We have often been frustrated in recent years in timing our trips to Montagne Coupée with good conditions, especially since we usually visit in early March. Too warm, too cold, too icy — we’ve had it all. Last year was a long winter and we had good snow although the descents were a little fast. This year, we got it right.
It was sunny and -10 C with low winds as the ten of us met at the chalet. We broke up into two groups. eight of us looking to go hard and long, while the remaining pair opted for a more measured pace. We all opted to start with trail 9.2. (The trail numbers at MC correspond to the distance of the trail, to one decimal point.). This begins with a 2-km long plunge to the L’Assomption River. This descent can be uncomfortably fast, but the trail had well groomed and no one had any difficulty. At one point, if you look left through the trees, you can see the new monastery to which the monks from Oka relocated a few years back.
Our octet followed the loop that brings us back along the river a second time. We then embarked on the long steady climb back towards the chalet. When we reached the road about 1 km short of the chalet, we turned off to follow trail 7.2.
This trail, like the first one, takes one through a pleasing mix of woods and open fields. We spend most of our time skiing through the woods, we sometimes forget how lovely snow-covered hills and dales can be. Of course, it’s not as appealing when a cold wind is blowing, but that was not the case on this day.
It clouded over and got a bit breezier as we made our way back to the chalet, but the temp had still drop to -6 C. We had done 15.8 km at that point, and usually there would be a push to go for 20. But perhaps a bit of late season fatigue had sunk in and only two of the group went out for another short loop.
We ate lunch in the chalet, while sharing stories of how much we had spent in previous years in the adjoining Magasin de l’Abbaye, where the monks sell their Oka cheese, along with a large selection of local jams, honeys, chocolates, etc. There are many interesting food items on offer, but they are not cheap, and most of us resolved to demonstrate considerably more parsimony this time around. However, once among the shelves of delicacies, this was quickly forgotten and we soon emerged laden with gourmet groceries!
A good day for skiing at Montagne Coupée, but also locally at Cap St Jacques. There were at least many BTers at CSJ on Sun morning as at MC. The conditions have been consistently good at CSJ and we have definitely set a record this year for the number of km skied by club members there this year. It’s all good! Our prime objective is to encourage as many people as possible out skiing in groups.