#saintdonat

Heading out at Parc des Pionniers.

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #parcpionniers

Even the parking lot is pretty in all this snow!

This area is getting so popular that club de plein air de saint-Donat added a second parking lot on Regimbald road.

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #montagnenoire

Going down!

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #montagnenoire

My gear at the top. Stop for a lunch and luke-warm tea (need better thermos’) break before going down.

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #montagnenoire

Near the top now. You can see that the woods have been skied through quite a bit already. #saintdonat #lanaudiere #montagnenoire

Refuge Le Mésangeai on Montagne Noire

My first hike with @toeslad since getting off the long trail in September. https://outsideways.com/journals/middle-section-hike-of-the-vermont-long-trail/

That was a busy fall!

#saintdonat #lanaudiere

After discovering Ski La Reserve on our cross-country ski outings in Saint Donat earlier this year and last year we decided to take the kids skiing here one day this winter.

Our days of seasons family passes are over so it's nice to get a day on the hill together.

Ski La Reserve has a very good price for an afternoon of skiing which makes it really affordable.

The whole family snowboards now, except for me. I'm still on skis, for now.

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #skireserve

Backcountry ski day at montagne noire.

@toesalad will walk up with snowshoes and board down. I have my skins in my skis. #saintdonat #lanaudiere #montagnenoire

Parc des Pionniers in Saint Donat has a few great cross-country ski loops. And completely free access!

The blue trail on the right of the map can get pretty gnarly in terms of elevation gain and loss. I wouldn't want to do it on narrow skis.

On this outing we stuck to the green trails and went all the way out to Centre de ski La Réserve and back.

You can see from the map that Parc des pionniers has skating loops and raquette trails near the parking, as well as a hockey rink. There's also a lodge for renting gear and suiting up. On weekends they have an outdoor fire going.

http://www.saint-donat.ca/citoyens/infrastructureshivernales.cfm

It's a great winter outdoors destination for the whole family.

#saintdonat #lanaudiere #parcpionniers