Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: Gatineau Pkwy, #5 (green), Glide Wax: Vhauti Purple, Grip Wax:
Skated from P3 up the Gatineau Pkwy to start of the Champlain Pkwy, plus all of #5. Everything in the lower part of the park was groomed except for #26 and #29. Overall, conditions were quite good.
There was a big difference in snow between the higher areas at the top of the parkway near Pinks Lake and higher vs. lower areas such as #5. Skate glide was much better in the lower areas as the snow was slightly crunchy. Up high, the snow was very pure but very slow.
My wife has new classic skis with skins and she said the skins worked very well in these spring like conditions. She was on #5 and #29.
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).
