Nakkertok Nordic (South)

Trails Skied: Nakkertrak-1, Nakkertrak-2, Nakkertrak-3, Nakkertrak-4, Nakkertrak-5, Nakkertrak-6, Glide Wax: Blue, Grip Wax: Klister base + hard wax

Great skiing on the Nakkertrak yesterday. Snow varies from firm man-made to tilled sugar with a hard base underneath. Skating was nice everywhere, but you had to push off gently on Powerline where the tilled snow would scrape down to firm base. No rocks or dirt exposed just crust due to the rain and daily Sun exposure. Conditions are fairly fast but not out of control. In fact your skating skis might even feel slow. That's most likely due to the structure. Artificial snow can cause lots of drag with some fine fresh snow structures. Something to be aware of for upcoming races.

Classic tracks were generally great. Stadium, Jackrabbit and Peri's were tilled then pressed nicely. Powerline had shallow tracks and the base was icier. Worse there were skaters who seemed to be skiing on the tracks to get an edge so tracks were getting trashed by 10am. (Grr! Pray for the souls of those caught messing up the tracks!) Today's grooming will probably fix both issues.

Klister binder with Teho Green worked very well. You could get away with klister binder and violet or multigrade klister too. Stick binder and hard wax might have worked, but would be likely to wear off after a few laps.













Gatineau park map


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.

Nakkertok Nordic