YVETTE & BILL'S OFFBEAT ADVENTURES
So, where do you go when you've seen the
big cities, the scenic wonders, the magnificent
wildlife, and you're all shopped out and
yearning for something REALLY different?
We hopped an overnight train in Winnipeg
and headed for The Pas, a town of 5,700 people
635 kilometers north of Winnipeg, and home,
for 56 years, to the annual Fur Trappers'
Festival.
Here you can watch (and take part in) such
competitions as the Pole Climbing Contest,
Tree Felling Contest, Bannock Baking Contest,
Flour Hauling Contest, Ugliest Beard, Hairiest
Legs, and many, many more, most reflecting
the outdoor skills needed to survive in an
area where many folks still trap and hunt
for their livelihood. The male and female
contestants who win the most points in the
core competitions are crowned King and Queen
Trapper.
Two faces of the Festival: Bannock Baking
and Hairiest Legs contests
In between events, you can shop for native
crafts at White Feather Cree-ations, watch
the local champion Junior A league hockey
team humiliate their opponents, or visit
the brand new casino across the Saskatchewan
River on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. And,
if you're really lucky, you just might get
invited to Rick Colgan's annual smoker featuring
a huge spread of smoked game meats, free-flowing
beer and home-baked cookies.
Getting there is half the fun. Railfan/Tour
Guide Daryl Adair accompanies guests on the
overnight Hudson Bay from Winnipeg to The Pas. He'll point out
all the sights, and you'll enjoy first-class
sleeper accommodations on the train. Besides
the train, the tour includes hotel in The
Pas, Festival events, a visit to the town's
eclectic museum, the Musher's Banquet, and
a tour of the Hudson Bay Railway facilities.
For further information, dates, and pricing,
visit Daryl's web site at www.railtraveltours.com