Author: Keith R

Well we were off, yes the hiking season has started. Despite the forecast of rain fast approaching a good number of club members turned out for the walk. How many did you say , well your skill test for the day is look at the group photo, remember there is a photographer and there is always someone who is too late to be in the shot , right Glenn. The start was at the Sanctuary where our leader Christine BM had chosen knowing full well that the end of the walk would be down hill back to the cars , a god send for many tired legs. However before the downhill it is necessary to climb so we were soon climbing up broken wooden stairs and rocky trails. One aspect of this walk are the rocky trails so not only is your heart rate climbing steeply with no warm up walk but all those leg muscles used to correct ones balance suddenly were asked to do some work. Still never let it be said we are not up to a challenge and we managed to keep together or nearly so, following the directions of CBM who without hesitation led us down obscure little trails until we eventually reached the more distinct trails leading to the cross. A short diversion passed the downhill ski hill, strange isn’t it how some people cannot resist sitting in a chair lift even if it’s stationary, then on to the Cross. Nice view but cold wind so not a place to hang around for too long and still the rain had not arrived. Now it was downhill home, passing the potato fields and many wooden bridges in sad need of repair until we reached the parking lot. Well a good start to the season, about 9km,and not a Sunday stroll and we were still dry but as we relaxed the first few drops of rain was felt, so a retreat home was called with a fair number stopping for coffee and food, I will let you guess where.

Not wishing to be out done by some pesky ground hog, a colony (the collective term for a group of beavers) of Beaver Tails popped their heads out of their respective holes looking for skiable snow and their shadows. Well they found the snow but not the shadow, so prepare yourselves for 6 weeks more of winter. The official bean counter number of skiers out was 25 including one or two waifs and strays, one wonders if the 9 am start was a factor. Anyhow Gai Luron proved to be popular not just with us but with many other skiers, including a group of Cegep students and tiny tots at the ski school. That’s a thought Glenn for next year’s ski clinic we could ask to join the tiny tots ski school for the day.
It was not long before everybody was out on the trails, “ A” proved to be very popular Continue reading “Gai Luron Feb 03 “six more weeks of winter””

Well some days were not to be and Sunday was probably one of them. It was pretty cold with a wind, the snow was hard packed or icy, when we convened at Bois de Liesse.That is everyone except Sharon Z who decided that all the maps and directions in the world would not get her to go to the correct starting point, only phone directions succeeded. Oh and yes Ron , “I walk alone” Mc who we only see at the end of our walks. We should have taken the hint when 4 other walkers returned to the chalet after only a few minutes of walking, but the Beaver Tails tend to be slow on the uptake, so we did set off. It soon became clear that the walking was unpleasant and not wishing to sustain any serious injuries we aborted the trail for cleared sidewalks and a stroll round the houses.
Well how to salvage the day? The new Timmy’s on Sources was proposed, it claims to have a fire place. Well TH should leave fireplaces to Starbucks, our dream of a roaring fire was crushed by an artificial propane fuelled thing stuck on a wall in a corner. Well some days were not to be and this was one of them, thank goodness for the good company.
Nearly forgot, for the bean counter, 11 hardy souls, -8C with wind chill, and a 4.5km walk

3C and bright sunshine , so it was a bit of a disappointment to find only one car at St Adolphe when we arrived, then one more car arrived so at the last count we were 6. We also found that the chalet was closed, so hurrah no fees, however the big down side, no toilets. As we pondered our plans not least of which was bladder issues another car arrived, then

another, so at the last count we were ten. Sadly one car had a very expensive journey having been caught in one of the numerous radar traps on the road. Suddenly text mission control Joanna C burst into action and it was determined that an unknown number of club members were stuck in traffic and would be late. So a devious plan was set in motion,
Linda H would wait Continue reading “St Adolphe D’Howard Nov 18. “At the last count we were?””

Not a promising start to the day we thought as we drove through a quite heavy shower on our way to Rigaud, still onward we went with confidence all would be well. Sadly Christine D in another car did not share our confidence and turned back at Ste Anne’s, too bad Christine.
Arriving at the Sucrerie we quickly assembled a group of 16 other people who had nothing better to do than walk in what was likely to be a showery day. Actually the group was 17 with the very late arrival of Ron M, a man who walks alone. For the weather buffs, it was not raining although the temperature was hovering around zero ,with a slight breeze, brass monkey weather indeed.
We split into two groups, Al L with two others Continue reading “2012 11 11 Rigaud”