February means winter is here. Snowmobile and cross country ski trails are groomed, the ski hills are open and there is plenty snow to play with. This month is full of excitement as the locals are excited to get out in the snow and play. Come out and join in the wintery, snowy FUN!
February's Weather
- Be ready for precipitation. February means snow every day which adds more and more to the snow pack, but it can still rain if we get any weather from the south.
- Be ready for wind. Storms are still rolling through, bringing high winds to the south and west coast of the island. High winds mean low visibly and unsafe conditions for ski hills to operate and snowmobilers can get disoriented.
- Be ready for cold. February is normally consistently cold. Expect -5C to -15C plus some wind chill!
- When it's good, its really good! When we get a nice day (low wind, not too cold and fresh snow) the conditions are PERFECT for everything winter!!
Best Outdoor Activities for February
Snowshoeing
One of my favourite activities for winter adventures is snowshoeing! You can literally go anywhere once the ponds and bogs freeze and the snow covers the landscape. Get out and enjoy local trails or take a map n' compass and explore usually inaccessible backcountry areas. Below are more snowshoeing resources:
- Tips for Buying Snowshoes
- Getting Started Guide and Best Trails to Start With
- Buy a copy of Hikes of Western NL for trail info!
Skiing
You can do any kind of skiing you like in Western Newfoundland. We regularly get loads of snow and its always the perfect kind of cold (-5C to -20C) so there are no excuses to not get outdoors and on the go this month!
- Love to cross country ski? Go Classic or Skate on groomed trails at these places: Blow Me Down Trails, Pasadena Ski & Nature Park, Whaleback Nordic Ski Club, Gros Morne National Park or Terra Nova National Park.
- Want to explore the backcountry (off trail ski)? You can alpine tour pretty much anywhere, but the best spots are either Gros Morne National Park (recommended routes here) or the Blow Me Down Mountains (message Katie for more info).
- Prefer no lift lines and fresh snow everyday? Head over to Marble Mountain!
Snowmobiling
This activity I do not personally do much of, but locals LOVE their snowmobiles!
There is an incredible network of approximately 5000km of groomed trails managed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation as well as tons of accessible backcountry. If you love these machines and want to #ExploreNL, there is no better way to see the incredible landscape!
Prepare for Winter Adventures
Here is a basic checklist to help you be ready for your next outdoor winter adventure:
- Check the weather and route plan accordingly: https://weather.gc.ca/cornerbrook
- Dress in layers: base/wicking layer + warm mid layer + shell and NO COTTON are the basic rules to play by (more about layering here)
- Pack what you need for the outing. Always take water, food, light source, fire starter and extra warm layers plus any of the standard safety gear! (full packing list here)
- Tell someone where you're going and when you plan to be back
- Keep your electronics warm (store inside clothing) and ensure they do not interfere with critical safety equipment (article by Backcountry Access about cell phone and beacons here)
- Have fun and stay safe out there!
Winter is here. There is lots to do and many ways to enjoy the snow. Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing all about your adventures!
Now, get Outdoors and On the Go!