Winter is no longer the forgotton season

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This article was published 22/12/2016 (3391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While Riding Mountain National Park hopes to find traction with fat bike enthusiasts, it has other attractions in store for winter enthusiasts.

This month, RMNP is in the midst of winterizing five of its 30 oTENTiks — a cross between a tent and rustic cabin — to become suitable accommodations amid chilly temperatures.

There are currently lodgings like Elkhorn Resort and Lake House, but the oTENTiks are more suitable for adventurists wanting to be close with nature — even in winter.

“People can stay there and from there they can either rent bikes, bring their own bikes, or ski from there,” said Richard Dupuis, RMNP’s acting superintendent. “Outside your door, you have the ski trail.”

Members of Keeseekoowenin First Nation, who helped build the facilities in 2011, are insulating the buildings.

A wood stove and electric heater is being installed inside, connected with a new electric system. While five of the oTENTiks will be retrofitted for winter, all of them will be connected to electricity by the summer of 2017. The lodgings previously did not have any electricity.

Once the oTENTiks are ready, they will be available for rent on the RMNP website.

Also new this year is a winterized picnic shelter at Mount Agassiz.

All of these offerings are meant to complement existing winter activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, wildlife viewing, picnicking and the campers who build snow shelters (quinzees) or set up winter tents.

A skating surface and trails along Wasagaming Campground were added to the amenities last year, Dupuis said.

A concerted effort from staff to prioritize winter getaways is a blessing to Karly McRae, owner of Lake House boutique hotel, which features a dining area, bar and ice cream shop.

After purchasing the property in 2014, she chose last winter to open her establishment on weekends. This year, they are open seven days a week, the only dine-in stop in Wasagaming.

She describes it as a chicken and egg situation. They need vibrant wintertime programming to attract customers, and RMNP needs businesses to stay open to entice those visitors.

“Things have sort of reached a critical mass for us in terms of taking that step toward winter. The park has started again offering winter services, like putting in the skating rink,” McRae said. “All of those things have sort of helped to contribute to creating a year-round destination here.”

The aforementioned excitement hit a crescendo last December, when stunning photos and videos of Clear Lake’s see-through ice surface enticed tourists to drop in for shinny.

The challenge now is to keep that momentum going, getting those visitors and more to make Riding Mountain a winter destination.

McRae knows people are skeptical of RMNP’s — and even her own — potential.

“Our October here was actually busier than our June, which is hard for a lot of people to believe,” she said.

Crowds are sparse on winter weekdays, where park staff comprises much of the patrons, but business is booming come weekends. She said they are booked solid for Christmas parties until late January.

McRae credited intensive marketing and ambitious events, like a New Year’s Eve party featuring an ice bar.

“During December and January, it’s a feast, it’s crazy busy — the hotel is full, the lounge is full,” she said. “It’s amazing to see this place full on weekends in the winter, a lot of people wouldn’t believe it.”

In addition to The Lakehouse, The Chocolate Fox, a shop offering specialty treats, and the Friends of Riding Mountain Learning Centre tourism outlet are open year-round.

“There’s the three of us, it’s nice to not be alone anymore,” McRae chuckled.

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