Winter is coming. For you. That means one of two things: you can hide inside drinking cocoa and whine about the Montreal Canadians OR give-in to Winter’s chilly embrace and partake in all its bounty. I suggest the latter. You can do this in many ways (snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, camping(!)), although most Quebecers tend to go downhill skiing. Carving up the slopes at one of the many pleasant Quebec resorts is without question a great way to spend your weekends. But what if you have been carving for the past 15 years, have skied at almost every one of those pleasant resorts in our fine Province, and know the trails like the back of your hand? Do you continue simply because? Whoa there partner, unshackle yourself from such linear thinking. It is time to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Perhaps the dynamic sport of backcountry skiing- where adventure and skiing join forces- needs to be considered.
With tons of snow coming in, Mark Altitude, Lara, John and I loaded up the van with our outdoor gear and headed up to Charlevoix for what was to be a wicked skiing and snowboarding trip at Le Massif.
The ski season was open a month and a half before I could get out on the slopes in search of that exhilarating sense of freedom. Whether you are snowboarding, skiing or telemarking, all three sports are but an excuse to spend time with friends in the fresh air on the snowy runs of Québec’s ski resorts.
Solo on the slopes
We all have our favourite mountains, but have you ever been to Massif in Petite Rivière Saint François? It’s my personal favourite and seems to be so for many people. All it takes is a ride down one of the 48 runs or a trip through the back country to understand what I mean. Distracted by the magnificent horizon of the St. Laurence River, it’s almost impossible to keep your eyes on the hill to look where you’re going.
I thought you might like this. The Season looks at five lives in outdoor sports. Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Snowboarding and Kayaking. Check it out.
La saison était déjà commencée depuis plus d’un mois et demi avant que je n’aie la chance de m’élancer sur les pistes à la recherche de cette sensation enivrante de liberté. Que ce soit en snowboard, en ski ou en télémark, tous ces moyens ne sont que de prétextes pour sortir prendre l’air entre amis, sur les sentiers enneigés des nombreux centres de ski du Québec.
En solo sur les pistes
Coup de cœur personnel ? Nous avons tous nos montagnes préférées. Mais si je vous parlais simplement du Massif de la Petite Rivière Saint François ? C’est mon coup de cœur personnel bien sûr, mais semble-t-il qu’il soit également un coup de cœur assez commun. Il ne suffit que de se retrouver sur l’une de ses 48 pentes ou sous-bois pour en comprendre le sens. Avec sa vue magnifique, il devient presque impossible de regarder ou l’on va tellement notre regard est absorbé vers l’horizon éblouissant du Fleuve St-Laurent.
Winter is coming. For you. That means one of two things: you can hide inside drinking cocoa and whine about the Montreal Canadians OR give-in to Winter’s chilly embrace and partake in all its bounty. I suggest the latter. You can do this in many ways (snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, camping(!)), although most Quebecers tend to go downhill skiing. Carving up the slopes at one of the many pleasant Quebec resorts is without question a great way to spend your weekends. But what if you have been carving for the past 15 years, have skied at almost every one of those pleasant resorts in our fine Province, and know the trails like the back of your hand? Do you continue simply because? Whoa there partner, unshackle yourself from such linear thinking. It is time to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Perhaps the dynamic sport of backcountry skiing- where adventure and skiing join forces- needs to be considered.
