Dear readers, It is an immense pleasure for me to reconnect with you for this 18th edition of the Double Défi des 2 Mario. The year 2026 also marks the 30th anniversary of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, and of the hundreds of young people whose lives have been transformed through adventures in nature.
With recent months marked by the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence, I am proud and happy to continue writing to you here, in the simplest way possible, straight from the depths of my heart.
Day breaks over Lac St-Jean.
Allow me to take you with me at the start of this day. My role today, in addition to writing our stories, is to welcome a large portion of our participants in Roberval so they can board the shuttle that will take them to the starting line on the other side of the lake.
It is 6:30 a.m., and everyone arrives at the bus with smiles, excitement and/or apprehension.
Some are here for the very first time, others for the second, third time and more.
They say that after five times, participants here are called veterans.
The term says a lot about what awaits us on the lake this weekend.
Everyone is here. I look at them one by one, and there is only one thing I am eager for: to see all these faces, sometimes in the heart of the challenges nature has in store for them, sometimes savoring the simple pleasures of winter.
We arrive at Pointe-Taillon an hour later, where everyone is warmly welcomed by Mario Cantin, one of the two protagonists of this wild winter lake-crossing adventure!
Alongside him is Julien, who took on the role of coordinator a few years ago and has carried it out masterfully ever since. Between the two of them, a few words to thank, to unite, to make us laugh, and above all to officially kick off the adventure.
Before departure, a few clear instructions:
• collect the equipment kindly loaned by the Foundation, as well as a Vintage fleece offered as a gift, signed Chlorophylle;
• stop by the outdoor kitchen station for hot drinks and pick up our race food supplies, which will serve as lunches and snacks over the next few days;
• and get ready for departure!
Our guardian angels are hard at work—those precious volunteers who ensure that everything runs smoothly for our participants at all times.
Bags are closed, a few snacks are slipped into the inner pockets of our jackets to keep them warm.
Sleds are adjusted, skis and snowshoes are tested, and we move toward the starting line.
Current temperature: -18°C
Feels like (with wind chill): -23°C
Cloudy skies and wind!
At the starting line, the Marios take the floor once again to thank everyone for being there.
And as if to give the signal—and because it’s a tradition here—when one of the two Marios shouts “DOUBLE DÉFI DES 2 MARIO” at the top of his lungs, we must reply “FOR THE YOUTH,” loud enough to be heard on the other side of the lake. After four attempts, our voices finally seem to satisfy them.
And off we go.
The two Marios lead the procession, followed by 42 participants from all walks of life and about ten volunteers.
Everyone pulls up their neck gaiter and collar, puts on their goggles, and sets off into the wind for this first 10 km.
Winter has been generous with snow, and the region has not been spared. The white blanket is dense and creates, all along our route, what are commonly known as snow ridges.
So here we are, surfing over these small snow mounds and facing the wind, sometimes head-on, sometimes from the side.
The most fragile patches of skin left exposed to the air sometimes find it quite challenging.
We soon reach the halfway point, where we spot our amazing logistics volunteers who have set up a dome tent so we can take shelter and enjoy a break. Perfect timing—it’s lunch hour!
Even though it’s best to eat continuously given the energy we’re burning, noon marks the moment when hunger sets in for most.
Hands dive into the race food bags: jerky from Boucherie chez Manon, the famous date squares from Café Mathéo, cheese curds from Fromagerie Boivin… among other treats. They went all out on local sourcing, and it’s a delight!
We don’t linger long before heading back out for the remaining 5 km.
A few pairs form to walk together, but more often, we retreat into our own little bubbles under layers of clothing to keep moving forward.
The wind beats relentlessly against our clothes—it’s almost deafening.
Morale seems high as I observe this wonderful group out of the corner of my eye. No technical issues, just a few sore shoulders and hips here and there, all handled with smiles.
The shoreline is now too far away to turn back; soon, our six-star hotel will rise before us.
“Six-star hotel,” as you may have guessed, refers to the six dome tents that have suddenly appeared in the middle of the lake.
Tonight, we sleep here, in this vast, enveloping white expanse.
Approaching the camp signals the end of our day’s journey, and all the volunteer logisticians come to greet and congratulate us.
I sincerely wish I could do the same for what you have accomplished on your end—this behind-the-scenes work that is so essential to our survival here this weekend.
Indeed, our cooks Charles, Tom and Morgane are already waiting for us with hot drinks and the comforting freeze-dried dinner generously provided by SLY Foods, which will be served shortly.
Brace yourselves, because things are no joke around here.
Once everyone has settled into their tent with their group, we hear the bell ring, calling us to dinner.
Tonight’s menu: carrot-ginger soup, followed by Chili or Général Tao (100% vegan, ladies and gentlemen).
Thanks to our new freeze-dried meal partner, SLY Foods, everyone was able to go back for seconds.
And finally, for dessert, a decadent homemade brownie with fruit coulis.
Alright then—thank you very much—the lake can carry me away tonight, I am in heaven.
As the wind continues to sing us the same song, we soon retreat to our cozy beds, a hot water bottle tucked between our legs, and about ten friends around us, arranged like flower petals, drifting off to dreamland.
Blogger: Marine Diez
Photographer: Simon Faucher
In pictures
