Now the last thing a free spirited walk leader wants to be asked before a walk is where are we going and how far is it, because he doesn’t know for certain himself , even more so when arriving at the Chalet Anne Piché we find that there is a running race on some of the major trails. Never mind, at the worse we can take out pants off and join in with the runners in our under wear, no one will know. So on a frosty bright sunny morning 23 of us and a dog started our walk with the intention of visiting 
several viewpoints. At least that was my intention , the rest of the group had no idea where we were going and didn’t seem to care as long as it was uphill. Soon we were on the snow shoe trails heading for Mont Condor, no problems with mud here the path was frozen. Past the first viewpoint a smaller path was tried which came a little too close to the edge of the crag for comfort, so a retreat was the order of the day to a safer broader path . Second viewpoint reached and 
the troops started asking about lunch, no way we had hardly started, however a pee break was sanctioned. On and past the third viewpoint on Condor then down more snow shoe trails to 7. At this point the lead walkers had to be recalled as they just carried along the snow shoe trail, whereas we wanted to turn left Note to diary, lead walkers just keep on walking as long as there is path in front of them and irrespective of where the group plan to go. A short climb and we were at the Décarie circle of Far Hills where multiple trails converge and all we had to do was pick number 7 and go along it. Clearly the challenge was too much for us, but we only realised it when we found the trail blocked and lots of runners turning at the junction, junction question mark, what junction. Not a 7 in sight but signs for the Maple Leaf trail and number 3. Damn must underline the note in the diary. No volunteers to take off their pants and join the run so back we went, yes to 7 and then 5 our sight set on another viewpoint. A quick climb on another snow shoe trail lead directly to the Far Hills Inn viewpoint ( Nos 4). Lunch time.
More viewpoints was the cry, and with the troops chomping at the bit down the 5 we went to reach our beloved 7. At this point three of our groups did not relish the next climb as I pointed to the cliffs of Mont King so we bid them fare well as they left clutching a map in their sweaty hand and my phone number in their cell to descend to the Petite train du Nord. Not us brave souls, we traversed under the cliffs and climbed boldly up the right flank, over the top to our 5th viewpoint and from there down to , yes you have guessed our beloved 7. A short discussion on the best way to the parking lot was quickly overruled by the panel of judges , actually one judge, and passing the Décarie circle again we intentionally took the Maple Leaf back to the Chalet Anne Piché.
Now if you ask the walk leader how far are we going after the walk he has an answer: 12 kms with 5 viewpoints, so isn’t it a lot better to wait before asking.
Post script. How do you leave a Tim Horton’s parking lot without joining the line up for the drive through. Do not ask Patty she has no idea.