Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: #50, Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:

I stayed overnight at Wanakiwin Yurt. I won't report on last night's condition. It's old news.
Weather: it was quite warm overnight and pouring rain for quite a while, keeping me and my friends awake for some time. Before we set off, it was getting colder and iciing over, it hailed and then snowed a bit.
Before leaving the yurt we went for a short ski a little past Lac Mousseau then back to P19. So...
From the yurt to Lac Mousseau, the trail was quite dirty in the wooded areas: lots of debris--pine needles and twigs, and we removed some bigger branches in a few spots. Snow wasn't quite as dirty towards P19. Just after Mousseau, we saw a nice white stretch (unfortunately we had to head back).
Snow condition: slow where snow was dirty, otherwise fast with the dusting of fresh powder overtop a hard, icy base.
Classic tracks have suffered and were shallow in some spots. A skidoo has left ruts and a bit of a ridge in the skate lane in the middle. Classic skiing was a challenge, especially for grip waxing. It was hard to get good kick and you gathered lots of debris.
At the junction of #50 and #54, there's a large, icy patch as a result of melting snow running down the slope.
We need snow. Demsis should be able to improve conditions where snow was cleaner, but they won't do miracles where there's lots of debris.
Cheers.













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