Mont Saint Anne & Le Massif insight....

[Tonyr]

After canceling Breckenridge due to the lack of snow CO is getting this season, we are now heading up to Mont Sutton & Tremblant over February break instead.

As I was looking at alternatives to visit in eastern Canada, I also noticed that Mont Saint Anne & Le Massif appear to have really good terrain too. Does anyone have experience up there? Is it worth the long trip?

We have a long weekend ski trip planned in mid March at Crested Butte and I'm now getting a little concerned that there won't be enough snow to open the North Face lift. If that is the case we wouldn't go all the way out there and I'm trying to line a plan B up instead. Any thoughts on Mont Saint Anne or Le Massif is much appreciated!

 

[urungus]

The strike at Le Massif just ended a few days ago so they might not yet be fully up to speed - for example, looks like the entire Maillard area is closed. Hopefully your break is towards the end of February ?

 

[Tonyr]

The strike at Le Massif just ended a few days ago so they might not yet be fully up to speed - for example, looks like the entire Maillard area is closed. Hopefully your break is towards the end of February ?

We would be looking to go up in mid-March.

 

[urungus]

We would be looking to go up in mid-March.

Should be fine by then. I’ve heard the views of the river are amazing.

 

[Edd]

I think of MSA as a more intense version of Stratton. Good glades, some decent steeps if open. Solid views of the St Lawrence River. Impressive operation.

Le Massif is a more intense version of Wildcat, plus views of the St Lawrence that will blow your mind. Terrain is sick, plenty of trees and bumps.

Go, don’t even think about it, unless the forecast looks shitty.

 

[Tonyr]

Thanks for the info and comparisons. Le Massif wasnt even on the radar until a week ago when I started looking at other places to go. The terrain does look really good under the right conditions. I would do one day at MSA and two days at Le Massif.

Im giving Crested Butte until the end of February to get more snow before I would cancel and switch to these two instead. Right now the forecast doesn't look encouraging...

 

[crank]

Mont Ste Anne is more akin to Sugarbush terrain than Stratton. Meaning steeper than Stratton Terrain and more bump runs. Crappy food at MSA lots of lodging nearby.

Le Massif feels like you could get some air and land in the St Lawrence Seaway. Good terrain. Sometimes can get a little icy down low near the bottom. Really good food. Almost no lodging but there is a Club Med.

For skiing, I like both more than I like Tremblant..though I do like Tremblant. Tremblant's village is fun. The old city part of Quebec is awesome and is only about a half hour's drive from MSA.

 

[2Planker]

Wifey and sisters are hittin' Le Frontenac for 3 days next weekend for Carnival and 2 days @ MSA.

 

[Tonyr]

Yes I would stay a night in Quebec City too, have heard it's pretty nice. Thanks for the rundown!

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Controversial opinion (?) - the village at Mont tremblant is the worst thing about the place. It’s cool if you like faux European alpine villages. It’s Disney world full of tourist shops and bad food

 

[machski]

Controversial opinion (?) - the village at Mont tremblant is the worst thing about the place. It’s cool if you like faux European alpine villages. It’s Disney world full of tourist shops and bad food

Still, kind of cool to ski the ski routes through and down the village at days end back to your lodging. Like any built village, some food is crappy but they do have some good stuff (forget the name of the steakhouse, but that was good). But if you get a room off the pedestrian streets on a weekend night, don't expect to sleep if your a light sleeper. Partying goes quite late there.

 

[crank]

I have long called Tremblant Disney du Nord. And yet I still enjoy it. Shops and restaurants are not, I believe, owned by the corporation but are mostly individual entrepreneurs. This I was told the first time I went around 27 years ago. Been back 3 times since as recent as last March.

It's a good place to take a family because you can just park the car for the week and since you are driving, not flying, you can bring more crap.

Last time we were there - no American booze or wine. I missed my Kentucky bourbon.

 

[Tonyr]

We are staying in Montreal two nights in February and plan to day trip up once to Tremblant, so other then walking through the village I'll miss all of the festivities at night.

I booked a historic hotel in Montreal instead for under $250 per night. The exchanges rates for USD are super favorable right now in Canada. I almost couldn't believe it.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

We are staying in Montreal two nights in February and plan to day trip up once to Tremblant, so other then walking through the village I'll miss all of the festivities at night.

I booked a historic hotel in Montreal instead for under $250 per night. The exchanges rates for USD are super favorable right now in Canada. I almost couldn't believe it.

im going to revelstoke and banff in a few weeks and the deals are wild. i have a luxury level awd suv from enterprise for 11 days for under $500 usd.

try to day trip a weekday. weekends at tremblant can be a unique hell.

 

[pinion]

weekends at tremblant can be a unique hell

weekdays during March break (usually 1st or 2nd week in March) can be brutal as well. Worse at Tremblant than MSA in my experience. I've not been to Le Massif yet, so not sure if they get those break crowds as well.

 

[crank]

Tremblant is closer to Ontario and there are no big hills in Ontario - their March break does get extremely crowded at Tremblant. Avoid it.

 

[Tonyr]

Yes I was reading that President's Weekend crowds up there aren't as bad as March/ Spring break crowds. Not all Canadian schools are off during President's Week.

In any event, it's one day up and back and I'm already expecting the worst on crowds and traffic. If I can get there by 8.30 am-ish and leave the resort by 1 or 2pm, I'll miss the worst parts of the traffic.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

the lift lines are the problem. you can mitigate a bit by parking at north. longer drive but free parking steps from the backside lifts. id really try and avoid going down to the village side base AT ALL EVER. but its really often an unavoidable shitshow of beginners in canada goose parkas sliding out of control all over the place. and turtle butt pillows.

 

[crank]

I will add it can be a shit show getting on the North side life to get back to the village late in the afternoon as everyone realizes they have to get back at the same time.

I used to go to eastern CAN most President's weeks when my son and nephew had that week off school. Cheaper prices and lower crowd levels made the drive worthwhile.

Bring lots of layers!