Tom’s advice about the bridges was still fresh in our minds as we left Dorval, however the people with whom I share a car always seem to have difficulties with advice, and the car behind us was 
just following so with Champlain showing green on the web page we took the Champlain exit. However as we approached the Atwater exit the traffic slowed due to road works and our nerve cracked so off we got and headed to the Victoria. One tiny problem no one was quite sure how to get there and the diversion signs down town really threw us a curve ball. How hard can it be to find a bridge after all its not exactly a small structure, still finally we found the bridge and we were on track again. ( We later found out from Ray M that although the traffic slowed there was no problem crossing the Champlain, grrr.)
Arrival at St Hilaire was uneventful except we were late and there was a line up at the gate to get in, probably more people trying to get in than crossing Chaplain Bridge, ( Note for Tom for the future), still our friends had waited and we were not the last to ar
rive. Again no bean counter present so Ray M manfully counted up the bodies, 18 plus two who had already started so we were 20. We were pleased to see some new faces had come out to join us, more the merrier and our course was set to go over Burned Hill a less crowded viewpoint, Pain de Sucre the most popular and populous peak, followed by Dieppe and Rocky and back in time for tea. Mont St Hilaire is deceptive and definitely not a walk in the park, steep climbs with rewarding views followed by steep descents before starting the next hill. We were fortunate with the weather the views were excellent mind you having to take a number before being called to climb Pain de Sucre was a nuisance , just kidding. I was quite happy to line up to see Sharon Z demonstrate her Cirque de Soleil moves on the rope pitch.
A sore ankle and car pooling issues prevented everyone going to the last peak, still 12 managed to get the last tick before descending to the parking lot, wrong the return involves more climbing before the final descent, still what’s a hill or two between friends. The descent was not without its moments as a man descending behind the group suddenly found the tree he was hanging on to snap with a loud crack nearly causing a bladder disaster for some of the group and even worse for the man. Still we all returned safely to find even more people trying to enter the park. I reckon that with all the money they get at the gate they could easily rebuild the Champlain bridge in a couple of years, then even more people could come…
So what about the numbers, I know people like numbers, well give or take a bit 11kms, elapsed time about 4hrs including stops. People on the hill, lots.
A good outing.