A Mountain for all Seasons

 

I traveled to Mont Tremblant earlier this year in March to catch the last weekend of skiing before the official close of the season. Guess what? I hadn’t been skiing for over 25 years! I was anxiously looking forward to getting back on the slopes in the Northeast where I’d skied most of my life. When I arrived in Tremblant, I realized that it had undergone a complete transformation in the past 25 years but still retained the character, charm and “French Canadian-ness” just the same.

The ski station itself is simply one of the best on the East coast. In fact, Ski magazine voted it number one for 2010. The mountain rises over 2,000 feet to the summit and the skiing is challenging enough for the advanced skier, but also offers something for the beginner. There is a state of the art snow making system called Avalanche that’s comprised of over 1,000 guns and is one of the most powerful in North America. This accounts for the length of the Mont-Tremblant season – from late November until mid April.

The mountain is divided into four parts, a North and South side and the Edge on the North and Soleil on the South with 94 trails at all levels. Some of the offerings at the mountain include a ski school and a special kids ski school and my favorite, the “fast tracks.” Fast Tracks allows anxious skiers to board the gondola at 7:45 am and be the first to hit the freshly groomed slopes. I got to experience Fast Tracks and since it was so long since I’d skied, the fresh snow was a welcome to get back in the groove. It was not long before I realized that skiing really is like riding a bike – you never forget. After a few easy runs, I was ready for the intermediate level! In the winter months Mont-Tremblant also offers numerous outdoor activities besides downhill skiing like snow shoeing and cross country, ice skating, sleigh rides, ziplining and ice climbing. Helicopter tours of the region are also a great thrill.

We had a morning of skiing then in the afternoon toured Mont-Tremblant village, or the Pedestrian Village as locals refer to it. Tremblant Village has almost 2,000 guest units, from 3 to 5 star accommodations. It also offers every style of lodging from luxury suites to fully equipped condos, mountain chalets or town houses overlooking the golf course. The choices range from romantic to family-centric. Tremblant Village also offers an array of restaurants and bars so it’s a great place to spend an evening after the slopes. Amongst the choices is a Micro Brewery called Le Diable where you can down a flight of beers that are made right there. There is also a Swiss fondue restaurant called La Savoie which many say is like being in Switzerland.

During the day the village offers shopping with a mix of boutiques including Adrénaline, (a cool snowboard store), Joaillerie St-Onge (trendy jewelry), Boutique Salomon (well known ski brand) and L’Atelier du Pere Noel (Santa’s studio.) with many of them open year round.

In the summer months there are three important festivals in the center of the village: Les Rythemes Tremblant (July to August), Festival International Du Blues De Tremblant (July) and La Fete de la Musique (September). There’s also a New Year’s celebration with a show on the slopes and in Place St.-Bernard, a traditional torch-light parade, music, dancing and a midnight fireworks to ring in the New Year.

And more is coming for the 2011-2012 season as Tremblant is investing over a half million dollars in the station to make it better for their guests. The improvements include new blowers and grooming machines plus state of the art rental equipment. At the beginning of the season, the pedestrian village of Tremblant will have a new Oakley shop on rue des Remparts (the main street). Famous for their cutting edge eyewear, the store will stock their activewear collection and accessories.

If you want a break from Le Village or perhaps want to get away from the hub, a great choice is Le Grand Lodge. It’s a short drive from the mountain and offers a true mountain lodge experience with great amenities. Their Lakeview Suites have a panoramic view overlooking Lake Ouimet from your own balcony, a fireplace, 2 full baths and a fully equipped kitchen. Chez Borivage, their four star award winning restaurant has a cozy fireside bar and you might be invited to join the nightly folk singer in a song! You could call it a sophisticated kind of karaoke. Le Grand Lodge also has a full service ski shop on the premises for rentals and accessories should you forget something as well as an indoor pool and spa.

Although winter is fabulous at Mont-Tremblant, don’t forget it also shines in the summer when it attracts more visitors. It offers swimming, sailing, windsurfing, wake boarding, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, bicycling, and mountain biking. They also offer hunting, fishing, walking tours, tennis and golf. Mont-Tremblant is practically a paradise for golfers offering them a full week without playing the same terrain. There is so much to choose and the scenery is breathtaking. You can take in all the beauty of nature which comes alive in the summer months.

Situated high on the mountain with a fantastic view is Le Casino de Quebec, where you can enjoy another kind of thrill: gambling. The Casino offers a great restaurant and lounge for those non-gamers and it’s really worth checking out.

After all the activity you’ll need to treat yourself to The Scandinave Spa. Located only five minutes from the Tremblant Village it’s a must do after all the energy you’ve expended. This is a Nordic style spa and to enjoy the benefits of the hydrotherapy you first take some heat in the eucalyptus steam, then the wood burning Finnish sauna or hot baths to open up your pores. This will stimulate your blood and release toxins. Then you cool down by jumping into a Nordic waterfall or jumping into the chilly river flowing next to the spa. You conclude the circuit by relaxing on a terrace or by the fire to allow the cardiovascular system to regulate. You repeat the procedure until you are fully relaxed! Combine the baths with a massage such as their Thai-yoga massage and this is relaxation to the max.

While in the Tremblant area, one thrilling morning should be spent dog sledding. We tried Wolf expeditions and they offered a total experience. You choose your dog then walk him to join his team, and then attach him to the sled before you do the run. Six dogs pull each sled and the ride is exhilarating! We were able to have the experience on the last few days that Wolf was open in March. These dogs are in their element when they are out on the trail and we noticed with the Wolf team that no better care could be given to this sport breed and they handled them with kid gloves. The happy dogs were excited to get started as soon as they were in position. One person joins the guide at the sled’s rear while the other gets to wrap in fur and enjoy the wind on his face. Take a guess where I was.

After a few days it was clear that the possibilities for amusement are endless here while in Mont-Tremblant, both in summer and winter. We had the winter experience and it was amazing. I got over my fear of skiing thanks to a great coach and instructor who worked at Le Grand Lodge. They always say if fear is in your way it prevents you from doing anything so let go of the fear and realize that you can do it. I listened to my own advice and had the time of my life adventuring in Mont-Tremblant, Québec.