SUR LA POINTE DES PIEDS... le blogue http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php Aventure thérapeutique pour adolescents atteints du cancer | Wilderness therapy for teenagers living with cancer Fri, 14 May 2010 15:43:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 en WINTER 2010 – Day 7 http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-7/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-7/en/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:39:44 +0000 Amelie Grenier http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-7/ C'est l'heure du dîner

Another beautiful day!

We spent out last day together at Village Vacances Val-Cartier.

Once on site, I realized my body was not up to this. Take it easy!
No way I’m going to climb this on foot. That’s is why they installed chairlifts. Hooray for chairlifts!!

The first two runs brought me back to earth, particularly the second one. We came close to a spill, so close, Karine lost her tuque. This was enough to convince me to just sit in the sun and reflect on our expedition…

At the start, I was open to anything, had no expectations.
I thought I would be a spectator to this, no more.
I expected to look at the youths and I found myself face to face with me. SURPRISE!! It was therapeutic for me too!

During this expedition I was 5, 14, 16, 37, and 67 years old at times.
I saw a moose cow with her calf. I saw ghosts on top of a secret world. I saw villages. I saw mountains and water appear before my eyes.
I rode a snowmobile. I was afraid, got over it and ended up having much fun.
But best of all were the encounters with new human beings and the relationships created. What intensity!!

I’ve been home for two days now and I must conclude this blog.

I’m on deadline and I cannot find the words to express all those images in my head and the feelings they carry, the odours that I miss and this daily quest for nature, not to mention those faces, deep in my heart, already far away.

Dave, JC et Jean-Guy les meilleurs guides de motoneige au MONDE!!!

This expedition and the humans I shared this with gave me an extra reason to seek new challenges.

Thank you to all of you who made this expedition an unforgettable moment!!!

See you soon,

AmélieXX

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-7/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 – Day 6 http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-6/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-6/en/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:35:51 +0000 Amelie Grenier http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-6/ Dans le rétroviseur de Steven

This is our last day of snowmobiling before a two-night stay in a cottage at Mont Ste-Anne.

We had to change our itinerary a few times today. The mild weather made some rivers and trails impassable. But, J-C, Dave and Jean-Guy are full of resources!!! Once again, we’re lucky to have them with us!

A Bit of History…
Did you know that a crater formed the Charlevoix Valley millions of years ago?
Indeed! Today we saw, travelled and lived a 110 km trek across this crater plus one kilometre on a paved road because the ice was gone from the river.

Vroooom

It’s in that very crater that we saw many majestic sites.

To reach those gifts of nature, we had to climb to a first mountaintop. We had to maintain a steady rhythm and keep an equal distance between our snowmobiles to navigate the tricky trail.
Our young friends gave me the necessary courage to face this challenge because, this time, I was far from sure I would make it!!! But, as they say, no pain, no gain…

The first marvel we saw was Notre-Dame-des-Monts. It just popped up between the mountains. All of a sudden, I was 5 again looking at the most beautiful village under the Christmas tree… But the sun lighted this village; it was real and full size!!!

Then, the St-Lawrence River came on stage. The mountains opened and the river appeared. How I wanted this moment never to end!!

Jean-Guy was leading the way, for the first time. He communicated his enthousiasm and energy to us, just like J-C. His passion for his work was palpable. He led us to the parking lot and to the waiting bus that took us to Mont Ste-Anne.

And so it ended.

What a beautiful ending.

To my snowmobile partners, thank you. To our guides, thank you and a special thank you to Mother Nature for her wonderful contribution.

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-6/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 - Day 5 What A Short Night!!! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-5-what-a-short-night/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-5-what-a-short-night/en/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:16:57 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-5-what-a-short-night/ Communal living with 22 people in a cabin is an adventure! On the bright side, Isabelle and her family had prepared a hearty breakfast to whip us into shape. We’re aching all over and fatigue is settling in. Well, no matter, the open trails are calling…

Today’s run is a healthy one, 135 kilometres! After crossing Anse Saint-Jean, we end up in Saint-Siméon at Arthur Savard Camp. What a site!

As we travel, I realize that much of Québec’s beauty is hidden. The mountains, and the people are simply fabulous. It’s still winter, but each road, each trail, every human being is different and so enriching. We’re tired and we must exercise caution!

Once at the log cabin we were longing for a hot shower and a comfortable bed. Our prayers were answered!!! Gracias!

Marie-Claude and Martin treated us like royalty, nothing less! To cap off this wonderful evening, we were treated to a folksinger.

Oh! For a good night’s sleep! Tomorrow is the last day of our snowmobile adventure. Time flies!

I must tell you that relationships have sprouted at record speed. Nobody wants it to end; yet promises of reunions abound… To be continued!

See all our photos on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds/

Go to Amélie Grenier’s web site: http://www.ameliegrenier.com

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-5-what-a-short-night/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 - Day 4 Another Beautiful Morning! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-4-another-beautiful-morning/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-4-another-beautiful-morning/en/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:13:54 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-4-another-beautiful-morning/ I am grateful for those beautiful and warm winter days. They seem to be there just for us. We’re in great shape for this third day on our iron horses. We are confident and strong, but J-C warns us that our confidence can be deceiving, we must be careful!

Today’s itinerary will takes 110 km around the Hautes Gorges of Malbaie River. The name alone is inspiring. Let’s proceed… Again, much of our trek was “off track”. Don’t tell me snowmobiling is not a sport. I now know otherwise. Our youths faced those great challenges with assurance. I am astonished to see how much they can push themselves.

The view is breathtaking. The higher we go, the snowier it gets. There is so much snow some trees look like animals! According to J-C, we’re in a secret place! The valley of the ghosts! Not the well-known Monts Valin valley of ghosts! Oh no! This one is totally unknown! A real secret valley, just for us lucky souls!

Our guides are the best in the world… Dave and Jean-Guy are like ballerinas on the snow! They seem to float with their snowmobiles as they run circles around us. What a show! Thanks, guys! We had lunch with the ghosts of the Valley and our mobile ballerinas before heading back.

I got the best teammate for this last challenge of the day! Thanks to Gabriel, I had the ride of my life! As his right hand lacks feeling, he found it difficult to maintain the right amount of pressure on the accelerator. I was treated to a thrill ride, as at La Ronde! I was laughing so much I couldn’t see the road! Thank God, he was driving!!! Thanks for the ride Gab, it was like riding a mechanical bull!!!

That night we were treated to a homemade meal at Isabelle’s Sugar Shack. Grandma’s soup and homemade meat pie and buns… Indeed, home-made buns… My! That was so good!

Some of our friends slept outdoors. No thanks for me, not comfy enough for this softie. It’s hard to realize you’re getting old. Good night all!

See all our photos on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds/

Go to Amélie Grenier’s web site: http://www.ameliegrenier.com

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-4-another-beautiful-morning/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 – Day 3 A wonderful day! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-3-a-wonderful-day/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-3-a-wonderful-day/en/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:16:53 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-3-a-wonderful-day/ The sun is rising on Lac des Neiges as we prepare to leave. Another fabulous image! I have the feeling this is just the appetizer! I learned from our guides, Jean-Guy and Dave, that today will be a “privileged” itinerary. We’re in luck; we got special authorizations for this escapade. Going North, we circled the Grands-Jardins Park en route to Zec des Martres; it’s a belvedere where we stop to take in the sites. A 360-degree look at snowy mountains as far as the eye can see. This is our first strong point of our trip. I was personally overcome with emotion. On this belvedere, I shed tears. Surrounded by such beauty, only tears could express my inner feeling! Would you believe it, the spokeswoman is shedding tears of happiness! Don’t forget, this is just the beginning!!! If I cried on top, I laughed all the way down. The road was filled with moguls; it was like mogul skiing on a snowmobile. Just like at the Olympic games! I was sharing the snowmobile with Stephanie, she was shouting, I was laughing. We were like two five-year-olds having a great time but showing it in different ways. I just love it! What a team we are!

We were “off track”, so no wonder we got our share of spills. It’s easy to get buried in powdered snow. But, we’re fast learners! Pride is a strong motivator! A full day of digging ourselves out of the snow, of helping each other and using all our might.

Jean-Charles, our guide, even congratulated us. He said he was impressed by how fast we were leaning. Jean-Charles is proud of us and because of this, we found the strength and assurance to complete our day, thank you, J-C! To top it all, a grand site to spend the night! Thanks to Pourvoirie du Lac Moreau!

See all our photos on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds/

Go to Amélie Grenier’s web site: http://www.ameliegrenier.com

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-3-a-wonderful-day/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 – Day 2 And off we go on our snowmobiles! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-2-and-off-we-go-on-our-snowmobiles/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-2-and-off-we-go-on-our-snowmobiles/en/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:12:38 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-2-and-off-we-go-on-our-snowmobiles/ Today, we’ll take it easy, a mere 25 km! We got to our destination before lunch. Thank God! The three shelters at Camp Giroux are under tonnes of snow! Watch your step! Oops! We’re waist-deep in snow! No lack of snow here. Our braves, the men and male teenagers, shared the four shovels to clear the entryway. To top it all, what better than a good old fashioned snowball fight!!! Hey! The guys even fashioned a stairway in the snow! Now, that’s class!

We can use all three shelters, one of which is our meeting place. There, we have lunch, dinner and play games in front of the fireplace. But, as luck will have it, the lavatories are in the other building. So, it’s “dress-undress” time! After lunch, we take to the lake. It’s easy to speed in a straight line on a lake. All had great fun! Nature healing starts with this sunny afternoon on this huge frozen surface. The site is heavenly. Like in a movie. But little did we know the best was yet to come.

See all our pictures on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds/

Visit Amélie Grenier’s site at http://www.ameliegrenier.com

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-%e2%80%93-day-2-and-off-we-go-on-our-snowmobiles/en/feed/en/ WINTER 2010 - Day 1 What a way to start an adventure! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-1-what-a-way-to-start-an-adventure/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-1-what-a-way-to-start-an-adventure/en/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:57:36 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-1-what-a-way-to-start-an-adventure/en/ Our first problem: the luggage!!!

I was surprised when I saw the luggage. Two suitcases for a few days!?! Impossible! Possible, indeed! We had rendez-voused in the hotel lobby. Boarding for Forêt Montmorency; bus, highway, lunch on board. Ever tried to make sandwiches in a moving bus? Quite the adventure, but lots of fun! On the way, heated discussions and laughter were the order of the day. Wow! A meeting of human beings. I just love this kind of magic.

At our destination, tummies well fed, we gathered to meet the other participants and members of the team. More beautiful human beings!

Time for the distribution of winter gear to all, overcoats, pants, gloves, mittens, tuques, the “whole kit”! But how will we carry all this stuff? Not to forget the suitcases! This is a five-day trek by snowmobile! This is when “the bag” was distributed to all. “O, my God!” This if where the word “Adventure” took its full meaning! To travel light is not easy to start with, imagine doing it in winter. We’re all confronted with difficult choices: how to remain warm and keep it light? Our “non choices” will be waiting for us on our return.

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting acquainted with the snowmobile. The Safety Key (very important), the various manoeuvres (not easy, but we managed), the turns (shift your weight to the right, shift to the left), the brakes (pump them or skid off). In summary, we’re now graduates of Snowmobile 101, and ready to jump on our iron horses and scoot away in the woods!

And thus ended our first day. Good night, see you tomorrow!

See all the photos on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointedespieds/

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/winter-2010-day-1-what-a-way-to-start-an-adventure/en/feed/en/ TWELVE YOUTHS LIVING WITH CANCER ON A SNOWMOBILE RAID IN THE LAURENTIANS WILDLIFE RESERVE http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/twelve-youths-living-with-cancer-on-a-snowmobile-raid-in-the-laurentians-wildlife-reserve/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/twelve-youths-living-with-cancer-on-a-snowmobile-raid-in-the-laurentians-wildlife-reserve/en/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:27:21 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/twelve-youths-living-with-cancer-on-a-snowmobile-raid-in-the-laurentians-wildlife-reserve/en/ tq-007533_g

From February 28 to March 7, twelve youths living with cancer will travel more than 700 kms on snowmobiles in Quebec’s most snowy area, the Laurentians Wildlife Reserve. Their wonderful adventure will give the youths the opportunity to admire the backcountry sites as they travel the snowmobile trails between the Capitale Nationale, Charlevoix and the Saguenay.

As they travel through areas devoid of traces, they will experiment the feeling of being the first ones there. Living in harmony with nature, experiencing camp life for a full week, the youths will have a wonderful opportuniity to rebuild their self-confidence and rekindle their love for life.

Nord Expé is the local partner helping the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation organize this therapeutic adventure.

The young participants have been referred by various Canadian oncology centers such as the CHU Sainte-Justine, le Pavillon CHUL du CHUQ, le Centre universitaire de santé de l’Estrie (Québec), the IWK Health Center (Maritimes), the CHEO (Ontario), the Calgary HealthRegion (Alberta).

FOR A BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE EXPEDITION,
LOG ON TO THE FOUNDATION’S BLOG

Amélie Grenier
Amélie Grenier, the spokesperson for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation” />

Always on the lookout for new challenges, the spokesperson for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, Amélie Grenier, graciously accepted the Foundation’s invitation to take part in the Foundation’s next expedition, from February 28 to March 7. Amélie’s unique perspective will allow you to follow our 12 young adventurers on the Foundation’s blog at www.pointedespieds.com/blog

Passionate and determined, she wholeheartedly and lovingling appropriated the Foundations objectives for the love of youth and life.

“As a human adventurer, I invite you with all my heart to learn about this organization and get involved, as I did, in these extraordinary expeditions to allow more teens to find the strength to continue, to change the image of this illness, and to discover a new life.”

ScheduleSnowmobile Raid Expedition in the Laurentians Wildlife Reserve

February 28 Arrival Montmorency Forest
March 1 - 5 Snomobile Days (100 - 200 km/ day)
From the Montmorency shelter, via Giroux Camp, Auberge du Ravage, Cabane à Marcelin, Arthur Savard Camp, the Foundation’s adventurers will conclude their voyage at Mont Sainte-Anne. Their snowmobiles will take them on the trails between the National Capital, Charlevoix and the Saguenay through the backcountry.
6 mars Activities
7 mars Last Day, Leave for Home

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/twelve-youths-living-with-cancer-on-a-snowmobile-raid-in-the-laurentians-wildlife-reserve/en/feed/en/ D-Day Minus 10: Introducing our Newfoundland Adventurers!!! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-10-introducing-our-newfoundland-adventurers/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-10-introducing-our-newfoundland-adventurers/en/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:27:15 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-10-introducing-our-newfoundland-adventurers/ These twelve young explorers will leave THEIR trail in the powdered snow of Gros Morne National Park. Twelve adventurers from all over Canada!!!

Meet Our Female Adventurers:

Marie-Pierre Lecours-Dubois, Saguenay, Quebec, 18 years old
Stéphanie Poirier, Montreal, Quebec, 17
Jenna Lavery, Calgary, Alberta, 20
Katlyn Kent, Oakhaven, New Brunswick, 18

And Their Male Colleagues:

Maxime Tardif, Sherbrooke, Quebec, 17
Julien Mc Nicoll, Sherbrooke, Quebec, 17
Gabriel Guay, St-Henri, Quebec, 16
Steven Ouellet, Brossard, Quebec, 14
Joël Lemay-Forcier, Oka, Quebec, 14
Taylor Barkley, Chesterville, Ontario, 19
Mark-Marshall Beaudin, Wyevale, Ontario, 14
Kevin Coombs, St-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec, 16

Tomorrow, we will introduce the accompanying team!

]]> http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-10-introducing-our-newfoundland-adventurers/en/feed/en/ D-Day Minus 11: We’re Going to Newfoundland! http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-11-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-newfoundland/en/ http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-11-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-newfoundland/en/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:01:10 +0000 Katherine Bouchard http://www.pointedespieds.com/blog/index.php/d-day-minus-11-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-newfoundland/ Saguenay, February 17, 2010 – From February 28 to March 7, our group of 12 young adventurers and 8 guides will travel more than 700 kilometres by snowmobile in one of Canada’s wildest territories: the Island of Newfoundland. This fantastic adventure, mostly within the Gros Morne National Park, will take us through the 600-metre towering frozen cliffs of Western Brook Pond Fjord, and the wild life of the valleys of Tableland Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site. There lives one of Canada’s largest moose herds. High on these summits, on snowshoes, we will discover the subarctic tundra, a feature of Northern Canada.
Our path will sometimes lead us to virgin territory and the impression of being the first ones to travel there. For you, our young adventurer friends, this will be the occasion to experience camp life for a whole week and winter camping for one night, a wonderful opportunity to live life at its fullest!!!.
Together, we will share unique moments, a great breath of fresh air, filled with happiness.

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