Pumpkin Creek — Point B

There are worse things to be addicted to than cross-country skiing, but such is my curse. Under the circumstances, i.e. living in Manitoba, I can feed my addiction to my heart’s content.

I find there’s structure to be found in ritual, and when it comes to skiing, I start with the task of researching possible destinations on the Manitoba Cross Country Ski Association’s web site. Once I’ve made the choice I then dig out my Manitoba Backroad Mapbook (published by Mussio Ventures Ltd.) and plot the most convoluted route I can find between Point A and Point B. From there I start to investigate what surprises may be waiting in each little town or hamlet I’ll be passing while on route to Point B.

The morning of, I check the weather channel and wax my skis accordingly. My tough-guy pals often wax when they reach their destination, and the real rebels don’t wax at all. But I’m a cold-blooded gal and I prefer tending to my skis needs in the warmth and comfort of the basement. The next step is important — put the skis, poles and boots into the car. Don’t laugh, it can happen, I’m living proof. Finally, I make sure I have my ‘survival kit’ safely stowed in the vehicle (see Barret’s List in the Fort Whyte blog), a few trip treats, and some CDs for the mandatory sing-along.

On this particular day, Point B is a location west of Roseisle on Valley Road, where I plan to ski along the hilly banks of Pumpkin Creek. I’ve had a few conversations with members of the Pumpkin Creek Ski Club: Danielle Dumesnil, Don Benedictson, Francene Adelman and Jack Cram, and I’m anticipating an excellent adventure.

The Roseisle Community Co-op Store is a good pit stop for gas and such. The Co-op is a treasure trove for local produce with a great little coffee shop and eating area. I purchase a few bricks of Notre Dame Creamery butter and a deliciously wicked jar of maple butter made in McCreary.

I know too that world-renowned glass sculptor, Ione Thorkelsson, winner of the 2010 Governor General’s Saidye Bronfman Award for visual arts, has a studio in Roseisle. I am the proud owner of several of her blown-glass perfume bottles, but I’m also interested in seeing her cast-glass pieces of art. From what I have been able to garner on the web, she pulls her subject matter from nature — and I see wings, bugs, bones and skeletons as I check out her recent portfolio. Very intriguing stuff. Unfortunately she’s in Winnipeg today, which means I’ll just have to wait for the Winnipeg Art Gallery to put some of their collection of her work on display.

Anyway, back to skiing. Pumpkin Creek Ski trails can be found 4 km west and a little south of Roseisle. The Ski Club, which has been in existence since 1976, is comprised of a handful of volunteers, a trail grooming machine and a lot of co-operation. The ski trails, 20 km in all, traverse the private property of 14 different landowners. This is a phenomenal example of individuals pulling together for the greater good — and I thank you.

At the trailhead, I find a cozy little clubhouse with all the fixings: a wood-burning stove, chairs, tables, an excellent view, and a trail map. Oh, and out back — an outhouse equipped with a simple, yet totally wonderful Styrofoam seat — warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Luxury.

Anyone can become a member of the Pumpkin Creek Ski Club, but as I visitor, I deposit my $3.00 into the donation box (families $5.00). Sorry no dogs. Or snowmobiles. I’m going to consider becoming a member though, as the Club hosts many different functions, (including an annual Mystery Tour), throughout the year. Jack Cram, a level 2 Canadian Association Nordic Ski Instructor, and other club members also give waxing clinics and classic technique skiing classes. Lessons? Now there’s a crazy idea.

The looped trails are rated easy to intermediate and I’m immediately suspicious about one called Roger’s Pass. No mountain as it turns out — the trail just goes past Roger’s house. Snowflakes casually fall and the well-groomed track is sparkling, which prompts a chorus or two from Paul Simon’s Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes. Animal tracks and scats are everywhere, and the thought did cross my mind fleetingly that if we shut our gobs for a minute, we might actually see some wildlife.

We’re travelling through your typical Manitoban river-bottom forest. There are some fairly substantial hills, but mostly we’re between those and Pumpkin Creek. I would have liked to complete all 3 loops of the BlueMoon Trail, but time was a-tickin’. There are several switchbacks along the route, so it’s easy to tailor the day’s excursion to meet our time restraints. I vowed, in the guest book back at the Clubhouse, that I’d be back this winter to finish the BlueMoon trail.

Home is an easy 1.5 hr drive northeast, so, true to form, we head in the opposite direction and follow our noses. We take the ‘Road Past Altamont’ (a small cross-roads community plus a well-respected book by Gabrielle Roy) before grinding to a halt, uncertain as to where we are. And then I see it: a great blade reaching 120m into the air (or as high as the Richardson Building in downtown Winnipeg). We are near the Saint Leon wind farms.

Saint Leon is Manitoba’s first wind-energy project. There are 63 turbines strategically installed over a 9,000 hectare area and they are all spinning in the wind. Their combined energy is sufficient to supply enough electricity to run a town the size of Brandon. The towers are otherworldly and a sure sign that we have left the wilderness behind and re-entered the land of the mighty.

Feeling rather small and insignificant, we turn towards home, leaving the wind machines to do their turning and the sun to do its setting.

by Jacquie Crone (posted on January 12, 2011)
http://www.unexpectedmanitoba.com/2011/01/12/pumpkin-creek-%E2%80%93-point-b/ January 12, 2011