Gatineau Park
Trails Skied: Fortune Pkwy, Champlain Pkwy, #1, #1 (green) (#2 - #24), Glide Wax: Swix LF6, Grip Wax:
I certainly agree with Karl about the day and the conditions. Have you ever heard that moan of the winter hater “Oh February is the longest month”? It’s my fervent wish that they were right - today was a perfect February day!
Skated from P10 => FP => CP => Huron => #1 => green water tank on #24 => #1 => CP => FP => P10. The warm weather and rain has been good for the conditions everywhere in that it just added to the base and hardened it. The snow depth off-trail above the base is about 40 cm with a slight crust. All trails skied were renovated and groomed. Burma looked great from both ends with a good flat base that should qualify it for the loppet. The part of ridge from Huron to the intersection that has been so bumpy and rocky is now completely covered with a good hard, even base. Conditions were exactly as reported on the NCC web-site.
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).
