Keith R – Page 3 – Beaver Tails Nordic Ski Club

2014 12 27 an enjoyable walk

Brilliant winter conditions, blue skies, plenty of fresh snow, not too cold. Only one small problem it was Dec 26, Buxton, Peak District, UK. not Montreal. Given I was there a few weks ago I should have stayed.
What to do on a zero snow day in Motreal, with the turkey sitting heavily on ones waist line and boxes of chocolate tempting one to eat more. Maybe buy a air ticket and go back to snowy UK or go for a walk, tough call, however the bank manager recommended the walk, perhaps recommended was too soft a word but I got the message.
So a walk it was at CSJ, and very enjoyable it turned out to be.Leaving the wet and icy trails we vent along the road to the farm, as did most of the other people who were walking. Did not see many skiers, odd that, however we did see quite a variety of animals and birds, no turkeys though, at the farm. Next off to the Château Gohier, where to our delight we found it open, serving hot chocolate and with very comfy seat around a fire, Lots of credit to the scouts who operate the cafe, I think they were as pleased to see us we were to see them, quiet day on the cafe front.
Reluctantly we prized ourselves out of the comfy seats for tha last few kilometres to the parking lot. and the drive home, via Timmies. A perfect day.

2014 11 09 Rigaud L’Escapade A fine walk

It started to rain lightly as we turned into Rang St George, and much to our relief we remembered we were in a car and not on our bikes. However the light rain changed to light snow as we parked the car at Le Sucrerie de La Montagne, not a good omen. Still we were not the first there, one person was in such a rush to get there he had forgotten to put his trousers on and was walking around in his underwear. A touch chilly for that. Soon we had a good group assembled and as we waited for the last few stragglers a young guy drove up and said he was working on the trail erecting new signs with the trail marked in yellow but he had not yet changed the old trail signs colors. Clearly he was concerned about our well being and offered us free maps. Our “volunteer” leaders Roy T and Robert L were completely un phased by these multi colored signs and led the 22 walkers and a trouser less runner off on the trail. As we walked along the snow slowly stopped and occasional sunshine broke through resulting in the traditional shedding Continue reading “2014 11 09 Rigaud L’Escapade A fine walk”

2014 11 02 Val David “a moderate hike”

First day of Eastern Standard Time and a welcome reward of an extra hour in bed. Not only that but it was a bright sunny day if a trifle cool, and so 24 club members arrived at Val David to enjoy the day. It took a little time to gather together twenty people to get a club discount, the hard part was finding twenty people with the correct change as you have to make a bulk purchase.

A team formed to lead the walk with a welcome new route. Joann C had the map, Christine D searched for the trail, Rick B acted as the father figure and Ken B as the sweeper. And so we were off , the gates opened and the greyhounds sped into the distance towards Mont Césaire. Now the greyhounds did not know that the hare that they were chasing was a wily old hare and soon led them astray. Still after sniffing around a little and retracing Continue reading “2014 11 02 Val David “a moderate hike””

Apples and Cheese

What’s the going rate to bribe 23 club members and two cyclist to go to Oka for a walk. $20, $10 a loonie, no, one apple and an inch cube of Oka cheese. That’s what they received along with a multitude of other folk all out to enjoy the sun and the apple and cheese. Once again the weather at Oka was brilliant, although the way some people dressed you would have thought it was already winter. Bucking the trend to follow the Sentier du Calvaire de Oka to achieve our apple and cube of cheese we walked anti clockwise passed the Le Summet and on to the cheese. Not a long walk but some steady climbs to get the heart pounding. A most enjoyable day, and considering the number of people at Oka that day a feeling that was shared by many.

Orford Weekend Feb 21 -23

TGIF even though it’s pouring with rain, who cares we are off to Orford. Everybody arrived safely despite heavy rain or blowing snow , some even survived supper at St Hubert, just kidding.
Saturday dawned with sunny weather although a tad warm. Orford park was just a spit and a cough up the road from the hotel so we were soon there. The Orford Loppet gave the park a European atmosphere with all the those super fit young and old skiers everywhere, clearly pumped up with the Sochi effect. Our gang were less dynamic but equally enthusiastic with reasonably long distances skied. The waxing was difficult, much to the glee of the few who were gloating about their wax less skis. Eventually most people seemed to meet up on the number 1 on their way back to the parking lot. Saturday evening was relaxing with a Cinq a Sept before supper. It was even more fun because we were drinking Mickey Z’s donated wine, I knew if we waited long enough we would find a use for Mickey. Thanks. After supper, many crashed out but a few tried their hand a table tennis or pool, with varying degrees of success.
Sunday dawned liked Saturday, so we were all anxious to get out , not so, it was the Hockey final and breakfast was eaten watching the game. Thank god we won or we would have all finished up with indigestion. Then we were off. Our club if nothing else is versatile, so people went skiing, classic and skate, walking the compacted snow shoe trails using crampons, some I believe went skating at Magog, Ghyslaine D skied in the loppet.
Two really good days, congrats to Ghyslaine D won medalled in both her races, thanks to Mickey Z for the booze, your friends Mickey will always help you out. Huge thanks to Arthur G our master organiser, and finally thanks to everyone that went on the weekend for being such good company and making the weekend a great success.
Lots of photos from the weekend on the Photos page.

Jan 04 Pot Luck, Jan 05 Gai Luron

Pot Luck
Saturday morning on Mount Royal was cold, still an small group of diehards assembled at Beaver Lake. This group consisted of a few walkers, a snow shoe-er, two skiers , one runner, one ice skater and a partridge in a pear tree. Actually we did not see the skater or the partridge come to that, but we have her word for that she was there, the skater that is. We spent about 2 hours on the mountain which was filling up fast with skaters, skiers and walkers. BTNSC was put to shame by groups of young kids taking skiing lessons whilst we only had two. Still everyone had a good time, did I mention it was cold, before heading off to Monique’s. Monique had once again opened her home for the Club Hot Pot, which was very welcome for the gang from the mountain, and others who just came for the food and chat. This year we had music with Sharon playing the piano for the assembled guests, just like being in the Piano bar at the Savoy. After thanking everyone , messenger boy announced the long awaited venue for Sunday, Gai Luron. In true Montreal style Messenger boy bribed the membership to come out by suggesting a 9 am start instead of eight, an idea that was Continue reading “Jan 04 Pot Luck, Jan 05 Gai Luron”

Oka Dec 29

Looked like an icy start to the day with a light freezing drizzle, this was re enforced at 8am by seeing a car which had just demolished a lamp standard and another car in a snow bank. Stopping at junctions was in itself a challenge, but by 9am the road situation had improved so off we went to Oka. We were not alone, a good group of skiers had ventured out ( Note to the bean counter, of the order of 16) The group split up doing different trails with a varied degree of success, it would appear conditions were variable with descents a little icy. The skate skiers seemed to have the most success or the classic skiers on the flatter trails. Still everyone was glad to get out, and even gladder to sit in front of the fire in the chalet afterwards.
The word for the day:
“Perfect”: defined by the dictionary as “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
“Perfect” as used by one of our skiers to describe the conditions: “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be, plus icy descents.”
I wonder what words will be used to describe really good conditions, OMG maybe.

Christmas Party Dec 7

Alex H is a great location for our Christmas party, with 38 club members attending. It was going to be 40 but Maria and Robbie could not make it. The size is perfect with smaller intimate tables yet allowing the freedom to move around and talk to everyone. Something, given the noise level everybody seemed to do. It was amazing we were there at least 5 hours and it just seemed to fly by as we caught up with the gossip from friends we had not seen for a long while. Tom announced that his temporary refugee visa had expired and he was being deported by the Canadian Immigration the following week. Estonia refused to accept him so he was being shipped to a penal colony in Australia, poor Aussies. As we left firm promises were made to meet for the head clearing walk at Mount Royal the next day, a promise which was not kept by a few of the gang, shame on them, their names have been noted in the Black Book.

Our thanks goes to Catherine B who did a super job organising the event, we will have to get her to do another one. Sadly her name and Steve’s name have been put in the Black Book. A fine evening.

Saturday Nov 30 P’tite Train du Nord

Well it was the last day of November, but it was our first day of skiing for the club. Conditions were reasonable to good at Mont Rolland, sufficiently attractive to encourage 13 club members to go out. I counted Ghyslaine D in this total although she was doing her training thing. Most people were sensible in the distance that they did on this first outing but I heard there were a few sore legs on Sunday. Not sure if anybody went out on the Sunday, a less attractive day weather wise, but if if any body did let Tom V or me know.

Sun Nov 24 L’Escapade

It was a little chilly when we arrived at the parking lot at Le Sucrerie, my thoughts kept wandering back to that nice warm bed which I had left for this cold barren place. Looking round I did not see a single male brass monkey, that should have been a clue… Further observation I saw what looked like a scene from the “living dead”. Figures wrapped in every conceivable clothing shuffling round in small circles, casting furtive glances in my direction. WOW! Then I thought do the living dead feel the cold, after all they are dead yet they are alive? If anyone knows a “living dead” could they ask them and write to me on the Comment form below.
At the stroke of ten we set off, with a few stragglers rushing to catch up. Amazingly we were 27, all anxious to get the blood circulating to warm their hands, legs and in at least one case, buttocks, no names no back drill, “What happens in Rigaud stays in Rigaud” Soon we felt warm, although it was imprudent to stop for too long. Most of the ground was frozen, and I was reminded of the problems with Camel back water tubes in winter, it was going to be a dry old walk. The walk itself is Continue reading “Sun Nov 24 L’Escapade”