When most of us think of nordic skiing we think of heading out to a locally groomed ski area and heading out for a loop. It's an activity to get outside, enjoy some winter and get some excercise, but for some of us it lacks the adventure aspect we crave. I love getting out in the winter and discovering a new area. The frozen lakes and deep snow make for great adventures and easy travel with my backcountry skis. Nordic ski equipment has come a long way in the past few years and Backcoutry skis are no exception. Gone are the heavy wood skis, tar and 3 pin bindings. Modern backcountry skis can often be mistaken for todays Alpine skis, with some being just as wide. New construction brings quicker 
bases, metal edges and boot/bindings systems that offer comfort and great ski control. Most models are much shorter than traditional skis and with more sidecut those hills which would normally be daunting just turned into the perfect opportunity to link some Telemark turns. Fortunately for us here in Muskoka we have many areas to discover. Just think of exploring your favourite summer canoe route in winter. It just became a whole new adventure. A few have been discovering our great winter backcountry by skis for a while now. The group is the Five Winds Ski Touring Club which has been leading club members and maintaining hundreds of kilometers of trails in the area for years. There's no better way to discover Muskoka's backcountry and just about anyone can enjoy this activity. Check out www.skifivewinds.org for info on thier trips or visit our shop for our backcountry adventures and rental equipment. Next.... Pack your bags and tent and make it a weekend ski and camp. The longer warmer days of March are just around the corner!
