Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, Glide Wax: , Grip Wax:
The Pp10 parking lot was as full as it gets on the weekend. The reason was that several high school classes seemed to be staggering around on Fortune Parkway and Ridge Road. They generally looked happy in the beautiful sunshine despite their mix of pyjama bottoms and snowboard suits.
The skate skiing was good but mixed. A sunny spot on the Parkway would be just soft enough to get an edge in while shaded areas were sometimes glazed to the point that my kick skittered off. Icier was faster, particularly later in the ski as the melty places felt more dragging. The Ridge Road was nicer because there wasn't the same packed sheen surface and yet the closer trees kept the snow quick.
I better break out the sun block next time.
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).
