Great outdoors beckons
With festive indulgences almost behind us and a new year to embrace, it’s time to get active outside. Katharine Fletcher recommends some destinations to enjoy. 3. Timberland Tours: Race, sled 36, chemin Ragged Chute, Bristol, Que. timberlandtours.ca
1.
MacNamara Trail Arnprior mfnc.ca/macnamaratrail/
The Macnamara Field Naturalist Club based in Arnprior is the custodian of this trail, which extends four kilometres through mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland. The trailhead kiosk displays a good map along with brochures. Written by Carleton University professor Michael Runtz, the club’s president, it describes 19 numbered stops. Even in winter, we can learn a great deal about the natural and human heritage here.
WHERE DOES THE NAME MACNAMARA COME FROM?
Both club and trail are named after Charles Macnamara (18701944), who worked six-day weeks as the accountant for McLachlin Bros. Lumber Company. On Sundays, he explored the region’s forests and wetlands, taking photographs, maintaining detailed journals and also speaking out about how even the company for which he worked was endangering natural landscapes.
WILL I SEE WILDLIFE?
Usually. As you walk, look for tracks. Look for the paw prints of red and black squirrels and the tiny tracks and tail imprint of mice. Listen, too, for the “rat-atat-tat” of downy and hairy woodpeckers, or even for far louder and larger pileated woodpecker.
Yes. Want to learn more about Ottawa Valley natural history? Join the club and go on its many guided outings. You’ll learn lots, I promise. Tip: take binoculars and a Thermos of hot chocolate plus treats. It’s cold, so dress for bitterness.
2.
Gatineau Park Visitors’ Centre at 33 Scott Rd. Chelsea, Que. ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/ gatineau-park/visitor-information
Gatineau Park features 200 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. Whether you’re a beginner or pro you’ll find easy to challenging pathways.
New to the park? The Visitors’ Centre has guide books, maps, bird checklists, informed staff, plus a small museum where you’ll learn about mammals and birds who live in the park. Examine photos of former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King who lived at Moorside, in what became Gatineau Park.
Simply strap on a pair of snowshoes, then walk. Newbies can try easy Sugarbush Trail, near the Visitors’ Centre, but more than 60 km of gentle to challenging snowshoe trails exist here.
Try snowshoeing amid picturesque architectural ruins at Moorside. Our former PM loved to “collect ruins,” salvaging bits and pieces of buildings to be demolished. He then had them shipped to Moorside. Why not snowshoe among them — then send selfies to friends via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?
During weekends from Jan. 7 to March 12 participate in free, guided snowshoe tours during which animal tracks are explained. (Reservations/info: 819-827-2020; 1-866-456-3016) Cross-country skiing keeners can cheer on or participate in the Gatineau Loppet races, Feb. 17 to 19 (gatineauloppet.com).
ANYTHING MORE IN CHELSEA?
Restaurants (Les Fougères, L’Orée du Bois, Old Chelsea Pub, Biscotti), a bed and breakfast (Auberge Old Chelsea), two art galleries (La Fab, Galerie Old Chelsea), and the Le Nordik spa to relax your muscles. Deniz Rozon is owner-operator of Timberland Tours, where you cannot only watch a thrilling world’s first international dog race (or volunteer to lend a hand on-site) but also experience mushing a team of sled dogs along his well-maintained trails.
IS THIS OK FOR BEGINNERS?
Yes. Rozon breeds and trains dogs to pull sleds for folks like you and me, so count on it. They’re obedient and gentle. Rozon puts two people per sled, where one is sitting while the other actively mushes — and yes, guides train us before we start.
FASTEST DOGS ON PLANET?
On Jan. 14 and 15, Rozon hosts the first Pontiac International Sled Dog and Skijoring Race. Don’t miss this free event where eager doggies leap and bark wildly before the starter gun focuses their energy. International harness dog teams of Eurodogs (a blend of Greyhound, German Pointer and Alaskan Husky breeds) compete in various events. Teams from Europe and the U.S. join Canadians.
4. Strap on your skates!
Want to glide on the ice of a canal or creek? Or skate through a winter wonderland? There are so many options in our area.
SKATE THE RIDEAU CANAL rcs.ncc-ccn.ca
At 7.8 kilometres (from downtown to Dow’s Lake) the Rideau Canal is the world’s largest skating rink. Because it’s long, pretty straight and wide, it’s a great place to learn to skate.
gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15335
Since 1872, Canada’s governors general have welcomed the public to skate at their residence. From Jan. 4 to March 12, 2017, you can skate Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. for free.
69, rue Montcalm, Gatineau
tourismeoutaouais.com This creek creates the island of Old Hull where a portion of is skateable, weather permitting, from 7 a.m. till 10 p.m., daily in season — and it’s free. (Map, access to the rink at gatineau.ca)
Lac des Loups, Que. davemayerconstruction.com
New to the Outaouais this year is Dave Mayer’s frozen pathway he created on his forested property. It sounds fantastic.
5.
Escapade Eskimo Otter Lake, Que. escapade-eskimo.com
Also in Quebec, Caroline Desrosiers and her husband Sylvain Drapeau operate Escapade Eskimo, where they breed, train, and sled with Siberian Huskies.
FROM A COUPLE OF HOURS TO FOUR DAYS
When my husband Eric and I visited last year, we took a two-hour package where we both could mush. Drapeau drove us to the trailhead in his truck. After demonstrating how to mush we were off, with me on the sled until we switched halfway. Be sure to wear very warm clothes.
SEVERAL-DAY TRIPS
Desrosiers and Drapeau offer trips of two-to-four days, which means we can get into the headspace of early explorers who depended on dog teams. Katharine Fletcher is a freelance writer, visual artist and author of historical guides such as Historical Walks: Gatineau Park Story.