Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: , Glide Wax: Blue, Grip Wax: Blue
Demsis groomed the parkways and #1 (only from Penguin to Fortune parkway) and a 1km section from Champlain lookout to Western cabin. Trail #2 was groomed for classic. NOTHING ELSE IS GROOMED.
Ridge from fortune parkway to champlain has not been touched. Berma #3 has never been groomed. Trail #1 past westerm has not been groomed. The training loops at camp fortune have not been touched.
The NCC web site states that half the system is groomed. This is not accurate. It is Jan. and really only the parkways are usable with a short section of ridge. It's a Saturday, we have a 60cm base and there is no sign of the groomers... or maintenance crews.
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).
