In a Gatineau
cabin with the kids
Lots of laughs, not much sleep
By KATHLEEN WILKEr
TWO YEARS AGO on a snowy late-winter
weekend we joined up with two other
families on a ski-in cabin adventure with kids.
Collectively, we had six of them under the age of
five. Make that eight under the age of five, since
one of the mamas was pregnant with twins.
Bunk beds with foam mattresses, fire- of snowy fun and great
wood and a wood stove, pots and pans, memories to take home
and an outhouse, were waiting for us in from a ski-in sleepover.
Booking a cabin
what had to be a rustic, homey setting. We stayed on Lac Philippe, in one of
To get started, contact www.
We parked at P19 on the road into Lac the four cabins and two yurts that can
canadascapital.gc.ca/gatineau,
Philippe and skied about two kilometres be reserved in the park. They’re usually
the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre,
to the cabin on well-groomed trails, booked well in advance, first through
or
infoski@demsis.ca, or 819-
a relatively short trip for our gang of the lottery system (see sidebar) and 827-2020. Maps of the park,
young skiers. Some skied the whole way, then on a first-come, first-served basis complete with ski trails, are
some hiked the snowshoe path parallel at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre,
available at the centre.
to the ski trail, others hopped on and off 33 Scott Road, Chelsea, Que. www.
To book the Lac Philippe,
the sleds their parents were hauling. The
canadascapital.gc.ca/gatineau/.
Pines (also on Lac Philippe)
one-year-old slept in a backpack all the Our cabin was available because no
and Brown Lake cabins, fill out
a reservation form available
way to the cabin. one thought there would be enough
through the Visitor’s Centre in
The trip was easy because six parents snow for skiing over Easter. Warmer
the fall. A lucky few would-be
were on hand to haul sleds, carry back- weather made the trip more fun for the
overnighters are chosen by
packs and cajole each other’s tired trav- kids, who could play in the snow for
random draw, and you have
ellers. There wasn’t much sleeping that hours without getting cold. Soggy mitts
to pay within 48 hours of
night, but forts were built outside, snow and socks were easy to dry out on the being contacted. Bookings for
holes were dug, hills were slid down, rafters over the wood stove. The adults locations not reserved through
an Easter egg hunt went into operation took turns hanging out with the kids and
random draw are available on
(this was really late winter), sandwiches, going for their own big ski.
a first come, first served basis
burritos and pancakes were gobbled We brought food, water, sleeping
through the Visitor Centre as of
up and stories were told. All in all, a lot bags, some kitchen utensils and candles.
Nov. 30.
Lusk Cabin is reserved
The cabin was
differently. Four draws take
clean and cozy.
place during ski season for the
The sleeping area
following month to open up the
was in a room off
opportunity for more people.
the kitchen/dining
• Nov. 30 (for December
area, so there was reservations) / • Dec. 7 (for
a safe indoor play January) / • Jan. 4 (for February)
space for children
/ • Feb. 1 (for March reservations)
away from the
Friday and Saturday overnight
sion
hot stove. Later,
stays cost $25 per adult if you
adults could stay
have a ski pass, $30 if you don’t.
c
ommis
al
For children it’s $15. P
it
up playing cards
Weeknight (Thursday through
c
a
without disturbing
Sunday) prices are $20 per adult
the sleeping kids.
tional
with a ski pass, $25 without, and
: na
Being a large
$12 per child.
party, we booked
t
o credit
the whole cabin. I’m
Pho
22 OTTAWA magazine fall/winter 2009/2010
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38