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Skiing ~ It's Cold Out There
January 23, 2012
Post five out of five in my Ski Week series.
Damien and I grew up on the Canadian prairies. We're no wimps when it comes to cold. But our years of living in the northeastern US (one of the coldest corners of that country) spoiled us a bit. Maine is not as cold as Alberta. The longer growing season attests to that.
Now we are in Québec and Québec is cold and wintry (though we haven't reached any -40C temps, which by the way is the same in Fahrenheit). Especially in the mountains. But of course, this is what makes it great for backcountry skiing.
What also makes it great for skiing is huts! The Parc National de la Gaspésie, where we've been skiing, has huts scattered throughout along various hiking/skiing trails.
These are the coldest temperatures we've ever experienced with our kids for backcountry winter activity. Skiing lets you do that because it's so aerobic. We couldn't hike in these temperatures, our bodies wouldn't stay warm enough.
We feel like we are pushing new boundaries and we like that.
And what we really like are these huts where we can warm up around a fire, meet other brave souls (no, never any other children which is a bummer) and eat our midday meal before we head back out into the cold. Warmed by the fire, food in our bellies ready to ski some more. Proving to ourselves (and showing our children) what our amazing bodies, equipped with the right gear, are capable of accomplishing - anytime of year.
I hope you enjoyed ski week at FIMBY. Thanks for reading along. I've got some good stuff coming this week (I actually did manage to do some writing).
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Catherine Forest on Jan. 23, 2012, 1:43 p.m.
Oh I love those huts! This is exactly how I spend my childhood winters up to this very winter! To be surrounded by skiing families at -20 and -30 temperatures, you need to go to Whitehorse, Yukon. That's so awesome!
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Becky @ Sowing Little Seeds on Jan. 23, 2012, 3:11 p.m.
That sounds awesome! I think I could even get out and brave those temperatures for a time if I had a reward of warming myself by a fire and the possibility of meeting new people ;) Your family is great and so beautiful BTW. Thanks for sharing.
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Elaine on Jan. 23, 2012, 5:37 p.m.
Looks like an amazing time. Love the photos.
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Karen on Jan. 23, 2012, 5:43 p.m.
Oh what fun. Though I didn't ski as a child, I did lots of out-door skating and man did we get cold. Toes and fingers burning as they thawed out - what wonderful experiences to remember and to think about my grandchildren also enjoying.
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Amy K on Jan. 23, 2012, 9:29 p.m.
Loved this series. Am dying now to drive north til we hit snow and try this ourselves (although this winter, we would have to drive for quite some time). :). Thx for sharing this!
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Pamela on Jan. 23, 2012, 9:31 p.m.
I have loved ski week! I've never been cross-country skiing, but man oh man does it look like fun!
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Naomi on Jan. 24, 2012, 12:57 a.m.
Great pictures this week! Snow is so beautiful. We've hit -10F during the night, but not -40! Maine is cold enough for me :0)
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Rana on Jan. 24, 2012, 1:50 p.m.
What an adventure! I'm loving all the beautiful photos.
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Barbara on Jan. 26, 2012, 6:18 p.m.
This looks great! :-) What is the coldest temperature you recommend for hiking? It has minus 14C here and will probably a few degrees colder this weekend, but nonetheless I am dreaming of an unplugged saturday, hiking at the shore of a frozen lake..Not sure if this a good idea or not. I grew up a few hundred miles down south, where you can hike year round.
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renee on Jan. 31, 2012, 11:14 a.m.
The coldest you can still stay warm in! There are tricks to hiking in the cold, most of them have to do with good layering systems. It's crucial to dress so that you don't overheat while expending energy and then to add insulating layers when you stop.
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Barbara on Jan. 31, 2012, 3:10 p.m.
Thank you for your reply, Renee! :-) I did this hike last Saturday and am so glad I did! I did not hike at the shore, but on the frozen lake which was an amazing experience. I was a bit scared at the beginning (I was alone after all) but than I felt just grateful to be in such a beautiful world and humbled to be "hold" on the ice, to be safe in this cold time. What kind of clothes do you prefer - woolies and other natural fibers or typical outdoor clothes made by synthetics? And what is the coldese you can still stay warm while hiking?
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renee on Jan. 31, 2012, 3:24 p.m.
Barbara, this is a comment I wrote to someone else's question about what we prefer for long underwear. The coldest I've done hiking is in the teens (+) fahrenheit. But was in Maine where there is humidity to contend with. I think dry cold I could probably go lower. But I'm not making any recommendations for other peopl.e Having skiied I much prefer that now as a winter activity. So much warmer and so we can go in colder temps and be out longer.
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Barbara on Feb. 1, 2012, 6:44 p.m.
Thank you so much! :-)
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Barbara on Feb. 4, 2012, 6:55 a.m.
Renee, I have another coldness question + thought that you might be able to help me: how do you care for you skin when it is very cold? I saw that you have posts about summer skin care, but not winter skin care. :-) Normally my skin doesn't need any care at all (I just use a little jojoba oil against sunburn in summer and maybe a bit of pure almond oil from time to time). But when it is very cold, my skin seems to need more. I am just not sure what exactly. For now I'm using almond oil daily. Maybe you cpuld share what you do?
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renee on Feb. 4, 2012, 11:26 a.m.
My homemade soap for washing. My homemade lotion of moisturizing. For hands and face. And homemade lipbalm for the lips. That's it. My "beauty" routine.
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se7en on Jan. 23, 2012, 1:15 p.m.
You guys are just brilliant!!! I have so enjoyed your spirit and your skiing this week!!!