One of Canada’s favourite winter activities is lacing up the skates and feeling the wind blow through your hair.
There are a number of great locations in Jasper National Park to hit the ice for a family skate this winter. From Pyramid Lake to the new Marmot Meadows Hub, the opportunity to skate while enjoying our natural surroundings is too good to pass up.
The skating on Mildred Lake around Jasper Park Lodge is almost as legendary as the Rideau Canal Skateway in our National Capital.
Last winter was unique and one of the best ever on the lakes of Jasper National Park. Cold clear nights last November resulted in some of the longest periods of skating ever on some lakes, especially along the Highway 16 corridor.
Mother Nature will have the ultimate say on conditions for 2015-16, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is nothing quite like a skate on a frozen lake during a Canadian winter.
This year, the Marmot Meadows Winter Hub offers the authentic outdoor all-Canadian skating experience. On the weekends, along with the man-made ice rink, our Parks Canada interpreters will be ready to tell stories complete with a campfire and a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up.
There will also be Aboriginal programming where you can learn to cook bannock and eat it too.
An essential part of any winter adventure is preparation. Skating outdoors requires a check of the weather forecast so there are no surprises midway through your outing. The general rule of thumb is that ice needs to be at least 10 centimetres thick, and if it’s one of those impromptu shinny hockey games, you will need another three centimetres to be on the safe side.
Finding the right conditions is most challenging early in the year, so knowing the lay of the land and flow of water can be extremely helpful. Ice thickness is weakest around underwater springs, around lake out and in flows and around beaver dams and muskrat push-ups.
Creeks and rivers are still flowing and currents can have a big impact on the thickness of the ice. You can always stick close to the shore, and remember clear ice is actually stronger than white ice.
Parks Canada does not mark or test ice conditions, but it does provide some helpful tips to ensure a safe skating experience. Find more information on the Parks website at
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/hiver-winter/Patin-skate.aspx.
Some of our greatest winter athletes started their ascent to greatness on lakes and streams across the country. Jasper National Park offers some of the greatest scenery as a backdrop for skating you will find anywhere in the world. Maybe you will be in the presence of the next Canadian superstar.
The key, as always, is to be prepared for anything, including fun!
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
