NORTH SASKATCHEWAN
Peaceful retreat to the north
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By CHRISTALEE FROESE This is the kind of cabin fever you'll want to catch. Some call it complete isolation, some call it being cooped up, but after three days cocooned in a northern cabin ... we call it heaven. The trip started in a fleury – as all trips that involve three children and a four and-a-half-hour car ride do. There were the diapers to pack, the playpen, the food, the snow suits, the mitts, the tuques and, most importantly, the car snacks. My sister-in-law and l were the last to stuff ourselves into the station wagon and away we went. The kids were full of anticipation, and we were... well, we weren't sure what we were. I, personally, was a little nervous about taking two four year-olds and a one year-old into the toyless, television-less wilderness. How would we entertain them for three days without the help of Barney, Fisher Price and Rolie Polie Olie? " The land rolled out before us as we made our way north from Regina. The bluffs of poplar and birch began to thicken and soon evergreens were beginning to appear. We drove passed the last out-post of civilization, Nipawin, and then carefully navigated our way through 50 kilometres of backroads until we reached Torch Valley Country Retreats. Retreat owner George Lidster led us to our isolated cabin along a narrow winding trail through the dense forest. The quiet enveloped us as we neared what would be home for the next three days. "That's our cabin!" shouted the kids, having contained their enthusiasm for just about as long as can be asked of any four year old. When the door to the cabin finally opened, the kids roared inside and my weekend partner Bev and I stood in awe. It was absolutely breath-taking. Sure, we had seen pictures on the Internet, but those were nothing like this. This was a warm honey-coloured cabin which emanated the soft scent of pine from its pores. Its vaulted ceiling rose up around us as we spied the many amenities we knew we'd grow to love over the next few days - a wood-burning stove, two bathtubs, a leather couch, a spacious loft, a microwave, a full-sized fridge, and a coffee pot. Bev and I winked at each other as George lit the fire -- we knew then that this was no trapper's cabin in fact, this was going to be one pampered cabin experience, regardless of what we had in mind. As the sun set on our day, we sat around the fire and snuggled our freshly bathed and slightly pine-scented children – all of whom were exhausted and easy to get to bed – the sheer pleasure of which only a parent can appreciate. In the morning we were greeted by a stunning array of birds as they began to arrive at the feeder located right in front of the cabin’s large living room and dining room windows. There were yellow grosbeaks, red grosbeaks, blue birds, woodpeckers and a whole variety of other birds I worked at identifying in the handy birdwatcher’s book left purposefully on the coffee table. The windows were littered with finger, nose and cheek prints within minutes as the children climbed onto the wide windowsills and pressed their faces against the window panes in order to get a look at the colourful display before them. The birds, and even squirrels, continued to parade before us each morning, setting the stage for three of the most restful and relaxing days we have ever had. We basked in the warmth of the fire and talked, we studied the natural beauty of the wood in our cabin and we played games for house at a time – crazy eights, charades and find the treasure. And when there was a lull in the action, we simply headed out into the serenity of the forest where there were countless things to discover – deer tracks, birch bark and pine cones. Each morning a familiar knock was heard at the cabin door, followed by a cheerful and comforting greeting by George who came to check on us and see if we needed anything. George also introduced us to cross-sledding - an ingenious sport that allows parents to ski while their children ride along. The two four-year-olds spent hours on the Scandinavian contraption, riding along happily as I got in my exercise pushing the light-weight cross-sled with one foot while the other foot rested on the sled skis. The dips on the 20 kms of trails located on the retreat's land were particularly fun, as we all got a thrilling and effortless ride downhill. We couldn't even stop the kids from wanting to go outside at night, so we gave them flashlights and away we would go on the cross-sled, our 'high beams' bouncing off of the trails and trees before us. George also took us on a hike through part of his 2,000-acre working farm - much of which is peaceful forest featuring tree branches hung heavily with soft puffs of snow or 'marshmallows' as the kids liked to call them. The three days simply flew by and not once did our children ask to go to the mall, eat at McDonald's, play computer games or watch TV. They survived, and even thrived, with what some might call 'absolutely nothing' to do. It was a joy to watch them look at the birds and squirrels through their binoculars, play fox and goose in the freshly fallen snow and follow deer and rabbit tracks through the forest.
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And as for us parents, we had never felt more rested and rejuvenated. There was no phone to answer, no activities to take the kids to, no traffic to fight, no deadlines to meet, no people to visit, no errands to run - just three blissful days of uninterrupted peace. "What we try to do is create the environment for the three R's -rest, relaxation and romance, actually, that should be recreation, "laughs George's wife, Jean Lidster, who grew up in Toronto, but now whole-heartedly embraces northern Prairie life and the peace it brings. "I do have a hidden agenda because I really do want people to be more aware of nature and how it works. I grew up in the city and I think you get desensitized to the real world and you think you're in control, but really nature is in control." George says his greatest pleasure in owning and operating the two cabins along with Jean is seeing the transformation made by the people who come to stay. “People will come all wound up on a Friday night and you ask them how they’re doing and they’ll pretty much say, “what’s it to you,” says George. “But by Sunday, they’re laid back and relaxed and they’re half human again.” My sister-in-law and I are now planning to build our own isolated cabin in some northern bush, but until we do so, we hope to visit Jean and George’s wonderful retreat as often as we can. Cabin fever has never been this good.
If
you go … The second stretch of the trip which takes you from Melfort to the Torch Valley Country Retreat is 150 kms. You'll drive East from Melfort on Highway 3 to Tisdale, then North to Nipawin on Highway #35. The next 50 kms to the retreat are fairly tricky, but a detailed map provided by the Lidsters will help you get there without a problem. WHAT TO BRING: The Lidsters have thought of almost everything, so there isn't much that you'll have to cart along on your trip. They provide soap, toilet paper, towels, clean bedding, bottled water, matches, fire-wood and all dishes, utensils and cookware. Warm clothing is a must, as you'll want to spend a lot of time outside. The few essentials we found we were missing were cozy slippers, lip balm and books (yes, you'll even have time to read them if the kids are along). RENTING A CABIN: There are two cabins at the Torch Valley Country Retreat, both of which are in separate and isolated locations. The newer cabin we stayed in is just one year old and features a main floor with two bedrooms (one with a queen bed and one with two single beds), full bath, kitchen, dining area and living room. The loft also has a full bath, as well as a queen bed and a single bed and a cozy sitting area. The older cabin (built in 1992) has similar amenities as the new one and also sleeps eight, but it is slightly more rustic. Both cabins cost $95 per night for two people and $25 per night for each additional person. These cabins access a wonderful hiking trail system, numerous groomed cross- country ski trails and miles of snowmobile trails. The cabins also have gazebos, barbecues and firepits. For bookings, call (306)276-2567 or e-mail gj.lidster@sasktel.net lf you want to see photos of the cabins, check out http://torchvalleycountryretreats.com/pictures.htm THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE AREA:
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Shop or eat
out at Nipawin, a thriving community teaming with restaurants and unique
shops. § Fish at Codette or Tobin Lakes - both of which are famous for producing some of the province's best summer and winter catches. § Downhill ski at Wapiti Valley Regional Park. § Visit the site of a 92-million-year-old fossil in Pasquia Regional Park. § Discover displays of homesteaders and forestry workers in Nipawin's Living Forestry Museum. § Snowmobile 250 kilometres of groomed trails. For more information, check out www. nipawin.com, nipawintourism.com or www.sasktourism.com.
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