Gatineau Park

Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, #1, Champlain Pkwy, #24, #1 (blue), Glide Wax: , Grip Wax: K15

A lovely solo classic ski from P10, along Ridge, 24 and out to the Wolf Trail. It was hard to know if there had been grooming, but I suspect that there had been at least a skate lane renovation a few hours earlier. The classic tracks were well defined by skiers on the Fortune Parkway, but gradually became more wiggly, shallow and erratic after Huron. No matter, the snow was fine and perfect, the skis made just a light sshssing sound, and otherwise the only sound was the wind. The temperature was around minus 4 and the wax was just right. It was snowing heavily until I turned back, at which time I started to notice that the snow was hissing beneath the skis. There was an interesting combination of very fast snow competing with very strong headwinds. Then a light rain began. I was happy that it was mostly downhill and that the wax was still sort of working. When I reached the car it was covered in a layer of ice!













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