By Malie Lessard-Therrien, biologist, outdoor guide and adventurer

To start the year off well, we left on our Nordic skiing adventure as a couple to discover the backcountry of Mont-Tremblant National Park. Our objective was to have nature recharge our batteries, to tame the cold and to explore the Laurentians forest. What follows is an account of a ski-touring trek for outdoors enthusiasts.

Our skis glide gently over the fresh snow. We hear the chickadees twittering around us. The sunlight gets caught on the snowflakes on the branches and gives us the impression that the forest is decked out in diamonds. The atmosphere is peaceful.

We took off on this adventure with all the food and items we would need for a backcountry ski-touring trek in the Laurentians with two nights in a hut. Nordic skiing, or ski touring, is cross-country skiing on marked trails without tracks or grooming. Nordic skis are typically a bit wider than cross-country skis and adapted for the installation of half-skins or full skins for climbing in hilly terrain. It’s the perfect winter activity for breaking away from the routine and reconnecting with the self and the surrounding nature.

All around us, the fresh snow showed many tracks of the animals that inhabit the forest. Squirrels, hare, deer, martens, foxes and beaver had travelled that way recently. These tracks allowed us to see how alive this place is. A few lichens and mosses dressed the tree trunks in green dance tutus and testified to an environment of pure, clean air.

The trails are wide and we could often ski side-by-side to share our thoughts and impressions. We passed close to several streams and rivers which had not yet frozen and which added their gurgles and murmurs to the forest symphony. Over the day’s journey, we took frequent breaks to eat high-calorie snacks such as energy balls, polar biscuits (which don’t freeze)  or a mixture of nuts and dried fruit. We drank chicken broth, herbal tea or hot chocolate to remain well hydrated. Energy management is super important in winter conditions. Particularly as we had to reach our hut over 15 to 20 km laden with a backpack carrying all the equipment needed to sleep, dress ourselves and cook over three days, autonomously.

At the end of the afternoon, we were happy to arrive at a hut where we could cook and have a cosy night’s sleep thanks to the woodstove. There is a good supply of firewood ready at each hut. There are also lakes close by which provide a nice open view and a place to obtain water to refill our bottles. It’s important, of course, to filter or boil the water before drinking it.

Mont-Tremblant National Park provides two Nordic hut-to-hut skiing itineraries, each of two to three days. Having baggage transported by snowmobile is available for those who prefer to ski light. The happy experience of winter exploration is your reward. What are you waiting for?

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