My second snowmobile ride ever: WOW!

Wow, wow and re-wow! For my 2nd snowmobile outing in 20 years in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, I was spoiled yet again! This time I discovered the Parc du Massif du Sud sector, Mont Saint-Magloire, trail 549 and the magical finish at Lac-Etchemin.

An invitation impossible to refuse

– Stéphane, even though you’ve broken your foot, do you think you’ll be able to come on a snowmobile outing with us?

– Louis, my doctor told me to forget the fatbike for a while, but he never mentioned snowmobiles, and my thumb is in top shape, so I’d say it’s looking pretty good!

We meet at the Pro-Arctic dealership in Montmagny, where we take possession of our snowmobiles for our 2-day expedition. It’s still around minus 15, minus 20 degrees Celsius. We get the usual instructions, strap our bags onto the snowmobiles and off we go!

Our first stop to make sure that everything is going well and that everyone is keeping to the right is at Pourvoirie Foresto in Montmagny. Our planned route for the morning will take us to the Station Touristique Massif du Sud for our lunch break.

The Massif du Sud sector, magnificent!

After filling up with petrol in St-Philémon (we’re far-sighted), as we approach the Parc du Massif du Sud sector, we notice that the trails are more winding, all uphill and downhill with snow-covered pines towering over the route. It’s simply magnificent. The break around lunchtime at the Station Touristique Massif du Sud was a welcome opportunity to warm up and eat the lunches we’d brought. Other colleagues who had left from Lévis joined us for lunch and the rest of the expedition.

Our final destination for the day is the village of Lac-Etchemin. En route, we made a stop at Mont Saint-Magloire (on trail 549) to take in the superb view from the 3,000-foot-high observation tower. Here, with the wind factor, it’s certainly colder than minus 20 degrees Celsius. At least, that’s what my body seems to be telling me and instructing me to do.

Arrival at Lac-Etchemin. Wow!

My final favourite moment of the day was our arrival at the end of the day in Lac-Etchemin. The route takes us right to the lake and leads us directly to the Manoir Lac-Etchemin, where we’ll be spending the night. The light was beautiful, and from the lake we could see the village of Lac-Etchemin, all white. Just magical.

Re-Wow!

I slept like a baby … who sleeps through the night. But when I woke up, “oh boy! “It’s as if I’d done 1,000 push-ups yesterday, because my shoulders are a mess, but fortunately my foot and thumb are fine!

Today we’re retracing our steps, because with the sun now out, we want to take some more photos of the new trail 549.

We’d filled up at Lac-Etchemin yesterday when we arrived, so after breakfast this morning we’re ready to go.I enjoy one last view of the village from the lake in the beautiful morning light. Not that the scenery wasn’t beautiful yesterday, in fact it was superb, but as it was more overcast, it just wasn’t the same.

Don’t get me wrong, the quality of the trails was the same and the quality of the outing just as good, but the scenery is brighter today. It still makes a slight difference to the amateur photographer in me.

The magic continues!

It was a superb day, and the return journey went smoothly and beautifully. It seems more magical today, or maybe it’s because I’m paying more attention to the environment. Maybe it’s because I’m more confident on my 2nd day. But without losing my concentration on the road, while remaining careful for myself and for others, as I do in the summer on a motorbike: riding for yourself but also riding with others in mind.

Anyway, I noticed better the climbs and descents with tighter bends, the snow-covered pines with the blue sky and the sunlight shining through the branches, the difference between local and provincial trails, the few straighter sections in fields as far as the eye could see with the snow being blown by the wind.

I understand... now.

I have several brothers-in-law and nephews who have been or still are snowmobiling. It’s like anything else: as long as you’re not wearing someone else’s shoes (or boots), it’s hard to understand. Well, today, after this 300 km outing through the magnificent landscapes of the Chaudière-Appalaches, I understand a little better the passion of snowmobilers and their love for our region!

Photos: Stéphanie Allard, Louis Chamberland