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Once essential modes of winter travel, activities like dog sledding, snowshoeing, sleigh riding and cross-country skiing now entice people looking for good old-fashioned mountain fun in the great outdoors. This winter, we invite you to get close to nature (and far from crowds) via these accessible, tried and true methods.

DOG SLEDDING Used for thousands of years by Aboriginal Peoples, dog sledding was adopted in the 1880s by the North West Mounted Police as a means of rapid, long distance winter transport. In the 1920s, Englishman Ike Mills was an active local dog musher, transporting mail by dog sled and even organizing a race from Banff to Calgary.

“Dog sledding was Canada’s signature sport before hockey,” says Canmore-based Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours’ Connie Arsenault. Megan Routley of Kingmik Dog Tours in Banff National Park echoes dog sledding’s significance to Canadian heritage. “Canada would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for dog teams in the win-ter and canoes in the summer."

The energy and excitement of dog sledding make it a favourite winter activity. Tours allow casual participants insight into the culture and lifestyle of dog sled travel. You can interact with the dogs, oftentimes drive your own sled, or simply relax and drink in the crisp air and stun-ning mountain views. Pristine backcountry trails offer an enchanting experience where the only noises are the dogs' paws hitting the soft snow, and the occasional ‘swoosh’ as the sled glides around a corner.

Over the years, sleds have become faster and safer to operate, thanks to Teflon, plastics and different types of wood. “The equipment is evolving. You won’t find whale ribs, antlers or animal hides anymore,” Arsenault says. Sleds are now constructed to accommodate everyone from infants to the elderly. They offer comfort and warmth beneath blankets.

It’s easy to see why winter has gone to the dogs. As for the mushers, “it’s a lifestyle—it gets right under your skin,” Routley says. Dog sled tours pages 50 and 106.

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M arvel at snow-capped peaks from the cozy comfort of a horse-drawn

carriage, hot chocolate in hand. Or strap on snowshoes and venture

deep into a valley glistening in winter glory. However you prefer to play, ’tis

the season to explore Canada’s Rockies in all their snowy splendour.

By Afton Aikens

Old-Fashioned

Dog sledding, snowshoeing, sleigh riding & Nordic skiing

MountainFUN

SNOWSHOEING If you want to burn energy, snowshoeing is a fun, low-impact and low-cost activity. It requires little planning, simple gear and no experience. Luckily, here in the Rockies there’s no shortage of powder to sink those snowshoes into! Join a local operator on a guided tour, or rent snowshoes and be your own guide.

“Snowshoeing is the fastest growing sport in North America,” says Mark Zanetti, sales man-ager at Discover Banff Tours. “People from all walks of life try it out and to their surprise find it not difficult at all. We tell guests that if you can walk, you can snowshoe!”

Discover Banff Tours offers a four-hour guided snowshoeing tour through magical Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park. Explore the wonders of this 40-metre deep limestone gorge, see trapping tools and snares once used by fur traders and end on a sweet note with hot maple taffy made in the snow by your guide.

Wood and rawhide snowshoes that resemble tennis rackets are an iconic image of the sport’s ancestry. First Nations hunters wore them on long treks. But snowshoeing has transformed

from a necessity of winter life to a favourite fresh-air activity. Nowadays, the shoes are lightweight and made of metal alloy or polymer frames. They have hinged bindings with claws that assist with walking uphill. Participants are “connected to the natural environment, and to the history and culture of the mountain parks,” Zanetti notes.

Gordon Stermann of White Mountain Adven-tures says his Snowshoeing on Top of the World tour, which includes Sunshine Village gondola and chairlift rides to peak-studded terrain above treeline, leaves participants happily tired. “You get to play in the soft deep snow and just let go,” he says. “Views are out of this world and there’s an authentic sense of winter.” Gear rentals and tours pages 48 and 105. Dedicated snowshoeing trails page 49.

SLEIGH RIDING A horse-drawn carriage ride is the perfect addi-tion to a winter getaway. Historically, sleighs offered a practical (and preferred) way for ordi-nary people to get around after the snow fell. But today, it’s all about the magic of snuggling in a sleigh and listening to the rhythm of the horses’ hooves as snowflakes scatter the sky.

SNOWSHOEING IS THE FASTEST-GROWING SPORT

IN NORTH AMERICA.

A HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE IS THE PERFECT ADDITION TO A WINTER GETAWAY.

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14 where.ca // CANADIAN ROCKIES

“It’s easy to lose sight that this was a necessity in past times,” says Zanetti, who also works for Banff Trail Riders. “It humbles you by slowing things down, and gives you a sense of what it was like back then.” Banff Trail Riders sleigh rides near Banff townsite include a tour of the barn and a chance to interact with the horses, plus a campfire stop to roast marshmallows and enjoy a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

While dog sleds, snowshoes and skis have progressed over the years, Brewster Lake Louise Stables’ sleighs “are exactly the same as they were 100 years ago,” says owner Kevin Stanton. The cushioned vinyl seats “a titch warmer than hay bales” are the only nod to modernity on these traditional wooden sleighs. Just as in the past, Belgian and Petron draft horses work in pairs to pull the sleighs.

Brewster Adventures traces its roots to 1892 when Bill and Jim Brewster, the sons of pioneer John Brewster, began guiding visitors around Banff National Park. Stanton says that today “people feel connected to the tradition” of authentic activities like sleigh riding.

Stanton’s trips take guests to the end of Lake Louise where Victoria Glacier looms large and it’s calm, cool and quiet. “I never tire of it. I think Lake Louise is the eighth wonder of the world,” he says. During nighttime excursions, “the starry sky, dark mountains and twinkling Fair-mont Chateau Lake Louise lights make it pretty romantic.” Fox News recently nominated their tour as one of the top 10 in North America, the only one in Canada to make the list. Sleigh rides pages 54 and 108.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING When Scandinavian immigrants introduced cross-country skiing to Canada at the turn of the 20th century, skeptical locals thought snowshoeing to be a more practical means of winter transportation. But with the advent of ski lodges, things began to change.

Cross-country skiing is now one of the most popular activities in the Rockies. Perfect for a chilly day, this aerobic sport allows skiers to build heat and stay comfortable for longer, says Paula Beauchamp of Walks & Talks Jasper. Modern boots are “10 times more comfortable and warmer than they (used to be),” she adds.

Beauchamp’s Secrets of the Mysterious Maligne Valley Tour includes an opportunity to ski on frozen Maligne Lake in Jasper—a truly majestic setting. “People enjoy the rhythm of gliding on the snow and the silence of the mountains,” she says.

While cross-country skiing can be fun for fami-lies, it also appeals to hard-core backcountry enthusiasts. Today’s mountaineering equipment includes lightweight shaped skis with steel edg-es, hard shell boots and convertible bindings that allow the heel to lock for parallel turning down steeper slopes.

Skate skiing is the variation of cross-country skiing often preferred by those seeking a solid outdoor workout. Its vigorous edging tech-nique differs from the traditional ‘stride and glide.’ Increasingly, cross-country ski trails are groomed with parallel tracks for classic skiing alongside wide flat skate skiing lanes. Take your pick of easy or more difficult routes, including trails that are new for 2014/15 winter season. Trail suggestions, gear rentals and lessons and tours pages 49 and 105.

This winter, unplug from the distractions of modern life and sample some old-school style fun in the snow. Whether you choose a mush-your-own dog sledding experience, a snow-shoeing adventure, an enchanting sleigh ride or a cross-country ski tour on an awe-inspiring trail—you’ll be delighted. These traditional methods of winter travel still deliver a timeless mix of backcountry scenery and solitude. PH

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ENJOY THE RHYTHM OF GLIDING ON

THE SNOW.“ “