The Monts-Valin region is a favorite place for snowmobiling. Known for decades for its beautiful and well-groomed trails as well as for its off-trail activities.
Although this season the snow is not at its peak, this immense region offers a huge playground capable of satisfying all types of enthusiasts. Did I say huge? According to our host, we only explored a tiny part of the Monts-Valin in two days, which is why the use of a guide service becomes essential. This service will allow you to enhance your stay according to your needs and abilities.
Our arrival…
As soon as we arrived, we met our host for our two days, Daniel Engel, Partner and co-owner of Destination Monts-Valin. Dan for his friends, quickly showed us his colors, a very nice guy, very energetic who wants to laugh and have fun! And under his humorous hat, we find an experienced guide who listens to his clients, and this is very important if we want to make the most of our stay.
From the outset, a good discussion on our mutual experiences, in order to determine our abilities, especially in off-track, and to prepare an itinerary according to the abilities and requirements of all… Because a shooting also brings its share of constraints, a lot of equipment to transport and plan the route according to all the aspects related to the production.
Visit of the place…
Since the acquisition of the chalets, loft, gas station and convenience store, Destination Monts-Valin has invested a lot of money to revamp the facilities and bring them up to date. These magnificent log cabins and lofts quickly make us forget our daily routine, the clock stops, time no longer exists and we enjoy the moment.
There is a small convenience store on the site that offers just about everything, food, drinks, etc. And if by misfortune, you have a small mechanical problem, or if you need an accessory, they keep in inventory many suspension parts, belts, helmets and clothing so that you don’t spoil your escapade!
Although accidents are never desired, the team is prepared to deal with any eventuality. All the guides are duly trained in first aid, and even to perform resuscitation measures if needed. A cardiac defibrillator and an evacuation sled are permanently on site. In short, the safety aspect is always at the forefront.
Day 1…
To whet our appetites, our first day was devoted to visiting the trails in the area. To do so, our host had put at our disposal BRP Expedition 2021 snowmobiles. By the way, all the snowmobiles we rented were 2021 models, both on and off the trails. As for the latter, you will have the choice between RMK and Kahos from Polaris and the Summit range (turbo and non-turbo) from BRP.
Our first stop was at the Ghost Valley, historically known for its snowfall of up to 5 meters in places! Nestled in the heart of the Monts-Valin, at an altitude of over 980 meters, its climate favors the accumulation of crystallized snow on the trees. This phenomenon offers an unforgettable spectacle, the trees covered with snowflakes take on the appearance of spectres and mummies, hence its name! We took the opportunity to take out the cameras in order to have some nice content for our WEB show, and also to take some pictures to fill our review with unforgettable images.
After several kilometers of contemplating beautiful landscapes, we are back at the hostel. Lunch Time! Destination Monts-Valin’s chef was waiting for us under the tent outside with homemade beef, pork and chicken sandwiches, all cooked in the smoker! This same meal is also available to take away and eat on the mountain for all passersby!
After having enjoyed ourselves, here we go again, and this time towards the Pic du Mont Victor Tremblay. A rather impressive trail climb awaited us, to give us a bit of adrenaline, especially for those less experienced. At an altitude of 770 meters, it offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the region. On a clear day, you can see the northern part of the Monts-Valin region, the Saguenay Valley to the west and the famous Lac Saint-Jean. A breathtaking landscape, a pure happiness to contemplate, with a pure air refreshment for the lungs !
After a full day, we relaxed in the luxurious chalets. We also met actor Rémi-Pierre Paquin and his wife Marilou, who joined us for our second day of off-piste skiing.
Day two… Off the trail!
Excited, feverish, difficult to describe the hours that precede our departure… A little preparation is necessary, clothing is very important, a few spare sweaters etc. A few minutes later we are on the snowmobiles sniffing the irreplaceable smell of the engines that warms up the morning before leaving…
After a few kilometers, we arrived at the first “spot”. Dan takes a few minutes to tell us some basic off-road safety rules and we are off. A flat playground slightly dotted with shrubs where a person inexperienced in off-trail could start to tame his snowmobile. Despite the lack of snow, we easily found 2 to 3 feet of powder to make some maneuvers. Let’s just say that it was an appetizer for the more experienced ones, but also a first for Derek, a member of our team who was experienced on the trail and who was at his first meters in the powder.
A few minutes later we left for another place, this time a little more snowy, where a small lake was waiting for us with 3 to 4 feet of powder. Perfect for a person who goes off-piste once or twice a year. Mario, our cameraman and photographer had a great time taking many good shots of us all having a great time!
In our group, Rémi-Pierre and Vincent are more experienced off-piste pilots. So we had to give them a little more!… Here we are at the foot of a cliff where only the experienced ones could start the ascent, beautiful technical challenges were waiting for them, steep ascent strewn with pitfalls… They gave it their heart’s desire under the looks of the wiser ones down below who said to themselves: “They are sick!
The off-trail is physically demanding, lunch time coming, a break was necessary… No restaurant in the mountain, we bring our lunch! Wood fire, the race on dead branch begins, after a few minutes we are with a fire on which we made heat our sandwiches of pork, chicken and beef wrapped in aluminum foil! A nice moment to share with the gang.
A last challenge awaited us on the way back, a very steep sidehill. A little coaching from the instructor, and here are our daredevils applying the recommendations received and successfully descending the slope!
After a few kilometers back and a good shower, we are now at the anecdotes of the day, but also at the famous meal of beef brisket and home-made ribs. Since the first day, Dan has never ceased to whet our appetites for this famous dinner… Cooked all day long in the smokehouse, the first taste was simply an orgasm! Tender, tasty as you wish, impossible not to adore.
No doubt, if you want to plan a trip to the Monts-Valin, be sure not to miss anything, not to forget anything, to be well supervised to live a magnificent experience, you must surround yourself with professionals. The Destination Monts-Valin team will help you live an unforgettable experience, and especially adapted to your needs, experiences and abilities.
Daniel Engel, thank you for this beautiful stay, thank you for all the little tips on driving techniques. So important to liven up our days. Thanks also to Rémi-Pierre Paquin and Marilou for joining us!
Trip to the Monts-Valin? Destination Monts-Valin
