Sat, Apr 5 2008 - Xtreme Spring Skiing at Highlands Nordic (View Original Event Details)
|  |
It was another small x country skiing event with Matt driving his Mini, named Red Light Rogue, a new member Lily, and me, David. I just don’t get it. Why are TOCers so anxious to start hiking and cycling when snow still blankets the ground and x-country resorts are still open? I am forced to surmise, though it is hard to believe, that some people must have other, for them even greater out door loves. Strange priorities…
We arrived at Highlands Nordic, just south of Collingwood around 11:30 am, ready to hit the trails for one last time this season. Since it was Lily’s first time on x-country skis, I gave her a quick, basic lesson and went with her for a circuit around the beginner loop. Meanwhile, Matt zoomed off on the trail system.
Now, I had promised that I would wear my bathing suite if it were warm enough. And in the morning I did - after a fashion. After imparting the basics to Lily, I took off on the 10 km trail. The skiing was quite nice, though as it got warmer and warmer it got very slow and soft. There was, however, lots of snow, a base of around 20cms and no bare spots.
Once I got back to the chalet in the mid afternoon, I met Lily who had been around the beginner trail a total of 4 times (!), and was now, very understandably, tired and a bit sore. Over a quick lunch we started wondering where Matt was, as neither of us had seen him since arrival. Just to be absolutely sure, we noted that the mini was still in the parking lot. And I figured he was Ok, having survived various and sundry strenuous winter camping trips, when the temperature actually dipped below zero.
Talking about the weather, by this time it was really warm, specifically it was 14c in the shade and 20c in the sun! And so it was time for real bathing suite skiing and photo documentation thanks to Lilly. I took off for another round on the orange trail and met Matt about to duck into the chalet. He had just finished the orange trail twice, about 20 kms. I continued on my way, wearing significantly less clothing than usual, and nevertheless still perspiring. I was thinking about how to cool off, perhaps taking a little dip in one of the little ponds that had sprung up in low spots near the trail. However, I thought better of it, since I was unsure how well I could swim while wearing my skis. About half way through the ski Matt caught up to me and we spent the next while skiing together back to the chalet.
On the way back to Toronto, we decided to go out to dinner. Lily suggested she take us to her favourite Chinese restaurant called the Backyard Garden, on Steeles near Warden. The food was really good and nice and spicy too. Plus I learned how to say, “Thank you” in Mandarin. Fully sated we said good-bye to Lily and Matt drove I to the subway
Well, that seems like the end of the ski season, though I am all but certain that there would be enough snow to ski next weekend. It would be fun to post a trip entitled "Ultra Xtreme Spring Skiing". But how can you beat skiing in the bright sun, at 20c? Though next time I’ll remember the sun block…
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.