As the old saying goes: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." With today's quick-dry and wind-proof materials, waterproof footwear, and using proper layering/venting techniques, no temperatures, no matter how cold, cannot be managed in relative comfort. And with the snowshoes and trekking poles now available, winter hiking has never been easier.
The good news is that many park systems in the Ottawa area have recognized the increasing interest in snowshoeing as winter recreation, and have made efforts of increase the number of trails available. Cross-country skiing has long been popular on many of the region's trail systems, but in the past few years it has been snowshoe trails that have been increasing in number.
An excellent example of this is in Gatineau Park. Less than 10 years ago there were only one or two routes open to snowshoeing, such as the popular Wolf Trail. However, with the recent explosion in interest in snowshoeing, more paths have been opened for their use.
The Wolf Trail, now numbered Trail 62, is still available. However, now there are also two major separate systems, one of which works its way around Lac Phillippe and even accesses the Lusk Lake Shelter and the Wanakiwin Cabin, the other - even larger - that reaches the Healy and Herridge Shelters, and the Lac Brown Cabin. More than 50 km of separate snowshoeing pathways are maintained in Gatineau Park alone.
There may never been a better time for Ottawa residents to venture ourdoors, especially in Gatineau Park, for a winter hike. Despite the cold and even in deep snow, you should be able to trek around in comfort and with confidence in your footing. And be honest, doesn't a meal of poutine taste better after a few hours of exercise in the cold air? It does for me. See you on the trails.
No comments:
Post a Comment