Who knew homemade outhouses on skis, racing against each other, could be so exciting – helping to break up the winter. It offered an opportunity to team up as a competitor, to build your own style of outhouse, and then push it with all your might to win the coveted, one-of-a-kind trophy. This winter event generated amazing community participation!
Getting outdoors is vital to our health and winter time is no exception.
The same health benefits of spending time in ‘green spaces’ is also available in ‘snow spaces.’ There’s no limit to outdoor activities as far as the time of season goes, with winter lending itself to possibly changing up your walking, hiking, and/or biking to snowshoeing, skiing, and/or skating.
Even just getting outside to breathe in the refreshing cold winter air and soaking up the sun’s rays, when it decides to come out, can make all the difference in our well-being. It’s no secret we need vitamin D from the sun, regular exercise done most days, and exposure to nature and its beauty as part of living a healthy lifestyle. It’s much like taking a daily vitamin to boost our mental, physical, emotional, and social health.
And not to mention, getting out to partake in local winter fun events like Lumby’s annual ‘Outhouse Race’ organized by the Monashee Trail Society. This unusually spectacular event – who knew homemade outhouses on skis, racing against each other, could be so exciting – helps to break up the winter.
It offered an opportunity to team up as a competitor, to build your own style of outhouse, and then push it with all your might to win the coveted, one-of-a-kind trophy. This winter event generated amazing community participation that included local dignitaries, city services, local businesses, volunteers, donations, and a lively audience.
This, somewhat crazy idea to race outhouses in January, is just what we need; it’s outdoors, it’s fun, it encourages social interaction, and gives us a reason to laugh and relax.
Thanks to all our amazing volunteers, prize donors and community support including from the Village of Lumby, the Chamber of Commerce, Aldon equipment (in photo delivering real out-houses for the hundreds of spectators), Be Green Irrigation, Jitter Beans Coffee House, Ida’s Bakery, Avenue Pizza and Treats, Lindsay and Steve Cochrane and so many others!
Without all of their support our event would not have been what it was!
Submitted by T.Zyp. January 2023.
Monashee Trail Society 