Sometimes, a road trip is more than a route on a map. It can be the beginning of something deeper. For Alexia Krizia La Palerma, the journey from Montreal to Thetford Mines, Quebec, wasn’t just about getting from one place to another. It was about rediscovering herself through an experience that blended nature, motherhood, and personal courage.
Alexia, a freediver and creative professional, didn’t make this journey alone. She brought along her 14-month-old son, Leone, and all the gear needed for a dive beneath the frozen surface of Flintkote Quarry. The adventure would test her limits, remind her of her strength, and ultimately reshape her understanding of what it means to explore.
With the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV packed to the brim, Alexia and her son left the comfort of city life and headed toward a quiet, icy expanse. The plug-in hybrid SUV offered both the power and efficiency needed for a multi-day trip across slippery, snow-covered roads. It wasn’t just about the drive itself. It was about trusting the vehicle to carry them safely into remote landscapes with unpredictable conditions.
The Outlander’s ample cargo space handled all the essentials: diving fins, wetsuits, baby gear, and more. The car didn’t just transport them, it became a part of the experience, allowing Alexia to focus on the emotional and physical preparation needed for what lay ahead.
Before reaching Flintkote Quarry, Alexia and Leone made a stop at Centre de l’Hêtre, an eco-retreat near Quebec City. There, they spent a night in a transparent bubble hotel, surrounded by trees and silence. For a single mother balancing adventure and parenting, it was a rare moment of peace.
It was also a reminder that life on the road, especially with a toddler, doesn’t need to be rushed. Sometimes, the most powerful parts of a trip happen in the quiet in-between moments.
The final destination was breathtaking: a frozen lake with a hidden world beneath it. Flintkote Quarry is known among divers for its unique underwater landscape, filled with submerged vehicles, boats, and clear, cold depths. It was here that Alexia would take a plunge that was months in the making.
With her team, she carved a triangular hole in the ice. The preparation was intense. Freediving in frigid water requires mental clarity, precise equipment, and deep focus. But as she descended through the opening, something shifted. The stillness of the water, the light filtering through the ice, and the quiet that surrounded her offered a kind of peace she hadn’t felt in years.
Though this was technically a freedive and not traditional cold water scuba diving, the mental and physical demands were no less significant. Being under the ice demands calm under pressure, a strong body, and an even stronger mind.
When Alexia emerged from the water, cold and exhilarated, her son was waiting. That moment, standing on the ice, dripping wet, with Leone bundled up nearby, made everything feel connected. She had shown him, and herself, that motherhood doesn’t put adventure on hold. It transforms it.
The dive marked more than just a physical accomplishment. It was a full-circle moment that tied together her life as a professional, an athlete, and a parent. And it started with a simple drive.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV wasn’t the star of the story, but it was a dependable co-star. It took on snowy roads with ease, hauled delicate gear across hundreds of kilometers, and offered comfort when it was most needed. With features like Super All-Wheel Control and electric range for quieter, cleaner travel, it gave Alexia room to focus on the things that really mattered.
It proved that the right vehicle isn’t just one that gets you from A to B. It’s one that supports every part of the journey, emotionally and physically.
Adventures like Alexia’s remind us that exploration doesn’t have to be epic in scale to be life changing. Sometimes, all it takes is a car packed with purpose, a plan that pushes your limits, and the willingness to dive headfirst, literally and figuratively, into the unknown.
And sometimes, what starts as a road trip ends up showing you who you really are.
Photo: iStock
