Skiing Mont Tremblant — Perfect in March
Going north for spring break
While many people dream of taking their brood to sunny destinations for spring break, we are going in the opposite direction. Where we are in Canada, mid-March is a perfect time for skiing.
So here we are again, the minivan loaded with all skiing paraphernalia and groceries, driving for seven hours to ski at Mont Tremblant.
If you are not familiar with Canadian destinations, Mont Tremblant is considered one of the best ski resorts in Eastern Canada. The problem is, it’s brutally cold.
Brutally cold means you need foot warmers, hand warmers, ski masks, and layers of vests, and some even manage to wear two ski jackets.
It’s when you feel your fingers freezing as you ski down and your balaclava hardens frozen from the inside.
It’s when you need to go inside every hour to defrost, and when your behind is so cold that the toilet seat in the chalet feels warm when you sit. And no, they don’t warm them, it’s only by contrast.
So, we go in March.
And this time of the year, it’s glorious.
There is plenty of snow, and the temperature hovers a few degrees below to above freezing. It’s just right.
The ski village is pretty and made for pedestrians; you have to park in a lot and use a shuttle.
When you unload, you take a short ride up on a “Cabriolet” to the main lifts. You will float over frozen swimming pools and balconies covered in snowbanks — what can be more romantic in winter?
Get up early as there will be a lineup for the main gondola. However, everything is well organized and moving swimmingly. There are no more pandemic limits and every gondola is packed.
As we are taking our first ride up, as always, my heart is singing to the gorgeous views and blinding white of the snow.
If you have little ones, there are plenty of facilities and classes. Unless you know what you are doing, get a professional to teach your kids to ski.
At the top, my favorite feature is a big display showing expected lineups at different lifts. What a smart idea — and who wants to get stuck in a lineup?
Unlike other places with multiple summits, Mont Tremblant is a single summit where you can ski down both the south and the north sides: Versant Sud and Versant Nord. It makes planning your skiing day easier and allows you to change your plans based on how busy a particular lift is.
I love the tabletop summit with plenty of space for ski racks and a huge cafeteria with gorgeous mountaintop views. Of course, this is where we are having our lunch at the top of the world.
And it wouldn’t be an iconic Canadian destination without a bright red Adirondack chair placed in the most prominent location at the top.
The skiing is glorious. The runs are groomed, and the glades supply the exhilaration factor if you are bored with just going down.
What else can I say — I’m in love with Tremblant. If you wonder what to do for spring break — consider doing something different and come enjoy winter the Canadian way, because March is still a winter month in Canada.
At the end of the day, there are lots of après-ski options. If you come with kids, your après-ski may be on the sofa watching a movie — but hey, skiing with kids is a lot of work.
While you relax, don’t forget to prepare for the next day — did you bring your boot & glove dryer?
This looks less romantic, but you have to do it to enjoy another day on the mountain.
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