We're trying out a new contest at Altitude-blog.com. A photo contest.
For the month of August, the theme is Altitude's Footloose! Everyone is invited to participate. Let your imagination run wild and send us your pictures before September 6th. You can reach me here magalie@altitude-sports.com.
Read more about Picked Pics : Photo Contest - August 2010 Altitude's Footloose!
The Share and Save Series is pleased to present
I am the owner of Energy Outdoors, an outdoor fitness company in the Laurentians. We are sports training specialists. I am passionate about the outdoors, fitness and teaching.
I play outdoors all day long – all temperatures – all year long. To me, there is no bad weather… you just need to have the right clothes for all temperatures.
I was pleased to get the chance to critique some gear and apparel from Altitude-Sports.com.
Hey there, dear Altitude-blog readers!
My name is Rémi. I'm a French student that will soon be graduating from the École Polytechnique de Montréal. You're reading the first article in a long series...that will tell the story of my cycling adventure through North America. Yup, once I get that diploma, my career (anti-crisis) plan is to go ride a bike!
"What an absurd idea" you might be left thinking...well please note that I've been surrounded by bikes since my entire life : I wasn't a year old when I started playing with my parents' tire levers when we'd go on bike tours in Averyon. Today, I've grown a little and I have a deep thirst to see me some countryside. North America in particular! The North America where it rains, the North America where you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere...and not the North America of airports, nor the souvenir shops of Old Montreal... Continue reading North American Tour
15h00 – And we’re off. We just left Montreal and we’re on our way to our camping site on the Montagne d' Argent (Silver Mountain) in the Laurentians. Upon our departure, the sun was shining. This was getting us down, but we were still hopeful. Luckily, the forecast was suggesting rain, at which point we would be able to test our Outdoor Research jackets. I had my Helium Jacket at the ready.
18h30 – We’re getting supper ready. Still no clouds in sight (sigh)!
22h30 – I’m all snug in my sleeping bag when that magical sound I was waiting for arrives. The lapping of the raindrops on the tent eventually become a rainy 5th symphony. I’m hoping it lasts until tomorrow, for our ascent of the Pic-Johansen in the Mont Tremblant Park. I’ll finally get to try out my Helium! Read more: Helium Jacket: As good as gold on the Silver Mountain
My friend and I left Montreal at around 3 p.m. hoping to get perfect weather, ie tons of rain so we could put my Outdoor Research Revel Jacket through its paces. According to the forecast, everything was in place. The plan was to sleep at the Montagne d’Argent (Silver Mountain) and the next morning hike Le toit des Laurentides trail in the Mont Tremblant Park. As planned, we got to the mountain at supper time. Once we’d set up our tents and eaten a nice meal, I decided to check out the surrounding area. We discovered lots of possibilities: foot paths, climbing walls, not to mention various services at a reasonable price.
Upon our return, we made it a short evening in front of a fire with a beer at hand. The next morning, we got up really early for breakfast and packing up. Next stop : Le toit des Laurentides.
At 9 a.m., give or take a few minutes, we got to the trailhead. Luckily, our friend the rain was waiting for us.
We lunched with the jays and took a half-hour break to recuperate a bit.
The descent was quick and lasted an hour-and-a-half. We ran down the path and I treated myself to two memorable tumbles in the mud. Although the path was quite wet, I managed to keep my feet dry. I can’t say the same for my cotton pants. We ended the day on a nice little beach as we ate our dinner.
Happy trails!
Rock
Hello, my name is Gabrielle and I've been an avid outdoor enthusiast for several years now! I do activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping and climbing. For almost a year now, I've been a specialist at Altitude Sports on St-Denis in Montreal.
I recently had the pleasure of trying out an Outdoor Research waterproof/breathable jacket: the women’s Reflexa. Actually, it’s the first piece of OR clothing I’ve ever owned. I tested it mostly on my bike this spring and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Firstly, the jacket is made in a very interesting way, especially the zippers on either side. The zipper that extends from the underarm to the bottom of the jacket allows you to comfortably wear a backpack with a waist belt. You can do like me in the photo and adjust it so that the jacket doesn’t constantly ride up your back.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jérôme and I am a specialist at Altitude Sports St-Denis and a shipper for the Altitude-sports.com website. Being a lover of outdoor activity, I definitely needed a soft shell.
A softshell has the advantage of being much more breathable than a waterproof breathable jacket and does a good job protecting from small showers with its resistance to water and wind. In short, it is great for most situations.
Lately, I’ve been wearing my Ferrosi a lot. I have had the opportunity test it on several short hikes and while biking. I am very satisfied with this product so far.
The Equipped to Answer contest came about when Outdoor Research challenged Altitude-sports.com. Together, we chose 10 products and gave them to 10 different employees so they could test them out. The Altitudians had to be honest and report both the positive and negative aspects of the products. The Equipped to Answer entails answering a quiz by finding the answers in articles below. That’ll give you the chance to win an Outdoor Research kit (men or women) or one of 10 Altitude-sports.com membership cards!
Click here to learn more about the Equipped to Answer Contest by Outdoor Research
I come from Montreal but when I was 6, we moved to Mont-Rolland in the Laurentians, which is where I grew up. Knowing that, you’ll understand why I have a passion for the outdoors. I was surrounded by nature my entire childhood and today I spend as much time as possible partaking in activities that take me outside. I’m back in Montreal now and I’ve been working at Altitude-Sports.com for 3 years. My time outdoors has given me the opportunity to test many of the products we sell. Depending on the season, I love going for walks and bike rides during the week; I use weekends for snowboarding, snowshoeing, camping and treks. I recently took a course to get my hunting permit. Since the hunting season hasn’t started yet, I’ve been practising at a shooting range. I took advantage of that to try out my latest acquisition and share with you my experience.
I tested my Outdoor Research Women’s Ferrosi Hoody.
Recently, I got to test it out as I walked up Mount Pevee in the Eastern Townships. It is right by my cottage, and has no marked trails to the top. I must say it was quite a scramble to the 600 meter view-point. The panorama was worth it though. I got a glimpse of Mount Orford, Owl’s Head, and Jay Peak, easy to recognise by the still snow-covered ski trails. The jacket was perfect with a small sweater underneath on this cool sunny day. You can see me with my hood on, as I enter the exposed area at the top of the mount. It was a wonderful 3-hour hike, with lots of spring flowers guiding my way.
Me in the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody
Me in the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody 2
I got hooked the outdoors at the age of 17, though I began my career as an “outdoorsman” long before that in summer camps (sea kayaking, canoeing, climbing, etc..) and with my family (hiking). However, my first real expedition took place in the White Mountains (New Hampshire, U.S.) with three friends. That's when I discovered my passion for nature and adventure. Since then, I have never stopped planning short, medium or long hikes across Quebec, in the eastern United States and elsewhere in the world (Iceland, Germany, Switzerland). Today, despite my duties as manager at Altitude-Sports on St-Denis, I still find the time to escape from the city to enjoy the benefits of outdoor adventure.
When I was asked to write down my impressions of the Outdoor Research Rumor Hoody, I immediately wondered how this stretch fleece could be useful to me in April, when it started getting hot and everyone was taking out their summer wardrobe. I found my answer when I decided to flee the city for a short two day trip in the Adirondacks (New York).
Read more about what Louis' testing of the Outdoor Research Rumor Hoody
As soon as I put them on, I knew that the Outdoor Research Contour Pants and I were starting a long love story. They’re so comfortable. Although they’re really thin, you can still feel that they can take a beating. Thank you Cordura-based softshell. Not only that, but they are elastic as well, which makes them incredibly comfortable. It feels like you’re floating in them.
Me, wearing my rugged man face
My name is Judy Murphy. I sing, cook, write, translate, read, ride my bike, and play tennis. I’ve also been known to do crazy things like plant trees for summers on end. I’m from Victoria, B.C, and have lived in Montreal for just over a year.
This is how I roll...with my Helium
Due to lack of rain, I couldn’t test my Helium jacket outside, so instead I took it in the shower – it’s definitely waterproof. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go bush-wacking in it and could not test the durability of the material, but I have faith (as long as you don’t go head-diving into a blackberry bush). My favourite part about my jacket is how red it is! Just kidding. Despite my obsession with the colour red, my real favourite part is the little tiny pocket the jacket fits into. It’s the size of my fist! This means I can take it anywhere with me either stored in my backpack, stuffed haphazardly into my purse, or clipped to my fanny pack by the loop on the stow pocket.
The Helium stowed in its pocket
Read more Outdoor Research Tested by Judy - Helium Jacket : the deluxe K-way
If you are an outdoor apparel bargain hunter, all your dreams have come true!
Altitude-Sports.com is launching a new outlet section at their Mont-Tremblant store. There you will find amazing deals, up to 60% off, on The North Face, Arc’teryx and Icebreaker apparel for men, women and kids! Items are from previous seasons, including both summer and winter collections. It’s a real goldmine, definitely worth a detour to Mont-Tremblant (St-Jovite)!
The store is located on Highway 117 at St-Jovite in a new shopping centre, Promenades Tremblant. Click here to see a map. Our store is located between Puma and Mexx. Other stores found here include: BCBG Max Azria, Tommy Hilfiger, Stokes, Souris Mini, La Vie en Rose, Le Château and Avalanche. Most of these stores also offer great deals on clothing on sale.
Also, for a limited time only, take advantage of the great deals below. Please note these deals are only available at our Tremblant store.
Hey Everybody,
Once again this year, Altitude-sports.com and Altitude-blog.com will be at the Montreal Outdoor Festival (French-language site), which will be held from the 14th to the 16th of May at Parc Jean Drapeau.
Since one of our goals is to surprise you every year, we've been working really hard to come up with original concepts. Now, thanks to highly scientific and cutting-edge technology, we'll test the depths of your soul to discover your outdoor personality! Are you Extreme ? Urban? Or a Weekend Warrior ? Are you Mount Manaslu, Mont-Tremblant ou Mont-Royal? Are you part mountain goat, raccoon or squirrel?
Living in a city can be quite exciting. There are so many people around and so many things happening. For those interested in our environmental impact as urban denizens, the Écomusée du Fier Monde and the Urban Ecology Centre are currently holding the final, part of their 3 part exhibit entitled Habiter une Ville Durable (Living in a Sustainable City). The exhibit reflects upon three themes, transportation, housing and consumption. It looks at the choices we make within these themes, as individuals, as a collective and at the government level.
Since 1990, the Corvée du Mont-Royal annual springtime tradition has allowed more than 10,750 members of the Montreal community to contribute to this vast awareness-raising operation and conservation activity in favour of Mount Royal Park’s natural environment.
The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. On the occasion of the Corvée du Mont-Royal and to underline the importance of maintaining our biodiversity, Les amis de la montagne invite the community to participate in a series of environmental activities, guided walks, family craft projects and other learning opportunities. More
We here at Altitude Sports have always been big fans of outdoor sports such as hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, cycling, gliding, you name it! However, there's a new wave of activities taking over the airwaves. The simple fact is that it's time to move on. This human-powered adventure stuff is getting old. Listen, it's spring time. Perfect for getting out the old and bringing in the new!
We've changed out site to www.altitude-pumpkin-chunkin.com Welcome to the new era of Pumpkin Chunkin!
On February 27, 2010, during the 7th Montreal Highlights Festival, Flexigloo set itself up on the quays of the old port. Altitude-sports.com is proud to have helped out this unique tribe.
Flexigloo setting up in old Montreal
Iglooite
Iglooites telling stories inside the Flexigloo
The Flexigloo in line at the Musée Pointe-à-Callière
For the second year in a row, this mobile animated shelter provided some warmth at the festival’s peak – this long winter night filled with cultural activities. The Flexigloo is an event concept designed to shelter festival goers while they’re waiting outside or going to and from different activities. Once inside the igloo, people are entertained with a good dose of funny Nordic tales and a goblet of chocolate chai. The actual igloo and the interactions among the Iglooite tribe are amusing enough in themselves.
Click here to check out more pictures
