eing avid downhill enthusiasts we really hadn't considered the option of skiing cross-country. After all, we thought why propel the body forward with physical effort when up until now gravity has worked so well for us!

Yet on this day the allure of spending a sunny afternoon striding gracefully through the alpine meadows of Strathcona Park was far too inviting. With our snowboards relegated to backup position we headed over to Mt Washington's recently completed Raven Lodge.

We knew that the mountain always had world-class terrain to offer cross-country ski enthusiasts; however, with the recent addition of Raven Lodge we can confirm there is now a world-class facility to match.

This 10,000 square foot post-and-beam Nordic Lodge is a spectacular facility complete with a Deli Restaurant, Sports Shop, sauna and dressing rooms. The lounge area is furnished with a plush sofa and matching chairs surrounding a rough-hewn plank table and centered by an inviting stone fireplace. The interior is adorned with scenic alpine images and creative metal sculptures proudly displayed by local artisans. From any vantage point, the soaring windows throughout offer a stunning vista of Strathcona Park.

Raven Lodge is located one kilometer down the road from the old lodge. Although many have voiced their concern over its distance from the established Alpine Village we didn't feel inconvenienced in the slightest. In fact, the isolation from the village and busy chairlifts was a blessing that only enhanced our experience.

With this impressive venue as our launching point we headed downstairs to the rental facilities and geared up for our inaugural Nordic adventure.

As avid snowboarders we rationalized that with twice the footwear and a bonus supply of poles for balance this outing would be a walk (and glide) in the park.

We quickly discovered otherwise!

Equipped with a pair of Teflon-coated track skis and a false sense of security we approached our first gentle slope and quickly found ourselves heaped together in a tangled mass of arms, legs, skis, poles and floundering egos. After reassembling and sifting through the remnants of our shattered dignity we set out again, only this time separated by a few comfortable meters of reaction time.

The alpine trail system is elaborate and varied. Mt Washington has extended its cross-country trails to include over 55 km of both expert and novice terrain. The Red Chair will take the more adventurous soul to the Upper West Trail at an elevation of 1300 meters. This rather invigorating trail system takes seasoned Nordic buffs through 15 kilometers of breathtakingly scenic black diamond terrain.

This being our initial foray, we opted to let the green circular (novice) signposts dictate our path through the gentle rolling hills of Paradise Meadows.

Paradise Meadows is aptly named with moss-covered trees surrounding open fields and gentle brooks feeding a series of magical alpine lakes. The trails here are extremely forgiving yet offer a few hills to quicken the pulse and coax some adrenalin flow.

At some point during our outing our awkward disjointed movements transformed into smooth synchronized strides.

Arms, legs, knees and hips suddenly joined forces and the experience shifted from being effort-full to effortless. Our vigilant search for the softest place to land was replaced by an awareness of the incredible beauty around us.

The next few blissful hours were spent reconnecting with each other and Mother Nature. We began to appreciate what the Scandinavians have known for years -- cross-country skiing is a full sensory experience that not only rejuvenates the body, it relaxes the mind and soothes the soul.

This Nordic pastime we discovered, offers a nice parallel for life. You get the most out of it when you stop focusing on where you are headed and simply enjoy where you are.

Getting there
Thanks to the new Island Highway Victoria residents can make the trek there in about 3 hours. Once over the Malahat the highway widens to four lanes for most of the trip. Cruising speed increases up to 110 kph just past Parksville.

The mountain has plenty of accommodations for those considering an overnight stay. If you would like to complete your experience with a full body massage consider staying at the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa just South of Courtenay. Trust us, your muscles will thank you.

Tips
Go with a partner: Share this magical experience with someone special. It also doesn't hurt to have someone you know help to untangle you after a fall.
Arrive at noon: Half day rates kick in at 12:30 pm. A half-day is plenty.
Hydrate: Drink water before, during and after. This is a high perspiration activity.
Try the Thai: When you return to the Lodge head upstairs and order the Thai Chicken Wrap (with extra sauce).
Just Do It!