The end of my trip in the Upper Laurentians
Nice encounter
During my short stay at Rabaska Lodge, I had the opportunity to talk to Kevin Paris, a European tourist here for the first time to ride a snowmobile.
He told me that Canada is a snowmobile paradise and a vast place with lots of forests that makes the trip enjoyable.
“People are welcoming and friendly; I’m sure I’ll be coming back to Canada soon. We have divided our trip into two parts. A few days on snowmobiles on the trails and one day off-trail. If it was possible, I wish I could have stopped time for a few moments. Fortunately, the memorable moments will remain in my dreams and photos!”
Guide
I had a chat with the Matawinie company guide who specializes in this type of tour, Patrick Lessard.
“When we first meet our customers on the day of departure, there is some training on how to drive a snowmobile. We have eight clients per guide to supervise them well. This week, for this trip, we have 23 people, 5 of whom have no experience and 18 with experience. The motto is no speed on the trail. It is a pleasure for me to offer this kind of experience to our European tourists.‘’
Thanks to our hosts, Dominique Coquel and Martin Gamache, for a pleasant stay.
For information: www.lerabaska.com
An icy start
After a good night of sleep and a good lunch, we are ready for our departure for Windigo Village where we will spend the night. This morning, the weather is cold, but with the sun it makes us quickly forget this temperature.
Today, we decided to do less distance and focus on capturing the beauty of the landscapes along the trails. During the day, we took several photos and time to enjoy this nature that surrounds us all along our journey to Windigo Village.
Windigo Village
When we arrived, we noticed several cottages on the edge of the Baskatong Reservoir, and we took some time to go to the beach with our snowmobiles to contemplate this lake. The sun is quickly disappearing, and it is time to go to the reception desk and then to our chalet.
Our cottage was beautiful, with a view of the reservoir, a two-sided fireplace, one in the living room and the other in our bedroom, everything was there to make our stay memorable.
The dining room is very cozy, a delicious meal was ready for us, and then we went to bed. On the site, several activities are offered, both for couples and families.
For more information: www.lewindigo.com
The return to Mont-Laurier
All good things must come to an end! So, it’s time to go home, on our way to our destination we stop to La Montagne du Diable at an altitude of 727 meters. The trail is beautiful, thanks to the Laurentian snowmobile clubs and volunteers for keeping the trails so well groomed.
When you go to the top of the mountain, the climb is very smooth, then the closer you get to the top, the more the trees look like mummies with a thick layer of snow covering them. At the top, there is the Relais Halte-Titude 727; it’s a small chalet overlooking the Upper Laurentians. It was beautiful. I could hardly talk, I preferred to admire this magnificent scenery which took me by surprise when I arrived at the top of the mountain.
Afterward, we sit in the chalet to enjoy a good soup and a drink. On site, we spoke with the person in charge of the site, Junior David, who mentioned that the chalet is open from the end of December to the end of March. ” 90% of our customers arrive by quad and snowmobile and 10% practice snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and hiking. People can stay in the prospector’s tents and shelters.”
There, we are well rested, and it is time to go back to the hotel. The trip down the mountain is going well, and the landscape is worth the trip. At the hotel, we already feel a little melancholic, but happy to have discovered beautiful places in the Laurentians.
Without hesitation, it is time to plan your snowmobile trip in this beautiful region of Quebec this winter, the people of the Laurentians welcome you with open arms!
For more information: www.laurentidesmotoneige.com
