As we ease into spring, outdoor activities seem to pop up just about everywhere in the Haliburton Highlands. ‘Free’ and ‘family’ activities are two kinds that I especially enjoy so “Sunday Rambles” really fits the bill. They are also dog-friendly so the whole family can join in!

Sunday Rambles: FREE family and dog-friendly outings explore rail trail history and nature.
11:00am Ramble, followed by restaurant or brown-bag lunch social.
Map/Brochure available.

Different location each Sunday through April and May throughout Haliburton County.

Friends of the Rail Trail

Contact: Pamela Marsales, Chair,

Tel: 705-457-4767
Email: wildwoodpaths@yahoo.ca

Though free family activities are awesome I’m inclined to also pursue endeavors with creative attributes.

‘Around the Frayed Edges‘ which is on display from March 18 through May 29, sounds fascinating.

‘Around the Frayed Edges’ delves into the outer edges of fibre arts. Fibre arts is a style of fine arts made with textiles and is more concerned with creativity and skill in the end product than functionality. In ‘Around the Frayed Edges’ a narration will be spun through work that pushes the confines as to what an artist can do with fibre today. Twenty-seven fibre artists from across North America have created works for this exhibition. From sculptural to painterly to installations, this leading-edge exhibition addresses all of the visual arts elements – all in fibre. Curated by Laurie Carmount

Where: Agnes Jamieson Gallery
176 Bobcaygeon Road

When: March 18 through May 29

Contact: Laurie Carmount

Tel: 705-286-3763
Email: gallery@mindenhills.ca

Hearty thanks to the Haliburton County Dept. Of Tourism for their great weekly newsletter!

3.27.10 SkiDoo event - Chicopee Ski Resort, Ontario

Winter made its way back to Ontario and Quebec. But only for a day.

A sharp cold front swept across the provinces overnight, sending temperatures plummeting into the minus single digits. Factor in the wind chills, and it felt even colder than that. A big change from the rest of the month.

“(Friday) was actually the coldest day of March so far,” says Weather Network’s meteorologist Michelle Cassar.

Last week, some areas were hitting the mid and high teens. Forecasters say the shift in temperatures is just another example of a ‘meteorological roller coaster.’

“We get these springs of warmth that come in from the U.S. and then we knock it down again with that arctic air that sometimes drops down,” explains Weather Network meteorologist Chris Scott. ‘So the next few weeks we can expect a lot of ups and downs, big swings in temperatures and even precipitation.’

Source: Weather Network

Sorry so late with the weather! Offline was spring break this week and if you still have a kid in (public) school you know what that means. Change! In everyone’s schedule. Some of it was planned change and was fun–just the same–late to the weather so I’ll get right to it now.

Weekend Weather Haliburton Highlands

Saturday shapes up as mainly sunny with mild temperatures of 41°F. Saturday evening, night expect variable-to-mainly cloudy skies with a low temperature Saturday overnight of 29°F.

Haliburton Highlands Weather March 28 - April 2

On Sunday, expect a cloudy-with-showers kind of day with a high temperature of 41°F. The low is anticipated to be 27°F. There will be less than an inch of precipitation.

For Monday March 29, you’ll see isolated showers, a high of 43°F and a low overnight of 24 °F.  At most a ‘trace’ of precipitation will accumulate. There is no precipitation in the forecast for the rest of the week.

Though it will be a beautiful, sunny day on Tuesday with a high of 48°F, the low Tuesday night will be a frosty 17°F.

Wednesday brings yet another pretty, sunny day and highs will climb to a spectacular 57°F. Just as impressive will be the 37°F drop in temperatures from day to night. Overnight temps on Wednesday will plunge to 20°F.

April begins with a partly cloudy day–with an astonishing high of 61°F. I can’t help but get hopeful that this type of warming will continue into the summer with such lovely temperatures. Hope springs eternal, right? Plus, we are due for some decent summer weather in the Highlands!

Overnight on Thursday the low will be 32°F.

Friday forecast is sunny(!) and yet another warm & wonderful day. Fifty-seven degrees is the predicted high with a low of 39°F overnight.

Enjoy the webcam photos taken around Southern Ontario on 3.26 and 3.27 ! (Don’t forget to click them to see them full size!)

March Mildness sums up what much of Canada has experienced throughout much of  the third month of  2010.

Toronto for example, has had not a single ‘average’ day yet this March as we are perch at the two-third’s through-the-month point. Have a look at a quick thumbnail chart of how not-March-like March has been.

Ontario's March Mildness

Outdoor activities abounded this week  including barbecuing, going to the beach–and hitting the ski slopes which you can see in the webcam photos I took today are still snow-covered and open for business. I wouldn’t wait too much longer getting out on the slopes of Ontario, however.

[View with PicLens]

Haliburton Highlands Short Term weather 3.19.20

It’s a lovely, sunny day today -Friday with a few clouds and a high of 55°F. As evening rolls in expect more cloudy periods and an overnight low of 22°F.

Saturday starts with variable cloudiness and a temperature of 24°F but temperatures climb throughout the day reaching a Saturday afternoon high of 36°F. Expect cloudy periods Saturday evening with temperatures holding steady at 36°F. Overnight will be mainly clear with a low of 22°F.

There is no precipitation in the forecast for this period.

Long term weather Haliburton Highlands 3.20-25.10

Sunday, expect variable cloudiness and a high of 43°F. The overnight low will be 20°F.

Monday will be mostly cloudy with sunny breaks with a temperature of 45°F. Overnight lows will be 22°F and there’s a chance of less than one inch of snow.

Tuesday expect cloudy periods, a high temperature of 46°F and an overnight low of 24 °F.

Wednesday has wet flurries in the forecast with a high of 41°F. There should be less than one inch precipitation accumulated. The overnight low will be 26°F.

Thursday, expect cloudy periods, a high of 41°F and an overnight low of 27°F.

Have a great weekend!

Indian River, Port Carling - 3.19.10

Feb 26th, 2010- It’s been the stormiest week of the year so far for Southern Ontario.
Read on to see what else Mother Nature has in store for this weekend and the upcoming first week of March, 2010.

Haliburton Highlands Weekend Weather 2.26.10

Weekend Weather Forecast Haliburton Highlands - Maple Lake 2.26-27.10

Welcome to your weekend!

This evening Friday expect cloudiness with clear breaks and a temperature of 29°F. Overnight there will be scattered flurries with a rather mild low of 27°F.

Saturday morning calls for continued scattered flurries with a temperature of 29°F. Scattered flurries continue through Saturday afternoon. It will be unseasonably warm with temperatures climbing to 34°F. Saturday overnight expect variable cloudiness with a few flurries and a low of 26°F.

Haliburton Highlands – Maple Lake Long Term Weather 02.28–03.05.10 (below)

Haliburton Highlands Long Term Weather Forecast 2.28 - 3.5.10

Variable cloudiness returns on Sunday with temperatures still on the warm side at 34°F. Overnight, expect temps to slip to 26°F.

Variable cloudiness opens the month of March on Monday.  The high temperature is forecast to be 29°F.  The overnight low is expected to be 24°F.

Tuesday ushers in cloudy periods and a high of 32°F.  The overnight low will drop to 22°F.

Wednesday returns to a familiar theme of variable cloudiness and a high of 29°F.  The overnight lows continues to be lower as the week progresses. Expect Wednesday’s nighttime low to be 18°F.

Thursday will be a sunny day!  High temps on Thursday are forecast to be 24°F. The low overnight drops to 11°F.

Friday will be mainly sunny day with a high of 27°F and an overnight low of 13°F.

Have a great week!

Be sure to CLICK to enlarge the web cam photos below taken today Friday, February 26, 2010

Photo courtesy of the Haliburton Highlands Tourism Dept.

Weekend Winter Trail Report Haliburton Highlands (CLICK to enlarge)

Weekend Winter Trail Report Haliburton Highlands Pt. 2 (CLICK to enlarge)

Ski Conditions defined (CLICK to enlarge)

Working on weekend and long term weather forecast–will be posted soon!

Photo: http://www.xcottawa.ca/articles.php?id=356

Each winter a series of races take place in locations throughout Ontario that collectively form the Ontario Cup series.

Each district of Cross Country Ontario hosts a race at one of it’s member club sites.

Races typically run on weekends with Saturday races being of the ‘Classic’ style and Sunday races being of the ‘Free’ or ‘Skate’ style.

There are age categories for the participants in each race that may include midget-aged boys and girls, juvenile aged boys and girls, junior aged boys and girls, junior aged men and women, and senior men and women.

Points are awarded based on finish results of each race. These points are used to as selection criteria for high performance team selections and awards.

This winter, Southern Ontario District is proud to support two Ontario Cup races. On January 16 & 17, Arrowhead Nordic and the community of Huntsville will be hosted the Ontario Winter Games. Ontario Cup #2 took place that weekend.

On the weekend of February 27 & 28, Haliburton Nordic Ski Club will host Ontario Cup #5. Both events promise to be a great showcasing of Nordic skiing in southern Ontario. Take the opportunity to go and watch, participate, or volunteer to help out.

Glebe Park Haliburton
Contact: County Visitor Info Centre
Tel: 705-286-1777 or 1-800-461-7677,
Email: tourism@county.haliburton.on.ca

This is a non-sponsored post in support of the Haliburton Highlands.

Haliburton Highlands Weekend Weather 2.20.10

The weather for West Guilford/Haliburton Highlands Saturday morning will be cloudy with sunny breaks with a temperature of 22°F. By Saturday afternoon expect mainly cloudy skies and temperatures rising to 29°F. Saturday evening will have cloudy periods with a temperature of 15°F and overnight Saturday it will be clear with a low temperature of 11°F.

Expect a 30% chance of precipitation throughout Saturday.

Scattered flurries continue through Sunday morning and afternoon with a high temperature of 18°F.

Sunday will be a mainly sunny day with the high forecasted to be  29° F .  Overnight Sunday, expect mainly clear skies with a low temperature of 6°F.

Haliburton Highlands – Maple Lake Long Term Weather 02.21–02.26.10 (below)

Haliburton Highlands Long Term Weather Forecast 2.21-2.26.10

Looking at the traditional workweek on Monday you can again look for a partly sunny /variable cloudy day with a high of 26°F and a low temperature of 6°F.  Overnight snow accumulation should be 1 -2 inches.

Tuesday, expect light snow with a high temperature of 29°F.  The low temperature overnight will be 20°F. Snow accumulation should be close to 2 inches.

Wednesday brings a few flurries and a high of 34°F.  The overnight low will  be 18°F.  Snow accumulation should be less than one inch.

Thursday, expect scattered flurries with a high temperature of 24°F.  The low will be 15°F. Snow accumulation should be 1 -2 inches.

Friday brings more snow–expect 2-3 more inches– with a high of 24°F and an overnight low of 15°F.

Have a great week!

Please click the thumbnails for full size Haliburton Highlands Weekend Winter Trail Report – Feb.19-21, 2010

Please click the thumbnails for full size photos.

(Above) Blue Mountain Ontario – 2.19.10

Calabogie Ski Resort- 2.19.10

Kincardine Harbour sunrise

Reach Harbour, Lakefield – 2.19.10

Chapleau River Sunset (2.17.10)

Indian River, Port Carling

Niagara Falls  – 2.19.10

Photo Credit: http://skihaliburton.com

Thanks to the County of Haliburton Tourism Department for this report!

Miss Canada International 2010 - Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign

(February 12, 2010, Haliburton, ON) The County of Haliburton is excited to announce that Bridget Nickerson, Miss Canada International 2010 will be in the Haliburton Highlands this Family Day Weekend!

A native of Nova Scotia, Miss Nickerson is currently touring across Canada. Miss Canada is strong supporter of giving back to her community and as such, she is the Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign.

The Teddy Bears of Hope bring smiles and hope to children all over the globe who are lonely, underprivileged and caught in a web of poverty and despair.

Miss Canada International will attend the Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby at the Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre on Sunday, February 14 where she will be available for media interviews and photos between 10 am and noon. She will also attend the Blue Line Charity Auction at McKeck’s on Sunday from 4 to 6pm. On Monday, she will enjoy some of the great winter activities the Haliburton Highlands has to offer before continuing her journey across Canada.

Thanks to the County of Haliburton, Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing!

This is a  non-paid post in support of the County of Haliburton and the Haliburton Highlands.

Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby – February 13th & 14th, 2010

$10,000 Purse, minimum guaranteed!!!

The 2010 Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby will be held at the Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2010. The race trail will be very much like  last years with the 8 dog teams running a 6 mile course.

There are both Purebred & Alaskan Classes, Kid & Mutt and a Youth Race.

This race is IFSS & ISDRA Sanctioned, part of OFSS Triple Crown Race Series.

Spectator Info

If you have never watched a dogsled race it is definitely a sight to behold. With the dogs lunging, howling and barking to get the races started, flying out of the start gate at speeds reaching up to 30km/hr and racing for the richest purse in Ontario, there is lots of action going on.

This year the races will take place at the Delta Pinestone Resort, located 5 minutes south of the village of Haliburton on County Road #21 (formerly #121). Races will be going on all day Saturday and Sunday with teams going out at 2 minute intervals, so you don’t need to worry about missing them! It is anticipated that over 70 teams from across Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States will take part. The most popular race every year is the Kid & Mutt race but just as fun (and also unique) to watch is the Skijoring class, with mushers on cross country skis, being pulled by 1 or 2 dogs. The large 8 dog race class also offers lots of excitement.

The races are free for spectators to attend, and there are several vantage points for watching the action, both at the start/finish and out on the trail. Programs will be available at the races.

Note: If you have a pet dog please leave him or her at home as  your pet can distract the race dogs. Thanks!

For more information contact:
Tanya McCready & Hank DeBruin,  Winterdance Dogsled Tours
Box 631,  Haliburton,  Ontario,  Canada  K0M 1S0
Phone:  (705) 457-5281
email: info@winterdance.com

Race Schedule (tentative)

All events will take place at the Pinestone Resort, 5 km south of Haliburton on Hwy #21.

Friday February 12th, 2010

7:00 pm Registration (outside Highlanders – Pinestone Resort)

8:00 pm Welcome & Bib Draw (Highlanders Bar)

Saturday February 13th, 2010

7:30 am Late Registration (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort)

8:00 am Drivers Meeting (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort)

9:00 am 4 dog race start

10:45 am Skijoring

12:00 am Kid & Mutt

12:30 pm 6 dog race followed immediately by Recreational race

2:00 pm Youth Race

3:00 pm 8 Dog Race

Sunday February 14th, 2010 7:30 am

Drivers Meeting (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort) 8:30 am

4 dog race start 10:15 am

Skijor Race 11:45 pm

6 dog race followed immediately by Recreational race  1:15 pm

Youth Race 2:30 pm

8 dog race start 4:00 pm

Award Ceremony & Volunteer & Sponsor Party (Pinestone Resort)

This is an unpaid post done as a community service for the Haliburton Highlands area.