Sat, Jan 12 2008, Sun, Jan 13 2008, Mon, Jan 14 2008, Tue, Jan 15 2008, Wed, Jan 16 2008, Thu, Jan 17 2008, Fri, Jan 18 2008 - Ski at Mont-Tremblant (North of Montreal) (View Original Event Details)
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Tremblant '08 was TOC's first-ever ski trip to Quebec. Seven avid skiers and snowboarders took to the hills, prepared to brave frigidly-cold January temperatures hallmarked in Quebec. This week in January, however, was graced with near-perfect temperatures (-1 to -10), coupled with an abundance of sun, snow-flurries, and no lift-lines.
The group arrived in designated car-pools across Saturday and Sunday, settling into two comfortable chalets in a secluded complex near the old village, only a short ride from the lifts. The chalets were a perfect size to sleep seven, and came with fully-equipped kitchens (which was perfect for breakfasts and dinners), separate living and dining areas, and gas-fireplaces. Some of the evenings were spent just relaxing by the fire, watching movies, sharing stories, and enjoying the surroundings.
Lillian and Matt were the most ambitious to hit the slopes, catching first runs on Sunday, with the rest following on Monday. The great thing about this event was that, even though the group was small, there was always someone to ski or snowboard with, no matter what your skill level or pace. While Matt and Martin cruised down the black-diamonds on their snowboards, catching air where they could, Tricia and Linda, also on boards, pushed themselves further and faster, progressing from beginner to intermediate by the end of the week (a liftee even became Tricia's own personal time-keeper for an afternoon). Lillian improved on skis by tackling the blues in confidence while Erik, also on skis, caught a few black diamonds in-between encouraging Tricia and Linda. Eva, an experienced ski-instructor, was the undisputed Queen-on-the-hill, skiing her way gracefully yet aggressively down moguls and the double-black diamonds.
The best snow was skied on Friday, the last day, after a couple of inches fell Thursday night. Friday also marked the start of an international Snowboard Cross, providing some great views from the Expo chairlift. The days will be remembered for well-packed powder, lunches on the summit, and apres-ski and cappuccinos at the base.
The Tremblant area is also a haven for adventurers seeking more than skiing. On the days the group took off, blaming sore legs or a late night, some other area attractions were taken in, like hiking, snow-shoeing, and the Scandinavian Spa (Erik gives the Scandinavian Spa near Blue Mountain a better rating than this one). Some in the group couldn't resist researching the differences between Ontario's Swiss Chalet and Quebec's St. Hubert's, and made their way to the nearby town of St. Jovite (ask for the results). The group also enjoyed some of the restaurants and nightlife at the base of the mountain; meals and drinks were had at La Forge, La Diable, and Le Shack, with interesting "no topic unreasonable" conversations, and Eva and Martin discovered that Le P'tit Caribou is a cool place, especially if you enjoy dancing on the bar while you order a drink. Other activities popular in the Tremblant area include cross-country skiing, ice climbing, skating, and snow tubing.
Everyone agreed that the skiing was good, the company was great, and the week was a success. Unfortunately for this event, more people signed up than spaces available, and some never made it off the wait-list. Next year, with enough interest shown ahead of time, more accommodations can be booked, and Tremblant 2009 will be bigger and better.
As luck would have it, an approaching cold-front didn't hit Tremblant until the day after the group left, sending the mountain into a deep freeze of –20 and falling by Sunday afternoon...
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.