SHE - Ski Heritage East
SHE's still skiable! Still lots of good rock skiing along the SHE this afternoon. I started at P7, headed West. I had to portage 30m at Rebecca, 40m at Blair boat launch, 40m at the Marina, hop a thin spot at P5 but managed to ski all the way to the fence before ONEC. By tomorrow there will be two more short portages, but you can use the grass shoulder to avoid taking your skis off.
Amazing skiing for in the city in April. Good grooming all winter is making this April skiing possible. Its also allowing walkers and other users who have put away their skis to have a nice surface this time of year instead of potholing through to mud.
The wet corn was fast, and easy glide. The key is hitting the right timing. Wait until the frozen base has transformed back to corn. On sunny days that's usually just as temperatures creep above zero. On cloudy days like today its later in the afternoon. Unless we get heavy rain expect skiing for atleast another week.
P7 looking West
Blair Boat launch
P5
Futhest point West near ONEC
Wet corn on firm base
The Ski Heritage East Trail is a professionally groomed winter trail that facilitates skate and classic skiing, fat-biking, snowshoeing as well as walking. The trail covers an out and back distance of 30 km along the banks of the Ottawa River right here in Orleans, from Blair Rd. to Trim Road. Easily accessible by foot, car or bus at one of nine trailhead entrances, the trails cover many of the same spots residents of Orleans and the East end of Ottawa ride their bicycles, run or walk on in the summer months.
A dedicated team of volunteers work passionately to make cross-country skiing in the east end of Ottawa as pleasurable as possible.
Ski Heritage East is a non-profit group that relies on donations from Trail users, sponsors, and the City of Ottawa and NCC.
