Another busy week, and play time was forced to wait till the weekend.

Saturday

Sunday

Snowshoeing behind the cottage at Lac Mercier.

Saturday

I was sick this week, and didn’t get outside for most of it. Saturday, downhill at Mont Tremblant with the family. Two hours of free ski during their lessons, then green circles with the kids. Some blue squares now, which is an unheralded Big Moment in Parenting.

Sunday

Skating Lac Mercier with the family.

Monday

Freezing rain put a shell on all the beautiful powder we’ve gotten, but there’s always a sport to match the conditions. This time snowshoeing.

I went out for a half hour, but stayed an hour and a half, once more, completely lost in my backyard woods as the sun goes down.

Tuesday

First cross country ski of the year, getting reacquainted with beautiful Gatineau Park in wintertime. I took a trail near my house I’ve taken a dozen times, but somehow found this short trail stub that brought me to a lake lookout I’d never seen before. This is (one of) the magical attributes of Gatineau Park. You always find new things.

Halfway into my ski I crossed the groomer, and had this beautiful cream to ski the downhill return trip.

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Thursday

One of my favourite times of day to be out in the woods is late afternoon/ pre-sunset, when the sideways light casts great shadows across each scene, with random details highlighted. There’s a kind of magic to it, especially off trail in the bush where the sunlight comes through in 3-dimensional blocks of light. Thursday was quick and beautiful xc ski.

I cast a long shadow in the Parc.

Saturday

Rainy day of downhill at Mont Tremblant. The kids were in lessons, so we couldn’t miss the chance for “free” skiing.

Sunday

Sunday was a day of rest. Of a sort. A family xc ski along Lac Mercier (Mont Tremblant)

The January thaw leaves a hockey net wet and lonely. A Sutter-esque commentary on the state of the game in Canada?