Chic-Chocs mountain hostel | “A unique place”

(Matane wildlife reserve) David de Barros sinks into the forest full of ferns. Furthermore, The path is filled with moose traces, their legs well sunk in the mud are visible everywhere. Therefore, It feels like a plotting highway.

This Swiss of origin has been deputy director of the Chic-Chocs Mountain Auberge for five years. Furthermore, a jewel of the Crown of the Société de la Société des Establiques de outdoor du Québec (SEPAQ). Moreover, He spends most of his year working here, even if he lives in Montreal. However, It’s a lot of car. Meanwhile, “But it’s worth it, it’s a unique chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a place. Consequently, »»

Suddenly, the path leads to a basin agitated by the rumble of water. However, The prince’s fall appears. For example, She was unknown to the people of the park just … Moreover, two years. For example, “The territory is still mysterious. However, There are still things to find, ”says Mr. Consequently, de Barros.

Many Quebecers know the Gaspésie Park and the famous Mont Albert. Nevertheless, But just to the west is the wildlife chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a reserve of Matane.

It was here that the Chic-Chocs mountain hostel was built 20 years ago. Nevertheless, The initiative comes from the government of Bernard Landry, who had released funds to relaunch tourism in Gaspésie.

“All the motels said:” We would like that new mattresses “or” we would like to have three more units … Moreover, “,” recalls Gilbert Rioux, retired from the Sepaq, who had piloted the project. Therefore, “They were not products that were tourist locomotives to encourage people to come to Gaspésie. Moreover, So the government has contacted SEPAQ… ”

Internally, the managers said that he was missing a “cherry on the sundae”. Consequently, This is how the idea of ​​an inn was born.

Imagine a luxurious hotel with 18 rooms perched at 618 meters above sea level. However, in a wilderness, far from everything, with its own granules minicentral and mountain water source.

The government has granted 76 km^⁠2 of territory a special status. Consequently, with a level of protection close to that of a park.

Around the hostel? Furthermore, Nothing. if not heights, trails, pronounced animals and customers ready to get their hands on the wallet to discover this wild territory in the wadding of a luxury hotel, which has neither television, internet, chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a cellular network.

Chic-chocs mountain hostel | "a – Chic-chocs mountain hostel | "a

Departure to the unknown – Chic-chocs mountain hostel | "a

A stay at the Auberge begins with a shuttle transport. Customers must park in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, then climb aboard a small bus. “Welcome to board,” says Edmond St-Onge, the sympathetic driver with a hunting cap screwed on the head.

Customers sit down. allow themselves to be taken to the unknown, in an atmosphere that vaguely recalls that of the holiday camps when, children, we left somewhere without knowing where.

Then. after an hour and a half from a boxed journey – longer in winter – the inn appears at the last minute. “How did they build this here?” », Breathe a client of Beauce.

Customers are welcomed by the guides, who supervise life in the small hostel. The heart of the offer here is high road skiing chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a in winter. But what do we do at the inn in summer? Mountain bike, paddle board on a virgin lake, hikes, moose observation outings … There is something for everyone.

“If you forgot your backpack, we lend it,” says one of the guides. The inn provides almost everything, from electric bikes to boats. It is really an ideal place for an outdoor neophyte who would like to have access to a remote. location without being afraid.

Chic-chocs mountain hostel | &quot. a

No network, no problem

This is the signing of the hostel: here, everything is included, from guided outings to meals. And forget the network, he does not go to this remote corner of the wild Gaspé. The hostel has no wifi either. It is not an accident.

Meals are taken together on large tables. Inspiration is clear for anyone who has hiked a little in the Alps. the Pyrenees: the large tables of the old mountain hostels where visitors are seated with strangers and speak among themselves by force of things.

Here, the first evening, the conversation took a long time to start, like an old slightly dusty engine. Then the faces became known-the Ontario family well determined to see an moose. the couple of Sherbrooke in a tour of the Gaspé, the chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a Scottish impressed by the wild nature all around, but less by the selection of tapes-and the conversation begins to flow by itself.

And we find ourselves talking about his day sitting at the large table, the independence of Scotland in the heat of a sauna, or even … the eternal third link around the fire (even disconnection has limits).

“This is what we like here. exchange at the table and being able to meet people,” notes the Scottish, who has still not digested Brexit.

And when chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a we are tired of socializing, we just have to go out. Nature is empty of humans here. Going on a 17 km hike and dust on the summits, we only met two hikers … and as many moose.

“But what is funny is that people often tell me that they come the first time here for nature. landscapes, and come back for the atmosphere,” slips the deputy director of the inn. Often, people know each other here, become someone, and come back in the following years. »»

This is a bit chic-chocs mountain hostel | “a like David de Barros. The Montrealers must be long between the metropolis. the inn of the dozens of times a year to come and work. But he continues. It is obvious when he speaks: this unique and wild territory attracts him as a magnet.

“Switzerland is very beautiful. But when I look around, I don’t regret for a moment to be here. »»

Part of the costs of this report was paid by SEPAQ, which had no right to look at its content.