The Chic-Chocs Backcountry Festival

All you backcountry skiers in the East take notice, the Chic-Chocs Backcountry Festival is fast approaching and you won't want to miss this one.

The Chic-Chocs Backcountry Festival will be the best and biggest “happening” for backcountry freeskiing and splitboarding fans. For our second edition, activities will be held on February 1st and 2nd 2014, with as a meeting and rallying spot, the Discovery and Services Center (CDS) of the Gaspesie National Park and the Gite du Mont Albert. (Mount Albert Wilderness Lodge)

Friday the 31st, :
Launch & pre-registration evening at “Pub Chez Bass” presence prizes and a good brew from the Pit Caribou Brewery. There will be a mountain themed meal served (payable at the door) for those needing nourishment. During the night, you will have a chance to win some swag from our partners present at the festival.

Saturday the 1st, :
Alpine traverse in the Gaspe National Park / Alpine touring at the Mines Madeleines
The morning meeting will be at 8 am, you will have the option between a 15 kilometer alpine traverse or a touring day at the Mines Madeleines. You will be partnered up for the chosen activity and after a security briefing and a presentation of snow conditions by the Haute-Gaspesie Avalanche Center, you will be transported to your take off spot. The day will be supervised by guides and certified volunteers. This day will also bring the possibility of trying some demo gear from one of our partners (Alternative Skate and Snow, Le Yéti, Black Diamond, Diamir, Dynafit, Pomoca, Prior, Xalibu, Burton).

“Après-Ski” at the bar of the Gite du Mont Albert
After a long day climbing and riding the mountains, you are invited for an “après-ski” beer and cheese to discover all our region has to offer on the gastronomical side in the beautiful bar of the Gite.

Concert at the Sea-Shack “Pepe and his guitar” !!
For the wildest of bunch, there will be a concert starting around 10PM which will give participants the chance to celebrate their love of the mountains until dawn… (tickets sold at the door)

Sunday the 2nd, :
Backcountry day all over the Chic-Chocs
Sunday morning, the meeting will be at 8 am. Those having participated in the traverse will go to the Mines Madeleines while those having been to the mines on saturday will go with one of our partners in one of no less than 5 proposed activities in and around the park. The parners offering this service will be : Ski Chic-Chocs, Vertigo Adventure, the Chic-Chac, the Vallee Taconique and Expe Adventures. It will be on a first come first served basis.

Practical Details:
Price:
The price of participation for this years edition is established at $149/person for both days and includes: participation on both days, the use of free demo gear from one of our partners (according to availability) a beer on friday night at the Pub, an après-ski beer and cheese at the Gite with a platter from the gastronomical partners of the event.

Material:
To participate in the activities, it is mandatory to have avalanche safety gear. It will be possible to rent gear (beacons for 20$/day).
Please also bring a backpack with warm clothing and sufficient food for the day.

Lodging:
The Gite du Mont Albert, has rooms, cottages and the huts that can be reserved by calling the park service here: 1(800) 665.6527

(click for larger view)