Quebec City, Saguenay Region: Taking on winter’s challenges
The Quebec and the Saguenay regions are filled with beauty and great winter activities
Anne-Marie Marais
/ for Toronto Star
People in huts: Embracing winter in the quaint skating community of the Village Sur Glace.
Just as the guide told me that the snow was
packed hard, I took a step with my snowshoe and, poof, my leg fell deep
into a tree well. With one leg bent a way it doesn’t normally go and the
other lost in a tree well, I started to panic.
Seeing that I was stressed, the guide started to dig out my lost leg.
It turned out my snowshoe was caught deep down
on a treetop I couldn’t even see. After some digging and some wiggling,
I was finally free.
Thank goodness this was as the halfway point of the hike.
We were at the peak of Monts-Valin, about 984
metres above sea level. A hike three-km. up, on about two metres of snow
was definitely a challenge. Perhaps because I’m not in the shape I used
to be.
To get to the starting point of the six-km.
hike, we took a 40-minute ride up from the visitor’s centre in a vehicle
that was cross between a passenger van and a Snow cat.
Having been told that it was a steady incline
up the trail, I thought I was prepared. But that steady incline was a
bit more steep than steady on a few occasions.
The sweat, pain and challenge was all worth it
when I stopped to take a breather; the views of Vallée des Fantômes
took my breath away. Surrounded by incredible snow formations, or snow
ghosts, on the tree branches, I could pick out different shapes just as I
would if I was staring at the clouds.
After a short break for some lunch, we
continued up the one remaining kilometre to the top. Reaching the
summit, we were greeted with incredible views of the surrounding area.
It was as if we could see forever. As I’m not the best with heights, I
stayed back a few metres from the edge. Which ended up being my
downfall; it was the reason I fell into the tree well.
Amazingly, it was the trek down that produced
some of the best views and picture opportunities, as the light was
perfect and the blue of the sky against the white of snow was gorgeous.
Tubing: As a light snow fell from the
night sky and the wind chill became more bearable, I enjoyed a night of
kid-like fun tubing at Valcartier Village Vacances (Vacation Village) in
Quebec City.
With names such as Himalaya, Tornado, Avalanche and Everest, the tube rides became even more intriguing and exciting.
The fun truly began once I was at the top of
Himalaya. Into the tube I got and held onto my riding partner’s tube.
Ride after ride, I was having more fun than I’ve had in the snow in
years. Laughing hysterically as our group spun so fast down the hill on
the Tornado, we could hardly walk straight as we got to the bottom.
My good humour was truly tested when we got to
Everest. Looking at it from the bottom of the hill, the hill was a
straight drop followed by twists and turns. This would be a challenge,
but I was up for it. We jumped on the tubes up, then walked up a few
flights of stairs.
As the front rider of our group of four, I had
to put my tube up against the steel guard and get myself into my tube
then hang my legs over the stopper. It would be my job to keep my legs
crossed and raised in the front, or who knows what might happen.
My other tubers lined up and we each held on
to the legs of the tuber behind us. Then 3-2-1, the steel guard opened
up and away we dropped. At this great speed, I just didn’t know what was
going to happen, as there was no time to think. When it came to the
end, we were all in awe it was possible to do this without injuring
yourself.
The rush of adrenaline on Everest and the others hills makes this a must stop when you are in Quebec City.
Skating: In the Saguenay region, I came
across a skating village created on the frozen lake around a 1-km.
skating path surrounded by a walking path. Village Sur Glace de Roberval
is an amazing little skating village that must be seen and experienced.
The skating trail, flanked by the walking
trail, plus the hockey rink, combine to make up the centre of this
village. This quaint and unique village even has its own postal code.
For just $100 a season, users can bring in their own little huts, and
place them next to the paths, to have a place to relax indoors during
their time at the Village Sur Glace. If they want power, they must
supply it themselves. Some create their own power through solar panels,
others by using a generator. The huts resemble the ice-fishing huts that
can be seen further out on the lake. They provide a place to relax and
visit.
Even if you don’t have a hut, the skating is
open to everyone. Just park your car, strap on your skates and hit the
path! And you can stop by and pick up a snack at the restaurant hut and
just enjoy the activities and the community.
Nordic Spa: I’ve been doing the Polar
Bear Dip into Lake Ontario for years and I’ve experienced a Nordic spa
in Lapland in Finland, so when the opportunity presented itself to visit
Le Nordique spa Stoneham just 25 minutes from Quebec City, I jumped at
it. Or, rather, in it.
For maximum benefit, the process is important
when you visit a spa such as this. First, you spend about 15 minutes in
the Finnish sauna or Turkish steam room, followed by five seconds in the
cold water and a further 10 to 15 minutes of relaxation in one of the
quiet rooms, overlooking the beauty of the pure white snow of the river
valley.
When it comes to the plunge in the cold, it’s
your choice: walk down the steps into what looks like a hot tub, but
with cold water, or climb down a ladder into a hole cut into the ice of
the frozen river and dip down for five seconds. (I chose the latter.)
Then repeat this process at least three or
four times. Finish off your day with a treat of some time in the hot tub
to finish off the day.
It makes you feel like a new person.
Snowmobiling: Any snowmobiler will tell
you, there’s just something so exhilarating about this way of getting
around. Being able to get to places you can’t normally go, without a lot
of effort, in the winter. Plus the gorgeous paths through the
incredible winter scenery and, of course, the great power of a
snowmobile. It’s just plain fun.
With the right snowmobiling suit and boots, we
hit the perfect trails of the Saguenay region. For more than an hour, I
got to take in the beauty of region while enjoying the power of a
snowmobile. The whitest of snow, the great chill in the air and a
perfect blue sky set the scene as we whizzed up the hills and around the
corners of this perfectly maintained trail.
You just don’t want it to end when the time is up. But that’s what makes you want to try it again, and soon.
Dogsledding: I’ve been dogsledding once
before, but just as a passenger on a very quick spin around a trail.
This experience was very different and so were the dogs. In Saguenay, I
stopped into Plein Air de l’Anse for a dog-sledding experience. The
owner, Vanessa, has the most wonderful, happy dogs.
As I arrived, the puppies that roam freely on
the property greeted me. Visitors are allowed to go into the dog
enclosure and pet the dogs if the dogs are interested. These dogs are
just so loved and well taken care of. You feel very comfortable with
them.
As I had no skiing experience, it was
suggested to me that I be the passenger for a while, not the driver. I
was okay with that, but then I knew I had to take on this challenge.
In a part of the route where it is simple to
manoeuvre, I took control of the sled and the dogs. Well, the dogs know
what they are doing; they just need some reinforcement. As did I. I
managed the sled for a while and was happy I met the challenge and I
look forward to giving it a try again.
The beauty of Quebec and the Saguenay region
was filled with beauty and challenges that I’m thrilled I undertook. And
now that I finally have the right clothes for winter temperatures, I
hope I do some of these things again. We must embrace winter, as we’ve
chosen to live in this incredible country.
Anne-Marie Marais’ trip was subsidized by Tourisme Québec. Follow her on Twitter @LongLegsTravels and read more at LongLegsTravel.com
Just the Facts
Hiking at Mont Valin, sepaq.com/pq/mva/index.dot?language_id=1
Tubing at Valcartier Village Vacances, valcartier.com/
Dogsledding, pleinairdelanse.com/
If You Go
Dress warmly!
Bring the right clothes, so you can enjoy your winter activities!
end quote from:
| Toronto Star | - |
If they want power, they must supply it themselves. Some create their own power through solar panels, others by using a generator.
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