Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Glide Wax: Swix LF8 - no rilling, Grip Wax:

Conditions are more a novelty than an enjoyment. The base is groomed soft granular with 1 cm of new snow on top. It's interesting to have new snow on the 5 April but at 3 C that new snow tends to slowing. If you're skating it would be best to use a warm wax and have rilled skis. If you're interested in doing classic waxless or fluor wax would be best; I met a group of normally manic classic skiers who had klister on - they were poling down Fortune hill - a new experience for that gang.

The conditions should dramatically improve when the temperature drops below freezing. With a forecast of -10 C for tonight tomorrow should be superb. What I'm hoping for is the ice shells that develop overnight when wet snow refreezes - if that happens look for me crust-cruising on the swamps with a broad smile on my face.













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