OK, this is not a European trip report, despite the French title. But it is a trip to what others have described as the most European part of North America. I took a long weekend to what some have rated as the best ski resort east of the Rocky Mountains, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Mont-Tremblant is nestled in the Laurentian mountains north west of Montreal. The ski mountain is one of the highest in the immediate area, and much higher than any other place I've skied in the east.
My first impression is... this place looks a lot like Wengen and a little like Chamonix. The resort center has a nice pedestrian village filled with hotels, restaurants, shops, bars... the usual type of ambience that you find in a European ski resort. My hotel has underground parking, but interestingly, if you park in the public lot, there's a lift that takes you over the village and directly to the base of the pistes (I've never seen something similar elsewhere). The skiing itself is world-class, and the pistes occupy both the north and south sides of the mountain. The resort also maintains a free outdoor skating rink, although you have to pay to rent skates (complimentary if you stay at a resort hotel).
Now, the only downside. Quebec is not exactly known for it's balmy winter temperatures, and I apparently chose to visit on one of the coldest weekends in memory. I've spent time in the interior of Alaska in the winter, but I've never experienced anything quite like this. When I first rode to the summit of the mountain this morning, the temperature was -37° C, with a howling wind. Your skin freezes within seconds of exposure to those conditions, so for the first time ever, I had to wore a full face mask. The hotel hot tub never felt better. At least, the bitingly cold weather has kept the crowds away, despite this being the weekend of Family Day.
Mont-Tremblant is now easily my favorite North American ski resort. If I'm still living in NY next winter, I'm definately coming back. Hopefully, the temperatures will be a little less Arctic.