2008-01-19 Gaspésie - Mont Miller/Chics Chocs

[Tony Crocker]

Cat skiing might be the most logical. No one can tell me the Chic-Chocs are more remote than the Nelson-to-Revelstoke region of B.C.

I don't think it would be too difficult to find enough easterners interested in half a week cat skiing + half a week in Quebec City. TLH Heli does complimentary pickups in Vancouver at a 5-6 hour drive distance.

Build a nice eco-lodge on the edge of the park. It will see summer use too, like Island Lake Lodge. Cat roads are plowed in snow, no impact upon the ground below.

 

[riverc0il]

From what I understand, there is a lodge within the park that is cat accessed but all turns are earned once you are at the lodge. Damn expensive when I looked it up, my wallet certainly could not afford that type of luxury experience.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I don't think it would be too difficult to find enough easterners interested in half a week cat skiing + half a week in Quebec City.

I like this idea... the cat-skiing alone is a draw, but combine it with several days in Quebec City (including lift-served at MPRSF/MDS/MSA) and the novelty of a trip to a French-speaking country (far more interesting than the boring culture of anglophone western Canada), I could imagine lots of people who'd go for this. I would.

 

[Patrick]

Cat skiing might be the most logical. No one can tell me the Chic-Chocs are more remote than the Nelson-to-Revelstoke region of B.C..

The differences is the terrain and uniqueness of it. The fact that it's a protected area pretty much eliminates a commercial operations in the Park. (although I could be mistaken).

The closest commercial airport is probably Mont-Joli (2 hour flight from Montreal) and that probably more 2 hours to the heart of the Park and the Chic Chocs.

I don't think it would be too difficult to find enough easterners interested in half a week cat skiing + half a week in Quebec City.

Enough to make viable? You have more than a couple of hour drive between Quebec City and the Chic Chocs (6 hours according to Google).

TLH Heli does complimentary pickups in Vancouver at a 5-6 hour drive distance...

Same distance here.

Build a nice eco-lodge on the edge of the park. It will see summer use too, like Island Lake Lodge. Cat roads are plowed in snow, no impact upon the ground below.

Gite du Mont Albert is in the Park, my mom stayed there a few winters ago. She went cross-country skiing. About Summer, like Katadin, there are part of the park that is off-limits in the Spring/Summer for the wildlife (although I don't now this first hand).

From what I understand, there is a lodge within the park that is cat accessed but all turns are earned once you are at the lodge. Damn expensive when I looked it up, my wallet certainly could not afford that type of luxury experience.

There are cheaper options in Ste-Anne-des-Monts 30 minutes away. I will know more next week.

 

[riverc0il]

There are cheaper options in Ste-Anne-des-Monts 30 minutes away. I will know more next week.

Here is the hostel I have been eying:
http://www.infogaspesie.com/villages/ha ... -monts.php

 

[Patrick]

Here is the hostel I have been eying

Based on the price and info, I would say that where Lucky Luke reserved for this weekend. 8)

 

[Lucky Luke]

Here is the hostel I have been eying

Based on the price and info, I would say that where Lucky Luke reserved for this weekend. 8)

Yep!

 

[Bendude]

From what I understand, there is a lodge within the park that is cat accessed but all turns are earned once you are at the lodge. Damn expensive when I looked it up, my wallet certainly could not afford that type of luxury experience.

The lodge is not bad and not that expensive. It cost me 250$ for 2 persons with 5 services meal (caribou foie gras etc..) with the room + breakfeast. Also they can prepare a lunch for you for the hike with a big thermos of coffee! It's quite reasonable!

here a picture of the lodge:

Also there's an elite product that is call Auberge Chics Chocs witch is in another area. They bring you to the top of the chics chocs with a kind of snowcat (2hrs run) and overthere good food and you just have to jump from the windows to hit the slope!

300$ per night (min 3 nights) per person! TOOOO Expensive!
Info: http://www.sepaq.com/chc/en/

But the best is to stay in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, cheap!

Yop I was in snowshoes!

 

[Bendude]

Here is the hostel I have been eying

Based on the price and info, I would say that where Lucky Luke reserved for this weekend. 8)

Yep!

Lucky guy!!


Remove the bells, you will afraid the moose

 

[Tony Crocker]

300$ per night (min 3 nights) per person! TOOOO Expensive!

Not if you got repeat snow cat runs all day long. It's $750/day at remote lodges in B.C. for that now. In no-longer-discount $CDN.

 

[Patrick]

300$ per night (min 3 nights) per person! TOOOO Expensive!

Not if you got repeat snow cat runs all day long.

They are definitely catteries to a certain clientele. The snowcat is just to access the Lodge...the rest is up to you (as they mentioned in the link below).

Access to the Chic Choc Lodge information (SÉPAQ website).

The Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge is located 55 km south of Cap-Chat on the territory of Réserve faunique de Matane in Gaspésie. Distances to the Cap-Chat Reception Office are as follows:

From Quebec City: 510 km / 315 mi. (6 hrs. by car, 1 hr. by plane)
From Montreal: 750 km / 465 mi. (9 hrs. by car, 2 hr. by plane)
From Mont-Joli: 133 km / 83 mi.

Chartered flight to Ste-Anne-des-Monts

Arrival at the Cap-Chat Reception Office
A Cap-Chat reception office employee will explain the schedule for the day and confirm your registration for one of the day's departures, which is scheduled ahead of time when you reserve your stay. Once registration is completed, you can relax comfortably in the visitor's lounge or take advantage of the time you have to walk along the banks of the St. Lawrence or discover this picturesque Gaspesian village. When it is time to leave, you will board the minibus which will take you to the Lodge. In the winter, the last part of the trip (40 km) is made in a caterpillar-track minibus. The adventure begins here!

Arrival at the Chic-Chocs Mountain Lodge
When you arrive, the head guide will be on hand to welcome you. Once you are settled, you will be invited to take a brief safety class. While you are staying at the Lodge, we will lend you a radio transceiver, an ARVA beeper (used to locate avalanche victims) and documentation about the territory. You will then join the other members of the group in the dining room for your first meal. The rest is up to you!

Staying at the Lodge
With the help of our guides, you can plan your activities safely and make the choices that suit you best. Several types of outdoor equipment are available on site. You can explore the environment around the Lodge on your own or opt for guided activities.

This isn't in the park, but in the reserve. For the Parc de la Gaspésie, there is le Gîte du Mont Albert where Bendude stayed. Not as high end as the lodge. The cheaper crowd stay in Ste-Anne-des-Monts (or sleep in their car or tent). :twisted:

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Edit: Patrick answered my question.

 

[riverc0il]

300$ per night (min 3 nights) per person! TOOOO Expensive!

Not if you got repeat snow cat runs all day long. It's $750/day at remote lodges in B.C. for that now. In no-longer-discount $CDN.

The snow cat just gets you to the lodge, you have to earn em' from there. Thumbs down. Way too expensive, especially when good earned turns can be had so close to the road by staying in town. If I had $300 to blow, I can think of better things to spend it on than paying for access and frilly lodge.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'm not arguing that the $300 is a good deal for what it includes now. They have a cat: If they used it for all day skiing as in B.C. and charged even $500/day including the meals and lodging, they would have no trouble getting customers IMHO. I'm presuming the lodge itself and the best ski terrain are too remote for daytrip cat skiing to be practical.