Winter is here! And it looks like it is going
to be a good one! Lots of snow interspersed with cold, cold
days and nights make for winter - like it used to be. We can't
escape it, so we might as well learn to enjoy it. The basic
problem with truly enjoying being outside in winter is that it
costs so much.
Skidooing is fun - if you have and extra
$5,000 to $10,000 to put out for a machine, and another $500 a
year to pay for insurance and a trail permit.
Downhill skiing and snowboarding are fun,
after you put out several hundred dollars for equipment and
$20+ a day for the lift ticket.
Cross-country skiing is fun, but getting the
equipment will still cost between $150 and $800! Daily trail
fees are reasonable, or you can buy a season's membership for
as little as $40 in Capreol, or $50 in Naughton (692-2321) and
at the South Shore Rim (674-5202) in Sudbury.
But then you have to get to the trailhead,
which takes away from the spontaneity of enjoying winter. If
you buy a cheap pair of second hand 'no-wax' skis, you can ski
just about anywhere, free! But it's kind of hard if the snow it
very deep.
My most favourite way to get out into winter
is on snowshoes. Snowshoes will take you anywhere and
everywhere, in any condition.
True, it may be hard work if the snow is
deep, and grueling if the snow is deep and wet. But most of the
time conditions are good and snowshoeing is the best way to get
out and breathe the fresh air of winter.
New snowshoes can be found for as little as
$70 to $100, including the bindings. If you are lucky, you can
get a second hand pair for a lot less.
They have almost no maintenance costs, and no
daily fees. Once the initial investment is made, you've got
free use forever.
If you would like to try snowshoeing before
investing in the equipment, the Outdoor Centre at Laurentian
University has them available on weekends for $8 a day. Other
times by request. Call 675-1151, ext. 1322.
Skating is another outdoor activity that has
minimal costs. Queen's Athletic Field and 50 outdoor rinks in
the city offer free skating throughout the year. And by the
middle of January the skating path on Ramsey Lake will be
open!
Still, you have to have a pair of skates.
Costs can range from $50 to hundreds. This can be a problem for
some people, so the Legion on Long Lake Road has been running a
Skate Exchange program for the past couple of years.
Pick up skates between 10 and 3 on January 8
and 22, or you can drop off skates you don't need anymore at
that time.
If just reading about all this activity has
made you tired, go for a walk! The Path from Lily Creek to Bell
Park is plowed through the winter. It costs nothing. Even a
short walk around the block can refresh your body and
mind.
Winter has just begun. Might as well got out
and enjoy it. And take the kids along. Let's teach them to love
winter.
