to -20 ° C , a warm cabin with a stove and a bunk bed sure beats sleeping in a small backpacking tent , sitting on a log , cooking over an open fire , and eating a midday lunch that is inevitably frozen . This type of rustic ski trip seems to have a limited appeal among my circle of acquaintances , and as much as I would have preferred a companion for safety ’ s sake , on this trip I could do an activity that reminded me that I enjoy a challenge , and proved to my older self that I could still handle the cold and exertion that my younger self used to relish .
Spring breakup seemed to be
holding off , so I quickly planned another sortie , this time into the Siffleur Wilderness Area adjoining Banff National Park . This trip did not disappoint ; there is a lot of fun to be had in our Alberta backyard . The mountain scenery on a blue-sky day was memorable as I viewed a panorama of river , mountains , and untracked snow . It was just me and some moose making our way through the valley and each turn in the river brought a new scene of a picturesque landscape .
Near dawn one morning , deep in the forest as I snoozed in my tent , snug in my down sleeping bag waiting for daylight , I was fully woken by the howl of a timber wolf close by . Soon several others joined in . A wolf pack howling is a very wild sound not heard by many people and I thought to myself , “ I will take that as another part of my reward for being here .”
Harry MacKendrick , a teacher in Edmonton for twenty-seven years , has always enjoyed opportunities to go hiking , biking , skiing , and canoeing in Alberta , British Columbia , and Northwest Territories . Today , occasional handyman work is a part of being active .
Live a little .
There are few things better than sitting under a dark , starlit Canadian sky , warm from the crackling fire , and enjoying the silence . Camping continues to be a popular summer activity , though it can feel like a lot of work to either tent or pull a full trailer .
Cees Stolk started Gnome Homes to make it easy to get outdoors and enjoy camping with handmade , Transport Canada – certified , teardrop trailers . They are small enough to be towed by almost any vehicle , but are packed with features including sleeping , eating , and storage space . Choose one of four standard trailer models and then add additional custom features that best suit your needs . Since 2017 , Stolk has produced forty‐five trailers and plans to build another fifty this year , a number that may seem small , but — as Stolk notes — “ quality and craftsmanship cannot be mass produced .”
news & views WINTER 2020 | 39