Woodsman for a Day
What an interesting prospect! To walk in the shoes of a woodsman for a day, living as they lived so long ago, traveling long distances often in bad weather, facing the obstacles that confronted those we call the ‘coureurs de bois’. At a compound in the heart of the Eastern Townships it is possible to get a taste of this life of great adventure.
Having rained throughout the night, it was still raining the next morning and our small team of city folk was wondering if we would embark on our journey that morning after all. However, as any ‘coureur de bois’ knows nothing can keep us from our discovery of unknown territory. Our guide, Jacques is fearless. So after putting on our aluminum snowshoes (the modern version) we were off! Our little party moved forward happily through the soft snow although these were not the best conditions for beginners like me. The snow stuck to my snowshoes and slowed me down. I soon found myself bringing up the rear which afforded me a more leisurely enjoyment of my surroundings.
The trail was dangerous with steep ascents and sharp verticals. I found myself face down in the snow more than once. I was fortunate compared to the woodsmen of yesteryear who had to transport heavy loads on their backs on journeys lasting several months.
We could see animal tracks in the pristine snow. Jacques, our guide, said that if we were lucky we might see deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and moose during our trek, and since the sun had come out we might even meet up with the beaver family that had built the dam on the river.
I was the first to experience the danger of this nomadic lifestyle. We had to cross a small pool of water and Jacques showed us the best way to cross it safely. He crossed safely as did my two teammates. I dashed forward like Jacques had shown me, but the trail had been worn down by those who had passed before me. My first snowshoe crossed over but the second one landed in the water bringing half of me with it. I came out soaking wet. Behold the hazards of a woodsman’s job.
A bit further on we stopped to light a nice fire like they did in the olden days, which brought us to our next ordeal. In the forest we had to find all that we needed to build the fire. Jacques gave us some pointers. Seeing that it had rained the night before we had to look for bark from a tree that had faced opposite the rain. We also had to collect small branches, twigs and some dry leaves. To add a bit of spice to our adventure, we were only allowed to use one match!!! The task ahead of us was going to be difficult in light of the weather conditions the night before. Despite this, we managed to kindle a few flames before continuing on our journey. This was a good thing to know if you ever got lost in the woods. The trail continued to offer various pleasant surprises along the way. We crossed a river (the same one I had fallen into) on a beaver dam. Jacques showed us where a huge glacier from the ice age had left its mark in the valley where we were standing.
We reached our point of departure just as the sky became overcast once again. Jacques’ horses were outside the barn taking in some fresh air. Besides the woodman excursion Jacques also offers horseback riding, carriage rides plus various other packages to capture your imagination. Don’t miss spending a night in one of the cottages. It’s a real Zen experience, so quiet and peaceful.
The aftereffects of my trek in the woods lasted a few days, but this was an adventure that made me appreciate the courage of those woodsmen of the past through whom a new world was born.
Les randonnées Jacques Robidas
32 McFarland Road
North Hatley
Quebec, Canada
J0B 2C0
Telephone: 819-563-0166/ 1-888-677-8767
http://www.randonneesjrobidas.qc.ca/
Email: chevaux@qc.aira.com
