The Eastern Townships (Cantons de l'Est) extend to the south of the Saint-Lawrence River valley, covering the eponymous administrative region of Estrie, and beyond; between the U.S. border and the Appalachian Mountains to the east.
The Laurentian Mountains extend to the north of the Saint-Lawrence River valley, covering several administrative zones, including the eponymous Laurentides, and beyond. From the Ottawa River valley to the Cote-Nord of the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence.
Les Pentes 40-80
Les Pentes 40-80 (previously Côtes 40-80, 45°57′18″N74°08′45″W / 45.9549041°N 74.1457133°W / 45.9549041; -74.1457133) was a municipal ski hill in Sainte-Adèle.[2] It catered to novice skiers.[3] The ski station was one of the first alpine ski station in the country, and was very popular in the 1950s.[2] The ski station was deeded to the municipality by Charles Bronfman, with a clause saying that it needed to stay a ski slope.[2] With the closure of the station, demolition of the base chateau and removal of the ski lifts, the area remains a public park with accessible ski runs but no lifts or services.[2]
At the end of the station operating history, it was composed of a base chateau, four ski lifts, three T-bars and a magic carpet, five pistes, two green (runs 40, 60), a blue (run 80), a black diamond (run 100), and a glade double black diamond (run 120 or "Bois joli").[4][5] It had a 100 m (330 ft) vertical and the longest run was 600 m (2,000 ft).[6] At one time, it was the cheapest lift ticket in the Laurentians.[7]
Baumgarten’s Ski Hill, located on Baumgarten Hill, in Ste-Agathe, is reputed to have the first rope tow in existence, though that distinction is disputed with Foster's Folly at the Big Hill in Shawbridge (Prevost). The ski hill was opened by local businessman Moïse Paquette in 1928, and was continued to be run by his family after his death. The hill itself is named after businessman Alfred Baumgarten, who built a cottage at the base of the hill, by the lake, in the mid-19th century.[9][10]
Ski Mont Castor
Ski Mont Castor located on Mont Castor, in Ste-Agathe, was a ski hill that operated from 1962 to 1995. It once operated 2 T-bar ski lifts. At the base of the ski hill is now located Maximise (46°04′04″N74°18′22″W / 46.067832°N 74.306000°W / 46.067832; -74.306000), an all-season ski/snowboard slopestyle training facility, with rails and big air, water landing ponds, trampolines, and airbag landings; and includes a winter snowpark, with rope-tow ski lift.[11][12]
Chalet Cochand is reputed to have been the first ski resort in North America.[13] Émile Cochand's ski school opened in 1911, followed by the inn in 1914; in Ste-Marguerite.[14]
