The frozen facade of
Elk Ridge Lodge
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Deep Freeze
Weathering saskatchewan’s winter with frozen
fun at elk ridge resort
by ashlyn GeorGe
sprawled on my back , I howl with
so much laughter that I can barely
breathe. It’s been a long time since I’ve
felt such glee, especially because of
something so simple.
A minute earlier, I was bouncing
and bobbing aboard an inner tube
on my way down a snow-packed hill.
After a bit of giggling in the snow, I
leap up to run back to the top and do
it all over again. Thankfully, there’s
no reason to be embarrassed by my
enthusiasm—I’m not the only grownup
sprinting to the top of the hill. On this
particular afternoon, there are more
adults than children.
The site of my second childhood is
Elk Ridge Resort. Located about 80
kilometres north of Prince Albert, on
the edge of Prince Albert National
Park, it’s arguably the best winter
50
Winter 2017
CAA saskatcheWan
resort in the province. Though it’s a
four-season destination, Elk Ridge
truly excels during Saskatchewan’s
notoriously cold winter.
Surrounded by the tamarack, aspen
and birch of the Boreal forest, Elk
Ridge quickly banishes any winter
blahs. The hotel encourages al fresco
exploration by providing free-with-
your-stay outdoor equipment. In
typical Canadian fashion, there are ice
skates for shinny on the four hockey
rinks and taking a spin around the
skating oval. The resort even
has its own Zamboni. You’ll
also find a selection
of snowshoes and
cross-country skis
for trekking along
groomed trails that
wind through three
nine-hole golf courses. A miniature
curling sheet encourages “hurrying
hard,” while the aforementioned
toboggan hill provides thrills and
spills. The resort also boasts warm-up
shacks, a fire pit and complimentary
firewood for bonfire building.
As with most winter days this far
north, the suns sets much earlier than
I’d like. The light splinters through
jack pines, the crepuscular rays flicker
in the shifting branches as if waving
goodbye. I abandon my inner tube on
the hill for tomorrow’s adventurers,
and head back to the lodge to
change out of my snow gear.
I’ve worked up quite an
appetite and can’t wait
for my evening meal in
the recently updated
Fireside Dining Room.