Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/81685
18 GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING: With Manitoba blanketed in snow during the winter, it makes sense we'd have figured out a way to navigate the drifts at high speeds. And the wide-open prairies provide a perfect backdrop against which snowmobiling enthusiasts can get their fix. There are more than 12,000 kilometres of groomed trails in Manitoba — 300 of them in the scenic Whiteshell region (www.whiteshell.mb.ca) alone. In the Interlake (www.interlaketourism.com), Grand Beach and Hecla both boast similarly extensive networks, with trails leading sledders through spectacular snowscapes, forests and lake country. The steep terrain and remote warm-up shelters of Duck Mountain Provincial Park (www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/ parks/popular_parks/western/duck) are the very definition of picturesque, while further north, you can powder the path surrounding Clearwater Lake (www.gov. mb.ca/conservation/parks/popular_ parks/northwest/clearwater) near The Pas, or take the 144-km trail from there to Flin Flon. But wherever your path leads you, remember to stay safe out there: Sled responsibly, stick to areas designated for snowmobiling, and always wear a helmet. Visit www.snoman.mb.ca for info on snopasses, trails and clubs. GIT' ALONG, LITTLE DOGGIES: OK, so there's at least one other way to sail through the snow — one that takes a slightly more "old school" approach. Though the technology's been around for centuries, the sport of dog sledding is still as popular as ever, with a number of festivals, clubs and associations tasked with turning peoples' minds to "mush." Or you could enter the annual Hudson Bay Quest Dog Sled Race (www.hudsonbayquest.com), a 330-km dash that follows a traditional trapping route along the edge of Wapusk National Park from Gillam to Churchill. Happy Trails! Groomed for good times A C TIVITIES new course with canine It's a dog's life! Chart a cruise control