Beyond the Slopes: My First Major Cross Country Ski Lesson and Why Family Skiing at Nakiska is Only the Beginning

Hello everyone, friends and fellow adventurers! I’m Ernesto Lozano. If you have followed my journey with Dare and Explore, you know that the Canadian Rockies have been my home and my office for over 15 years. As a certified guide and ski instructor, one might think that the snow holds no more secrets for me. However, the mountain always has a way of reminding us that we are eternal students.

The end of this year, 2025, has been extremely special for my family. Between the celebrations and the blessing of welcoming our fourth grandchild, we decided that the best way to honor the end of this chapter was by trying something new. So, on December 26th, we traded the adrenaline of the descent for the endurance of Cross Country Skiing.

Many of our clients ask about family skiing in Nakiska as their first option—and it is excellent, as we will see—but today I want to immerse you in a discipline that connects you with nature in a much more rhythmic and personal way.

Understanding the Snow: Downhill, Backcountry, and Cross Country

Before diving into the details of my adventure at Two Jack Lake, it is vital to understand what we are doing when we strap boards to our feet. Not all skiing is the same, and each type requires a different mindset and equipment.

Downhill Skiing (Alpine Skiing)

This is the most popular style. It’s what you experience when you go to a resort. You ride up the mountain comfortably in a chairlift and ski down the groomed runs. These are classified by color:

• Green: The easiest, ideal for beginners.

• Blue: Intermediate, where most skiers enjoy their day.

• Black: The most difficult, classified by diamonds (one, two, or three). Family skiing in Nakiska fits perfectly into this category; it is a place designed for comfort, with impeccable runs and all services close at hand.

Backcountry Skiing (Touring)

This is where my avalanche certifications come into play. In the backcountry, there are no chairlifts. You climb the mountain yourself using "skins" (synthetic strips that mimic seal fur) attached to the bottom of the skis to create friction for the ascent. Once at the top, we remove the skins and enjoy a descent in deep powder where no one else has skied. It is pure freedom, but it requires significant technical knowledge.

Cross Country Skiing (Nordic Skiing)

This is where I ventured this time. The equipment is radically different:

• The Boots: Much lighter and more flexible. They lack the plastic rigidity of alpine boots; they feel more like a reinforced hiking shoe.

• The Skis: Extremely thin, long, and light. They aren't designed for steep descents but for covering long distances.

• The Poles: Much longer than downhill poles to allow for a stronger push from the shoulders. Cross country skiing works almost like skating: you propel yourself with one leg and one arm, letting the other leg glide. It is a dance of balance and coordination.

The Invitation: Shawn, Lyndsay, and the Challenge of Learning

Even though we are experts at guiding at Dare and Explore, I have always believed that to be a good teacher, you must know how to be a good student. My friends Shawn and Lyndsay gave us an invitation we couldn't refuse: a Cross Country masterclass to formally introduce us to the sport.

Shawn is my companion from a thousand battles in MTB, hiking, and rock climbing (I haven’t convinced him to do a multi-pitch yet, but I’m sure we will soon!). Meanwhile, Lyndsay has vast experience in this sport, and we frequently share the trails on our mountain bikes.

The Logistics of December 26th: Deciding on a date was a puzzle. Between the arrival of the new grandchild and Christmas commitments, the weather decided to play its part. We were originally going on the 27th, but the forecast changed suddenly. In the mountains, flexibility is safety. We moved everything up to December 26th at 2:00 PM.

From Calgary to the Rockies: The Path to Two Jack Lake

We left our facilities in Calgary with Shawn and Lyndsay. The city said goodbye to us with a cloudy sky and a frigid -14°C. However, the magic of Alberta is that after 30 minutes of driving west, the sky opened up. The sun came out to greet us and illuminate the peaks, and the temperature began to rise, giving us a perfect afternoon.

Our first stop was in Canmore at Gear Up to see our long-time friends. We only needed to rent boots and poles, as Shawn and Lyndsay provided the skis. It was a quick stop; the service in Canmore is always top-notch for those of us looking for technical gear.

A Wildlife Encounter

Shortly before reaching Cascade Mountain and turning north toward Two Jack Lake, nature welcomed us. A herd of Elks was resting near the lake. Seeing these majestic animals in their winter habitat is a reminder of why we do what we do at Dare and Explore. We take care of every detail so our clients can witness this, always with respect and distance.

The Adventure: Gliding into the Twilight

We geared up in the parking lot. Since Cross Country skiing requires constant physical effort, the golden rule is to dress in layers:

• Base layer: Thermal shirt.

• Mid layer: A thermal fleece or sweatshirt.

• Outer layer: Windbreaker (Shell).

• Accessories: Thin gloves, a buff, and a toque (beanie). We also carried headlamps, extra gloves, and a heavy jacket in our packs, knowing the sun would set soon and the cold would return with a vengeance.

  

The Technique: Step by Step (Literally)

The trail began with a gentle one-kilometer descent. This is where your balance is put to the test! Being such narrow skis, you feel every irregularity in the snow. Then came the first steep climb.

Here we learned the "herringbone" technique (duck walk). If you try to go up with your skis parallel, you simply slide backward. You have to open the tips, dig in the inside edges, and step up bit by bit. It was an intense cardio workout, but once you find a constant rhythm, the feeling is incredible. You learn that speed doesn't come from brute force, but from the fluidity of the glide.

The Return and the Discovery of "New" Muscles

At 5:00 PM, after covering nearly 5 km, we decided to head back. Night fell quickly over Two Jack Lake, and our headlamps became our best allies.

It is like skiing in another dimension. The landscape becomes intimate, the silence is absolute, and you only hear your breathing and the friction of the boards on the snow. But as night took over, the cold set in. We couldn't stop for long, or our body temperature would drop.

The Physical Diagnosis: I always say that when you try a new sport, you discover muscles you didn't know you had. In my case, I discovered a pair of tendons and muscles in the inner part of the ankle that—after years of alpine skiing where the rigid boot protects you—had to work three times as hard here to maintain balance. Cross Country is a full-body workout!

We finished the route with:

• Distance: 9.49 km.

• Accumulated Elevation: 186 m.

• Feeling: Total fatigue, but absolute satisfaction.

The Perfect Finish in Canmore

We packed up the gear, brushed the snow off the skis, and headed to Canmore for the mandatory reward. The town was vibrant; it was hard to find a table, but we ended up at The Dake, a relatively new spot that I highly recommend.

What better way to finish than with a hot soup to warm the soul and a great burger to recover those calories? The conversation with Shawn and Lyndsay about technique and stories from the trail was the perfect ending to an unforgettable December 26th.

Why take a class?

Even for me, with my instructor certifications, I reaffirmed that taking a class is the best investment. Shawn and Lyndsay saved me hours of frustration and potential falls. At Dare and Explore, that is our philosophy: to take you by the hand so your only concern is to enjoy and connect with the mountain.

If you are looking for something relaxed and fun to start with, family skiing in Nakiska is the place to be. But if you want to feel the heartbeat of the mountain in your lungs, Cross Country is waiting for you.

And you? Are you ready for your next adventure?

Remember that our Winter Camp is coming up this March. We will be skiing for 5 days across 3 different mountains. It is the perfect opportunity to apply everything we’ve talked about today. Don’t let the winter pass you by!

Write to us to plan your custom trip, from 4 to 17 days. See you in the snow!

Ernesto Lozano Director & Founder, Dare and Exploree

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