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.