Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, #1, #30, #3, #31, #28, Glide Wax: SPF20, Grip Wax: waxless

Beautiful day for a ski and the snow is holding up better than I expected. I'd wager another weekend if it weren't going to be 20C all week (so in that case I won't wager). I skied out Ridge from P7 using the "back" trail 31 to climb up rather than the Wattsford side which i assume is gravel now. Good coverage all the way along Ridge with a couple of thin spots to ski around. The base of the Khyber has started to open up as Garry mentioned but you can still ski around it and the climb itself is no problem. Spent an hour on the wall at Brule lookout enjoying the sun and chatting with a few skiers/walkers on the portage below me.

Skied down Burma which was quite nice. Again a few spots starting to open up and one short portage which I pictured on Wednesday but all in all quite nice. The last descent to the parkway has a gravel "streak" down the middle at the top. Those requiring full snowplow might struggle but there is enough snow on the sides to ski around the open bits(for now). Then it was back Fortune to 1 and home to P7

I also skied up to Ramparts which I might not recommend unless you enjoy balancing on the monorail of compacted snow, occasional (and sudden) full ski postholes and a couple of wobbly stream crossings. I thought it was fun but I did have to walk down the hill from the lookout on my way out as it was more rock than snow (but I skied up it!). (Mostly) full snow coverage everywhere else though. Another good day tomorrow then....













Gatineau park map


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.

Gatineau park map

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).

Gatineau park map