Wells Gray Outdoors Club (WGOC) invites the public to explore the 28km of groomed classic, skate ski trails and snow shoe trails.
Birchleg 2019 will be hosted by the WGOC on Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. at the Candle Creek Ski Trails.
This is a traditional family event involving viking costumes, the route of one’s choice and a hot Norwegian style lunch.
There will be prizes for best costumes as well as door prizes and registration is open on the Wells Gray Outdoors Club website, wellsgrayoutdoorsclub.ca. The early bird entry fees are $15 (student), $20 (adult), or $40 (family) until Jan. 30.
The Birchleg is a ski event in early February and an unofficial version of the Birkebeiner—a cross-country ski race that is held every year in Norway and other locations around the world.
It re-enacts a legendary cross country ski trip made by two viking warriors in the 13th Century. King Haakon of Norway was murdered in 1204 during a time of civil war. The King’s infant son was in immediate peril of the same fate.
Two viking warriors loyal to their dead king and his heir took the baby to safety in Trondheim. Their flight was in midwinter, skiing 55 km across the mountains. Holding the child secure behind a shield, these warriors were armed with a battle-axe and spears.
Young Haakon Haakonson grew to adulthood in safety, returning to Norway to claim his father’s throne.
Last year about 75 people, many of them in viking costumes, signed up to participate in the year’s Wells Gray Birchleg.The Wells Gray Birchleg started in the late 1990s in Wells Gray Park and was put on by the Murtle River Nordics, in part as a replacement for the Wells Gray Loppet cross-country ski marathon.
For about the past six years it has been put on by Wells Gray Outdoors Club at Candle Creek.
The Rabbit Program is for youth between the ages of four and 14 years-old who may sign up for this program, which teaches cross country skiing at the Candle Creek cross country ski trails. It begins in January and encourages confidence, a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude.
Other programs and events like “Broads on Boards” and the Banff Mountain Film Festival will be announced on the WGOC Facebook page, ‘Wells Gray Outdoors Club.’
Membership forms for the upcoming cross-country ski season are also available on the website and can be mailed or emailed to the club or dropped off at the Dutch Lake Community Center Reception.
Ski trail booklets are available for purchase and make a great gift.
Day users of the trails are asked to pay a fee of $10 at the honour boxes located at the parking lot or cabin.