Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: #1 Penguin Climb, #1, #1B, #3, #24, #1 (blue), Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:
Skate skied from P8, up Penguin, Fortune Parkway, Burma, Ridge, 1B, 24 then back on Ridge all the way out to the Fire Tower (first time this year). Met a few people I know and was dissuaded by him from going to the FT, then met another buddy who said it was awesome all the way out, so I had to find out for myself.
It was awesome. Excellent grooming everywhere. I think Buddy #1 confused his getting caught in the firm ridges of corduroy with the snowmobile tracks, as I had no issues at all with the latter, but crashed hard thanks to the former. I’m not complaining—it was groomed and I caught an edge. It happens.
From McKinstry to the FT was not freshly groomed, but it had been done recently and then covered over with about 3cm of fresh powder. Glorious skiing everywhere, even Burma where Buddy #2 did not think it was that good.
Perspective, eh?
To borrow part of Ron's phrase, it was the sort of day that...
reminds me it is a long and hard ski on not enough food and half a bottle of water, but at least it is downhill on the way back, except the uphills.
Gatineau Park is ski paradise! The network of ski trails offer machine groomed skate skiing and classic skiing as well as little groomed backcountry trails. Multiple access points allow skiers to access a variety of terrain and scenery.
The NCC offers season or daily pay rates.
For suggestions on where to ski, excellent trail descriptions, photos and maps checkout Michael McGoldrick`s website about recreational xc-skiing in Canada`s National Capital Region (with an emphasis on the Gatineau Park).
