This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Already the month of March… If this does not mean that winter is coming to an end, the risk that the snowpack will run out here and there, even sometimes in the middle of nature, is growing. This is not a reason to give up outdoor activities. Here are some ideas to continue having fun with what’s left of the cold season.
With the sudden warming that we now experience during our winters, it sometimes happens that, from mid-March, the snow cover essential for the practice of certain activities – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, powder skiing, sliding – unfortunately gone. But don’t let that stop us from playing outside! As the weather warms up, there are a plethora of activities to end the winter with gusto and wonder.
Nordic’s walk
Certainly, with or without snow, walking is supreme for staying active, whether in the wilderness or in an urban environment. If the ground surface is slightly icy, crampons (mountain or city, depending on where you are moving) save the day. For a more invigorating activity, try Nordic walking, this Scandinavian-inspired discipline designed as pre-season training for competitive skiers. The technique consists of soliciting the muscle groups of the upper body as much as those of the lower body. Thanks to ample movements of the legs and arms — which are reminiscent of those performed in cross-country skiing — the exercise promotes muscle work without impacting the joints. Ideally, you alternate Nordic walking with bodybuilding sessions depending on what you find on your route: benches, sidewalks, trees, etc. And we practice lunges, abs, push-ups and stretches. A one and a half hour session of Nordic walking works 90% of the muscle groups and allows you to enjoy winter, whatever the snow cover.
Horseback riding in the Quebec region
Snow or not, a horseback ride is not lacking in charm, especially in the inviting landscapes of Saint-Raymond-de-Portneuf. At the Aurélie Piché Equestrian Centre, we don’t skip the stages: after a little training on the riding school to master the basic techniques, we set off for a ride of around an hour and a half on particularly varied terrain: forest, fields, edge of the Bras-du-Nord River. Groups do not exceed 12 people and are open to beginners, even from the age of 5. The equestrian center also offers riding lessons and summer day camps.
Practical information : rate for an hour and a half outing: $77 (group rates available).
Cani-rando in Charlevoix
Traveling the trails behind a team of sled dogs is an incomparable winter sport. However, this activity is not for everyone. The Cani-rando activity, offered by La Reine et le Millionnaire, located in Baie-Saint-Paul, is for those who hesitate to musher (drive) their sled. The idea: go hiking in the forest pulled by a sled dog thanks to a cable connected to a harness installed on the animal. The hike, which lasts about an hour, is an opportunity to strengthen the bond between humans and dogs while hiking, in the company of an animal that is too young or too old for the hitch, but which still vividly demonstrates the want to walk in the forest. The activity is offered year-round.
Practical information : price: $59. The company also offers dog sledding and cani-scooter outings.
Zip line and via ferrata in the Laurentians
No snow on the ground? Let’s reach the heights! In Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, the Tyroparc offers two zip lines of 900 meters and 650 meters accessible in winter. The activity begins at the reception chalet, from where you set off on a short hike to the summit of Mount Catherine, to descend at full speed along the zip line cable. The overall activity lasts about two hours, including the return walk. Want to multiply the thrills? We offer ourselves the ascent of the mountain in via ferrata before taking the zip lines. An ultimate experience where there is no shortage of adrenaline.
Practical information : Tyrolean: from 5 years old. Via ferrata: from 10 years old. Price: $61 (adult). Via ferrata: $60 (adult). Both activities combined: $88. Child rate available.
Aerial ropes course in Lanaudière
There are no less than seven courses Arbraska in Quebec, including several within a reasonable distance of the greater Montreal area. That of Rawdon offers a 2h30 course, accessible from 8 years old, and offers the opportunity to compete against all kinds of obstacles located at the top of the trees: suspension bridges, lianas, rope bridges, swings and zip lines. With children from 3 to 7 years old, we opt for the Village Arbre-en-ciel, a network of funny cabins suspended in the trees connected by mesh walkways and tunnels. The Village has safe forest trails within a closed perimeter.
Practical information : the site offers snowshoe rental and 3-hour guided excursions. Outdoor campfire, hot chocolate and marshmallows are included in the ticket. Price for the winter course: $45 (8-13 years old: $40); Village Arbre-en-Ciel rate: $10 (ages 3-17: $20) and free for children under 2 and over 65.
The case of ski resorts
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.