Anya Mullen – Opinions Editor 

When the ground is covered in ice and snow and the temperatures dip well below freezing, it’s easy to stay inside all the time. Indisputably, a great thing to do in the winter is cosy up with hot chocolate, a blanket and a movie.

However, not every student is lucky enough to live in a town where so much snow glitters, and so much nature is right at their fingertips. Instead of always choosing to stay in, choose to take one of the many opportunities available to enjoy our winter wonderland.

Image courtesy of Anya Mullen

There are multiple trails within walking distance from Bishop’s and Lennoxville. For a quick stroll, there is the trail right behind the library, which also takes you to L’Axe de la Massawippi, a trail that goes along the river and could take you all the way to North Hatley if you felt like walking 15 kilometres (make sure someone can pick you up!). There is also a great trail along the train tracks, which starts just off Samuel-Gratham Street. Not to be forgotten is the path along the other side of the river, which you can get to if you cross the St. Francis Street bridge and then turn left. 

If you’re already familiar with these trails, and maybe a little sick of them, there is a whole student club at Bishop’s that also wants to explore trails in the Eastern Townships that may be a little further away: BU Outdoors Club. 

Like all SRC clubs, BUO is completely student-run and has been active since 2019. The club’s aim, as stated in their Instagram bio, is to “increase Bishop’s student participation in outdoor activities.” The best part is there isn’t a complicated membership process. If you are available to sign up for an event, you can participate in as many or as few events as you would like in a semester. There’s no minimum event attendance required. The process of signing up for an event is very simple: the club will post about an upcoming event and share a link to a Google form, in which you fill out the required information and if you get a spot on the trip, you receive an email detailing all the information you need to know (Pro tip: drivers are always needed on trips, so if you have a car, there’s a good chance you’ll get a spot). The club’s regular events will likely begin in the next couple of weeks.

Events often involve hikes around the Eastern townships, but can also include activities such as skating, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, the occasional camping trip and more. The club has equipment such as skates, warm winter layers, snowshoes and crampons that can be borrowed and/or used for events, making it accessible for all, even if you don’t have a closet full of outdoor equipment. 

So next time you’re tempted to stay in all day, think about how much nature is out there just waiting for you to take advantage of it. It’s no secret that spending time outside is great for your mental and physical health, and this article just revealed the secrets of nearby trails and how to get out to not-so-nearby trails with the Bishop’s Outdoors Club. So what are you waiting for? Whether this is your first or last year at BU, take advantage of our beautiful snow while you can!