Monday, February 14, 2011

Winter Fun Day in pictures

Algonquin Outfitters' Winter Fun Day at Oxtongue Lake was a great success by all accounts. Not only did lots of people show up and have fun but the weather was good, the ice on the lake cooperated, and the fresh snow really helped. Our staff, assorted volunteers and other helpers all contributed 110% to make it a fine weekend in the snow. Thanks everybody!

The Oxtongue Lake store was ready for action first thing in the morning
The demo area on the lake got busy early on

Jeremy and Mike made a giant pile of snow on Friday. By Saturday, Nate was able to hollow it out into a liveable Quinzee. 
Our igloo-smiths, Andrea and Paul, got going on the IceBox igloo
The friendly Chocpaw dogs are always ready to pull
Two men and boy are no problem for six Alaskans
These two are pretty happy campers. Thanks to the Blue Spruce for use of the trails!
The Atlas Snowshoe demo tent was busy all day - thanks to Paul Young of Atlas.
These young fellow took our advice to "have fun in the snow" quite literally.
Dan Mahony of Ski for Life explains the finer points of XC skiing.
Dan demonstrates the "no poles" drill with a beautiful sky behind him.
The group tries to keep up with Dan.
After a private lesson with Joan Mahony, this little girl is a "skier for life."
The igloo grew steadily all day.
On Sunday, the 16th annual Ragged Falls snowshoe hike took place.
Ragged Falls is always spectacular!
We saw some interesting animal tracks. I'm thinking mink.
The woman in green and the bearded man recently moved to Canada and snowshoed for the first time at Winter Fun Day!

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Winter Fun Day is coming up Feb. 12

Winter fun in the great outdoors is the theme of the annual Winter Fun Day, hosted by Algonquin Outfitters, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. We've got lots of snow up here and are looking forward to another great event. This free, family-oriented, event takes place at the Oxtongue Lake location, just west of Algonquin Park, on Hwy. 60, about 30 km east of Huntsville. Winter Fun Day is designed to introduce people to self-propelled (or at least non-motorized) winter activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skate skiing, winter camping and dog sledding, as well as provide a host of opportunities to simply have fun in the snow.

This year’s event will pack a host of activities into a single day. You could drive a dog team, learn how to build a snow shelter, try skate skiing, go on a snowshoe hike, learn about winter camping, enter a snowshoe race (and hopefully finish!), play snow games and more! Representatives from Atlas and MSR snowshoes will be here to show off ( and let you try out) their newest new winter products. Lunch is always a highlight of any winter activity and barbeque fare will be available.

Equipment for all activities will be provided free of charge for Winter Fun Day participants and a heap of door prizes will be given away throughout the event.

For more information, please call Algonquin Outfitters, 1-800-469-4948 (705-635-2243).
Igloo building with the Ice Box
Trying out snowshoes on Oxtongue Lake
Sled dogs need a lunch break too
Please note that there is a charge for dog sled rides and a family rate is available. Dog sled rides are booked that day on a first-come first-served basis, so sign up early and avoid disappointment.
Here is a general overview of the day:

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011:

9 am: Algonquin Outfitters opens

10 - 4 pm: dog sled rides - please sign up to make sure you get a ride!

10 -12: morning program (x-c ski lessons, ski and snowshoes demos, snowshoe hike, igloo building, dog sled rides, etc.)

12 - 2: lunch

1 - 5: afternoon program (ski lessons, ski and snowshoe demos, snow volleyball.)

Sunday, Feb. 13:

10 - noon: 17th annual Ragged Falls Snowshoe Adventure Hike

Advance registration is not required - simply show up! All events take place in the immediate area of our Oxtongue Lake store (except the Ragged Falls hike - car pooling req'd).

Dog sled rides are provided by Chocpaw Expeditions. For more information on their programs visit their web site.

Ski lessons are provided by Ski for Life. For more information on their programs visit their web site.

If you are on Facebook, check out the Winter Fun Day Facebook page. Let us know you are coming, see a slide show of past events and tell us what you think!