Learn to love winter by immersing yourself in it

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To determine if you’re a “winter person,” put on your favorite “thinking toque” (which you probably already have, given the current weather) and ask yourself two questions: Please answer the quiz.

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1. When the temperature drops below -20°C for the first time, you….

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A. Close the blinds, barricade the house and hibernate until the prairie crocuses start blooming in April: 0 points

B. Continues to do routine ‘things’, but only goes out and repeats if someone drags him/her: .5 points

C. Continue daily walks, but often only 10 feet past the driveway: 1 point

D. Pretend everything very beautiful, Go downhill skiing once with a friend, but spend most of the day drinking hot rum by the fire in the lodge: 2 points

E. Feeling like you’ve won the lottery, load up your Subaru with all kinds of skis, skates and boards designed for snow and head to the mountains while digging a snow cave and enjoying a blissful reenactment until the snow melts: 1,000 points

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2. At a house party, if someone you know bragged about a 3-day backcountry ski tour adventure on Bugaboos, you…

A. Leaving the room because I have no idea what this person is talking about: 0 points

B. Say you’re crazy, but ask for a picture because it looks a little funny: 1 point

C. bragging about their time snowshoeing in Kananaskis and trying to elevate their standing in the group. However, I’ll leave out the part where he had to be rescued by helicopter because he was hypothermic because he was wearing no gloves and only had a thin cotton hoodie. 1.5 points

D. Simplify conversations about years spent in the Arctic national geographic Expedition to find an ice-preserved woolly mammoth carcass: 10,000 points

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all right. Not everyone likes winter. And I know you didn’t score very well on the quiz. Don’t worry, my friend. Winter recreation is “doable”. And it’s fun. And here’s the problem. We are knee-deep in snow and cold for the time being. So, on some level, you can accept that as well.

Of course, we also know that thousands of people make regular weekend pilgrimages to ski resorts, rinks and Nordic trails to play in the snow. And it’s great!

But my general take on the situation is: Too many able-bodied people are essentially confined to their homes during the winter months, losing the physical and mental life benefits of outdoor recreation in winter. And here’s the kicker. There is an amazing variety of winter activities available in your backyard. And many of them are completely free!

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So think of this as an invitation, a kick in the butt, to get off the couch and step outside to play some snow season pranks. If you need ideas, here’s a random sample of fun winter activities you can do in both Calgary and the nearby mountains.

Go skating in the lagoon of Bowness Park. You can also check out their cool ice bikes! Ice trails and croquikar (a cross between croquinor and curling) are other highlights of this beautiful riverside park.

Hike to the Ice Falls. Visiting a frozen waterfall is probably the best way to see the amazing beauty of winter. Good places to hike include Troll Falls (near Kananaskis Village), Grotto Canyon (near Exshaw) and Johnston Canyon (near Banff). You can also visit Calgary’s stunning ice falls at Fish Creek State Park near Bow Valley Ranch.

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Book a weekend at Emerald Lake Lodge. This inn near Field, British Columbia is he one of the most spectacular front country lodges you can visit in the winter. Cross-country skiing around the lake is magical!

Go snowshoeing or Nordic skiing on West Bragg Creek. Just 30 minutes from Calgary, the West Bragg Creek Day Use Area is a gem. If you don’t have your own gear, rent one at the University of Calgary Outdoor Center.

Photographing the winter scenery of Banff. Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and my personal favorite, Vermilion Lakes Road, are perfect locations to capture the stunning winter scenery of the Banff area.

Try fat biking at Fish Creek State Park. Fat bike if you can ride a bike! Bikes can be rented from Calgary Cycles, conveniently located near the trails. They also have a Bragg Creek location near many of the great trails in the area.

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Experience an indigenous themed medicine walk at Mahican Trails. A guided tour through Grotto Canyon, just outside Canmore, adds a rich layer of culture to its stunning scenery.

Go tubing. An exhilarating adrenaline rush like you’ve never experienced before! Try the Mount Norquay, Nakiska and Lake Louise tube parks.

Go downhill skiing. There’s a reason people come from all over the world to ski in the Canadian Rockies. If you haven’t done so yet, Canada Olympic Park’s many lesson programs are a great place to start.

Put on your boots and micro spikes and walk. Calgary’s world-class trails never disappoint! Your body was made to move. Even in winter!

Andrew Penner is a Calgary-based photojournalist. You can follow him on Instagram @andrewpennerphotography