A few km before the Chic Choc park we saw this little guy just sleeping (nope he wasn't dead) on the side of the main road on a small cliff.

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Michelle as we start day 1. The forecast of 15cm snow had just begun as we got out of the car. a pleasent -12c...for now.

A short hour later and we're now into the steeper section of trail..averaging 8% for 6km now. Snow is falling in earnest.

10 minutes later and the snow has turned into a blizzard. sustained 50km/gusting to 70+ winds are due westerly and knocking us backwards when we're going into them.

I'm on my knees to get this shot..the winds are too high to stand and be balanced. we're at about km 7 of 10 now.

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Just shy of 3hrs from the start and we're at Lac Cascopedie at our very very cold camp. a fire was first priority. Then gather snow, melt snow, have tea.

Michelle looking over the map of the park. our route planned on 10km/11km/11km/10km.

Now that it finally warmed up its time to get down to dinner. We're lucky to be the only people in this hut. the next door hut was at capacity with another group

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Early morning snow...big surprise.

Packing up for day two. From L'rondelle to Messange was only 10km on the map and primarily uphill. However this trip was going to be slightly more than we had bargained for.

Michelle crashed...15' from the camp :-)

Start of the winter trail has us crossing the lake.

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winds were only moderate at this point. temps were -12c or so. the winds had blown the lake snow off and only left a hard crust.

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winds were minimized by the trees but large flakes continued to fall. start of a 4k up hill beside the lake.

The trail had been skied on the day prior, and as we started we could sort of make out the tracks. but we started where the other party had finished...the further we went the less of their trail there was...and soon there was no trace.

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all day...skis buried under wind driven snow crust. too soft to ski on, to hard to push.

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For the most part we took turns breaking the trail. it was about here, at 5km that we put skins on for the first time. a short very steep climb demanded them.

a few 'brighter' moments between the dark grey times.

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Cold night and low clouds caused some effects on the trees.

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Michelle wanted proof that i was on this trip. We're about 6km in now..and probably at about the 3hr mark.

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This was not uncommon....

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each step meant plowing 15 - 30cm of snow with your ski, then backing it up from under the snow and lifting it up to go onto for the next step.

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