BARB CAMPBELL

Some local residents grumbled as they shovelled their driveways for the first time this year, but the recent snowfall and cold temperatures are exactly what Dr. Richard Ehrlich has been waiting for.

The Palgrave resident is training for the Canadian Ski Marathon, the world's longest cross-country ski tour. Ehrlich will ski 160 kilometres of Quebec's backcountry trails from Lachute to Buckingham over two days, starting before dawn and skiing until late afternoon. More than 2,000 skiers will take part in the February 10-11 event, ranging from elite racers to families who only ski a small portion of the route.

"Because we've had no snow, I've been running in the woods, doing strength exercises and riding an indoor bike trainer," Ehrlich said. "But most of all, I need to get out skiing, so I'm thrilled that winter has arrived."

Ehrlich started cross-country skiing in his early teens, and has skied wilderness trails across Canada and the northeast U.S. When conditions permit, he commutes to his local dental clinic by skiing through the Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area.

He has completed the full distance of the Canadian Ski Marathon twice before, earning the bronze and silver 'Coureur des Bois' awards. This year, he's going for the gold - his biggest challenge yet!

Skiers in the gold category carry large backpacks full of food and sleeping gear so they can spend the Saturday night of the marathon under the stars. Even though the mercury often plunges to -30 Celsius, about 250 skiers choose to camp out each year, and many of them return for the race year after year.

When the temperature dipped to -15 C on Tuesday, January 16 here in Caledon - the night when the rest of us pulled on an extra blanket - Ehrlich headed out to sleep in his backyard to test the warmth of his gear.

He wore a down jacket and wool toque, and carried a hot water bottle as he crawled inside two sleeping bags tucked into a reflective cloth emergency blanket, insulated from the snow by a sleeping pad.

"I was actually too hot in there," Ehrlich laughed, "but it will be colder in Quebec."

Email article

Print article