Hog's back & Albert Chic-Choc mountains

[Lucky Luke]

Went to the Chic choc last weekend for an avalanche course. Here's a couple of pics, I'll let Pat do the Bla bla.

 

[icelanticskier]

looks like great cover up there. can't wait for the yearly late april trip.
thanx for the pics
rog

 

[Lucky Luke]

looks like great cover up there.

Not at all; there's not much snow. I hit lots of rocks.

 

[icelanticskier]

i'm referring to mont albert as i don't ski hogback, have skied hogback once the first year out 11 years ago but, kinda limiting compared to mont albert. hitting rocks on mont albert? clue me in please. ski to the road?
rog

 

[Patrick]

i'm referring to mont albert as i don't ski hogback, have skied hogback once the first year out 11 years ago but, kinda limiting compared to mont albert.

Coverage wasn't deep, there was definitely good odds of hitting rocks on Hogback.

hitting rocks on mont albert? clue me in please. ski to the road?

I don't recall seeing/hearing rocks on the line were we hiking up. Rocks were more on the shoulder and mellower places of le Mur des patrouilleurs. However we stopped hiking when we did our last snowpit, stability at this point was a concern.

The guide/instructor from Vertigo was saying that the snow level was lower than normal (especially compared to last January). The best skiing would have been on Champs de Mars (Bendude TR from last week), but it isn't the best terrain to evaluate avy danger.

Yes, we skied to the road...all nice and no rocks.

More later.

PS. In case Tony is wondering, guide mentioned that Western Chic Chocs get more snow/better coverage than the Mont Albert area. The heliskiing operations was on Mont Logan (barely in the Park) back in the mid 80, however weather made it difficult.

There was a catskiing operations around Mont St-Pierre a few years ago which went under, but apparently someone bought them out. I personally couldn't find anything on the net about it (but I think remembering seeing something about it in an old Ski Presse).

 

[icelanticskier]

thanx patrick, i know the rocks on the shoulder of hogback that you're referring to. it was rocky when i was there also. what a place those chic chocs are, so many options, so few folks to ski it all.
rog

 

[wolverine]

http://www.valleetaconique.ca/
About 5 miles by Bombardier BR-400, 20 skiers to get to the bottom of the trails Then with snowcats to the top. Steep trails about 30-40 degrees.
Vertical drop:: 550 m.
Vallée Taconique: (877) 797-5288 (no fees).
Cost for one day: (5 to 7 rides): 64$Can.
Ski-lodging available.
La Vallée Taconique. 77, rue Pierre-Mercier Mont-Saint-Pierre, Québec. G0E 1V0. Tel. : (418) 797-2177. Fax. : (418) 797-5177.

Closed in 2000 they plan to re-open in Jan 2008. So it's about time to go there!

 

[Patrick]

i know the rocks on the shoulder of hogback that you're referring to.

Actually the shoulder I was taking about was on looker-left of le mur des patrouilleurs on Mt-Albert.

what a place those chic chocs are, so many options, so few folks to ski it all.

Lucky Luke knows this. Check these Freaking lines from the last TWO Springs.

Closed in 2000 they plan to re-open in Jan 2008. So it's about time to go there!

Thank you Wolverine.

 

[icelanticskier]

ah, those rocks. we call that the psia slope, usually has great cover in late april. great spot for putting in multiple laps and often overlooked by most. nice pitch and rolls also. lucky lukes shots are great, nice to have hundreds of those lines around those parts.
rog