Everyday Adventures: A Night in Chelsea

I recently spent a night snowshoeing with a friend in Chelsea and retreating afterwards to Nordik spa for a much needed moms’ night out. The snowshoeing walk was organized by The Friends of Gatineau Park, a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster understanding and appreciation for the park’s natural and cultural heritage. It was not only fun and a great, mild night to be outdoors, but we also learned so much from the nature interpreter who was leading our group through the forest and telling us about how hares, bears, deers and other animals have been surviving this Canadian winter.

I had no idea that hares turned white to camouflage in the snow, or that deers in winter would retreat in packs to a hidden part of the forest, or even that underneath the snow were tunnels where small animals would continue living all winter long. At one point we came across beech trees where our guide pointed out bear claws all along the tree going up, explaining to us that bears love climbing beech trees. She also educated us on how to react if we ever come across a bear.

As we walked through the snow, you could hear the rhythmic sound of snowshoes hitting the ground. Every so often I would look up high at the bright stars in the dark sky and just take a deep breath, taking it all in. We felt a sense of adventure and peacefulness in the winter night. In just what I saw, both in the woods and driving through the town, Chelsea is a place I need to explore even more. I’m looking forward to coming back to Chelsea this summer to explore its shops and its heritage with my little family of three.

Afterwards, we headed off to Nordik spa and relaxed in the hot tub, chatting for hours. There is something to be said about the importance of taking time to just reenergize yourself and the value of social connections. In a recent article that was shared on social media, I read that a moms night out had many benefits to it and just how much friendship is important to one’s well-being, so much that it has already inspired a future blog article that is coming on how friendship impacts personal wellness.

The other thing that happens when I find a place like this to let go is that I have a chance to reflect on what’s next. I remember at one point closing my eyes and fading away in one of the saunas, thinking that I felt completely free in that moment. In that moment of escape, when I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world for that period of time, everything seems possible.