Still snow on the cross country trails. A couple of photos. One from a sunset ski last night, and another from a daylight ski today. Beautiful!


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There's a surprising lot of interesting stuff going on around here, and this space is devoted to discovering and sharing it. We'll post regular updates on merchants, activities and events. Look in often and soon you'll see why Meaford calls itself "The other Big Apple".
posted March 5th, 2016 Enjoy it while it lasts. posted February 7th, 2015 Hit the slopes for cancer care in the Meaford area Here’s a rare chance to ski one of the area’s finest private slopes and support the Meaford Hospital Foundation. Next Wednesday, ski at Georgian Peaks and $20 of your $50 ticket will go directly to the MHF to support enhanced cancer care facilities in the area. The Georgian Peaks Club offers some of the most diverse terrain on the Escarpment, ranging from easy to difficult. The 24 trails offer spectacular views of Georgian Bay. Head out on Wednesday, February 11 and help expand the cancer care services at the Owen Sound Hospital. posted April 14th, 2014 Spring skiing in Meaford Here are some photos from this past weekend — yes, this past weekend! It’s hard to believe how well-covered the slopes are, but for those who enjoy warm-weather skiing, this spring has been exceptional. The first two photos were taken at Blue Mountain on Friday under gloriously sunny skies. And while the sun didn’t cooperate for the Saturday ski at Georgian Peaks, mild temps made for great spring conditions. It’s not over yet. Easter skiing is on its way! posted February 21st, 2013 Skiing, boarding and snowmobiling in Meaford – a video tour (part 2) A tour of Massie Hills on cross country skis Here’s a guided tour to the classic cross country ski trail network at a local favourite – just 20 minutes west and south of Meaford. If you find it too long, scan through and pause at the best parts. Candid Canada’s look at Blue Mountain Last time, you got a boarder’s eye view of the snowboardcross course at Blue Mountain. Here’s a report on the event by Ndrika Anyika, who’s new to alpine sports herself. It shows the race – and some more “down to earth” skiers. Meaford snowmobiling If you prefer your snow with horsepower attached, check out the snowmobile trails around Meaford in this video. posted February 16th, 2013 A video guide to Meaford winter activities (Part 1) Super-fast nordic skiing at Highlands Nordic This skate skier, with a camera mounted to his head, is flying. Warning: you might get a bit dizzy. It’s a little like one of those racing video games where you have to dodge the slower-moving vehicles. In this case, he’s dodging around less speedy skiers… watch out! About 40 minutes from Meaford Haven Dick in the ditch at Kolapore This is not Dick’s finest hour, but while he struggles up from the snow, admire the scenery in this one tiny section of Kolapore Uplands Wilderness Ski Trails – which offer 50 kilometres of varied terrain. About 20 minutes from Meaford Haven. Snowshoeing at Scenic Caves Up on the heights of the Niagara Escarpment, the cross country trails are great, but so is the snowshoeing. This tour gives you a taste of what to expect, including a trip across the 420-foot suspension bridge with its vista of Collingwood and Georgian Bay. About 30 minutes from Meaford Haven Jarryd Hughes at the Blue Mountain World Cup during training with Jonathan Cheever Blue Mountain held the Snowboard World Cup a couple of weekends ago, just 20 minutes from Meaford Haven. If you never, ever plan on “snowboardcrossing” – in which up to half a dozen snowboarders race side-by-side down a challenging course with bumps and jumps and obstacles – here’s the next best thing. Pretend you’re Jerryd Hughes, and see the course through his eyes. posted January 4th, 2013 Meaford’s new year’s ski conditions Meaford had a white Christmas, and as the year kicks off it’s time to break out the skis and/or snowshoes if you haven’t already. Here’s a quick rundown on a few of the local runs and trails and their current conditions. Blue Mountain Massie Hills Kolapore Uplands Currently, the snow’s about 25 cm deep, and the trails are in decent shape overall; just keep an eye out for rocks. At the moment a small section of trails on the 60-km system are closed for logging. Nordic Centre at Scenic Caves Highlands Nordic Sawmill Ski Trail Oh, and did we mention there’s more snow in the forecast? posted March 1st, 2012 March is here… and so is cross-country skiing fun. Enjoy it while it lasts Believe it or not, Meaford still has lots of the white stuff for winter fun. It’s not too late to check out the cross skiing at one of the many great locations near Meaford Haven. Here are a few photos we took this past week at Massie Hills.
Cross country skiing is one of those sports you can do at any time of your life, and it’s becoming more and more popular among retirees. A high-calorie-burning, full-body workout, it gives you great cardiovascular benefits and an endorphin rush in a low-impact sport. You can choose your own pace, and you can ski outside your back door or check out one of the beautifully scenic nearby trail systems. (The most distant of these trails is only 40 minutes away.) Massie Hills Coffin Ridge Winery Loree Forest Kolapore Uplands Nordic Centre at Scenic Caves Inglis Falls and Harrison Park Sawmill Ski Trail Highlands Nordic Mix it up with a snowshoe jaunt But there’s no need to even leave town to snowshoe in Meaford. Step outside your door and explore the countryside around you, or head down to the Trout Hollow Trail to enjoy up to 14 km of varied terrain and beautiful winter scenery. (It’s wise to avoid using the trail along the Bighead River during a thaw.) posted January 20th, 2012 Winter fun on the Apple Pie Trail Here are a couple of ideas to keep you warm, fit and well-nourished from Blue Mountain’s Activity Central and the Apple Pie Trail. Ski at Scenic Caves and finish off with a great post-ski snack. Indulge yourself at Scandinave Spa, and indulge your taste buds with a delicious dinner. Or snowshoe at Blue Mountain, warm up with hot chocolate, and then warm up some more at an area restaurant. Here are the details. MONDAYS ~ Cross Country Skiing Package ~ Save 20% Ski through a quiet forest of sugar maples, beeches and oaks high atop the Niagara Escarpment at Scenic Caves overlooking Georgian Bay. Use your Apple Pie Trail certificate at one of the many area Trail locations and enjoy local apple products from pie to cider. Price from: $38.90 pp +tx TUESDAYS ~ Spa Rejuvenation Package ~ Save 20% Refresh with a relaxing spa experience at Scandinave Spa, featuring Nordic baths, cold plunges, sauna, and steam room. Use you Apple Pie Trail certificate at the on-site Café Chartreuse or one of many other Trail locations in the area. Price: $48.00 pp + tx (19yrs +) FRIDAYS ~ Blue Mountain Snowshoe Tour, Hot Chocolate & Apple Pie Trail Voucher ~ Save 50% 10:30am A guided 1 hour tour for nature lovers will wind gently up the mountain, through the nature trails at Blue and descend back down. Warm up afterwards to a complimentary hot chocolate at Grand Central Lodge and use your Trail voucher at any of the 20 Apple Pie Trail locations from Collingwood to Owen Sound – including five stops in the Village. Price: $15.00 pp + tx
That’s just a few. Find more here. posted December 9th, 2011 Ski season begins next week at Blue Mountain It’s time to get your skis tuned and ready to go – Blue Mountain opens next Thursday. While Meaford has had a few flurries, not a lot of snow has stayed around. That looks like it might change, with snow in the forecast over the next week, and overnight temperatures below zero. Those colder night temps allow the resort to get into high snowmaking gear, which establishes a base on the hill before Mother Nature gets fully involved. In many years, the season can run from early December with great spring skiing through Easter. Ontario’s largest ski resort features 34 trails, offering everything from easygoing beginners slopes to challenging double black diamonds and glade skiing. On top of that, three terrain parks and two super pipes let loose your inner “dude”. Meaford Haven is less than 20 minutes from the slopes, and since you live so close, you can take advantage of some of the great deals on season’s pass. A 5×7 pass lets you ski days Monday through Friday (avoiding the weekend crowds), and seven nights a week. It’s remarkably economical at the early bird price; get out just four times during the season and you’re already ahead of the game. And with 14 lifts, including four high-speed express chairs, you can be up top within minutes of arriving, enjoying the skiing rather than spending time standing in line. Three lodges offer warmth and refreshments whenever you’re ready, and simply ski down to the Village at Blue to discover more than a dozen restaurants, bars cafes and bistros to round out your day. There’s great shopping in the village too, along with regular activities, including musical events, bonfires and more. (And if you’ve still got energy, you can check out Plunge! Aquatic Centre or the Ridge Runner sled down the mountain!) posted August 20th, 2011 Scenic Caves Nature Adventure “tops” One of the things that’s great about Meaford Haven is its proximity to attractions everyone else needs to travel far to experience. Hop in your car, and within a half-hour drive on scenic country roads, you’re at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures. The site, high on the Niagara Escarpment above Georgian Bay, has attracted people for centuries. A huge standing rock, carved by erosion from the cliff at the site, was seen by the Hurons as Ekarenniondi, the rock that marked the path to the Village of the Souls, or the Afterlife. “Today, no-one disputes that the sacred Rock marking the trail to the Village of the Dead, which is at the same time Ekarenniondi, The Watcher and Oscotarach, the Head-Piercer, is the rock long so identified at the Scenic Caves,” writes Collingwood archeologist and historian Charles Garrad. “It is the only rock which meets all the tests implied in the legends,” he writes. ![]() Ekarenniondi - the sacred Rock marking the trail to the Village of the Dead at Scenic Caves Nature Adventure But with the arrival of European settlers to the area in the 1800s, the area was more noted for its vistas and the narrow caves that wind through the area. Locals would climb up to the site to picnic, and back in 1850 someone carved their initials in one of the caves – leaving marks still readable today. The property eventually became a farm, which operated until an enterprising businessman purchased the property in 1932. Aflred Staples built wooden ladders and bridges and offered guided tours of the caves. An irrepresible showman, he called himself the “Man of Nature”, and performed feats and stunts to attract visitors, including crossing the ice of Nottawasaga Bay to Christian Island and walking from Collingwood to Chicago. His daughter, Sandra took over the operation in the sixties, and ran it for the next quarter century with her husband, adding amenities and building a gift shop. Then, in 1993, Collingwood businessman Rob Thorburn bought the property. Convinced it could be more than a homespun tourist attraction, he invested heavily in the property, adding attractions and activities to make Scenic Caves Nature Adventures a true tourism destination. In the last decade, improvements have included: The Nordic Centre A groomed cross country ski trail network that retains the feel of a backwoods ski route, with trees bounding trails that haven’t been cut wide to accommodate large-scale groomers. The Centre also includes snow shoe trails. Ski and snow shoe rentals and winter warmups make for a full winter experience. The Suspension Bridge at Scenic Caves Ontario’s longest suspension bridge offers views toward Collingwood, Georgian Bay, and beyond to the Penetanguishene Pensinsula – from a vantage 300 metres above the Bay. The Eco Adventure Tour The three-hour guided tour takes you across the suspension bridge, along a suspended pathway through the canopy of the trees, then down to the ground via exhilarating zip lines. (The adventure also includes the cave tour.) |