Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: Gatineau Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:
ROUTE: P5 to Champlain Parkway T and then up to a bit past Mulvihill and back.
SKATE: Lots of new snow with little apparent grooming. It was a bit of a slog uphill but not too bad because the snow is relatively dry. Control was easy because of the new snow.
CLASSIC: The tracks are clear and pretty solid though not as well-formed as early in the season when they were rock solid. This did not impede progress as least on the downhills.
TRAFFIC: P5 was about half full at 2:20 and there were about 15 cars when I left closer to 4. It was a bit slower going through traffic back to Ottawa but still pretty quick because schools are still closed.
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).
