The majestic Mount Logan -- Part 1

The preparation

Because first and foremost, a 5-day Nordic ski expedition requires a minimum of preparation/organization. One of the goals is to respect the proportion of 20% of one's weight, to be carried on one's back, which means about 30 pounds maximum for me. With this idea in mind to restrict the weight as much as possible, I started producing dehydrated meals/foods. This method consists of cooking a dish that you like, weighing it, dehydrating it for a certain time, then reweighing it once dried. You will then only have to add the difference in boiling water, so that it regains its appearance and volume of before. So I prepared a few meals such as vegetable rice and chili, as well as snacks such as fruit pudding. Very practical for long hikes, because it weighs almost nothing!

It was after a full night that I took my meals out of the dehydrator. They were perfect! I love this method because you can cook a meal you like and it costs much less than if you buy it at the store. Weighing 869g before dehydration and 164g after, I noted the amount of water that will need to be added to this chili. Here: 705 ml, since 869 - 164 = 705g/ml.

The big advantage of this circuit is that I won't have to lug a tent, since the nights will be spent in shelters. As for water, it will either be drawn from a stream or filtered melted snow.

In my bag I have: sleeping bag, clothes, food, camera and various other accessories for photography and everyday life. It would take too long to list everything. This time, I won't be bringing my big 200-500mm zoom, but rather the versatile 70-200mm f/2.8. Lighter, it will be perfect for this kind of expedition and thanks to a larger maximum aperture, it allows superb performance in low light. Of course, I also brought my Nikon 24-70mm f/4 with me, for compositions that are a little wider than with the other lens. It will be perfect for landscapes.

The bag is ready,
It's time to go.

The departure

It's noon, a soft snow is falling quietly, and after a few hours of driving, I arrive at the foot of the chic Chocs, more precisely in Saint-Octave-De-L'avenir. This is where the tour begins. Before leaving, I make sure I have everything and haven't forgotten anything, because once I leave, I won't be able to turn back.

Around 1 p.m., in front of an impressive mountain wall, I set off on my skis with my backpack weighing about thirty pounds, heading for the first refuge: Le Huard. About 13 km separate the small village where we started from and this overnight shelter. The first few kilometers are fairly flat, passing by several small lakes, streams, and marshes.

A few hours later, as the wind began to blow harder and the snow intensified, the trail began to climb steeply. I quickly realized that I would have no choice but to place my skins under my skis to better advance on the way up. It made a huge difference and allowed me to go faster on the way up.

It's not without sweat that I finally arrive at the top of the big hill with enthusiasm. Despite the poor visibility, a few mountains rise up in front of me, it's magnificent. There's already a lot more snow where I am than down there, it's phenomenal. My bag is starting to pull on my shoulders quite a bit, but I think about the magnificent view from the top of Mount Logan and that motivates me to continue at a good pace. There are only a few kilometers left before the refuge and a few moments later, I see Lake Thibault, which I'll have to cross tomorrow, a sign that the Huard is not far away. It's around 4:30 p.m. that I finally arrive at my destination. I take off my bag and feel light. The best feeling! I set up my things, dry my boots and make myself a nice hot dinner.

The snow is still falling, and it will probably last all night. A little later in the evening, I decide to go outside because the sun is starting to show its face. I walk a little along the edge of the lake and let my creativity run wild in terms of photography. I'm quite happy with the results! On my way back to the refuge, I see three magnificent Pine Grosbeaks very close to me, in a small fruit tree! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take any photos because they quickly left when they saw me. However, it was at this moment that the clouds took on a magnificent pink hue. This suggests a beautiful day tomorrow!

Good night!

Continued in part 2...