Mountain Life drops the latest Blue Mountains (Ontario) issue.
As temperatures drop and skies turn grey, there’s a primal urge to sink into the couch, cocoon into piles of pillows and binge the dark winter away. But hibernating doesn’t need to be a given.
Squeezing the life out of every hour of those short days is an exhilarating option—and a healthy one, at that. In the Winter 2025 issue of Mountain Life, we’re celebrating cold-weather outdoor adventures, whether out our back door or half a world away. Get out there and experience everything a snowy (or not-so-snowy) winter has to offer. –Kristin Schnelten, Editor
HIGHLIGHTS: TRAVEL FEATURE
This winter, do you have a day, week or month to explore? We’re hitting all the sweet spots with play-by-play stories from local and international trips.
FLY WEST: Fernie, BC, is known for its laid-back culture and deep stoke factor. What would it be like to spend a full season in this mountain oasis? ML editor Kristin Schnelten takes a deep dive into the Fernie culture, peeling back its resort facade and digging into the local vibe during a two-week adventure, experiencing basement concerts, backcountry kickers, beaming lifties and historic shotskis along the way.
XC COMMUNITY: Longing for a getaway in the woods, five friends made the drive to Stokely Creek Lodge, just north of the Soo. Their long weekend in the family-run cross-country ski lodge was a time of connection—with one another, the pristine forest and the community of skiers who visit this space year after year, decade after decade, building relationships that span generations.
DAY TRIPPING: There’s just something about the Grotto. Often overrun with visitors in the summer, the renowned geological formation in Bruce Peninsula National Park can be still and serene in colder months. When the park is blanketed in snow, EcoAdventures guides groups via snowshoe to the water’s edge, educating along the way about history, geology and safe exploration.
HEAD NORTH: Local guide Marissa Dolotallas landed one of the most enviable gigs around: She’s a kayak guide with Adventure Canada, spending months of the year leading groups in and around bergs and fjords, witnessing wildlife and learning from local indigenous communities. Dolotallas shares some of her more memorable experiences from years of Arctic trips.
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLANDS NORDIC SKIJORING: Skijoring is a finicky thing: You and your dog both need fitness and skills, and there’s a bit of gear involved—but the trickiest bit is often location. Where can you find groomed trails that allow dogs? Enter Highlands Nordic and their new Teal’s Tango trail.
A SLICE OF VALLEY HEAVEN: When longtime skiers at Beaver Valley Ski Club decided to make their weekend cottage a permanent retirement home, they chose to rebuild. The result is a warm, inviting and tasteful log home that provides the family with endless views and room to entertain, all with year-round front-door access to the Bruce Trail.
GEORGIAN BAY SURF CLUB: Years ago Curtis Eichenberger started the Georgian Bay Surf Club—a group of friends who gathered on the coldest, windiest days of the year to brave the frozen spray. Now he’s upping his game, having spent the past year building a unique surf shop and restaurant in the heart of downtown Collingwood.
SOLURSH GOES BIG: Local phenom Desmond Solursh is making a name for himself in the world of freestyle skiing, winning four tours last season and earning a spot on the provincial team. As part of our Fresh Air series, Mountain Life spends a day with Desmond on the hill.
Check out the full issue here. Pick up a print issue at the usual rad spots throughout the Blue Mountains region.
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