Spring may be just around the corner, but as Dave Sullivan discovers, March is the time of year when many Yellowknifers flock to the outdoors, desperate to get a taste of those last day's of winter
Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 28/01) - A brisk breeze whips across a frozen, snow-covered lake 40 minutes outside of Yellowknife.
Standing still, the wind seems to go right through your bones, but with an elevated heartbeat from keeping on the move with a party of adventurers, not willing to let winter get them down, the body stays almost toasty.
"The best things in life are free," noted Heather Keetch, who, hiking in snowshoes, is one of the many outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of Ecology North's March 18 outing.
Keetch, an avid hiker, regularly attends these monthly outings organized by Ecology North. She likes trekking in winter because there are no shrubs or snags to stumble over.
Twenty-five people gathered earlier this month to hike about five kilometres on the organization's latest eco-friendly adventure.
This month's theme was to teach participants how to build a snow shelter and watch for caribou. "It's nice to do something outdoors and get away from the city," says Tara Altimas. A physiotherapist, this was her first outing with Ecology North.
The two snow shelters the group built are called quinzhees. Even though snow conditions this year were not perfect for making a quinzhee, Bob Reid and the group managed fine.
No stranger to building a snow house, Reid's job as a hydrologist with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development sees him travelling on a lot of bush flights.
"The snow is crystally. It needs to be fluffy and have more moisture to make it set faster," he said.
Still, one built by the participants was sturdy and big enough to seat five. For stretching out during an overnight stay, though, it would best be suited for two.
Next month's Ecology North outing will explore winter photography.
