteously. 

The Ottawa Mountain Bike Association 

(OMBA) knows very well that more people 

are fat biking and that they want access to 

more trails, including those in Gatineau 

Park. So the association has been working 

with the National Capital Commission and 

other user groups to gain Park access – and 

has succeeded! 

OMBA president Sandra Beaubien said 

there will be a fat bike pilot project this 

winter on snowshoe trails 64, 65, 66 and 

(possibly) 67. She said that like crosscountry 

skiing, “fat bike access will be 

weather dependent and trails will open 

weather permitting.” 

Also, only fat bikes with tires measuring 

3.5 inches or wider are allowed, with 10 psi 

or less air pressure. These tires leave fewer 

ruts. Fat bikers have to buy an NCC 

snowshoe or ski pass to use these newly 

available trails. 

Rules of the snowy road 

While you can ride fat bikes just about 

anywhere there is packed snow – snowshoe 

or snowmobile trails are ideal – there are 

limits to where and when you should ride. 

Good judgment, safety and respect for other 

trail users are paramount. 

The International Mountain Bike 

Association Canada has guidelines for fat 

biking on groomed cross-country ski and 

snowshoe trails and backcountry riding: 

• Ride only in areas or on trails that allow 

and encourage fat biking. (Our sidebar 

lists some of them) 

• Do not trespass. Know whether you are 

on private property. Obey land-use rules. 

• Don’t ride in temperatures above 

freezing when fat tires damage trails. If 

you have to dismount and walk up easy 

hills, then it’s too warm for riding. Wait 

for truly cold weather. 

• Avoid locking the rear wheel and 

skidding on descent. The resulting ruts 

could mess up other users’ progress or 

safety. 

• Yield to all skiers especially at 

intersections. Skiers have no brakes, but 

bikes do. 

• Yield to snowshoers too. Their efforts 

made that packed trail you’re riding on. 

Stop and move off the trail if you can. 

• Stay off track-set, cross-country ski trails. 

Ride on the hard-packed skate tracks 

instead. 

• Leave room for skiers to pass; don’t ride 

side-by-side with friends, blocking the 

full trail. 

• Don’t disturb wildlife. Many animals 

spend winter on the brink of starvation. 

Stress or the need to move quickly can 

drain their energy. 

• Learn safe ice travel. Is the ice thick 

enough to support you? Take ice fishing 

picks and a length of rope when riding 

on lakes and rivers. 

• Pay attention to changing weather. New 

snowfall or a thaw can make the return 

trip tough if not impossible. Tire tracks 

can vanish, hard snow can turn to slush, 

and river ice can melt. Know the forecast 

and be aware that fickle weather can 

undercut what started out as a safe route. 

• Carry provisions in case you have to stay 

out longer than planned. 

• Make sure someone knows your plans, 

what time you left, and when you expect 

to return. There may not be a cellphone 

signal in the bush. 

• Be a good ambassador for your sport: be 

polite, educate other riders and 

discourage bad behaviour. 


PERMITTED TRAILS 

FOR FAT BIKES THIS 

WINTER 

GATINEAU PARK: Snowshoe trails 64, 

65, 66 and possibly 67. Access depends 

on weather. 

KANATA LAKES TRAIL SYSTEM: 

32 kilometres, advanced, single track. 

The west part of this trail system is an 

adrenalin rush while the east side is 

tamer. Trails are marked; stay off ski 

tracks. 

ALMONTE RIVERSIDE TRAIL: 

6 kilometres, intermediate, single 

track. Bumpy trail with lots of rocks 

and roots. Several short rock gardens 

and bridges add to the fun. Trail network 

is still expanding. 

OSGOODE MULTI-USE PATHWAY: 

21 kilometres, rail bed shared with 

snowmobiles. Trail runs from Leitrim 

Road to Buckles Street through the 

Village of Osgoode. Use safety lights. 

Know what is ahead of you, and behind. 

MTB KINGSTON: 39 kilometres, 

intermediate, single track. Trails are 

open only to MTB club members. 

Network of five distinct loops that can 

be ridden individually or as a full 

circuit. Home loop is the main trail that 

provides access to Pete’s Loop, The 

Ridge and Route 66. Collin’s Lake Trail 

can be done on its own or combined 

with Home Loop. 

EAGLE’S NEST IN CALABOGIE: 

19 kilometres, intermediate, double 

track. This snowmobile/four-wheeler 

trail through the forest behind Calabogie 

Peaks is not used much. A third of 

the way along, a detour up the hill to 

Eagle’s Nest gets you an amazing view. 

FOREST LEA TRAIL SYSTEM IN 

PEMBROKE: 24 kilometres, advanced, 

single track. A purpose-built mountain 

bike trail in a stacked loop system. 

Rocky and rooty. 

BEACHBURG, ONT. TRAILS 

OTTAWA RIVER CORRIDOR TRAIL: 

49 kilometres, advanced, single track. 

LAVALLEE LOOP IN VILLAGE: 

800 metres, beginner, single track that 

varies from technical to open “flowy” 

ATV trail. 

MONT STE-MARIE, QUE: 11 kilometres, 

three groomed snowmobile trails. 

A test project. 

For more info it’s the Ottawa Mountain 

Bike Association or check them out on 

their Facebook page. 

Protect 

what 

matters. 

Prepare a 

Legal Will 

before your 

winter trips. 

The winter roads 

can be dangerous. 

Be safe. Prepare. 

DO YOUR WILL AND PROTECT 

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MOST. 

www.georgebrownlaw.com 

For your WILLs, POWER of ATTORNEY and assistance 

with other LEGAL MATTERS. 

Tel: 613-731-2453 Fax: 613-249-7060 

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Borneo’s mysterious 

Mount Kinabalu 

1 

CLIMBERS GET TO THE TOP AT SUNRISE, BUT IT’S NOT EASY 

By Bruce Sach 

Photos: Carole Jobin 

I spent years planning my climb up 

Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu. 

Truth be told, I first heard of the sacred 

mountain when it was part of British Borneo 

and Malaysia was still known as Malaya. Full 

disclosure – yeah, I used to collect stamps. 

Fast forward more years than I care to 

disclose, and this storied, somewhat 

mysterious island is now shared by three 

nations – Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia – 

and orangutans, proboscis monkeys, dwarf 

rhinos and tribes of former headhunters. It’s 

so far away from peninsular Malaysia (2½ 

hours by air) that they check your passport 

when you get to Malaysian Borneo, as though 

you were arriving in a new land. 

Before arriving in Borneo (the third largest 

island in the world), I didn’t know anyone 

who had been to the top of Kinabalu, 

Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain at 4,095 

metres. I knew the local Kadazan and Dusan 

people see it as the resting place of their 

ancestors. I’d heard of strange traditions, like 

sleeping indoors with the lights on at the foot 

of the mountain. Others spoke of insects the 

size of small birds, and of insect-eating plants. 

I was intrigued, to say the least. 

My wife and I finally made it to the top just 

after sunrise a few days later. We looked out 

over the jungles of Borneo spread out far beneath 

us, proud, totally focused on what we 

2 

had done, exhausted after two days of climbing, 

and not a little cold. 

Visitors tackle the climb over two days, intent 

to get up in the wee hours of the morning, 

hoping to see the Bornean state of Sabah as 

part of the sunrise treat. 

One image that occurred at four in the 

morning still lingers. Huffing and puffing in 

the dark, we stopped to look up the mountain 

and saw tiny lights an impossible distance 

away. Like minute fireflies in the black night, 

an army of fellow climbers seemed to beckon 

us to climb on, like a procession of monks, quietly 

making their way to the top. 

Carole and I stopped for water and then, 

flashlight in one hand, and clenching the 

guide rope in the other, set off again. The rope 

is there because most climbers do this stretch 

in pitch dark. 

This kind of experience remains vividly in 

memory. And although no one calls me thunder 

thighs anymore, my quads are permanently 

enhanced thanks mainly to the brutal descent. 

All climbers must hire a guide – guides 

know the way, will pace you, and for a small 

fee, will act as a porter. Our guide Sapinus 

was reassuring as we climbed and absolutely 

essential as we descended. 

Besides his climbing skills, he knew the 

local plant life, some of which is endemic to 

the mountain. He pointed out balsam, rattan, 

jungle bananas, giant moss, wild begonias, 

rose berries and necklace orchids. 

We encountered everything from jungle 

vegetation to a forest draped with Spanish 

moss and old man’s beard lichen. Two-thirds 

the way up, in an area called Sayat-Sayat in the 

local Dusan language, there were ancient trees 

with twisted limbs, a perfect spot to film a 

horror movie. 

Sapinus said there were thousands of different 

orchids in the park and over two dozen 

different kinds of rhododendron. Off the 

path, he showed us three kinds of wildly exotic 

pitcher plants. 

Near the end of the second afternoon, we 

arrived at Laban Rata Lodge for the night. Our 

tiny room with a simple heater was a refuge 

from the cold, the communal television and 

the loud talk and shouting matches of other 

trekkers. 

As arranged, we were awakened at 2:30 

a.m. by our guides. 

Continuing our ascent in the dark, we focused 

on making the next step one at a time 

without slipping. We stopped to adjust coats, 

toques and gloves. It got cooler and cooler, the 

winds increasing as we climbed. Some trekkers 

stopped often, trying to catch their breath 

or numbed by the cold. As morning broke we 

were shivering on a strikingly bizarre plateau 

about 700 metres from the summit. 

Behind and below us, the port of Kota 

Kinabalu and the China Sea were off in the 

distance. All Sabah lay at our feet for just a few 

minutes before clouds moved in to conceal the 

grand spectacle. Eventually we edged our way 

back down to Laban Rata Lodge for breakfast, 

marvelling at how we had negotiated the steep 

and tricky terrain in darkness. 

The walk down is harder than the climb up. 

Just when our legs started to disobey our 

brains, our guide read our minds and asked, 

“Legs turning to jelly?” 

Back at the park entrance our reward was a 

climber’s certificate, with much more meaning 

than the self-esteem equivalents from 

summer camp. 

We happily checked into the Poring Hot 

Springs to give our bodies a little TLC and 


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3 wondered how we might have trained better, especially for the descent. Walking down the staircase 

of the CN Tower on a weekly basis, was the only comparable feat I could come up with. 

Another time perhaps. 

~ Albertan Bruce Sach has lived in the Ottawa area for many years. He is a longtime member 

of the Travel Media Association of Canada.• 

4 

1 – Stragglers attempting the ascent of sacred Mount Kinabalu reach the summit well after 

daybreak. 

2 – Frigid temperatures greet climbers near the top of sacred Mt. Kinabalu. The earthquake that 

occurred in 2015 destroyed the ‘Donkey’s Ears’ seen here in the mid-background. 

3 – The landscape around South Peak is a bizarre rock desert. All Borneo lays at your feet. 

4 – Mighty Mount Kinabalu, S.E. Asia’s and Malaysia’s highest peak. 

5 – From steaming jungle at its base to frigid temperatures at the summit, this mountain trek 

traverses all the micro-climates of Sayat-Sayat. 

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 

EPIC Indoor 

Bike & Skate 

Park 

By Devon Haworth 

What’s an article about an “indoor” 

bike park doing in an “outdoor” 

magazine you say? Well, this story 

is about a company that brought the outdoors 

inside. Epic Indoor Bike & Skate Park 

(“EPIC”) is true to its name. The 

4,770-square-metre (53,000 square feet) 

facility at 110 Bentley Ave. just east of the 

Hunt Club and Merivale intersection is a 

massive wooden bike, scooter and skateboard 

park for all ages. As you enter the forest-like 

lobby, you are greeted by the lovely scent of 

wood, 10 tractor-trailer loads to be exact. 

One feature of the two-storey industrial 

building is a toddler area for kids under age 

six. If a child can walk, that child can ride. 

Pedaless bikes (aka striders) are used to teach a 

new rider how to balance and coast. Parents 

enjoy the squeals of their little ones as they 

glide down the little slopes and learn to make 

gentle turns with their newfound mobility. 

For kids who are new to biking, they can 

practise riding on the two cross-country tracks 

that circle the perimeter of the facility. The 

lower level is smooth with a few rolling hills 

when you enter from the front, while the upper 

level resembles mountain biking, with the 

occasional bumpy log or ramp to manoeuvre. 

Once a rider has good control of their bike, 

they’re ready for the big show! On one side of 

the park are the “box jumps,” three levels of 

them: beginner, intermediate and pro. The 

rider enters the course by going down a hilly 

slope and hops onto each box and continues to 

the next box in the U-shaped course. After 

mastering the easier course, the rider advances 

to the next level, which is steeper and longer. 

Over time – which could be days or months 

depending on the rider – one can leap over the 

boxes gracefully (“gap” the box). The motion 

is as graceful as a horse jumping over a hurdle, 

but the feeling for the rider is euphoric! 

Equally fun and challenging is the other 

side of the park, which houses the “pump 

tracks.” The wooden structure looks like a 

roller coaster without rails. On this side there 

are three courses, the largest affectionately 

named “the big pump track” for the steepness 

of one of the hills. 

Finally, the back section “vertical park” will 

blow our mind. With a huge foam pit, resiramp, 

two half-pipes, bowl, verticals, steps, 

ramps and rails, you could spend hours or 

days with your BMX, scooter and skateboard. 

This is where the pro riders like to hang out 

and practise freestyle skills. 

Kids as young as age 2 have ridden the 

beginner tracks. So participation it is not a 

matter of age, but ability and desire. 

What makes EPIC a special place is that 

families can enjoy something equally 

entertaining for all participants. It’s 

commonplace for moms and dads to ride 

with their young and teenaged kids. For the 

athlete, BMX riding is the best workout 

going. Our avid riders (aka “pros”) have 

memberships, and they look forward to 

spending time with friends at the park. It’s 

a healthy, happy and wonderful community 

of super nice people who help each other. 

This summer, about 350 kids attended 

EPIC’s summer camp. It was consistently 

ranked “Best Camp Ever” by parents and 

kids alike for skills building, 

entertainment and learning. We watched 

shy unmotivated rebellious kids emerge 

with confidence and huge smiles after the 

first day! 

EPIC Indoor Bike Park is very affordable. 

One hour or riding including bike rental is 

just $19.99! 

EPIC is an extremely popular and unique 

choice for birthday parties and group events 

because our pro riders are available to 

provide riding tips and tricks. 

So get off the couch and experience the 

great outdoors indoors. I’m sure you’ll agree 

that EPIC is a contagious experience! • 

110 Bentley Ave, Nepean ON (613) 727-3742 

www.EpicBikePark.com – www.facebook.com/epicbikepark 


COOL GEAR 

PUT YOUR BEST 

FOOT FORWARD 

GLEBE TROTTERS – BLUNDSTONE #1431 

Like all Blundstone shoes, just ask anybody who owns a 

pair. They are hands-down the most popular, well-loved 

and longlasting winter footwear anywhere. This style (the 

Burgundy Red) is a stand out in any setting. Tough, 

stand-up-to-the-elements Blundstone leather outside, 

soft-on-the-tootsies Blundstone leather inside. 

Just head over to Glebe Trotters on Bank Street 

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CHRISTINA CHUKKA – $190 

Serving up a slip-resistant outsole with stacked heel and a waterproof full 

grain leather upper, the lovely lace-up Kristina Chukka provides pretty 

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Features include: Crafted with waterproof leather, lined with 

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Bogs Max-Wick moves sweat away from your foot to keep you 

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Soft leather footbed with dual-density EVA, Ortholite 

and DuraFresh for optimal comfort. Avail. in 

three colours. Look for it at 

Bogsfootwear.ca for store 

locator. 

STABILICERS – $49.95 

Maxx ice cleats are tougher. Serious 

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events for everyone . . . . . . . from start to finish 

February 14, 2016 

marathon, marathon relay & runs 

Visit somersault.ca to ENTER NOW! 

also, check out the complete 2016 run series 

plus the triathon/duathlon & wylie ryan kids’ events 

Follow us: 

WINTER 

RUNNING 

FOR THE OTTAWA ATHLETE 

BY PHIL MARSH 

THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR 

WINTER RUNNING AND WILL ENSURE YOU STAY FIT! 

• Warm up slowly to let your body adjust to the footing and temperature. 

• Keep your head up; by looking down at your feet you inhibit your ability 

to take in oxygen and you also affect your biomechanics. Look five to six 

steps ahead and shorten your stride a little to make sure that your 

footing is secure. 

• Stretch after your runs … because of the instability of the snow and ice, 

you will be activating more stabilizing muscles and may have some 

stiffness after your runs. 

• Do speed work indoors if possible. Ottawa has the only 400-metre 

indoor track in Canada at Louis Riel Secondary School. It has public 

times available through the day. If you have to get in a speed session, 

use the track, or find a clear and safe road or pathway. 

• Head out for your runs against the wind. 

• Run with a group, it will motivate you on stormy days and also give you 

a safe and social atmosphere. 

• You cannot freeze your lungs, but you can freeze exposed skin so make 

sure that you head to a Running Room shop to have the running experts 

take you through what you will need to run safely in winter. 


SURVIVAL 101 

THIS WINTER 

SURVIVAL QUIZ 

COULD HELP IN 

A STUCK CAR 


Each year scores of Canadians slide off the road during 

a nasty winter storm and have to spend hours or even days 

stranded. Would you know what – and what not – to do? 

Take the Ottawa Outdoors winter survival test. 

1. When stuck in the ditch or by the side of the road in winter, usually you should 

(a) Try to walk back to the nearest farm 

(b) Stay with your vehicle 

(c) Build a snow house 

(d) Start collecting wood for a warming/signalling fire 

2. Being warm is your first priority. That means 

(a) Staying positive 

(b) Staying dry 

(c) Staying hydrated 

(d) Staying active 

3. When driving on snowy roads, one of the most important 

things to have with you is 

(a) A shovel 

(b) Extra gasoline 

(c) Energy bars – one for each person 

(d) Drinking water 

4. You car’s winter survival pack should at least include 

(a) Matches, candles, space blankets, extra toques 

(b) Matches, tinder, space blankets, thick plastic bags 

(c) Matches, tinder, cotton blankets, extra shovel 

(d) Matches, fire-starter, backpack, snowshoes 

5. If stuck in your car during a blizzard, which is the best activity 

(a) Exercise 

(b) Sing and tell jokes 

(c) Clench your fingers and toes tightly 

(d) All of the above 

True or False…? 

1. T ___ F ___ Eat snow to stay hydrated. 

2. T ___ F ___ Pocket chemical hand warmers 

can burn your body. 

3. T ___ F ___ Open your vehicle window 

occasionally to let in fresh air. 

4. T ___ F ___ It’s OK to idle your car engine 

while stuck in a snow bank. 

5. T ___ F ___ If you’re cold and alone in your 

car, it’s OK to nap to help the time pass. 


Quiz answer 

1. (a) Stay in your vehicle unless you are close to a clearly visible 

house. A vehicle provides a dry shelter from the wind, rain and 

snow. It’s also easy for rescuers to see and find. 

2. (b) Staying dry is the most important way to keep warm. 

Being active will warm you up but if you work too hard, you 

sweat, and then freeze. A dry hat, gloves, pants and coat, over 

multiple layers is the best way to stay warm. 

3. (b) Drive with plenty of gasoline, in the tank or in a container 

in the trunk, so you can keep the engine and heater running 

for hours. A shovel and energy bars for everyone will also help. 

4. (a) Your survival pack should at least include matches, 

candles, space blankets and extra toques. Hand warmers and 

a sleeping bag would also be good. Tinder and fire-starter 

won’t be much help as you’ll be sheltering in your vehicle. 

5. (d) All of the above. Stay active while waiting out a blizzard 

or rescue. It keeps you positive and increases your chances of 

survival. Exercise inside the vehicle will warm your body – 

anything from clenching toes and fingers to sit-ups and leg 

raises. Singing and telling jokes also boost the spirit. 

True or False Answers 

1. FALSE. Eating snow cools your inner body temperature, 

and could lead to hypothermia. Melt the snow first in a 

container, or use a space blanket to reflect light and heat 

onto the snow. 

2. TRUE. Chemical hand warmers can burn skin – stick 

them onto mitts or gloves, not skin. Monitor their use. 

Keep them away from kids or babies. 

3. TRUE. Breathing uses oxygen and produces carbon 

dioxide. Opening a window occasionally will eliminate 

the danger of CO2 poisoning – not deadly like carbon 

monoxide, but a health risk nonetheless. 

4. TRUE. Turn on your car and run the heater for 10 

minutes every hour to stay warm, but make sure your 

tailpipe isn’t blocked by snow. Running your car on this 

cycle stretches out your gas supply. 

5. FALSE. Stay awake if you’re cold and alone! Sleeping 

might allow hypothermia to take hold. You might never 

wake up. In some cases sleepiness is a sign of advanced 

hypothermia. 


THE AMAZING SPACE BLANKET 

More useful than duct tape on the trail 


I’ve got at least 12 emergency, mylar space 

blankets at home. Tiny and feather-lite, 

they’re in my car, my survival pack, and my 

first aid and canoe kitchen packs – any place 

where I might use them outdoors. But I’ve never 

used one. Or even unfolded one from its petite 

container. 

We all talk about how important these are for 

emergencies, but they’re usually tucked away 

and forgotten. It’s time to explore some of the 

ubiquitous uses for these pint-sized life savers. 

A space blanket is essentially a plastic sheet 

coated with metallic particles. First developed 

in the 1950s and used on space flights, mylar 

thermal space blankets reflect heat. That’s all 

they do – up to 90 per cent of body heat. So if 

your snow-shoeing or skiing adventure goes 

sour, wrap yourself up in a space blanket – 

shiny side in – before you get too cold. (A cold 

body reflects darned little heat.) Don’t wrap it 

around the outside of your winter coat, but 

around either the inside of your jacket or cut off 

a piece and make it into a reflective vest against 

your body. Then watch out that you don’t get 

too warm and start sweating. 

Heat for your feet? If they’re cold and you have 

an extra space blanket, cut off two thin strips and 

put them in your boots. Your feet will get toasty 

warm. If you’re still a bit too cool, cut off more 

strips and make liners for your hat, gloves, mitts 

and pants. 

Fall and spring camping can be cold. Set up 

one or two space blankets inside your tent. If you 

light a candle lantern, your tent will warm up 

quickly and the reflective blankets will provide 

both light and heat. And for those cold nights 

when a campfire casts too little heat, position a 

blanket behind the flickering flames to bounce 

the heat back at you. Don’t worry about 

damaging the mylar; it melts at 254 degrees 

centigrade. 

In summer when you’re backpacking in 

blistering heat, reverse the space blanket (shiny 

side out) so it reflects the sun and heat away. Also 

it makes an excellent sun shield. 

Some people use waterproof space blankets 

and cord to make a tarp, poncho, divvy sack or 

rain 

catcher. If 

you think 

we’ve 

just about 

exhausted the 

uses for space 

blankets, think again: a 

liner for a solar oven, a 

signaling mirror, a drop-sheet for 

your tent or picnic. Cut strips make an excellent 

trail marker, or use it as a pack liner (inside) or a 

rain shield (outside). 

But don’t put a space blanket over your 

sleeping bag in a tent or snow shelter when 

winter camping. Mylar isn’t breathable. 

Moisture condenses under it, and your bag gets 

wet, losing any insulation ability. Instead, put 

the space blanket on top of your foam mattress 

or mat. The reflected heat from your body will 

help you sleep soundly. 

Now that you know how useful these blankets 

are, perhaps you should scoot out and buy a 

couple more. And start using them! 

Atlas Mad Trapper 

SNOWSHOE SERIES 

REGISTER 

TODAY! 

REGISTER 

TODAY! 

Snowshoe Series 

Wakefield, QC 

www.madtrappersnowshoe.com 

December 12 

January 2 

January 23 

February 20 

Presented by: 

OTTAWA 

OUTDOORS 

MAGAZINE 

- The “Transition” Race. Snowshoe or Trail Run? 

Only Mother Nature knows! Atlas 10k and Solefit 5k 

- The “Hilly” Course. Expect some elevation change... 

Atlas 10k and Solefit 5k 

- Bushtukah Night Race and i2P Fundraiser. 6:30pm 

start. It’ll be dark. Bring your headlamps! Atlas 10k 

and Solefit 5k 

- The Series Finale! Atlas 10k and Solefit 5k 

LOYAL SPONSORS: ATLAS SNOWSHOES / BUSHTUKAH / SOLEFIT / SALOMON / BROADHEAD BEER 

RUNNERSUNITED.COM / OPTIMIZED MARKETING SOLUTIONS 


LIVE 

AND BREATHE 

NATURE 

mont-tremblant.ca

Water near a dam or hydroelectric station can 

turn dangerous quickly and without warning. 

OPG is a part of communities across Ontario, 

so we want you to stay clear and stay safe. 

opg.com/watersafety 

Water levels can rise 

in a matter of seconds.

2015-OOM-Winter

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