No question of staying indoors during our best season! To enjoy winter, all you have to do is dress in “onion skins”, prepare a good thermos of soup or hot chocolate and go play outside with your clan. On the program starting in December: six activities to get some fresh air – from the most relaxing to the most exhilarating – that can be practiced in the magnificent natural settings of national parks and Sépaq territories. The good news for parents: equipment rental is free for children under 18. Happy winter!
1
The winter hike
To connect with natureThere’s nothing like a walk in the woods to fill up on energy, vitamin D and beauty. The magical spectacle of the snowy forest, combined with the pure air and the hushed silence – except for the crunch of snow underfoot and the creaking of branches – are unparalleled in countering the blues of winter. ‘winter. Accessible everywhere in Quebec, this activity allows everyone to enjoy the winter season at their own pace, regardless of age or physical condition. You just need to be well dressed, well shod and well accompanied! Want to get started? Near major centers and in the regions, Sépaq offers many hiking trails that require no equipment other than a good pair of boots. Among these are short or loop circuits, which are particularly suitable for families with young children or older people. To plan your next hike and find the trails that suit you, just select a snowshoeing destination.
Good to know: due to the absence of leaves and the contrast with the pristine snow, winter hikes are particularly favorable for observing wildlife. Do not forget your binoculars, and bring a telephoto lens if you plan to take pictures, because it is important to keep your distance so as not to scare the animals.
2
Racket
To open your horizons Do you like hiking? If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to try the snowshoe, which allows you to expand your playground to explore nature in complete freedom as the generations that preceded us have done. This very safe activity – the equipment was designed to ensure excellent stability on fresh snow, powder snow and icy surfaces – is accessible to everyone and does not require any special training. Everyone knows how to walk! If it is suitable for novices, the snowshoe has nothing cushy: it works the legs (without impact, we appreciate), and it solicits the cardiovascular system, and this, regardless of cruising speed. A quiet walk in the woods, a circuit of several kilometers or a summit climb, everything is possible on the snowshoe trails of some twenty national parks and Sépaq territories. You can also do a torchlight snowshoe trail in the evening In the national parks of Aiguebelle, Bic and Mont Mégantic. An unforgettable experience for young and old! Note: it is possible to rent mountain snowshoes and walking sticks, and some routes have relays where you can take a break.
3
Cross-country skiing
For fitness and pleasure This all-encompassing sport, which challenges the cardiovascular system and works virtually every muscle in the body, can be as exhilarating as downhill skiing or snowboarding. The difference? No waiting at the ski lifts or music that breaks our ears. The cross-country skiers set off alone or accompanied on immaculate tracks, enveloped in the padded silence of the snowy landscapes. Without shivering, because the amplitude of the movements has a whiplash effect on the blood circulation. It’s not surprising that a growing number of Quebecers are adopting cross-country skiing for good, whether for the pleasure of playing outside, for training or to surpass themselves. To each his own intensity! Sépaq offers cross-country skiers nearly 400 kilometers of marked and mechanically maintained trails at easy, intermediate and difficult levels. Day tickets can be purchased at the seven cross-country ski centers in the national parks of Oka, Mont-Saint-Bruno, Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Orford, Mont-Mégantic, Station touristique Duchesnay and Camp Mercier, in the Laurentides wildlife reserve. Most centers offer equipment rental, and provide access to waxing rooms, belays and catering services.
4
the fatbike
For family fun Bikes can also be equipped with winter tires! Designed to ride on difficult surfaces such as snow, fat bikes, or fat tire bikes (VPS) have nothing to their test. Particular sign: their wheels twice as wide as normal, which exert an astonishing traction on the surface. This all-terrain sport, which has more and more followers, is suitable for beginners as well as for the most hardened athletes. It all depends on the circuit chosen! It is practiced almost everywhere in Quebec on specially marked trails in the national parks of Îles-de-Boucherville, Mont-Saint-Bruno, Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Orford, Oka, Hautes-Gorges-de -Rivière-Malbaie, Jacques-Cartier, Monts-Valin and Yamaska. VPS rental is offered at these locations.
5
Snowshoeing
To go everywhere, everywhere This is an excellent option for those who want to treat themselves to the double pleasure of walking in the forest and downhill. The skis-snowshoes, wide and short, offer optimal stability, and allow you to “float” on the surface of the snow. They have a sealskin-type sole that provides good grip on the way up and promotes a smooth descent on uneven terrain. Equipped with flexible bindings that adapt to all types of boots, the snowshoe skis are easy to handle, do not require special instructions and are therefore suitable for beginners and children. A fun activity to discover in the Jacques-Cartier, Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie and Aiguebelle national parks, as well as at the Duchesnay Tourist Station, where you can also rent equipment .
6
Off-piste skiing
To think outside the box Do you want to experience strong sensations? If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to learn about this increasingly popular mountain sport, which is booming in Quebec. Regardless of the style chosen – alpine touring, ski touring and other variants – the principle is the same: the ascent is done independently, without the use of a motorized ski lift. So much for the cardio side! The ultimate reward? A breathtaking view before the well-deserved and always exhilarating descent in the powder snow, which makes you want to start again right away. No wonder off-piste skiing enthusiasts are real enthusiasts!. On the equipment side, the skis are designed to surf on ungroomed or very abundant snow, they are equipped with removable “skins” to facilitate the ascent and equipped with bindings which free the heel for the ascent and keep it in place for the descent. .
Notice to those who like to be prepared: the Mountain School of Parc national de la Gaspésie offers training that includes avalanche safety courses.
Assignment
Backed by the commitment of its team, Sépaq enhances the territories and public assets entrusted to it and ensures their sustainability for the benefit of its clientele, the regions of Québec and future generations. It connects people to nature.
This content was produced by Le Devoir’s special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. Le Devoir’s editorial team had no role in the production of this content.
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