Snow Shoeing in Mont Tremblant, Quebec
Since the 18th century, people have come to admire the beautiful landscapes of the Mont-Tremblant region, and of course the mountain itself.
The highest peak in the Laurentians has something for all ski and snowboarding enthusiasts. First and foremost, snow: the mountain receives on average 380 cm (12.47 feet) of snow each year and has the most powerful snowmaking system in Eastern Canada. Its 95 trails and 3 snow parks offer spectacular views and thrilling runs.
However, the magnificent resort has plenty of other activities on offer, for example, if you can walk, you can snowshoe! This activity is perfect for families and nature lovers.
The trails are spread over an area of over 25 square kilometers of forests, meadows, lakes, and streams. This territory is inhabited by many birds and animals such as white-tailed deer that you may be lucky enough to encounter on your hike.
This ingenious means of transport was invented by the Aboriginals and later adopted by the coureurs de bois, or woodsmen. There’s still no better way to stay atop the powder on a winter hike. Snowshoes are great for scaling snowy slopes and striding through vast wooded areas. In the cold season, don’t leave home without them!
The Amerindians had perfected their design well before the arrival of the Europeans, taking inspiration from shapes found in nature and coming up with four basic snowshoe types: the beaver tail, the owl tail, the round-end and the bear paw. These days, snowshoes tend to be more compact, featuring light metal frames, crampons and straps that are better adapted to today’s footwear. However, old-fashioned babiche (rawhide) snowshoes, if largely relegated to the status of decorative objects, are nonetheless perfectly snow-worthy—according to their proud owners!