Touring Mont-Édouard: Initiation and Exploration
It’s 6:15 on Saturday morning, at the base of Mont-Édouard. The frigid air doesn’t stop the Oberson team and its partners from getting ready between two sips of coffee. Snowflakes are still gently falling on top of the 20 centimetres already on the ground from Thursday night. This simple fact plays in our favour. Because venturing in Mont-Édouard’s backcountry is already an experience in itself. So, imagine when a snowstorm has just hit the mountains of l’Anse St-Jean.
The À la Conquête du Haute Route was envisioned almost two years ago, before the pandemic, by Alexandra Oberson, the boutiques' co-owner. Her vision? Bring together touring enthusiasts, alpine skiing fanatics who want to learn, guides who love the outdoors and suppliers involved in the field to introduce people to the sport and have them discover Mont-Édouard’s backcountry area. All this in an atmosphere focused on fun and learning.
February 2022, Oberson's first touring event came to life. It was made possible thanks to the close collaboration of Julien Nantais, owner of MtnDju, and our Oberson marketing team. Let's not forget those who gravitated near or far to ensure that the event was a success and the day magical.
The first participants slowly arrived around 7:45 a.m. Some needed to get their rental equipment reserved for them. The experts of the Oberson Demo Team welcomed them and showed them how to use the equipment that will play a crucial role in the course of their day. The groups were formed, the guides and supervisors met those who will be part of their team for the day. The atmosphere is already festive, pleasant, and full of excitement. We could tell bonds would be forged quickly. We could feel it.
The groups of eight participants explored several routes depending on their ability level. Some ventured further into the backcountry, including eight cleared and patrolled areas. The fir trees were snow-covered, the powder was abundant, and everyone was able to find their line.
For the beginner groups, the Sacré-Coeur area – adjacent to the resort – and the Géant area, about two kilometres from the entrance to the backcountry area, were ideal for learning. It was perfect for getting acquainted with the gear and skiing off-piste. Special thanks to Rab's heat station situated at the bottom of the Géant. In this cold weather, there was nothing better than sipping on a delicious broth and warming up by the fire, as a bonus, Rab provided insulating layers and maple taffy on snow!
In the afternoon, the sun peeked from behind the clouds, some of the more experienced groups were able to go all the way to the Grive for a more challenging climb and an exhilarating descent with a breathtaking view on the Fjord. Good conversations were held between the participants. There were smiles all around, and woohoos could be heard all through the valley.
All the participants returned to the base of the mountain near the main chalet to take part in the festivities of the après-ski. D.J. Villeneuve played the latest hits; chilli and calzones were served, and the end of the day beer was most welcome by everybody! Our partners held a very generous draw which made many people very happy, and everybody kept partying with the sunset as a backdrop.
As the music kept playing, our partners were slowly putting away their tents, and people were talking about how fantastic the day was. The organizing team was able to toast the success of the event. Because, we all know that life is much better at the mountain.
The Oberson team wants to thank all the participants, our precious partners, collaborators, and employees, our passionate and devoted family. Everybody was able to make this first edition a success.
Check Out Our Moment Magique
