P10 out on Ridge to where 24 finishes.

Although still a cold day (minus 12 when I started at 10:30) it had that spring feel to it. There were happy faces everywhere, and just as I turned around to go back to the car, I'm sure I heard the "click" of spring arriving. It just felt different.

There were school groups and the University Women's group, and many others enjoying the day. By the time I finished the parking lot was almost full, including a center lane and two waiting school buses.

Conditions were very good, although not freshly groomed. You will need to watch out for beech leaves, though, if you are going classic.

Just one complaint: I have been on the lookout for fresh grooming to ski to Fire Tower. As I usually ski alone, I would rather ski in the best of conditions when I am skiing that far, call me a whimp. Yesterday the Gatineau Park Ski Conditions page did not list it as groomed, at least not early enough in the day to act on it, so I figured it would be groomed today, for sure. Today it was listed as groomed yesterday. If I'd known I would have skied it yesterday. Putting out an accurate website is not rocket science. Surely there could be a daily list of trails "about to be groomed" or "presently being groomed". This is information that used to be available to skiers simply by phoning the park office. Where is that GPS they were talking about attaching to the groomers?

Photos will be posted tonight on www.musicianonskis.ca/blog