Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: #2 (blue), #1 (green) (#2 - #24), #2 (from #40 to #1), #24, #40, Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:
Fresh Powder in April wow!!!! didnt quite know what to expect as I made the slow drive to P12, when I got there shortly after 3 pm there were 3 cars and signs of tracks of a few hours ago.
It was a mix of snow/ ice pellets falling, the trails had a soft cushion of fresh powder on top of a hard crusty base. I only met one skier, there were no tracks on Ridge between the to entrance's of trail #24.
Like Jo-Ann , I also skied down to Western chalet , now I know from Jo-Ann's report who was there to start the fire today. All in all to my surprise it was my best ski this week. One problem spot racing down trail #2 black there is a bare patch so you have to either slow down to try and ski the narrow strip around it or stop to continue down after that.
I noticed driving by on my way back that the gate's are closed at the gatineau parkway entrance's, I guess they dont want cars driving there in the next few weeks before the official opening of the parkways to cars.
Not that I expected any grooming today but that is also a sign (the gates being closed) that they are done grooming for the season.
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).
