The 44th Traversée des Laurentides event will take place from January 31 to February 4 in the Upper Laurentians. This epic event, held every year, brings together one hundred or so off-track cross-country skiers who retain the spirit of the historic coureurs des bois.

THESE FOLKS ARE TOUGH

The organizers are proud to note that the Traversée has never been cancelled or rescheduled. The skiers travel about 40 to 50 kilometres a day – about 10 to 12 hours of skiing – in wilderness country. The days start at daybreak and end up with participants using a headlamp. Mother nature likes to impose her moods on the event. Crossing a river at -34 °C, walking with your skis on your back because there’s no snow, or even skiing on a lake with water up to your ankles and starting the next day on ice with feet that are still wet…it’s all part of the jolly stories of the TDL. “Over the years, we’ve seen everything,” says Robert Desbaillets, who has participated for 28 years. “It’s all part of the conditions accepted by participants. We leave early in the morning and there’s an energy that has us going beyond our limits without even realizing it,” he adds.

FOLLOW THE ARROW

While transportation of heavy gear is done by shuttle, each person carries his or her own requirements for the day to ensure their autonomy. What’s more, the newly registered must absolutely be mentored by a veteran. This avoids having one or more of them end up in a difficult situation.

The trek preparation starts in the fall with a group pruning and marking out the trail; everyone lends a hand. The trail itself and places where it can be exited are explained by the organizers during the morning meeting. While the “gougoumètres” — named in honour of one of the TDL founders, Pierre Gougoux – have given way to the GPS, it is often the good old arrow marked in the snow that ends up being your most valued ally. 

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD

The trail openers, “les chevreuils” – “the deer” – is a group made up of eight to fifteen fast skiers who start out at the head of the pack. The day after a heavy snowfall, they run in relay fashion for a minute or two each to open the track. The pack follows the pink ribbons with black polka dots, each participant at their own speed, in a festive atmosphere, watching out for each other and exhibiting deep friendship. “It’s the most incredible spirit of helping each other,” says Renée-Claude Gélinas, who has participated for twenty or so years.

The “fermeurs” — the “sweeps” – help any participants who are in a bad way. These sweep skiers, who have several years of experience in the TDL, are tough in terms of both cardiovascular capacity and resistance to cold. The team changes every day, because it’s a hard job and these skiers arrive at their destination well behind the rest of the group, which welcomes them warmly. It’s a tradition to invent a little song that tells the story of the day.

Interested in taking up the challenge? There’s still time to register. skitdl.com

THE TDL HAS SOME OFFSPRING

While the TDL remains loyal to the region’s time-honoured trails, its nomadic track has covered several regions of Québec. Every five years, the four-day Laurentians ritual celebrates a new slice of life in more distant lands for a prolonged stay. In 1984, Pierre Gougoux and Claudine Roy put together a crazy idea to help celebrate the 450th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier in Gaspé. Together, they organized an epic 2000-km cross-country ski trek between Gaspé and Hull. Following the success of the event, Claudine suggested to Pierre that they organize, in 2003, the 25 years of the TDL in Gaspé: the perfect opportunity to make known the magnificent countryside of the Gaspé. Thus was born the Traversée de la Gaspésie (TDLG).

THE TDLG

The TDLG celebrates its 16th birthday from February 17 to 24. More than 250 snowshoers and cross-country skiers will traverse various trails between Matane and Gaspé. Having become more accessible and festive over the years, the TDLG now provides a range of options to attract as many people as possible, even non-athletes. And it works! “The friendship that forms among participants endures and 35 to 40 per cent of the return year after year,” Claudine emphasizes.

TO EACH HIS OWN

To enjoy the stunning countryside, participants have an embarrassment of riches: travel the 25 to 40 km of groomed trails on skis, or 10 to 15 km on snowshoes, or just enjoy the surroundings, or all of the above. Along the route, a shuttle can also pick up individuals who’ve had enough of their adventure. Snowmobilers are present to keep an eye on things. Every 10 km there’s a station offering water, hot chocolate and nutritional snacks. Bus transportation is arranged to take skiers and snowshoers from their lodgings to the starting point of the trek, then to their lodgings at the end of the trek. To reduce the environmental impact of the event, a charter bus service is provided from Montreal, Québec and Rimouski. Registration for the event includes accommodation, meals, cultural activities and a ton of surprises.

What’s more, its little sister, the TDLG à bottine – the TDGL in boots – provides a fall variation traveled on foot. tdlg.qc.ca