Cross-country skiing isn’t just for humans. Dogs love it too. With strong back legs for skis, their own built-in ski poles (…a.k.a front legs) and oodles of energy, dogs are the perfect skiing machines. Let your furry friend lead the way through Ski Callaghan’s 20+km of dog-friendly trails, with on-leash and off-leash options to suit all variety of puppy personalities. Your pooch will be thankful for the exercise, endless stimulation, and interaction with other adventure pups.

Before you hit the trails, here are a few things you should know:

The fashion-conscious canine need not worry, they too can strut their stuff in an oh-so-stylish ski outfit, just like Crusoe the Weiner Dog. Just be sure to get permission from your hound-pup before adorning them in ugly-christmas-sweater style outfits and giant goggles; a recent survey conducted amongst the Ski Callaghan puppy population shows a skew toward a preference to let their fur flow au-naturel.​

We are so pleased to introduce Chef Joseph Whyte!
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Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Joseph comes to us with a classic case of an 'Easterner's love for the West Coast'.  Now a crew member at Callaghan Country, he's living the dream as head chef at Journeyman Lodge, playing in the mountains by day and delighting guest palates by night. Joseph learned by osmosis the pleasures of hosting and cooking for large groups of family and friends from his  Mom and Gramma.  He would later move to Vancouver, British Colombia to become trained in French Classic Cuisine at the super hands-on, experienced based programs of VCC in Vancouver. 

Joseph lives a simple life,  Eat.  Sleep. Work...and play outdoors (as in splitboarding, backcountry hiking, tennis, squash, camping), Repeat.

While at home, away from the rigors of fine dining kitchen life, Joseph enjoys to cooking hearty and healthy meals for friends and family.  On a personal level he's a specialist in creating his own gluten-free meals.  Joseph appreciates a full variety of foods but reserves the exotic flavours of Thai and Indian food as his favourites...there's that sense of adventure!

Callaghan Country is super grateful to have his easy going and adventurous outdoor spirit grounding all our food related services this season at Journeyman Lodge.  Welcome aboard!

Beside our Chef, Joseph, to the left, our Lodge hosts Fabien & Valérie (to the right) are a couple full of adventure & passion for the outdoors. With interests ranging from horseback riding and fishing to trekking and astronomy.  We are sure that their enthusiasm for outdoor adventures will be infectious amongst our guests this winter! Having worked for many years in the winter tourism industry, including in France & Finnish Lapland, this duo are excited to make our guests' experience at Journeyman Lodge a memory that will last a lifetime. Fluent in both French & English with basic Spanish, Fabien & Valérie are looking forward to welcoming guests from all corners of the globe this winter!

Now,
As any winter season deepens - and months come and go, the attributes and characteristics of one's colleagues tend to become more and more apparent.
There are a few things about both Fabien and Valérie that on that note are worth noting - a managerial side note, if you will.   Valérie has become the true matron of the lodge - our distant winter wilderness home.  She is inexorably dedicated to the home's every function executed in the most clockwork of fashions.  No detail is missed.  Guests are greeted by her upon entry and cared for by her in every respect during the fullest extent of their stay.  Largely because of Valérie, the lodge has never in it's history been so spotlessly clean.  And Fabien, a true gentleman, and Valérie's complimentary easy going counterpart, never becomes fazed by circumstance.  Poised and patient, in every way, Fabien seems happiest fixing things and situations - truly blessed with an eye for detail.

It’s winter, it’s cold, it’s dark, the ground is covered in over a metre of snow. The temptation to snuggle up under the duvet and attempt hibernation is always lurking. Sometimes, perhaps more than you care to admit, that temptation wins.
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Well, my friends, it’s time to cast that duvet aside and head up to Ski Callaghan. Why? Cross-country skiing is quite possibly the best winter exercise you can get; it works wonders for the mind, body and soul and, let’s be frank, outdoor exercise beats the artificial lights of an indoor gym any day! If you’re a regular to our 90+km of cross-country trails, I’m sure you’re nodding your head in agreement right now. Never cross-country skied before? Then read on to discover the host of benefits associated with busting out the skinny skis and heading into the woods…
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Physical
Cross-country skiing, whether of the classic or skate variety, utilises your whole body. You’re not only working those legs, but your upper body plays a huge part in the movement too – you’re not carrying those poles for nothing! And if you keep your stride for the rolling up-hills peppered about our trails, your heart will receive a much appreciated work out too, a bit like a mini sprint. Short bursts of intensive activity such as this have been shown to make workouts much more efficient and effective.
Overall, studies have shown that cross-country skiers have approximately twice the cardiovascular and muscular fitness of non-skiers and suggest that the full body workout of cross-country skiing is particularly effective. 

​Mental
It is now well known that nature is good for the mind and the soul. Performing repetitive tasks, such as cross-country skiing, in nature has been shown to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The natural levels of oxygen in outdoor environments also help to regulate your levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that affects mood, social behavior, and appetite; it’s also easier for your body to obtain adequate levels of oxygen in nature, as opposed to polluted or indoor environments. This is why breathing fresh air helps to promote a sense of well-being, low blood pressure and low heart rate.
As if that wasn’t enough reason to take your winter exercise outdoors, the natural light you soak up whilst on the ski trails helps to normalise your sleep pattern by regulating your body’s melatonin production; the hormone that controls your internal clock. Keep sleepiness at bay until night-time and have a great night’s sleep with happily aching muscles and a happy mind. 

​Social
Cross-country skiing is a great social activity. Ski with friends, admire the beauty of our old growth forests together, and inspire and encourage each other to go just that little bit further, to race up that hill, or to explore a new trail. And at the end of your ski? There’s nothing better than warming up around Callaghan Country’s fire pit (don’t forget to bring your marshmallows and smokies!) or sharing tales from the day and making new friends in our cosy warming hut.
For the ultimate social + ski combo, why not participate in Callaghan Country’s Social Ski events – gather some friends or make new ones at the Alexander Falls base before tackling the 14km ski into our beautiful backcountry Journeyman Lodge, where you warm up over a bowl of delicious chilli before embarking on the thrilling ski back down to base. 

​Puppy love
Dogs are good for the soul. Cross-country skiing, we’ve established, is also good for the soul. Why not take this to the next level and bring your dog on your next ski? You get a workout, your dog gets a workout, everyone goes home happy. Ski Callaghan includes over 20km of dog-friendly ski trails. Don’t have a dog? You can still get your share of dog therapy; there’s always plenty of pooches with peps in their steps at Ski Callaghan happy for an extra ear scratch or two. 

​If you haven’t been convinced by now that cross-country skiing is worth trying this winter, then perhaps a life under the duvet is your calling after all. For those ready to give it a try, visit our rental shop Access Callaghan where we can kit you up and give you a few pointers as you step out the door and onto the trails. It’s an easy sport to pick up and after your first few strides through the trees, you’ll know you’ve made the right choice.