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X-C Ski Weekend in Kolapore with Kukagame Food (2/3/2012)

PRE-REGISTRATION & ADVANCE PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.After you sign up at the bottom, you will be presented with information about how to pay. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Ski

Event Location:

near Thornbury

Date(s) & Time:

Fri, Feb 3 2012, Sat, Feb 4 2012, Sun, Feb 5 2012 7:00 PM (Carpool Departure: 7:30 PM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Jan 30 2012 5:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

2 overnights (Friday evening to late Sunday afternoon)

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Linda D
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

$113.30/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, All Ages Welcome

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

3 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Please read the entire posting before signing up. If you have any questions, please contact Linda.

Come spend the weekend cross-country skiing the Kolapore Forest Ski Trails while enjoying the creature comforts of a spacious house. We will have good exercise, good food and, hopefully, good fun. Children are welcome as long as they can ski or will be cared for by a parent while others are skiing.

We will leave on Friday evening at 4:30 (or earlier if that works for everybody) from either Downsview or Kipling, depending on the best access for the majority of the participants. We will drive to Kolapore in Grey County, hopefully arriving by 7:30 (at non rush hour times, it is a 2 hour drive) to enjoy a dinner that will be partially prepared before our arrival.

We will spend 2 days skiing or enjoying other outdoor activities and leave late Sunday afternoon. If there is unanimous agreement, we can plan an additional meal and leave after an early dinner.

Accommodation
Your home for the weekend: an ecology designed private residence in the Kolapore Forest, built of strawbale, heated with wood and partly powered by solar electricity. The house is situated in the middle of the Kolapore Ski Trail system and is connected to it via a short, informal trail.

There are two guest bedrooms and a large room on the second level which can accommodate a number of people on beds and additional matresses. There is a lovely stone fire place and a well equipped kitchen. The house has two bathrooms, both with shower facilties and compost toilets. No, you don't have to go outside.

Bedding will be provided, but you may wish to bring a sleeping bag, particularly if you tend to be cold. Please bring your own towels and toilet articles.

NOTE: Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property.

Skiing
If you have skied from the UTOC cabin, you have skied the Kolapore Ski Trails and know the joys. If not, here are a few things you should know.

classic skiing only, as the trails are too narrow for skate skiing

the trails are not track set; if there has been a recent snowfall, we could be breaking trail

corners can be tight and the trails are not always smooth

we will cross a couple of narrow bridges and potential wet spots

50+km of trails, with options for a variety of skill levels but only a few beginner trails which are not directly accessible from the house but are within a 4 km drive from the house

in general, skiing can be more challenging than at a ski resort but more rewarding

if the Kolapore trails are not in good shape, we can drive to Highlands Nordic or Scenic Caves where we would have to pay for trail passes

Snow Shoeing
The team of dedicated volunteers that maintain the trails don’t want us to snow shoe on the trails; nor do I, as it makes skiing much more difficult. However, we are staying on a 9-acre property and can snow shoe there if we do not damage the vegetation. Note that there are no established trails.

Other Activities

We can go to Metcalfe rock and poke around the caves, if we are prepared to get really dirty.

We could also try to build a quinzhee, but I am sleeping in the house.

There are binoculars in the house as well as bird and animal track identification books.

I will try to remember to bring my telescope lenses so we can view the stars if we have a clear night.

Bring your own book to read by the fire or use one from the vast collection in the house.

Board games, if we bring them.

There is a VCR and a DVD player and a few environmentally minded films. I plan to bring along a yoga or pilates tape for some post ski stretching.

Salsa dancing has even occurred in the past

Food

The owner is a long time friend of the Mathers who ran Kukagame Lodge for many years and will be providing similar meals using many of Vicki's recipes. For those that haven't had the delight of Kukagame, think healty, hearty,and homemade.

Meals will be communal. Unlike Kukagame, we will have access to the kitchen and will assist with cleanup and some prep.

On Sunday morning, the homeowner will not be present at breakfast time, so we will have a volunteer prepare that meal.

The owner makes homemade bread, as does Linda, so lessons are certainly an option.

As Linda tries to stick to a vegetarian diet, there will be non-meat options and we will accommodate other dietary restrictions such as vegan, dairy-free, gluten free, etc. but there are no facilities to do Kosher food. We can work out a menu once we know all the food limitations.

Linda is offering to lead the preparation of a Saturday night turkey dinner

Water: the house is on a well and the water supply is unlimited. (This is the area from which President’s Choice gets the water it bottles and sells.)

You may bring alcoholic beverages but please drink responsibly. This is not part of the shared costs.

Required Items to Bring:

skis, poles, boots (if you don’t own them, you can rent at Mountain Equipment Co-op)

ski clothes

head lamp if you wish to night ski

slippers and warm clothes for indoors

money for car pool, shared food costs, and voluntary donation

$45money for resort skiing, if Kolapore trails are in bad shape

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

water bottle

fanny pack or day pack if you plan to carry snacks or drinks while skiing

books

camera

board games

movies

headlamp (if you want to visit the caves or ski in the evening)

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

There are various routes. We will decide a common route so that we drive together. Basically from Shelbourne (on 89), we take 124 north, make a left on 4, a right on 2, and left on Osprey Road.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

320Km

Carpool Departure Time:

7:30 PM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $82.56 (calculated at total Km * $0.258, effective Sunday, April 28, 2024). This is based on $0.08/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Your event coordinator will confirm exactly how much money is required from each person.

Notes:

We will need drivers for this trip that can carry skis in their cars.

If you are offering to drive, please respond stating how many sets of skis you can carry and how many passengers with gear.

I would like one CAA or other emergency roadside assistance covered individual in each car if possible. It is important that we travel relatively close to each other once we leave the major highways.

If we do not get enough drivers, I am willing to rent a car but this will add to the cost of the weekend

- Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid by the registration cut off date. The money must be in the TOC's possession by that date. No exceptions.
- When a minimum group size appears, this is to let you know that the event will be cancelled with full refunds to those who have already paid, if the minimum number of registered participants is not met. For any events where TOC needs a minimum number of participants, there will be absolutely no refund of money if you cancel.
- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:

Member Cost:

$113.30/Person

Cost Includes:

Accommodation as described above.

Transaction fee of $3.30

Map of the trails (otherwise cost would have been $5 at local store)

Some snack food

Basic breakfast each day

Use of the kitchen staples

Payment Cut Off:

Payment must be received by the TOC on Mon, Jan 30 2012.

Make a Payment:

Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!