Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: #50, #54 (green), #55 (green - shared), #54 (black), Glide Wax: blue, Grip Wax: blue

Nice afternoon for a ski. I skied out of P19 following 50 down to the end of the lake before climbing 54 black up to Lusk lake and then back down to the car on 54 green. Was surprised to meet the groomer just after I started but there he was and who am I to argue with crisp tracks. The groomed trails had nicely blended yesterday's snow and the classic tracks were nice and fast. Could have used a binder though as the snow was a bit aggressive.

Skied up 54 black which was a bit tricky. Just a dusting of new snow over a hard crusty base. Going UP was okay but I'd wager descending would require a fair bit of talent. Not for the faint of heart. Above where the snowshoe track bears off the ski trail really is a challenge. Don't think it was ever fixed after the floods up here a couple of years ago. As a result much of the track is an eroded trench. Lots of rocks and a fair bit of exposed water. Going up you can pick your line around the obstacles but it's slow work. Coming down would be an adventure without a lot more snow. Some evidence that trail 10 had been skied this year but not recently.

Met a nice group of Dads at Lusk cabin spending a couple of days in the hut with their little kids. Was even offered a turn on the Game boy... but I suspect it was because the kids were currently fighting over who's turn it was. Might have got a new Game boy if the fight had lasted longer ;)













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