Today, we woke up to a bright sunshine and a frosty -20C. The day started with a team decision-making exercise concerning our itinerary as today is moving day. We decided to follow the road along great lake Martin-Valin, and then take Bras-des-canots River to Baie d’Alexis. We believe this will be a spectacular vista. On the other hand, this is the longest way to our destination and the most difficult. After yesterday’s blizzard, the trails should be heavy with snow. Our objective today is to move as a team, and so we make arrangements to do so.
As we pull up camp after two days, some plump jays come around to say their goodbyes.
Late afternoon we get on our way. The sun is beautiful; its soft rays warm our faces. On the trails, the trees heavy with snow create a spectacular show of shadows and fine lace patterns on the wintery scene. As we travel on a two-metre elevated trail, we have a totally different view of the surrounding wilderness.
Some uncertainty as we reach our campsite. Hard to imagine that within a few hours, this vast snowfield will be a comfortable, warm place where we will take a well-deserved rest. It’s the beauty of winter camping, the moment when the uncertainty takes second rank to a feeling of comfort and well being. In a team effort, we raise the three arctic tents that will be our refuge for the next two nights. Slowly we can see an inviting and cozy campsite coming to life. It’s dusk on Baie d’Alexis, and the smell of the wood fire and the comfort of the heated tents fill the winter air. What better than a cup of hot chocolate to celebrate this day and such enriching encounters! Slowly night falls, as we light up the tents that look like Chinese lanterns.
Wow! How time flies! We’re at the halfway mark of our expedition and we all have the same feeling that we’ve known each other forever. All together in the kitchen tent, in a northern expedition atmosphere, the woodstove is cracking, the wind is howling, and the snow is falling heavily. Time for a sharing session between members of the expedition on what we’ve just experienced and our expectations of things to come. Curiosity is high about the second part of our expedition.