Backcountry in the Chic-Chocs

The blog is going to be quiet for the next few days. I'm giving winter one last kick at the can by going to Gaspe for some real backcountry skiing. The Chic-Chocs Mountains as they're called are the closest thing we have here in the east to real big mountain terrain. They are the northern end of the Appalachian Range and these are huge mountains. Mount Jacques Cartier is the highest peak in the Chic-Chocs at 1,268 metres elevation. This range offers above tree line skiing with the chance, if you're lucky, of skiing past a heard of caribou on the way up. Over the last few years the area has become very popular with telemark skiers and backcountry snowboarders. There are no chair lifts in the Chic-Chocs. Every vertical foot you enjoy on the way down you have to earn by climbing up. We have synthetic skins we stick on the base of our skis to help us climb the real steep trails.

A group of us have made this trek to Gaspe for the last few winters. On the last couple of trips we took advantage of the network of trails in the Park de la Gaspesie and skied hut to hut for five or six days. A snowmobile brings your gear along to each hut and that leaves you with only a daypack to carry on the trail. There is no electricity or running water in the huts. That's part of the charm of the expedition.

This time we're doing something different. We're staying at a place called Mines Madeline. It's a full day ski uphill to our hut which is actually an old bunkhouse left over from the mining operation that used to be there. The camp sleeps eight and the place has all the comforts of home, including power and showers. I can get by fine without electricity but it's going to be really nice to be able to have a hot shower at the end of a long day of skiing.

Because of the elevation the snow comes early and stays late. You can usually find plenty of powder in the higher bowls even at this time of year. This is also avalanche country so you have to listen to the daily bulletins and ski with care whenever you're in the open areas.

I'm packed and ready to go. I'll be back with another post when I get back.