Nakkertok Nordic (South)
Nice morning ski today. Against better knowledge, I tried to do some skate skiing. Most areas around the stadium are now mostly classic only, but if you can squeeze past (or double pole), it's worth going up there! The pond loop was in excellent shape. Groomed during the night with a light dusting of fresh snow on top. Trail quite hard packed, which made for a surprisingly fast skate ski despite the colder temperatures (-18). When I had finished, they had started putting up a fence which separates the pond loops from the main area, so the lower parking might be a good starting point. If you're on classic, getting away from the busy area should be easy and it's been a very day up there so far. Get a ski in before Easterns! Probably classic is best, all tracks looked in excellent shape, also with the light dusting of fresh snow, which will probably get skied down soon.
I had freshly put on LF5, but if I had had it, I'd have gone for LF4.
On the pond loop, I found some mystery animal tracks that neither me nor several others could identify. If you happen to have an idea, let me know! The shot with my hand is just for size reference, I'm a glove size 7, so the tracks are quite big!
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Nakkertok has a network of about 75km of skating, classical and backcountry trails at two locations just north of Ottawa in the Gatineau Hills.
Nakkertok South is the main attraction offering groomed skating and classic skiing, chalets, races and children's programming. There are lit trails for night skiing. Club membership, or a day-use fee required for skiing. Located 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa in Cantley, Quebec, Nakkertok South has a heated ski chalet with benches and tables, and places to store your gear. It's a great place to change your boots, warm-up, and socialize to meet other master skiers or club members. The trails at South are groomed for skating and classic skiing with a state-of-the-art Pisten Bully groomer. Two loops are lit at night. The trails at South form more or less a grid, extending for about 4 km north into the bush and slightly higher country. These offer enjoyable skiing, and are suitable for beginners, with the exception of a few short stretches.
Nakkertok North trails are quite demanding, and only occasionally groomed (Fridays). They offer a refreshing backcountry wilderness experience for those with good skiing skills. The trails at Nakkertok North are almost always quiet. The annual Nakkerloppet event in February is a great opportunity to discover these trails by making the North to South crossing.
