Mont Grands-Fonds – skiing at its finest in Charlevoix

When it comes to rating ski centres in Canada, the writers at Ski Canada have the decided edge, based on their first-hand experience. In the publication’s 2018 Buyers’ Guide, the writers gave top marks to Mont Grand-Fonds, a short drive from La Malbaie and 14 kms by a free shuttle from Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu.

Adam Rutherford is the congenial Ski School Director

Adam Rutherford is the congenial Ski School Director, and his first comment was about snow, and the superb quality of the snow at Mont Grand-Fonds. “I grew up and lived on the South Shore of Montreal, and I was used to skiing and snowboarding on the hard-packed, often icy slopes in the Laurentiens and the Townships. Up here, we don’t get freezing rain – we just get snow, snow and them some more snow. Snow accumulation is measured in metres (or yards). We’re also back far enough from the St. Lawrence that we don’t get a lot of humidity. The regular snow falls and lack of humidity combine to make a very pleasant snow covering.” The Mont Grand-Fonds web site states that the average annual snowfall is 500 cms (5 metres) or 217 inches (18 feet).

Mont Grand-Fonds has slopes to suit all levels of skiers, plus the centre has cross-country and snowshoe trails. “For downhill skiers, we have challenging Double Diamond trails, as well as a good selection of intermediate and beginner trails. We’ve added five more glade slopes to respond to the increased interest in glade skiing.”  The mountain also has a ‘snow park’ if you have any acrobatic snowboarders in your group.

The high speed quad chairlift quickly
transports skiers to the summit

Adam goes on to explain that there are trails set up for people who like to use “skins” on their skis so that they can hike up the mountain. “It’s great exercise when you have the right equipment.”

“Our mountain is geared towards families – there’s nowhere to get lost because all the slopes meet at the same place at the foot of the mountain. Youth in their early teens can go off together, and the parents can keep in touch with them at the bottom of the slope.”

A new activity started this year as a pilot project called Au Claire de la Lune (By The Light of The Moon) has been a success. Guides take out a group of cross-country skiers for an 8 km trek under the starry night skies of Charlevoix. Without the ambient light that we’re used to in the city, the stars and their constellations are easily visible. At the midway point, the group stops and enjoys a meal while seated around a bonfire. “It’s more popular than we imagined,” commented Adam. “We alternate between skiing and snowshoeing.”

Snowshoe enthusiasts have 44 kms of scenic trails

Mont Grand-Fonds has 140 kms of cross-country trails, of which 44 are designated for skate-skiing (like they do in the Olympics). You can start out on a 1.1 km novice trail all the way up to 22.6 km trek designed for experts. There are four warming huts throughout the terrain where you can rest and rehydrate.

Snowshoeing is also popular and excellent exercise, and there are 41 kms of five dedicated snowshoe trails. The snowshoe routes go in the opposite direction from the cross-country trails, each starting from the main lodge at the foot of the mountain. You enjoy a leisurely 4km walk along the “Easy” Promenade trail – or if you’re really ambitious, there’s the “Extreme” Le Sommet 8.5 km track that circles the mountain.

So whether downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, snowshoeing or all of the above is of interest, you can do it all at Mont Grand-Fonds. The rates for all activities are modest, and are available on the centre’s web site: www.montgrandfonds.com