Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, #1, #3, #9, #18, #20, #21, Glide Wax: Dibloc Blue LF, Grip Wax: Start racing green

Maybe it was peer pressure or just the persuasive powers of Jo-Ann and Ken but I decided to follow their ski tracks and venture off the groomed trails into the world of the backcountry trails. I did a loop, that I do a few times a winter, that includes all variants of trail - parkway, trail, & backcountry:
P10 > FP > #1 > #18 > #21 > #20 > {stop on pond} > #20 > #9 > #3 > P10

FP was newly trackset to an interesting level - the skate lane was hard but the classic tracks were soft - both were good. Ridge was also newly trackset and was quite good. All the backcountry trails had firm tracks. Burma (#3) has not been done and is getting a bit worn but is fast and quite controllable.

It was everything I had hoped for. All variants of skiing were enjoyable but the best part was the stop in the sun on the #20 pond - Jo-Ann's special place.













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