Author: Keith R

Well it looked like 21 people decided Mont Royal was a good place for a walk on Sunday, not only that, we found a willing guide David H who having completed a 16 year apprenticeship on Mt Royal felt confident enough to lead our band. Indeed he led us on a merry dance, along the xcountry ski trails avoiding the main paths most of the time, thus keeping us safe from crazy cycling teams out training, and showing many of us the quieter and delightful parts Continue reading “Mount Royal Nov 27”

Well it had to happen one day, we lost some of our group although technically they lost us. Anyhow more of that later. Hasn’t this been a great late fall or what! Sunday was no exception , bright blue skies, sun shine and crisp temperatures. It was noted that the official bean counter was absent once again, will we ever see him again. Rumour had it that he accidently planted the beans and was too embarrassed to mention it. Fortunately with the aid of several fingers and a couple of smart phones we established that we had 23 walkers. The plan was to walk in an area Parc de Falaises ( www.parcdesfalaises.ca) which is a new conservation area, and also some older back country trails which are on private land.

Our first objective was to reach the viewpoint at Mont Shaw, which was duly achieved followed by a steep descent to pick up a faint leaf covered trail leading to MOC. Now with our gang on narrow trails we do get spread out and so as usual the lead group missed the turn, I do not know why, the old 6 inch ribbon tied to a tree stuck out like a Highway sign, if you looked up. So we all made it to the MOC trail and around Lac Paradis except when we regrouped we were 4 short, the 4 leading walkers. We wanted to go right but Continue reading “Prevost Nov 06 2011 or “what do you mean we have lost some people””

Now the last thing a free spirited walk leader wants to be asked before a walk is where are we going and how far is it, because he doesn’t know for certain himself , even more so when arriving at the Chalet Anne Piché we find that there is a running race on some of the major trails. Never mind, at the worse we can take out pants off and join in with the runners in our under wear, no one will know. So on a frosty bright sunny morning 23 of us and a dog started our walk with the intention of visiting several viewpoints. At least that was my intention , the rest of the group had no idea where we were going and didn’t seem to care as long as it was uphill. Soon we were on the snow shoe trails heading for Mont Condor, no problems with mud here the path was frozen. Past the first viewpoint a smaller path was tried which came a little too close to the edge of the crag for comfort, so a retreat was the order of the day to a safer broader path . Second viewpoint reached and the troops started asking about lunch, no way we had hardly started, however a pee break was sanctioned. On Continue reading “Val David 2011 10 30”

Tom’s advice about the bridges was still fresh in our minds as we left Dorval, however the people with whom I share a car always seem to have difficulties with advice, and the car behind us was just following so with Champlain showing green on the web page we took the Champlain exit. However as we approached the Atwater exit the traffic slowed due to road works and our nerve cracked so off we got and headed to the Victoria. One tiny problem no one was quite sure how to get there and the diversion signs down town really threw us a curve ball. How hard can it be to find a bridge after all its not exactly a small structure, still finally we found the bridge and we were on track again. ( We later found out from Ray M that although the traffic slowed there was no problem crossing the Champlain, grrr.)

Arrival at St Hilaire was uneventful except we were late and there was a line up at the gate to get in, probably more people trying to get in than crossing Chaplain Bridge, ( Note for Tom for the future), still our friends had Continue reading “Oct 23 Mont St Hilaire or A Tale of Two Bridges”

The weather looked a little dubious as the three of us left to meet the multitude at Dorval, multitude did I say , well at least one person showed up, so of we set thinking about a short walk and early coffee. Arriving at the trail head three other walkers were already there, soon 6 other brave souls arrived and we were 13. Short walk and early coffee looked less likely now. Given the weather was still a little dubious I proposed going towards Lake Côté instead of Le Summet, secretly knowing we really did not have to decide for a least 3kms. Funnily enough no one else seemed to have any form of mapso Continue reading “Grande Vallee Oct 16”

 

Well it did look a bit grey and the forecast talked of showers, even reports of rain at Rigaud that very morning were received, but the old faithful McGill radar looked clear so we ran out of excuses and the call of Rigaud trails tempted us once again. Not only us but 20 other walkers were present at the Sucrerie, all anxious to test their mettle in the woods. Having had the occasional difficulties on the trails in the past we prevailed on one of our club members, Christine Buckley Moore, commonly known as “Gps” to lead us safely along the way. Now as everyone knows expertise like Christine’s doesn’t come cheap however my Continue reading “Rigaud Oct 02 2011”