Cross-Country Skiing
Winter adventures haven’t come to an end just yet. There are lots of fun activities to explore, one of which is cross-country skiing, which I haven’t tried for years now. The Mactaquac Provincial Park offers groomed trails for cross-country skiers to spend some fun time outdoor. It’s enjoyable, especially when the temperature is mild. Other places, such as parks and trails in the city are easily accessible for skiers who do not wish to travel far.
Yesterday was a great day for skiing. It wasn’t windy at all, and temperature was around o °C. I couldn’t ask for a better day! The trail we went on, was about 5 km in length. Cross-country skiing is an exciting sport, even though it’s not the same as downhill skiing which I’m more familiar with. It took me a while before I grasp the skiing techniques. I felt great when I was finally able to coordinate my arms and legs, as well as feet movement, while cruising along the trail. Thanks to Dave for his demonstrations and tips! It’s amazing how fast one can move with cross-country skis, quicker than a runner!
The nicely groomed trails for cross-country skiing.
Skiers and their dog were having a great time on the trail.
Scenic winter view in the woods.
Thick snow on the ground, accumulated from numerous snowstorms.
Looking up to the sky in the woods.
Skiing while enjoying the beauty of nature was a serene experience.
A steep slope for recreational sliding and tobogganing.
The snowmobile trail.
Snowmobilers with their snowmobiles in front of the lodge.
The birch tree. Have you ever wonder what you can do with the birch bark?
Dave demonstrated how to light a fire with the birch bark, which can be easily removed from the tree trunk.
Besides using it to start a fire, the strong and water-resistant birch bark can be used for canoe, crafts, and even as a substitute for paper! Some valuable maps and manuscripts from the olden days were drawn and written on birch barks.
Treemoss (grey or greenish) was hanging on the tree branches.
Widely known as Treemoss, Beard Lichen, or Old Man’s Beard, Usnea is the generic name for this strange-looking plant. It’s sensitive to air pollution; the cleaner the air, the longer it grows (10-20 cm)! Usnea is famous for its medical applications. What else can you use it for? I’ve used it to clean dirt off my shoes when walking in the muddy woods during the summer. You’ll be amazed how useful it is!
March 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
[...] other exciting winter activities can you think of, besides downhill skiing and cross-country skiing that I previously blogged about? How about skating? It can be enjoyed even in some warm countries [...]