Are you feeling Quinzee?

A few snowshoe buddies and I came across an odd, deserted winter camp in Gatineau Park over the weekend, which was blessed with perfect winter weather - fresh snow, sunshine, and cold. And finally, no rain or freezing rain!

"It looks like Armageddon! What happened here?"

 A few snow-entrenched fire pits smoked.

There were odd rows of six foot long trenches in the snow, 4 or 5 big snow domes with sticks and small shovels poking out of them, and camping gear strewn about.

"Hey, anybody in there!?" There was no answer. All the winter campers were off playing in the woods somewhere.

"What the heck are these man-made things?"

Then, I remembered a group of 10 snowshoers with heavily-loaded backpacks and shovels that we crossed paths with as we headed out and up a trail for a day snowshoe around Lac Philippe. They were heading back from a winter camping trip. All were smiling.

I asked, "Are you happy to be getting out of here and back to civilization?"

One smiled even larger and said, "I don't know. Might miss the quinzees!"

Why do people build these snow shelters called quinzees? Why do they like it? Why do they miss their quinzees when they leave? The only answer I can come up with is . . . it must be fun?

What is a quinzee?

A quinzee (or quinzhee) looks like an igloo, but instead of being made out of blocks of hard snow or ice, a quinzee is a snow shelter made by hollowing out a big pile of packed-down shoveled snow. They look like snow domes.

Quinzees take a few hours to build. That's probably why people like to do this activity in groups. And it's hard work. Bring lots of big, strong friends who like to shovel snow for hours.

It's hard for me to believe you can actually stay warm when camping in the winter inside a quinzee. But it would seem to be warmer and more insulated from the cold and wind than a tent.

Here’s how they build quinzees.

With shovels and snow and sticks!

• The hard working campers pile a bunch of snow into a mound seven to eight feet high, hoping that it will be big enough to hold about two people once it is hollowed out. You wouldn't want to get lonely in there. Hopefully, one of the industrious builders will invite you in, because you just sat around and watched them toil.
• You have to mix up the snow when you pile it into a big mound to mix snow of varying temperatures, otherwise it won't harden, or sinter.
• Then start packing it down and shaping that big mound of snow into a dome and let it harden for a couple of hours.
• Dig a small doorway on the downhill side.
• Next hollow out the mound from the top down.
• Smooth out the walls and ceiling.
• Walls should be one to two feet thick.

I was wondering why there were sticks, poking out of the quinzees. I thought they were air holes, but they are measuring sticks, so you know to stop hollowing out the inside when you see the ends of the sticks.

A small ventilation hole is dug out near the top of the quinzee. You wouldn't want things to get too steamy in there.

You need to mark the entrance of the quinzee in case it gets covered with fresh snowfall while you are away. "Hey honey, do you remember where we put the door?!"

Sleep with a small shovel (or two) inside in case you need to dig yourself out! Isn't that obvious? Bring lots of extra shovels and leave them around your quinzee so friends can dig you out if you didn't build it right!

Cross your fingers that you don't get rain or freezing rain while you sleep. Keep track of the weather conditions. You need optimal conditions to "Get Quinzee!"

And here's a new thing I learned, burying your water jugs in a snowdrift insulates the water and keeps it from freezing. Or, it should . . .

Are you feeling quinzee?

Let the sun shine on your quinzee building. The full sun just ain't no good for shooting winter scenes. Or is it . . . ?

Happy trails.
The BaffinPaddler

Are you bored of the indoor yoga studio? Winter wilderness yoga in a tree with your dog.

There's nothing wrong with being a little different once in a while. Enjoy!

I find striking a few yoga poses in the outdoors is refreshing, inspiring, and invigorating. Just don't fall out of the tree.

The dog seems to think it is a silly idea.

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Are you running from ice or looking for it? Montagne d'Argent Ice Climbers

While most of us turn back on steep mountain snowshoe trails covered in ice and slippery rock after last week's big melt with lots of rain, freezing rain, and then sudden freeze (and rightly so to turn back), the ice climbers are out in force at Montagne d'Argent (Parc d'Escalade et de Randonnée de la Montagne d'Argent), in La Conception, Quebec, Canada, 10 minutes north of Tremblant.

They like ice!  It's ice pic and crampon weather. And the climbers are well-equipped with helmets, harnesses, and ropes. There's natural ice and man-made ice to climb at this internationally known climbing mountain.

I'll never understand why they do this, but it's interesting to watch.
  
Montagne d'Argent is also a great snowshoe spot when there's lots of snow, especially if you like a bit of a challenge and to hang onto a few ropes tied to trees as you make your way up and down some of the steeper trails. Timing is everything. Later, I'll post about the awesome snow-filled trek I had here when there was 60 centimetres of snow and fresh powder to get lost in.

Happy trails.
The BaffinPaddler

You and your kayak

You and your kayak . . . or one you borrowed for kayak camping.

It's bigger than your tent. I hope so, or the tent won't fit in one of the hatches.

The places you take it.

The places it takes you.

It's pretty amazing.

The memories last forever.

And . . . after a trip, we forget about all the work it was to get there, to plan and pack, and other stuff like bugs or things that bug you.

A great place to be . . . is a place you can take a kayak.

Happy trip planning! Winter is a great time to plan or take off on a trip.

The BaffinPaddler

Snowshoeing Hot Spots

There are some places that make you love snowshoeing. I call them Snowshoeing Hot Spots. I'm starting a list of snowshoe trails and spots I like. Some are flat and open. Some are steep and make me climb and hang onto ropes. Others make me duck under trees.

The views vary. All are awesome. Dense snow-laden forests, frozen lakes, open fields, and mountain trails and ridges.

Maybe you're like me and others I know who used to say, "Snowshoeing!? How boring! I'd rather ski!"

I'm a convert. Someone turned me onto snowshoeing. Thanks! I love it! And now, I'm doing the same. Turning others onto it. There are more and more of us on the snowshoe trails. Thankfully. We need friends to help tromp down all that snow and mark the trails. Breaking new trail is hard work in heavy snow!

It's amazing to witness the change in someone who once said, "Snowshoeing! How boring!"

Now I'm saying, "Hey, wait for me!",  in more and more places. Snowshoe converts are leaving me in the dust. But at least they wait for me along the way.

I still love skiing, but, there are days when I'm cross-country skiing and thinking, "I'd rather be snowshoeing." There are lots of Snowshoe Hot Spots. Here's to finding as many as we can.

Winter sports are great. Enjoy.

My next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website where I'm a regular blogger, if you'd like to check it out:

Snowshoeing Hot Spots in the 1000 Islands, Ontario

Happy trails! Stay warm and safe.
The BaffinPaddler

Snowshoe to yoga: Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

 When we reached the La Roche lookout overlooking Lac Monroe in Mont Tremblant National Park (Parc National du Mont Tremblant) after an hour and a half trek up the La Roche Trail in snowshoes, I said, "I'm going to do a little yoga up here."

A small group of snowshoers from New York State in the U.S. were up there too having a lunch break. They laughed, "Yoga in snowshoes?" It's a funny joke, right. But I wasn't kidding.

It is possible to strike a few yoga poses without removing the snowshoes. But, when it's -16 to -19 Celsius, the cameraman has to snap quickly before the fingers and the camera lens and battery freezes.

It's awesome! Snowshoeing and yoga. Both are powerful for body, mind, and soul. Combining the two, even better. One complements the other. I love my snowshoes. I love yoga. I love great views. You can have it all. It's my first snowshoe to yoga, but not my last.

Enjoy your winter snowshoes and yoga sessions in awe-inspiring spots with a view.

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Kayak Mancala

This is what I call it anyway: Kayak Mancala. What is Kayak Mancala?

It's simple! Kayak to an island or beach of your choice, and make yourself an awesome Mancala game out of what you find on the beach.

Don't know the Mancala game? 

I didn't either a few years ago. Then, my Mom gave me a store-bought board game one Christmas. Thanks Mom! The game board is made of wood, and comes with 48 glass stones.

I love playing Mancala outdoors, usually in the summer, with my store-bought game or by making my own Mancala game on a beach. You can find a beach somewhere year round.

I spend a lot of time on beaches with my kayak looking at rocks and pebbles.

One day, sitting around on a beach, I said, "OK, it's time to do something with these pebbles besides just sit here and look at them."

I grabbed a big stick and started drawing my own Mancala game board in the sand. 

My paddle partner asked, "What are you doing now!?"

Me: "Gather 48 pebbles and I'll show you!"

Paddle partner: "Do I really have to do this?"

Me: . . . silent, still drawing in the sand.

Paddle partner: . . . busy gathering granite pebbles.
 
The outcome

I built the game in the sand, taught the paddle partner how to play Mancala, and . . . the paddle partner beat me each game. Seems winning is fun.

Me: "Do we have to play this again?!"

Paddle partner: "Come on, one more game!"

If you want to know how to play Beach Mancala and make your own game, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website, where I'm a regular blogger.

 How to play Beach Mancala, by Peggy Varner, The BaffinPaddler

You don't need a kayak to play Beach Mancala. But to play Kayak Mancala, you do!

Enjoy the great, ancient game of Mancala anywhere, anytime, especially at the beach. I hope you're spending some time at a beach or two this winter! Especially if you live in a northern clime. Winter is so long and cold in the North!

Happy New Year. May this new year be one of your best!
The BaffinPaddler