Frankontour
New member
Today, I wanted to ski, but I was willing for something different than a ton of runs at MSS in the same 3 trails. There is Tremblant open with 4 real trails and 3 other ski areas with 1 trail in the Laurentians, but as I needed some silence and some escape from this sick world, I headed in the north, looking the closed mountains to see what could be skiable. <BR> <BR>I had Avila, Olympia, Gabriel and Chantecler in mind. Avila looked good on my way up north. No snow at Gabriel south and on Olympia. Just few patches at Gabriel North... and when I saw the Chantecler, there was 2 trails (#44 and #45) that looked good enough to worth some hike. <BR> <BR>So I began with the 45... as you see on the photo, I had a great motivator to continue to hike <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT="
"> hahaha <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2987.jpg" ALT="Chantecler on my way up"> <BR> <BR>The 45 was skiable on 330' high, with a little break (20' long) and a longer one (60'). After, I crossed in the woods (not easy with a skipack ish !!!) to join the #44 which was also interesting. Skiing on 250' high, but without big breaks. <BR> <BR>The #44 (PS, there is not 40+ trails at this mountain... it's the 4th trail of the 4th side) <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2988.jpg" ALT="the 44"> <BR> <BR>As the snow was quite frozen and rough to ski, I left after a third run, down the #45. <BR> <BR>On my way back to Avila, I passed in the parking of MSS and the trails were really looking good, after the rainstorm. It was tough to pass in the parking and see how much it was empty... it would have been some nice skiing with no crowd today <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/sad.gif" ALT="
"> <BR> <BR>MSS <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2989.jpg" ALT="The lower Nordique & West 70"> <BR> <BR>But hiking is extremely fun too, of course 
<BR> <BR>At Avila, I wasn't alone. I've seen 8 other people (including 7 boarders) to take some turns in the Express Ouest <BR> <BR>The upper part and lower part were not really interesting, too frozen, but the middle part, less steep had some sun and it was really interesting to ski, with some kinda little moguls and jumps, with the snowmaking. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2990.jpg" ALT="The Middle trail"> <BR> <BR>It was skiable on 460' high, so it was some decent runs. <BR> <BR>So it was a really nice ski morning and I was happy to try for the 1st time to ski with a skipack. A bit tough for the back, the first time (ouch !) I did 2150' of vertical, so with a little bit more practice, I will be ready for Tucks this april
"> hahaha <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2987.jpg" ALT="Chantecler on my way up"> <BR> <BR>The 45 was skiable on 330' high, with a little break (20' long) and a longer one (60'). After, I crossed in the woods (not easy with a skipack ish !!!) to join the #44 which was also interesting. Skiing on 250' high, but without big breaks. <BR> <BR>The #44 (PS, there is not 40+ trails at this mountain... it's the 4th trail of the 4th side) <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2988.jpg" ALT="the 44"> <BR> <BR>As the snow was quite frozen and rough to ski, I left after a third run, down the #45. <BR> <BR>On my way back to Avila, I passed in the parking of MSS and the trails were really looking good, after the rainstorm. It was tough to pass in the parking and see how much it was empty... it would have been some nice skiing with no crowd today <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=""> <BR> <BR>MSS <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2989.jpg" ALT="The lower Nordique & West 70"> <BR> <BR>But hiking is extremely fun too, of course <BR> <BR>At Avila, I wasn't alone. I've seen 8 other people (including 7 boarders) to take some turns in the Express Ouest <BR> <BR>The upper part and lower part were not really interesting, too frozen, but the middle part, less steep had some sun and it was really interesting to ski, with some kinda little moguls and jumps, with the snowmaking. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2990.jpg" ALT="The Middle trail"> <BR> <BR>It was skiable on 460' high, so it was some decent runs. <BR> <BR>So it was a really nice ski morning and I was happy to try for the 1st time to ski with a skipack. A bit tough for the back, the first time (ouch !) I did 2150' of vertical, so with a little bit more practice, I will be ready for Tucks this april