Typical Ski Day
Through the week our ski organizers collect the names of those who want to join us on the upcoming Sunday. Members may express an interest in how they would like to cross country ski – faster or slower than they usually do, or maybe who they would like to ski with – and based on that the organizers create groups of six to eight skiers of like mind and ability.
Early Sunday morning a luxury coach travels from downtown Toronto, northbound along Yonge Street, making stops at designated points from Front Street up to York Mills before heading up Highway 400. After a couple of more stops at Major MacKenzie and Highway 9 we are on our way to our ski area. Five Winds maintains approximately 200 km of trails on scenic Crown land in the Gibson River area between Georgian Bay and Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Based on snow and weather conditions and where we haven’t been for a while, the ski organizers decide what part of our trail system we will ski that week. On the way up, the ski organizers speak with the group leaders to tell them who is in their group and where they will be skiing. The group leaders talk with each of the members in their group to review the plan for the day. The ski organizers announce the plan to the bus, including where we will all be picked up at the end of the day.
At our destination we get off the coach at one or more drop-off points. Group by group, we head off in one or more directions. One of the joys of backcountry skiing is the sense of solitude. Our groups are small enough so that everyone gets that feeling, and large enough for safety.
We don’t focus on how many kilometers we ski in a day, we just ski at whatever pace is comfortable for us. Our “jackrabbits” tear along the trail, barely stopping before heading up and down the hills. Our slower groups may take more time to consider their descents and enjoy the scenery.We travel along and up and down the trails, across frozen lakes and along rivers for about six hours. We navigate our way following the trail markers, confirming our location against the map and using compasses when we feel the need. Many of our members know these trails like the backs of their hands but we want everyone in the group to know where they are at all times. Somewhere in the middle we’ll find a nice place to stop for lunch along the trail.
After lunch, it’s a priority to ensure that the group is back to the pickup point to meet the bus. A day on the trails is better than a day in the city but everyone wants to get home too. We stow our skies in the holds below the coach and settle into our seats to enjoy the ride home. Homemade treats usually make their way up and down the rows.On their first time out, new members are placed in a slower group so they have a time to get accustomed to the trails. At the end of each day, the ski organizers check to see if everyone is skiing at the right level – for them. So don’t worry; in no time at all, new members will find their place in the pack.