After a long day of skiing on Sunday, pushing through both rain and freezing rain, and ultimately having to cut the trip short, the crew of École secondaire Sieur de Coulonge students skiing to Parliament Hill were greeted by a special guest.

Karina Carlson, a 17-year-old from Chelsea, joined them that evening, where she shared her experieces in cross country skiing, the opportunities it’s presented her, and her knowledge in the 2019 Canadian Ski Marathon.

Kicking off their grand trek, the students left Fort Coulonge on Sunday morning, with the expectation to reach Shawville by the day’s end. Due to the unrelenting weather, everyone ended up drenched and the group stopped in Campbell’s Bay to warm up. Eventually, they were transported to the Shawville Lions Club where they stayed the night.

Though it was a wet and tiring day, the students showed no signs of weariness as they hung out in the hall. In fact, one student said the icy conditions of the morning may have helped save them energy.

“I liked that it was a bit icy, so it was an easy glide,” said Sam Eadie. “It wasn’t slow.”

As for the weather, Carlson said it was an authentic experience for the skiers, providing a taste of one of the harder times to stick with the sport.

“We would definitely race in all sorts of conditions,” said Carlson. “There was one race where it was literally just slush, the track is gone, you’re just in slush and there were rocks, too. But as long as you’re not going to get hypothermia, the races are on.”

Organized by the Canadian Ski Marathon’s Ski at School program, this adventure is meant to stimulate a lifelong passion for cross country skiing.

“I’ve gotten a lot out of skiing, [from] actual experiences like a cultural exchange, friendships, and learning experiences,” said Carlson, of what she hoped to share with the skiers. “There are a lot of really, really painful parts but then if you push through you feel really satisfied and accomplished when you’re done.”

The Canadian Ski Marathon is an annual ski tour and the largest of its kind in North America. Participants can choose to ski in as little as 12 km through to the full 160 km route.

As they continue the ski trip, the group is expected to arrive at Parliament Hill on Wednesday.

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