Rumours I want to clear up instantly:

• I guess we don’t have the Rockies here in the East so you should probably just skip this article and flip to another page, sigh. WRONG. Hit yourself. That’s silly talk. The first thing you need to realize about the backcountry is that it is everywhere.
• Backcountry skiing is dangerous. Nay, sir. Avalanche beacons, probes and ultra lightweight shovels have made the pastime more safe than crossing the street.
• You need to be a professional skier to go into the backcountry. Hogwash. There is something for everyone. Not every backcountry area is a 75 degree, 4 foot wide rock chute with certain death if you catch an edge. In fact hardly any of it is.
• That equipment is so expensive; I can’t afford any of it. Um, you are shelling out anywhere from $25 to $100 to go skiing for a day! How much does the backcountry charge you? $0. Do you get where I am going with this.
• I’m lazy and hate adventure. Fine I give up, this article is not for you. Go eat a doughnut.

Equipment

A major misconception about backcountry skiing is that you need to be tricked out in shiny, futuristic, expensive equipment. In actual fact the bare minimum you need is your ordinary ski gear. I would suggest a pack to strap your ski’s or board to, but your shoulder is as good as anything. A good start is The North Face Patrol 34, a pack big enough for a nights worth of gear but small enough for daytrips. If you want to make your life easier on those snowy days then invest in a nice pair of snowshoes. I just strap them to my ski boots and get hiking. MSR makes a nice, light pair that fit comfortably on your back when descending. When you want to get serious you can look into alpine bindings which allow you to ascend with your heels free (cross country style), and then are capable of being locked down to descend in the more traditional alpine style. Add a pair of skins (sticky tape that goes under your skis to ascend with ease), avalanche probe, beacon, and shovel and you are ready to travel.

For the extended trips into the backcountry where huts are needed, much more fun, technical gear needs to be procured. A winter sleeping bag is a must (even in those drafty wood shacks you find in certain parks. The North Face Snow Leopard is a great purchase because the synthetic filling will keep you alive in the cold even when wet- yes, it happens. A lightweight stove that warms up your frozen beer is a must. I am partial to the MSR Superfly as it is tiny, but has simmering capabilities. Finally the most important piece of gear that everyone should always have with them when in the outdoors is a headtorch. Black Diamond is producing some nifty little torches like the Spot.

Accessing the untouched

The greatest thing about the backcountry is that it is anywhere and everywhere. I know most people associate it with British Columbia and helicopters, but you have to look no further than Mount-Royal. Grab your skis, strap them to your back and hike up with the kids and the crazy carpets. Lock in and go for a brief ride. I can assure you a smile will creep across your chapped lips. The point is that you can do it anywhere there is an incline, snow and a land-owner who doesn’t mind (contact my lawyer for edification).

For that zen side of you, backcountry skiing allows access to areas that are mostly untouched and (relatively) pristine. You can have an entire day of skiing without hearing a lift creaking, people shouting or with those 30 minute lift lines. Just peace and quiet. Take Parc Mont-Tremblant for instance. Throw a pack on and you can put some elevation under belt in a few hours. Sure it’s not Fernie, but you will spend hours working off that Stollen you had for breakfast Christmas morning, and getting a few fun descents all the while.

Clothing

It is important not to forget for winter aerobic activities to dress appropriately, but most especially for backcountry skiing. I say this because this activity has 2 very distinct parts: the ascent followed by a descent.

Ascending, even at -30 Celsius, can be a sweaty ordeal. Many beginners bulk at at the bottom thinking it will feel like -30 throughout the ascent. I guarantee you will only be cold for about five to 10 minutes. After that you will be cursing your decision to leave your down jacket on. But if you are going to do that let me suggest The North Face Catalyst. Warm enough for the serious cold, but a down quality that crushes down to a fraction of its size in your pack. Ideally on the ascent wear a synthetic or Merino wool baselayer and throw a softshell over top. Arcteryx recently revamped (and dropped the price!) of their classic Gamma MX line- the Arc'teryx MX Hoody is especially beautiful. It is extremely robust and has endless four-way stretch- two things important in the world of backcountry skiing.

Descending is another ball game. At -30 Celsius zipping through the woods can be a chilly experience. It is at the summit where you want to pull out your insulated hardshell and throw it over your layers. Arcteryx has added some pizzazz to their colour palette in the last few years and their new Tempest Jacket. It is a full Gore-Tex Proshell with a fleece backer to add a little warmth, and a ski skirt to keep that drifting snow and wind at bay.

Backcountry Spots

Louis, our manager at the Altitude-sports.com boutique on St-Denis in Montreal created a list of great backcountry ski places in Quebec (coming February 17th!)

A Rainbow of Ski Styles to Try Out: by Jean-Yves Altitude

Wow, that hill looks pretty nuts. I would imagine it would take a really long time before you figured out all it's nooks and crannies. I do wonder about the possibility for injury. Especially those posts sticking out right after the jumps.

What did you think of the video?

-Juan Altitude

We stayed at a great place called Auberge Portes du Soleil. Let me tell you why it was so awesome: first of all, the reception had a skiing decor, a delicious swiss fondue restaurant, the rooms were cozy (Torgon and Morzine) and, best of all, our breakfast was all packed and ready-to-go each morning. That means less time wasted eating, and more time spent shredding the hill! Special props to Nicolas, our swiss host, for providing us with a much needed daily caffeine rush.

The first day, we explored the mountain on our skis. I spent the next two days on my bum learning how to snowboard. It was a bit of a disaster at first (just ask Mark), but with the help of Guillaume my instructor and a lot of perseverance, the result was quite satisfying in the end. Learning a new skill can be quite exhiliarating, and I definitely recommend taking lessons, even for just an hour!

Le Massif has got to be one of my favourite mountains in Quebec, and I especially enjoyed the spectacular view on the brand new gondola. We thought it would be a sweet idea to make video reviews on board. Here's the result!

I'd like to thank John, Lara and Mark for a kick-ass trip! I'd also like to thank my sponsors, Kim-Anh for lending me her skis, Gabriel for her helmet and goggles, my favourite sister Pat for her snowboard and Marianie for her boots! You guys are awesome!

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.

Last Friday, my family and I left for a wonderful weekend at Massif. We stayed in a little rented chalet in Petite Rivière Saint-François on the side of the mountain. From there, we had the same panoramic view you get on the slopes. The one that takes your breath away, beckons to your eye and soothes your spirit. However, let’s not get too carried away. Our perfect little chalet was more or less poorly constructed. The enormous chimney in the middle of the front wall blocked half the view, the kitchen counter moved every time we leaned on it and the bathroom had no shower curtain or window curtain, which, little known to us, gave passerby’s a show every time they walked past. Alright, alright, I’m being critical out of obvious necessity; the weekend was unreal.

Me and my little brother

To get to the hill, we went through the village at first light, taking the longer, but more quaint and picturesque route than the way alongside the 138. There I was, on the hill, with my parents and my younger brother, despite the bitter cold keeping other skiers nice and toasty inside the chalet. This was fine by us because the runs were less crowded and the lines almost non-existent.

The family in the cold

A bitter cold? Didn’t bother us, we were unstoppable. Only at the end of the day did I realize, with my smile frozen on my face, that I might be a little cold. But a hot chocolate loosened me up again and I knew the cold wasn’t the only thing keeping a smile on my face.

Frozen smile

The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.

I found it on the Arc'teryx website. In fact, Arc'teryx is one of the sponsors.

Always fun to find videos that inspire you to stop watching videos and get outside!

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.

Je partis donc vendredi dernier pour une super fin de semaine familiale au Massif. Un petit chalet loué à Petite Rivière Saint-François à flanc de montagne qui nous offre le même panorama que celui des pentes de ski. Une vue à couper le souffle, qui attire le regard et apaise l’esprit. Bon, restons réalistes, il faut tout de même dire qu’il était plutôt mal construit ce petit chalet paradisiaque. Avec une énorme cheminée située en plein milieu de la façade avant, qui nous bloque du coup la moitié du décor, avec son comptoir de cuisine qui bouge chaque fois que l’on est appuyé dessus, mais surtout, avec la salle de bain qui n’avait aucun rideau à la fenêtre ni à la douche, ce qui nous permettait d’offrir un spectacle à notre insu aux différents passants de la rue... D’accord, d’accord, je critique pour la forme évidemment car cette fin de semaine fut sublime.

Petit frère et Moi

Aux premières lueurs du matin, afin de se rendre au centre, nous choisîmes le chemin du village, un peu plus éloigné que celui situé aux abords de la 138, mais beaucoup plus petit et chaleureux. Je fus donc sur les pistes, en compagnie de mes parents et de mon frère cadet, malgré un froid glacial qui encourageait fortement les skieurs à rester cloîtré au chalet. Ce qui nous arrangeait bien d’ailleurs car les pentes étaient moins encombrées et les files d’attente quasi-inexistantes.

La Familia au froid

Un froid glacial? Qu’à cela ne tienne, nous n’étions plus arrêtables. C’est seulement à la fin de la journée, alors que j’avais un sourire figé dans le visage, que je réalisai que j’avais peut-être eu un peu froid. Un petit chocolat chaud lui permit néanmoins de se détendre et de réaliser que non, finalement, ce n’était pas le froid qui l’avait figé là…

Sourire figé

Je vous invite donc, si vous avez déjà été au Massif, à nous envoyer les photos de votre journée afin que nous puissions les ajouter : info a commercial altitude-sports.com