BaffinPaddler - http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

Today, I checked out a few creeks, lakes, and rivers in the Mont Tremblant, Quebec region. How's spring thaw? A little deeper than usual I'd say for April. We won't be paddling around here anytime soon. There is still lots of snow in Tremblant, blue skies, and sunshine. It's been a great year for downhill skiers here, and it's not over yet. Spring skiing is awesome. There's only one more weekend left from April 12 to 14. But, if you do head off to Tremblant to ski, you can check the ski report for information about conditions, and the days that they are open at: Tremblant Snow Reports - Daily Updates Enjoy spring one way or another. It still feels like winter to me! I thought I didn't need snowshoes any more. Happy trails.  The BaffinPaddler

Why not. Both work. Snowmobile to yoga. Do yoga on the snowmobile. Just look at the face on this little bug-eyed gal. She's a 7-year-old Ski-Doo and weighs over 400 lbs. She's got a nice metal deck on the back for hauling stuff, or for striking a few standing yoga poses. Enjoy winter yoga in the outdoors while you can. Find your spot. Strike your pose. Spring mud, rain, and bugs are on the way and it's back to the indoor yoga studio until late summer and fall! Thanks to friends for taking me snowmobiling on awesome Laurentian mountain trails, across frozen lakes, and through big open fields in Quebec, Canada. Now, if only they would make them . . . cough, choke . . . carbon friendly, that would be great. Same for cars and motor boats! Happy trails! The BaffinPaddler

It's crooked. The door is padlocked, or there's a stick in front to keep the door shut and the skunks out. It's close to a big bee farm in a field of clover and dandelions. The door won't stay shut. There's no lock. It's buried in snow. The door won't open. There's no light inside. You have to bring your own supplies. It's a beautiful thing? It's an ugly beast? When you were a girl scout (or a boy scout), and had latrine cleaning duty, the skunk stick was always on the ground and the door was cracked open . . . Outhouses. Friend or foe? You never know, no matter what the season, how to navigate their folly. They are things of curiosity. Sometimes necessity. Bring friends. Let them go first! Happy trails wherever you go. Spring is on the way. The BaffinPaddler

There is too much to say and too many pictures to tell the story of this cool snowshoeing and rock-and ice climbing destination. But here's a hint. I like it. It has made the snowshoeing trails in Quebec's Gatineau Park, and the National Capital Region of Canada seem so boring and tame. Montagne d'Argent (10 minutes north of Mont Tremblant off Hwy 117) is part of the Laurentians (French: Laurentides), an awesomely beautiful mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River. So, it's not really fair to compare flat forest trails and hills to mountains. But your mind will do it anyway! They say Montagne d'Argent (Silver Mountain) is a jewel, discovered and developed for outdoor recreation by climbers. I'll agree. It's a jewel. If you're bored to death of those tromped down walk-in-the park snowshoe trails you find in so many urban areas, you may want to give Montagne d'Argent a try for a great moun...

A few snowshoe buddies and I came across an odd, deserted winter camp in Gatineau Park over the weekend, which was blessed with perfect winter weather - fresh snow, sunshine, and cold. And finally, no rain or freezing rain! "It looks like Armageddon! What happened here?"  A few snow-entrenched fire pits smoked . There were odd rows of six foot long trenches in the snow, 4 or 5 big snow domes with sticks and small shovels poking out of them, and camping gear strewn about. "Hey, anybody in there!?" There was no answer. All the winter campers were off playing in the woods somewhere. "What the heck are these man-made things?" Then, I remembered a group of 10 snowshoers with heavily-loaded backpacks and shovels that we crossed paths with as we headed out and up a trail for a day snowshoe around Lac Philippe. They were heading back from a winter camping trip. All were smiling. I asked, "Are you happy to be getting out of here and ba...

While most of us turn back on steep mountain snowshoe trails covered in ice and slippery rock after last week's big melt with lots of rain, freezing rain, and then sudden freeze (and rightly so to turn back), the ice climbers are out in force at Montagne d'Argent (Parc d'Escalade et de Randonnée de la Montagne d'Argent), in La Conception, Quebec, Canada, 10 minutes north of Tremblant. They like ice!  It's ice pic and crampon weather. And the climbers are well-equipped with helmets, harnesses, and ropes. There's natural ice and man-made ice to climb at this internationally known climbing mountain. I'll never understand why they do this, but it's interesting to watch.     Montagne d'Argent is also a great snowshoe spot when there's lots of snow, especially if you like a bit of a challenge and to hang onto a few ropes tied to trees as you make your way up and down some of the steeper trails. Timing is everything. Later, I'll post abo...

You and your kayak . . . or one you borrowed for kayak camping. It's bigger than your tent. I hope so, or the tent won't fit in one of the hatches. The places you take it. The places it takes you. It's pretty amazing. The memories last forever. And . . . after a trip, we forget about all the work it was to get there, to plan and pack, and other stuff like bugs or things that bug you. A great place to be . . . is a place you can take a kayak. Happy trip planning! Winter is a great time to plan or take off on a trip. The BaffinPaddler