As the days get longer, and the weather starts to warm, I watch as friends start to think about which seeds they should be starting in preparation for the growing season. I, on the other hand, am thinking about cross-country skiing. This has been a particularly good snow year for the South Shore of Nova Scotia. We usually need to drive for hours to get to skiable snow. 

For a weekend in February, we escape with friends to Mersey River Chalets near Kejimkujik National Park, just over an hours drive. Being inland and at a higher elevation (approximately 350-400 feet), there is typically more snow and slightly colder temperatures. 

We arrive on Friday afternoon and go directly to Keji, continuing past the Visitor Centre to the barricade that signals where the classic groomed ski trail begins. It is a warm day, at 5 degrees Celsius. It doesn’t take long before are hats are in our pockets instead of on our heads. The sun is shining and the snow is fast. A great ski to start our weekend getaway.

Saturday morning the temperature has dropped more than we expected – down to -10 and windy making it feel more like -17. In short, it is cold outside. Instead of going out for a ski first thing, we bundle up and go out for a snowshoe, leaving directly from our chalet. We follow along the boardwalk trail, covered in snow, following the river. When the sun shines, it creates a scene from a postcard.

In the afternoon our friends venture to Keji for a snowshoe. With the wind, it is too cold for skiing – or at least for those of us who are fair-weather skiers! Fortunately, there are many snowshoeing trails, including the Ukme’k Trail across the River from Mill Falls, where otter tracks could be seen along the river.  

As a bonus, there are free level 2 EV charging stations at the Visitors Centre. This is a bonus, as it allows for topping up the car while out on a snowshoe. 

Sunday morning the weather is a little nicer. We pack up at the chalet and head over to Keji for one more ski. The conditions are mostly good, except where the powdered snow blew over the trail yesterday, and then warmed up in the sun. The tracks go from fast to instantly slow, as snow starts to stick to the bottom of my skis. My friend is smart enough to have wax with her, that will help with these fluctuating temperatures. I, on the other hand, end up taking my skis off during the sticky part and walking a few hundred metres before putting them back on. Either way, the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day to be outdoors enjoying winter.