I smile when
people are surprised at how cold it gets here… its Canada and in
winter…. Yes it’s cold! So I figured, why not make the best of it and
enjoy our Canadian winters! Once you get involved in winter activities,
the ugly cold side of this season seems to lose a bit of its chilling
power. I have to admit; the thought of spending a day skiing at
Mont-Tremblant excites me! If you can‘t get everyone to buy into skiing,why
not simply opt for tobogganing with the family! It is cheap, fun and
believe me, quite the exercise. There are as many winter outdoor
activities as there are preferences. Today I will share one with you:
dog sledding.

I was raised with
dogs. I am not talking about a cute lapdog at the end of my bed; I am
talking about lots and lots of outdoor dogs. For many years, my father
had an outdoor expedition company. Wild camping, wild river canoe trips,
survival expeditions and during winter, nothing less than dog sledding.
There are different ways to experience this kind of outdoor sport: our
way was pretty intense. Let me explain the difference. Some companies
focus on the simple experience of sitting in the sleigh for an hour,
wandering in nature trails. Other companies get involve with the city
during events like Winterlude where a track is prepared for potential
clients who will pay to get a 10-15 minute ride on the sleigh.  

My dad wanted to
offer adventure; a challenge for the mind, the urban citizen and
naturally, a challenge for the body. His expeditions took place in the
middle of nowhere, hours away from civilization. For 3 to 7 days, the
explorers lived an incredible experience. Each of them had his own
sleigh with his own dogs (7-9 dogs per sleigh). Each explorer learned to
talk to the dogs, understood the terrain as well as developed a
relationship with the sleigh. The whole group would travel in the woods
for about 6 hours a day, 3 hours in the morning and 3 more hours after
lunch. You really do connect with nature during such an experience. You
truly live the beauty of silence, the connection with the rest of the
planet… nothing interferes with the moment, it is all about the
immediate present and it is an awesome feeling!  

One thing I have
noticed during those expeditions, is how good everything tastes and how
comforting a hot beverage is when you are outside ALL DAY!  

Today, there is no more Huskies or Malamutes, no more sleighs
and no more wild winter expeditions with European tourists; but I have
profound memories that I keep close to my heart. Usually, it takes a
simple cup of hot chocolate or cappuccino to feel the experience of the
trails again, the sound of the snow sliding under the wooden skies of
the sleigh and the pure feeling of freedom.  

Smells, tastes,
sight and sounds are lived in the present as well as in the past. By
creating beautiful, odorant and tasty memories, we assure ourselves a
vast collection of them, which in turn provide us with tones of smiles
and beautiful moments.

So if you are like
me and hot chocolate brings with it warming moments, don’t be sad, you
can still have a warm cup of coco! You just need a packet of chocolate
drink, warm water and a pinch of cinnamon and voilà!