by Dori Ross, 2026 Canadian Backcountry Ski Trip Member
And so it goes that a small group of adventurous Vermonters (and one Ohian) showed me my remote backyard in the Chic Chocs of Quebec. They showed me what I didn’t know. That I didn’t know what Sépaq* meant (the name for Quebec’s extensive provincial park system) and they shared so much more than that.
It was mid February 2026. My gear was prepared and packed. I knew what I was about to experience. I had ski toured into Skoki Lodge in the Rockies the prior season. I now had shiny, new backcountry skis with fish scales and full-length skins, T4 Scarpa tele boots just sized up a half size to accommodate my blacked toenails. Don’t ask. I had my telescopic poles and a 35L knapsack full of foul weather layers. I was prepared.
Or so I thought.
I was not prepared for the incredible, warm, intelligent leadership of our guides. I was not prepared for the camaraderie and friendships that would develop as we read poetry, sang songs, shared stories, played games, shared home-cooked delectable meals, and skied and skied and skied.
I was not prepared for the warmth that would radiate from the woodstove throughout the remote cabins – Le Pluvier and La Mésange where we hunkered down for two nights each. I would learn the meaning of a ‘pee-tree’ and how to prepare the cabin and surrounding area before entering. I would learn map reading, compass skills, weather instincts, and how to melt snow for survival.
I was not prepared for the winter beauty of the Chic Chocs even though I have been there hiking several times. I wasn’t prepared for the stretches of untracked snow across untouched lakes, billowing pillows of snow drooping from trees like giant mushrooms. The beauty of champagne powder heaped upon a precarious roof of our high altitude cabin where the only footprints were those of a moose or several moose. I wasn’t prepared for dodging moose scat to avoid damaging my ski skins.
I wasn’t prepared for sharing a remote experience that I really can’t describe. All I can do is warn anyone reading this piece to prepare themselves for an indescribable adventure and only if they are lucky enough to follow Misha and Lynne into the remote, endless snow expanses of my backyard in the Chic Chocs.
Dori Ross raised her family in the Mad River Valley. She now lives in Montreal.
p.s. Our next Canadian expedition is open for registration! This summer, we’ll take a group of families canoepacking down the Ashuapmushuan River in Quebec, exploring the natural wonders while learning the necessary skills for future excursions.
Calling all Massholes!
If you ski in a Drake Maye jersey, are on a first name basis with the servers at Dunks, refer to something fun as “wicked pissah”, or drive a vehicle with one of those godforsaken white license plates, have we got a springtime event for you! For a limited time only, our friends from Massachusetts will receive a 15% discount on registration for the 2026 Mad River Triathlon. Just use the coupon code ‘masshole’ at checkout.
Shoutout to our Triathlon Sponsor: Lawson’s Finest Liquids
Lawson’s Finest Liquids has been a great partner over the years, as one of the several downtown businesses connected by the Heart of the Valley boardwalk. We are grateful for their continued support of the Mad River Triathlon!
Lawson’s will be at our Triathlon after-party to celebrate with us, so make sure you stop by the finish line at Mount Ellen to enjoy a cold beverage after your hard work.
Thank you for your support!
Thanks to over 200 donors, we exceeded our goal for our annual giving campaign. We are so thankful to our community and partners for your support of accessible, sustainable, and resilient pathways.
Please follow along with the progress of the implementation of the Mad River Path scoping study! We have some exciting things planned for 2026, starting with hiring an Implementation Coordinator and beginning upgrades on the Kingsbury Greenway section of the Path.