A nostalgic snow still covers a little more the Saguenay soil. As if to melancholy our last day of expedition. As if to further poetize the splendor of the last week. We load the bus with our luggage, in order to go "into town", our hearts overflowing with gratitude towards this park and the people who welcomed us with open arms. A final adventure awaits us before we fly or wheel our way back to our life before our journey.
Titmice flutter between the fir branches and the birch monastic trees. The soothing silence will be short-lived, however, as a concert of barking tells us that our four-legged drivers were eagerly awaiting our arrival. Ti-Lou, Dom and Juju, the three guides of the hike, let us familiarize ourselves with the forty or so huskies before teaching us the techniques of harnessing and sleigh driving. At Dom’s signal, we begin our journey, a 14-kilometer loop through a birch forest, a coniferous forest, the tour of Lac des Sables, with a lunch break in a refuge that smells like the famous tourtière du Lac. The contrast is striking: state-of-the-art technical clothing but an old-fashioned means of transportation, even folkloric for some, in a bucolic setting of a Christmas movie. Maria Chapdelaine, the 21st century version!
Back at the starting point, the guides open the door of the baby husky pen, which melts everyone’s heart! Your humble photographer is solicited from all sides; the participants wish to immortalize this moment of pure connection between animal and human. Canine love in a kaleidoscope of emotions.
Reluctantly, we must leave the dogs and the guides. Direction youth hostel, located in the beautiful Price House. We are very happy to finally be able to sleep in a bed, take a hot shower and not have to face the cold to brush our teeth! Our comfort is a priceless treasure that deserves all our gratitude! We end our day at a downtown restaurant, and to our surprise, Michel, our chef/logistician/harmonist, joins us for our last family expedition dinner! Elisa received her birthday cake early, she will turn nineteen in a few days.
We re-board the bus for a last night together. Outside, the flaky wadding has turned into a storm. Warm in the lounge of the youth hostel, we meet to close this wonderful adventure. Mario and Catherine proceed to the Foundation’s graduation ceremony and cut a rope – symbolizing the powerful bond created between the participants – to make bracelets. Unforgettable memories of a transformative, inspired and inspiring experience.