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Now that the holidays are over, it won’t be long before the city plunges into the depths of the winter blahs. The gyms eventually thin out as drunken resolutions of a “healthier me” start to go by the wayside, and people give up on keeping their cars, boots, and travel bags salt-free. If we’re not hearing it yet, we will soon be subject to that all-too-familiar grumbling about too much snow, scraping the windows, or more often, about how cold it is. Well, this is Ottawa…
Yet every year people stand huddled at the bus stops like groups of slighted blackbirds, or walk hastily from place to place, hunched over and wearing an expression that could melt a snowman. I say this because I’ve been in that group of blackbirds, and am guilty of melting my share of snowmen. But winter doesn’t have to be about treacherous road conditions or salt-stained pants; especially when Ottawa and the surrounding valley have so much to offer during the winter months.
There is an old saying: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Often times it is delivered tongue-in-cheek by those snow-loving humans you see out in the -20 weather, smiling — smiling — as they go about their business. Typically it’s met with a blunt stare and offensive muttering, but the truth is they’re right.
Just 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa there are all sorts of activities to participate in: alpine skiing at Camp Fortune and Mont Cascades, snowshoeing the Greenbelt (Shirley’s Bay and Stony Swamp in the west, and Green’s Creek and Mer Bleue in the east), and cross country ski trails anywhere from Mooney’s Bay to Kanata, to the Gatineau hills. For those who are looking for a lower key activity, many hiking trails are still open throughout the region, and avid birders know that the season is an excellent time to take pictures of overwintering species, as well as grab a glimpse of some rarer ones not found any other time of the year.
Ottawa’s various altitudes and terrains offer people a smorgasbord of activity options to chase away the winter blues, but cost is always a concern, especially after the holidays. The good thing is that all of these activities can be done on a budget. For outerwear, a waterproof outer layer and one to two warmer layers underneath are sufficient, as well as a comfortable pair of boots, toque, and mitts — items many Ottawans already have. Many of the ski hills have two-for-one deals where you can buy a lift pass for less than $15 a person, and for those without skis, rentals are usually less than $30. Hiking and birding are both free, and simply require a drive out to the trail parking lots. Bird guides can be found at the local libraries, and binoculars for the casual birder can be picked up locally for less than $15. Most cross country ski trails are also free, and those which require a fee cost less than your morning latte. For those who don’t have equipment, there are various rental sites around town, which will rent equipment for as little as $25 for an entire weekend of skiing.
Many of us don’t tolerate the cold very well, but if we have something to look forward to, it makes getting through the winter months more bearable — even enjoyable. The options are vast and even within an activity there are various locations to enjoy the outdoors and take in Ottawa’s beautiful scenery. It’s certainly a good way to beat the winter blahs, get fit, and spend time with family and friends. And you won’t even feel bad for skipping the gym.
Agnes Cadieux is an Ottawa writer and student in biological science at the University of Ottawa.
查看原文...
Yet every year people stand huddled at the bus stops like groups of slighted blackbirds, or walk hastily from place to place, hunched over and wearing an expression that could melt a snowman. I say this because I’ve been in that group of blackbirds, and am guilty of melting my share of snowmen. But winter doesn’t have to be about treacherous road conditions or salt-stained pants; especially when Ottawa and the surrounding valley have so much to offer during the winter months.
There is an old saying: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Often times it is delivered tongue-in-cheek by those snow-loving humans you see out in the -20 weather, smiling — smiling — as they go about their business. Typically it’s met with a blunt stare and offensive muttering, but the truth is they’re right.
Just 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa there are all sorts of activities to participate in: alpine skiing at Camp Fortune and Mont Cascades, snowshoeing the Greenbelt (Shirley’s Bay and Stony Swamp in the west, and Green’s Creek and Mer Bleue in the east), and cross country ski trails anywhere from Mooney’s Bay to Kanata, to the Gatineau hills. For those who are looking for a lower key activity, many hiking trails are still open throughout the region, and avid birders know that the season is an excellent time to take pictures of overwintering species, as well as grab a glimpse of some rarer ones not found any other time of the year.
Ottawa’s various altitudes and terrains offer people a smorgasbord of activity options to chase away the winter blues, but cost is always a concern, especially after the holidays. The good thing is that all of these activities can be done on a budget. For outerwear, a waterproof outer layer and one to two warmer layers underneath are sufficient, as well as a comfortable pair of boots, toque, and mitts — items many Ottawans already have. Many of the ski hills have two-for-one deals where you can buy a lift pass for less than $15 a person, and for those without skis, rentals are usually less than $30. Hiking and birding are both free, and simply require a drive out to the trail parking lots. Bird guides can be found at the local libraries, and binoculars for the casual birder can be picked up locally for less than $15. Most cross country ski trails are also free, and those which require a fee cost less than your morning latte. For those who don’t have equipment, there are various rental sites around town, which will rent equipment for as little as $25 for an entire weekend of skiing.
Many of us don’t tolerate the cold very well, but if we have something to look forward to, it makes getting through the winter months more bearable — even enjoyable. The options are vast and even within an activity there are various locations to enjoy the outdoors and take in Ottawa’s beautiful scenery. It’s certainly a good way to beat the winter blahs, get fit, and spend time with family and friends. And you won’t even feel bad for skipping the gym.
Agnes Cadieux is an Ottawa writer and student in biological science at the University of Ottawa.
查看原文...
