It’s -20 outside and you’ve sworn off fresh-air, sunshine and blue sky for the next few months? Obviously you’re not from Montreal.

Ridiculously cold weather, knee-high salt stains, frozen nostrils, layers of black ice and endless fresh snow are inescapable, yet to some Montrealers, they’re what’s best about winter.

If you’re in the Plateau, take out a pair of cross-country skis and ski across your neighborhood to the bottom of Mont-Royal. Take the torturous climb to the top and feel invigorated by the -30 wind whipping your face as you zoom down, knees bent and poles tucked under your armpits. Although some serious equipment is in order (including the infamous baklava which covers you’re whole face leaving only three holes for your eyes and mouth and looking something like a thief), you’re guaranteed a killer cup of hot chocolate and a hot bowl of soup at the bottom of the mountain in one of the within skiing-distance bistros.

Or why not lug an old beer carton wrapped up in a plastic garbage bag to the bottom of the mountain and hit the slopes at dusk? Bring a thermos of mulled wine or spiked coffee and compete to see who ends up with the biggest bruises as you bounce down the mogul-covered sledding hill on a beer carton. You won’t get cold since running back-up the hill can be a slippery challenge and by the time you realize the beer carton has disintegrated into nothing and you’re sliding down on snow pants, you’ll be tipsy and ready for a pitcher or two with the hockey game at a warm bar down the street. 

Can’t skate? There’s nowhere better to learn than one of Montreal’s authentic outdoor skating rinks. After all, this is how people use to do it: open air, blue skies, and -25. You might spend an hour dodging amateur figure skaters and hockey players, but at least you’ll be learning to skate the real Canadian way while working up a good sweat.

If you think the city is oppressive, try heading out to one of the surrounding mountains for a day of alpine skiing or snowboarding. After all, there’s nothing better than feeling the inside of your nostrils growing into small ice cubes and snowboarding half-blind hidden under two scarves, a baklava, another scarf, goggles, a tuque, and a hood.

Other fun activities: seeing who gets the worst (and irreparable) salt stains over the course of a week, fighting with snowballs accidentally harboring pebbles and comparing involuntary injuries, challenging drunken friends to a game of how many steps you can take down St-Laurent street (always under construction and now a layer of ice) without falling, or seeing who can walk the longest in a 4 a.m. snowstorm.

If this didn’t get you excited then try comparing Montreal to this: every year, Vancouverites wager on many days straight of rain they’ll get. Two years ago, they hit jackpot with 31-days of no sunshine and nearly 24/7 rain.  What’s worse?