Some things cannot be shared. A Nordic ski trail, for example. The passage of a single snowshoer or walker can make the trail not only unpleasant, but downright dangerous.
Volunteer organizations that maintain Nordic ski trails (or off-piste cross-country skiing) must increase their efforts to safeguard the practice of a sport that has marked the Laurentians with legends like Herman Smith-Johannsen, known as Jackrabbit.
“In a Nordic ski trail, the snowshoes will make a narrow and deep furrow,” explains Daniel Bergeron, president of Plein Air Sainte-Adèle. It will be almost impossible to make a turn. Descents can become very dangerous. »
The snow that surrounds this furrow hardens quickly. It becomes extremely difficult to brake.
“It’s like if you were bobsleighing, there’s really nothing to do, it’s really dangerous,” adds Dominique Hamel, communications manager on the board of directors of Plein Air Sainte-Adèle. When we talk about Nordic skiing, we talk about wooded, winding, very steep trails. »
Snowshoers and walkers are unaware of this problem. Often, they have walked all summer and fall on a trail, they want to continue walking there in winter, even if it is a designated trail for Nordic skiing.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM RENÉE CLAUDE BASTIEN’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Even when the signage is clear, snowshoers sometimes use the Nordic ski trails.
However, volunteer organizations go out of their way to let people know that this or that trail is reserved for skiers.
“People will say: “Oh, I didn’t know that,” laments André Marcoux, president of the Inter-Centre trail, in the Laurentians and Lanaudière. However, at Montagne Noire, we put up a big yellow banner, it is 16 feet long, 2 feet high, it says “Nordic skiing only on the right and snowshoeing on the left”. »
Adventure guide Renée Claude Bastien recalls that many people have discovered the outdoors with COVID-19.
I think that people have a bit of the perception that environments for practicing outdoor activities are environments free from regulation, free from instructions.
Renée Claude Bastien, adventure guide
“Many have the impression that work and social environments are restrictive and that nature offers the possibility of escaping a little,” she continues. But if we decide to go outdoors on networks that are shared by other types of users, there will be regulations associated with the practice, there will also be ethics so as not to harm the environment. activity of another user. »
The volunteers who have maintained the trails for years do not want to play trail police, but they still inform hikers when they are not in the right place.
“People can feel caught out and become aggressive,” notes Dominique Hamel. It is not our goal to confront people, but to raise awareness. »
Courtesy is always required. “We can meet a land owner,” explains M.me Hamel. We know what happens when we meet an owner and argue with him: sections close. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Shared trails are not pleasant for skiers. He tries to ski off the damaged trail.
Plein Air Sainte-Adèle provided official toques or small laminated cards to its volunteers to give them a little more credibility.
In the past, Inter-Centre has created snowshoe trails to redirect snowshoers. But it is not a miracle solution, especially for small organizations.
With the growing popularity of snowshoeing, Plein Air Saint-Donat abandoned the idea of trails reserved for Nordic skiing.
“I don’t really do Nordic skiing, but my friends who do tell me that ideally, there should be reserved trails,” says France Chagnon, president of Plein Air Saint-Donat. But that would mean doubling the trails. We have 70 kilometers of it, it’s impossible. »
In recent years, SEPAQ has added Nordic ski trails to its range of activities, but these are often trails shared with snowshoes.
“It doesn’t work,” says André Marcoux.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
SEPAQ offers shared trails, but also some trails reserved for Nordic skiing, like here at Parc de la Gaspésie.
SEPAQ spokesperson Simon Boivin explains that it would not be possible to have trails reserved for each type of activity.
To create new trails, trees would have to be cut down and the territory divided. This is not compatible with the mission of national parks.
Simon Boivin, spokesperson for SEPAQ
Renée Claude Bastien believes that we should reassess this cohabitation. “We often talk about the outdoor customer experience. However, the customer experience for a Nordic cross-country skier is to have slopes [réservées] practicing Nordic cross-country skiing. »
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