Hiking in Quebec

[doug]

I'm playing in the Montreal Bach Festival next week (concerts on Sunday 11/27 and Wednesday, November 30 for which I could probably get complimentary tickets should anyone in the environs be interested.)

Anyway, I have free days the 28th and 29th and was thinking of an overnight hike. Does anyone have a recommendation for a Quebec hike?

[Neil]

You know what? Serious hikers go to the states! I've barely hiked in Quebec but people often go to Mount Ofrord Park for dayhikes and to Mount Sutton. There is overnight hiking in Mont Tremblant Park. You can also check out the Papineau-Labelle wildlife preserve (but they allow hunting there). These choices are all within 2 hours of Montreal. Google 'em for details.
I'd be interested in a pair of tickets on the Wednesday.

[doug]

Neil, any idea about Saugenay? I'm not looking to climb a mountain, just get out in the woods. Figured there might be slim pickings with how much you head down south!

[Neil]

The Saguenay offers very interesting terrain (fiords) to hike through. I was there about 10 years ago with my young children so we didn't do anything heavy duty. The area is strikingly beautiful and I bet you can get all the info you need via google. IIRC it's about a 4 or 5 hour drive from Montreal to any hiking TH's.

[Dick]

I just googled this. Of course, I have no idea about anything on this list, so maybe Neil can comment.

Dick

[dog]

North-West Territories

Doug ! They have this , I think pearl . What is there, tell, after your come back , if you will know something .

[Neil]

I just googled this. Of course, I have no idea about anything on this list, so maybe Neil can comment.

Dick

I can vouch for Mont Royal. I'm up there 2 or 3 days a week as part of a 6 mile loop I do from my office. It's truly amazing for a big city to have such a wild area smack in the middle. Just today I climbed a 400 vertical foot talus slope which cuts into the escarpment.

[Phil P.]

Another good hike only 1 1/2hr north of Montreal is Montagne Noire near St Donat. I did it for the first time at this time last year. There is wreckage and a memorial of a B24 bomber that crashed up there during the war.
Met up with lots of hungry Gray jays at the summit.
Another short but favourite of mine is Rigaud mountain just 1/2 hr west of Montreal on the highway to Ottawa. You can see Lyon Mt. in upstate NY on a clear day.

Have Fun

-Phil

P.S. My wife is big on Bach

[doug]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and keep 'em coming! I was captivated with the Saugenay when i saw the movie "Black Robe" years ago. I think I'm going to try it. The question I have is whether they allow overnight camping during the winter. Web-site says closed in the winter, but I think they're talking about the formal campgrounds not the primitive sites.

The concert on the 27th is Cantatas 4,5,6 of the Christmas Oratorio and the 30th is the B-minor Mass. I'll be checking on the possibility of comp tickets at the first rehearsal on the 23rd. I'll be bringing my laptop along so you can PM me about availablility after that date and I'll let you know.

[Neil]

B-minor Mass! OH boy! I've wanted to go to a live performance of that for a long time.
What instrument do you play?

[doug]

French Horn, but in this case I'll be playing on what we call "period instrument" which means playing on replicas of the valveless instruments used in the Bach's time. (Directly derived from hunting horns.) The group is the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal where everyone will be playing on antique instruments or copies thereof, i.e. oboes and flutes with only one or two keys, strings with gut strings instead of steel etc. It is a completely different sound-world than modern instruments. "Modern," I use advisedly because most of the modern orchestral instruments haven't changed that much since the late 1800's.

[doug]

Hawk asked me what my plans were in the end. I'm going to do one of these suggested day hikes in Quebec on my free day this Friday. As Neil pointed out, the Adirondacks are a heck of a lot closer to Montreal than Saguenay or Gaspesie, so I think I'll be headed south for my 28/29 overnight. Thanks everyone and I'll PM y'all with details on tix.

[what'sinaname]

I just googled this. Of course, I have no idea about anything on this list, so maybe Neil can comment.

Dick

Cool link Dick. How come I can never find this stuff . I'll have to look into some of these destinations, though I tend to side with Neil about going to the states.
Chris