Today was the snow shoe climb of the mountain. This event is a fund raiser organized by Les Amis de la Montagne, a group dedicated to preserving the Mount Royal. Upon registration we were each given a blue tuque with a red pompom which was most welcome and rather becoming if I do say so myself. We also got a “ceinture fléchée” which is a staple of our folklore. It is a colourful woven belt that people used to wear wrapped several time around the waist over their racoon coats…and of course a pair of snow shoes!
They had forcasted rain so most of us did not dress very warmly. BIG mistake! The temperature had not started to drop yet and there was a fierce wind blowing. But once we got going the activity warmed us. We had been given some hot shot pouches ( self heating handwarmers) but no one had told me that was what was in the envelopes so I only found out once i got home…
There was a group of runners that left first and then the common people left at a leisurly pace. The track was 2.5 Km winding its way up to the Chalet. There were lit torches planted in the snow along the way which made it all very romantic.
When we got to the top, there was hot chocolate and hot toddies for everyone. The view of the city was spectacular as always and I was told that some people even caught sight of the fireworks in the Old Port….There was a nice buffet waiting inside and that’s where I was…