For our part, opportunities to get together with friends are sometimes rare, as our lives are quite busy. We have to travel thousands of kilometers a year to be able to do our job and deliver the items you deserve for your favorite activity. We often find ourselves far from our homes and families to accomplish the tasks related to our profession. Our relatives are understanding, they willingly accept this prerogative and we thank them.
So, planning a weekend with your buddies is a difficult exercise, because we have to deal with everyone’s constraints. However, when we can put an X on the calendar for dates that work for everyone, there’s no question of backing out of it. This is a commitment we hold dear.
We had agreed to spend this boys’ weekend in the northern Lanaudière region. The final destination was a choice lodging, because it is world famous: the Auberge du lac Taureau. Known for the exceptional beauty of its lake, its wide open spaces and its typical log style, a remarkable stay in the middle of nature awaited us. This 4-star establishment borders the majestic Lac Taureau, which covers an area of more than 95 square kilometers. It offers the opportunity to stay in one of the 177 units ranging from rooms in an inn, to waterfront cottages or magnificent condos. We were certain that we would enjoy a stay of great comfort, country style and rustic in a breathtaking environment.
The advantages of our profession allow us to benefit from a multitude of contacts in the snowmobile industry. We therefore asked our good friend Steve Halikas, manager of the Thibault Marine Inc. branch in Ste-Agathe, for help and he volunteered to put a Polaris Switchback Assault at our disposal for the duration of the season. Afterwards, we contacted the friendly regional sales manager of Yamaha for Quebec and the Atlantic, François Morneau, to inquire about the possibility of borrowing a Yamaha snowmobile for this weekend in this grandiose landscape. He immediately responded to our request by proposing a Yamaha SRVIPER, which is a snowmobile that is well suited for the trail riding we plan to do. To complete this quartet, the Contant Group had already prepared to make a Ski-Doo Renegade X-RS 850 and a Ski-Doo Renegade Enduro 900 turbo available to us on a long-term basis. Therefore, we had the vehicles to allow us to cover the hundreds of kilometers that we were destined to cover.
On the other hand, as the days approached the scheduled departure day, the MétéoMédia channel announced a terrible winter storm. However, we made the usual preparations to be ready at the scheduled time. The luggage and the snowmobiles had been loaded the day before, so all we had to do was drive the 200 kilometers that separated us from our destination.
Day 1:
Unfortunately, we were hit with the biggest snowstorm in Quebec in recent years. We had to be patient and limit our cruising speed, as in some places, the visibility was almost zero and we could not see more than 50 feet in front of us.
We took advantage of this winter cyclone and our passage in the municipality of Saint-Jean-de-Matha to have a lunch break at the restaurant LÀ. Its name is rather particular, but it is recognized among the citizens of this borough as being a must. In spite of our incantations, the storm that was raging had not diminished in intensity during this morning stop. No matter, we took to the road again with our 24 foot enclosed trailer that we affectionately christened the “Big White”.
The reduced visibility had certainly slowed our speed, but certainly not our excitement at having the privilege of spending a weekend at the Auberge du Lac Taureau. The scenery was enchanting as we climbed towards our goal. As we passed through the village of Saint-Michel-des-Saints, we knew that our arrival was imminent. In fact, this was not our first time in this part of the province, and although our perception of the landscape was muted by the snowfall, we could make out familiar areas.
When our arrival was at its peak, we were warmly greeted by the reception staff. Afterwards, we hurried to our rooms to drop off our belongings and have a brief chat about the day’s activities. We had unanimously agreed that the storm was getting the better of us on this first day and that it was preferable to leave the snowmobiles well protected in the trailer.
However, the diversity offered at the Auberge du Lac Taureau and its attractions made up for this absence on the surrounding snowmobile trails. We took advantage of this interlude to relax on the loveseats installed near a huge indoor fireplace. The bistro located on the first floor, the energetic music at times and the pool table also took care of brightening the hours we spent with friends.
We must not forget to mention the excellent cuisine that this hotel is known for. In the evening, we witnessed dishes that satisfied our taste buds to the highest degree. We experienced new flavors and gourmet discoveries. Local charms are highlighted and reinvented with a selection of innovative dishes. We revelled in the abundance and had looks that spoke volumes about our satisfaction.
The evening was just like our stay so far: relaxing moments with friends taking advantage of all the precious moments that the Auberge du lac Taureau had to offer us. After a soothing evening under the sign of the attachment that we carry for each other, we decided by mutual agreement to go and enjoy the comfort of our respective rooms. According to the weather forecast, the storm was expected to subside during the night, leaving our favorite playground immaculate with virgin snow.
Day 2:
Such was the case at sunrise, we witnessed rays that announced a memorable day. We had pre-arranged to meet at 7:30 am in the lobby for our breakfast. We were once again dazzled by the flavors that were presented to us before hitting the trails.
It was when we stepped outside that we noticed a drastic change in temperatures. The thermometer indicated -35 degrees Celsius, in contrast to the -5 degrees observed the day before. However, we were motivated to practice our activity by doing our objective of the day: the tour of the Lac Taureau. When we left the hostel, we joined the trail which is located directly on the lake Taureau. I am not able to quantify the exact number of kilometers, but I can mention that they are as far as the eye can see. It is worth mentioning that the trail is not surfaced on the lake for safety reasons. There are markers on the trail to help snowmobilers follow the right path. We must be aware of the dangers that are present due to the irregularity of the snow surface. We would have thought that the lake would be flat, but that was not the case.
Although we liked the long straights that allowed us to exploit the potential of our snowmobiles, the freezing cold was felt at times and we enjoyed the trails in forest areas that required us to hold back on the throttle. We joined the Trans-Quebec 63 trail which had been groomed leaving us a pristine white carpet. These more technical trails also showed the skills of some of the group and their speed in getting through the curves.
The freezing cold weather allowed us to stop at the Auberge le Cabanon for a well-deserved coffee break. It allowed us to exchange on the perception of the snowmobiles we had in hand. Stéphane, the most technical of the group, made recommendations regarding certain adjustments to increase the grip of our skis in turns. We then took the 345 trail towards the mythical Barrage Taureau.
We have to be honest, the trails were worthy of the reputation of the Saint-Michel club. The adequate signage reassured us at all times that we were on the right track. The Lac Taureau dam left us almost speechless as it always does. When we arrived at its proximity by the trail, it appeared to us as a revelation. We take every opportunity to take a moment to contemplate it.
We returned to the 360 trail to continue our adventure and do the remaining portion towards the Auberge du Lac Taureau. It was a nice mix of curves and straight lines and we realized right away that everyone, from the most experienced to the beginners, would find something to do.
Along the way, we took a short break at the Mattawin Dam, then took trails 360 and 33 back to the Auberge du Lac Taureau for a well-deserved lunch at the bistro. Being mid-afternoon, we agreed that our snowmobiling day was not over and that we had plenty of time before nightfall to hit the trails again. Back on our snowmobiles around 2pm, we continued our ride on the 33 and then made the 63 towards Saint-Michel-des-Saints. From there, the return to our starting point was very fast because of its proximity.
Our dinner and evening were just like what we had experienced the day before, except for the fatigue factor that affected us quickly and let us fall into the arms of Morpheus in no time.
Day 3:
We took advantage, by mutual agreement, of an extension of the rising time to take advantage for one last time of the cozy beds that were at our disposal. After a hearty breakfast, we returned to our snowmobiles that we had left the day before in the secure parking lot of the Inn.
The gas station is located at the same place and I recommend that you fill up when you come back from your hike at the end of the day, because the mornings are very busy at dawn. Our departure time was set at 12:00, so we had plenty of time to cover another 100 km before leaving. The bitter cold, once again bordering on -35 degrees Celsius, affected the starting of one of our snowmobiles and the help of the support staff on site was necessary for a boost.
Despite this setback, we were among the first snowmobilers to be on the trails that had been groomed the night before. The cold night had created a very hard surface giving us the bite we so appreciate.
However, all good things must come to an end and we had to say goodbye to our hosts for the weekend. This weekend once again highlighted the true camaraderie that animates us. We left the place with the feeling that we will probably have a rendezvous with this beautiful corner of our province in the near future.
