Ottawa-Gatineau
Cross-country Ski Trail Conditions

The sequel:

As reported by Jo-Ann I skied yesterday, via Fischer Crown waxless, to the intersection of #1 blue and the old #10. I could have done the additional 1km+ to the tower without problem.

Up to the Wolf Ridge I found conditions difficult - more grunt than glory - for which the waxless worked well. At the Wolf Ridge the world changed with complete coverage and a good base; the snow of two days ago had not been skied on so the surface was undisturbed. It would have been a delight to skate to the tower - but I was rooted to the inelegant Crowns.

With the drop in temperature the snow will gain new life with excellent fast skating conditions from Wolf to the tower - the problem is that the routes (#40, Blanchet, #1, whatever) to Wolf will be icy and deteriorated.

For me the pain of the access is going to outweigh the joy of the skate. Personally I’m going to opt for summer wax and leave the trails to that rampaging grouse.

Bon été tout le monde.

P12-trail 40, 24, Ridge to Wolf, along Ridge to trail 2 to P12.

Having almost skied yesterday, Ron's last report inspired me to get out today for a final farewell ski. Now that I've seen how much snow is left on the "dark side" of the park, it won't be the last ski of the season after all!

Conditions were much as Ron described them yesterday. It was a long, relaxed afternoon with some good skiing, a tiny bit of "portaging" and some juicy mud on the lower stretches of trail 40. There were deer, hawks and that renowned ruffed grouse. There are a few more photos on musicianonskis.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

There’s still coverage from P12 (probably) to the tower - there was 2 cm of new snow yesterday which made the surface more even and much cleaner. There are some bare spots but not substantively more than on the weekend.

I skated from P12 with the intent of going to the tower but at the Wolf ridge I decided that the sun was better than the glide so I opted for the bench. If I had started an hour earlier there would have been great glide on the new powder - when I got to there it was starting to turn to slush in the sun. There was still a reasonable glide in the shade.

MacDonald (#40) had an uneven surface which made for less-than-ideal skating - with waxless there would have been no problem. You have to walk the first hill - there’s also one minor bare spot. Other than that #40 makes an ideal escalator to get to the top of the ridge.

#24 and #1 blue are fine for skating with the glide being a function of the temperature. The problems between Blanchette and Wolf have not increased measurably - you can do it without taking your skis off until you get to the final climb to the ridge. From there it looks quite good.

Frost tonight should put new life in that new snow.

Skied from Mackenzie King to the lookouts. Had continuous track of snow but a number of spots are getting pretty thin. Today's grooming started(ended?) at Bourgeois Lake and presumably went down to P10 but I didn't venture down that way. Conditions were actually better where there was no grooming (as long as there was snow;-). Won't be long before the pockets of asphalt become larger and larger portages and then we have to weigh the decision as to how much walking is worthwhile for another stretch of skiing...

Skied from P5 to GP-CP intersection, then to bottom of Black and back. Did not have to remove skis (but close!). Very fast conditions, but could still get an edge. Fun skiing!

Another beautiful sunny day out on the trails. I had to walk a few hundred meters from P7 up the first hill but after that the snow was pretty good. Ridge road was in great shape from Wattsfords out to the lookouts with only a few dirty sections or bare patches to step around. No recent grooming on Ridge I expect but the snowpack is nice and hard making for good skiing.

Spent some time enjoying the view at Brule (the parkway still has a little ribbon of snow to ski along in front of the lookout but it might not last long) before heading down Burma. One short portage on Burma and a tree across the trail below the Ramparts trail but otherwise in excellent shape. The final descent onto the parkway is starting to open up some bare patches but I managed to ski down without incident.

All in all a great day to ski and enjoy the sun. Cooler weather ahead (and maybe some snow?) so the skiing should last a little while yet even without fresh grooming every morning.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

Skated to Blanchette via FP, CP, the lookout, and #1; returned via #1 to Huron then CP and FP.

The tracksetting today was a work of art. When I started out conditions were discouraging - half way up I met three of the best of the tracksetting crew - pushing the snowballs back into track then re-doing the classic and skating tracks - and then things really improved. FP has been done and CP as far as Huron and towards Black Lake. For this and for the good tracks over the season un gros merçi à André et les autres membres de l’éqipe de traçage !!

Whichever way you go to the lookout from Huron (CP or #1) things are going to be rough - bare spots and water. BUT !! When you get past the lookout things really improve. There was a solid, fast base on #1 as far as Blachette for both skating and classic - it was really good for skating. I’ve got it from a reliable source (Suhung) that conditions were even better from Wolf to the tower. Toward Western #1B and #2 looked just as good. The snow is starting to look dirty but, regardless, my bases came back relatively clean.

Encore un gros merçi aux gars sur les dameuses.

Portaging isn’t necessary yet but it’s not long away.

Skated to the Wolf Ridge via FP, CP, the lookout, and #1; returned via #1 (with a timeout for swamp-shore-sitting) to Huron then CP and FP.

Tracksetting went as far as #24.

CP is still good: the bare spot at Étienne Brulé is developing but you can still get by without taking off your skis; elsewhere there was good coverage.

#1 is interesting. Between Huron and the lookout there are bare spots and rocks; the wet spots are turning into pools. From the lookout to Blanchette there is almost consistent coverage except that things getting thin by the bench. From Blanchette to Wolf it gets quite varied - bare spots, mud, debris, gravel showing, tunnels and cave-ins from the melt-water, and excellent firm fast snow in the shade. Past Blanchette rock skis are probably a good idea.

FP is varied: in some areas the yellow line is already showing.; other areas have glorious fast corn; other places have heavy putty; some areas are blue ice.

In summation: skating is still there and is interesting depending on where you are - the people doing classic seemed to be doing just fine. I passed a blind classic skier on #1 past the lookout (with a guide) doing just great - needless to say I was impressed.

Proof that 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Like Ron, I highly recommend the skiing right now. We are still experiencing near perfect coverage - I saw only 4 tiny bare spots on my route to the Firetower via Fortune parkway, #3, #1b, #24 and return via #1 and Fortune parkway. No need to use rocks skis, take your skis off or worry about hitting rocks or dirt.

There was no fresh grooming today, but the snow was clean and fast. It was more granular and fast on the parkways but Burma was a real treat, as was #24 and the entirety of #1 past #24.

We'll get another week in before rocks skis are needed given the current coverage.

Some 20 odd more photos from my ski.PCEtLSBDYXJvdXNlbCAjNjIwIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iY2Fyb3VzZWw2MjAiIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbCBjYXJvdXNlbC1kYXJrIHNsaWRlIiBkYXRhLWJzLXJpZGU9ImNhcm91c2VsIiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLXRvcDogMTBweDsiPgk8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1pbmRpY2F0b3JzIj48YnV0dG9uIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDYyMCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZS10bz0iMCIgY2xhc3M9ImFjdGl2ZSIgYXJpYS1jdXJyZW50PSJ0cnVlIiBhcmlhLWxhYmVsPSJTbGlkZSAwIj48L2J1dHRvbj48YnV0dG9uIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDYyMCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZS10bz0iMSIgYXJpYS1sYWJlbD0iU2xpZGUgMSI+PC9idXR0b24+PGJ1dHRvbiB0eXBlPSJidXR0b24iIGRhdGEtYnMtdGFyZ2V0PSIjY2Fyb3VzZWw2MjAiIGRhdGEtYnMtc2xpZGUtdG89IjIiIGFyaWEtbGFiZWw9IlNsaWRlIDIiPjwvYnV0dG9uPjxidXR0b24gdHlwZT0iYnV0dG9uIiBkYXRhLWJzLXRhcmdldD0iI2Nhcm91c2VsNjIwIiBkYXRhLWJzLXNsaWRlLXRvPSIzIiBhcmlhLWxhYmVsPSJTbGlkZSAzIj48L2J1dHRvbj48YnV0dG9uIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDYyMCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZS10bz0iNCIgYXJpYS1sYWJlbD0iU2xpZGUgNCI+PC9idXR0b24+PC9kaXY+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtaW5uZXIiPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWl0ZW0gYWN0aXZlIj48aW1nIHNyYz0iaW1nLzIwMTAwMzE2L2ltYWdlMDA0LmpwZyIgY2xhc3M9ImQtYmxvY2sgdy0xMDAiIGFsdD0iMCI+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtY2FwdGlvbiBkLW5vbmUgZC1tZC1ibG9jayI+PGg1PkNhcHRpb24gIzA8L2g1PjwvZGl2PjwvZGl2PjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWl0ZW0iPjxpbWcgc3JjPSJpbWcvMjAxMDAzMTYvaW1hZ2UwMDcuanBnIiBjbGFzcz0iZC1ibG9jayB3LTEwMCIgYWx0PSIxIj48ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uIGQtbm9uZSBkLW1kLWJsb2NrIj48aDU+Q2FwdGlvbiAjMTwvaDU+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtaXRlbSI+PGltZyBzcmM9ImltZy8yMDEwMDMxNi9pbWFnZTAxMy5qcGciIGNsYXNzPSJkLWJsb2NrIHctMTAwIiBhbHQ9IjIiPjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWNhcHRpb24gZC1ub25lIGQtbWQtYmxvY2siPjxoNT5DYXB0aW9uICMyPC9oNT48L2Rpdj48L2Rpdj48ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1pdGVtIj48aW1nIHNyYz0iaW1nLzIwMTAwMzE2L2ltYWdlMDE1LmpwZyIgY2xhc3M9ImQtYmxvY2sgdy0xMDAiIGFsdD0iMyI+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtY2FwdGlvbiBkLW5vbmUgZC1tZC1ibG9jayI+PGg1PkNhcHRpb24gIzM8L2g1PjwvZGl2PjwvZGl2PjxkaXYgY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWl0ZW0iPjxpbWcgc3JjPSJpbWcvMjAxMDAzMTYvaW1hZ2UwMjMuanBnIiBjbGFzcz0iZC1ibG9jayB3LTEwMCIgYWx0PSI0Ij48ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uIGQtbm9uZSBkLW1kLWJsb2NrIj48aDU+Q2FwdGlvbiAjNDwvaDU+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PGJ1dHRvbiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtY29udHJvbC1wcmV2IiB0eXBlPSJidXR0b24iIGRhdGEtYnMtdGFyZ2V0PSIjY2Fyb3VzZWw2MjAiIGRhdGEtYnMtc2xpZGU9InByZXYiPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jb250cm9sLXByZXYtaWNvbiIgYXJpYS1oaWRkZW49InRydWUiPjwvc3Bhbj48c3BhbiBjbGFzcz0idmlzdWFsbHktaGlkZGVuIj5QcmV2aW91czwvc3Bhbj48L2J1dHRvbj48YnV0dG9uIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jb250cm9sLW5leHQiIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDYyMCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZT0ibmV4dCI+PHNwYW4gY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWNvbnRyb2wtbmV4dC1pY29uIiBhcmlhLWhpZGRlbj0idHJ1ZSI+PC9zcGFuPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJ2aXN1YWxseS1oaWRkZW4iPk5leHQ8L3NwYW4+PC9idXR0b24+PC9kaXY+PCEtLSAvY2Fyb3VzZWwgLS0+

Skated to beaver pond just before Blanchette & #1 via FP, CP, the lookout, and #1; returned via #1 to Huron then CP and FP.

What is “not recommended” I highly recommend! In spite of the big red X (on the NCC report) against #1 past #3, the conditions on #1 are quite good with good coverage except at the bench where it is skiably thin. It will probably be possible to ski to the tower for a few days with very few “portages”.

Between Huron and Champlain Lookout: Ridge is showing bare spots and wet spots - CP is showing some asphalt and wet spots. Both can be skied without removing the skis. FP has wet spots that will probably be bare within a day.

Tracksetting was restricted to the parkways; however, when things softened it didn't really matter. The form of all trails is good - the skate track is not too rutted and the classic tracks are firm.

Here are some photos to add to Ron's report. I had a lovely late afternoon ski, although somewhat shorter than Ron's. The only mystery is why the park ski conditions page had these trails marked with a big red X, "not recommended".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

In summation: conditions are still good with little damage from the weekend. The snowpack off-track is about 25-30 cm deep.

Skated to #1 & Blanchette (snowshoe trail) via FP, CP, the lookout, and #1; returned via #1 to Huron then CP and FP.

Tracksetting was excellent; FP, CP, #1, #24 had been done. It seems to have gone all the way on #1 - at least to McKinstry. There are none of the usual bare spots although things are getting thin at the Champlain lookout and the bench on #1. Checked out Burma and it seems to be in good shape even though it hasn’t been done today due to the soft surface.

In the morning conditions were firm with a soft surface and remarkably fast. On the way back things were getting soft and slow in the sun. The classic tracks remained firn - the classic skiers seemed to be doing well. The real surprise is that the snow is still clean - didn’t have any gunk on my bases.

With the frost tonight conditions should be astounding tomorrow - the only bad news is that the pond-cruising is getting dodgy and is probably finished for the season.

Skated up to the Lusk cabin. Still lots of snow up at Lac Phillipe - maybe a ft. of base on th trails. Pretty soft but the sun was out so I was in no hurry. No bare spots anywhere but there were a few stretches that were getting dirty and the skidoo track on the side looked pretty icy(?). Best to try to avoid the dirty snow which I didn't. As a result my skis got pretty slow by the end of the day picking up a lot of... umm, stuff. Maybe the rain tomorrow will clean up the snow? Not too many people up skiing which is too bad. Definetley some good skiing to be had for another week at least.

Beautiful skiing morning with great conditions! Hope you got out to enjoy, but don't fear there are many days left...even if it rains.

Trail #31 was a bit dirty, but Ridge was great and clean. Burma was ungroomed??

The craziest thing I saw today wasn't the five women in the pink wigs, but the snowballs that had been plowed off the parkways! I can see the groomers wanting to level the trails off, but why not plow the snow into the middle and help prolong the season. But they chose to plow the snow off... sadness.

Lots of kids out today as March Break is in full swing. Chelsea Nordiq was having a cookie party - thus the women in wigs. Skinouk, Kanata and Nakkertok kids were out in numbers too. Great day for it.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

Great skiing day! First ski in a week as I've been out of town and it doesn't seem like we've lost much snow yet. There's lots of base for the weekend, not a single bare spot on Ridge, Burma, #2, #31 or #32. That's amazing after all these warm days. Lots of skiers out enjoying the good weather and conditions before the rain. If the weather held the current pattern I'd say we'd have 2-3 more weeks of good skiing. We'll see what the rain does.

Ken's right it's all about timing! Too early and you get crusty fast barely skiable conditions, too late and you get soft slow conditions. Hit it just right and you get fast easy skiing. I was a bit late starting at 11, somewhere in the 9-10 range would have been perfect. Oddly enough, it got faster on Burma and Ridge around 1:30pm the end of my ski. I think the wind was whisking away the moisture from the sun melted snow and making it faster again. This evening should be great skiing if you can get out.

I found a freshly renovated skate lane on all the main trails this morning but I was still a little early for the best conditions. Most spots the skating was quite good but others (particularly shady areas) it looked like the groomer had floated over the track without making a dent in the hard, icy base (that's some bullet proof snow!). Still these were isolated spots and I expect the snow got softer and better not too long after I headed for home. The classic tracks hadn't been reset but with the warm sun will get better as the day progresses. Rain for the next few days could change things up... but still lots of snow so we should be able to ski next week.

A report from yesterday's ski: The plan was to lug the bigger camera along and be out all day. These trails were all marked as "fair", so I was curious to see how poor they really were. At 10:30 trail 52 was still a bit icy (not groomed recently), and the long uphill was easier to walk than herringbone in those skis! By 11:00 the waxless skis kicked in and by noon they were really working well. They improved as the day heated up. The uphills were certainly slow but those skis do surprisingly well on downhills in soft snow (better than klister). Snow was clean and deep on 52, 50, and all but a one-meter patch on 51/53. There were no rocks, one teeny bare spot on 51/53, one puddle on 52 and just occasional, insignificant tree dirt. Grooming was really irrelevant due to the temperatures. The fastest snow was out of the tracks. I spotted one other skier near Herridge and two near P19 - It was the slowest but also the most beautiful ski of the year! I don't think "Fair" was a fair assessment of the conditions today.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

A little late to start today. Things had already started to soften by the time I got going around noon. Skied a few of the backcountry trails which became somewhat of a chore as the skis would alternately float and then sink... and then float on the soft snowpack. The alternating speeds made it hard to stay upright on the hills but there was lots of soft snow to bail into when things went pear shaped. All the main trails were freshly groomed after the weekend and looked really good. Still the beautiful warm sunshine was a treat and I did my share of "W.R.S." since the "C.C."ing had already expired for the day.

Dodged the crowds today and parked on the Eardley escarpment road (in the snowbank actually) to ski trail 56 up to the Pontiac lookout. Looks like more people walk or snowshoe this trail than ski it but I had the wide boards and the day was gorgeous so I wasn't concerned about the state of the trail. Things were a little icy climbing up but by noon the snow started to soften and a layer of beautiful, velvet corn started to form making the descents magic. Total number of fellow skiers I met - 2... and they were parked in the sun having a picnic which seemed like a pretty good plan.

Another fabulous day, however there were fewer skiers in the Lac Philippe sector than expected. With such warm weather the skating did become quite a slog, particularly the last 3 Km back to the car!! However the Lusk trail and trail 50 (as it parallels the lake) are quite shady. The shady sections were quite fast! It was a perfect day for alternating long periods of sitting in the sun with vigorous bouts of skiing.

The snow is so far surviving beautifully!
The snow on the Taylor lake trail (green) was stunning! See attached photo! It was marked as "fair" on the park website, as was trail 54.
Lusk (54) was in very good shape, with none of the usual flooded sections yet.
Trail 50, marked good to very good, was fine, although rutted (as usual) with snowmobile carnage. This was particularly irritating between trail 55 and Lac Philippe. See final attached photo. The classic tracks between P19 and trail 55 had obviously not been reset for today, and were extremely shallow, sometimes disappearing altogether.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

Wow, I was surprised at the great conditions late this morning! P6 was almost full when I got there (around 10:30am) and it wasn't quite as warm as I expected. The klister worked really well in the more shady frozen granular snow, but not quite as good in the sun-exposed soft wet granular snow, particularly south facing slopes. Trail #7 had great coverage and is always a blast to go down. Hard to tell if the parkways were groomed but there were many skiers out there today.

Wow! What a day! We were out for 4 hours and even skied some of that time. I think everyone who skis was in the park today. Demsis had their "thank you" to the skiers and many skiers showed up for the hot chocolate, homemade goodies and the festive chatting in the sun. Conditions were fabulous and there were constant positive comments about "all the grooming" that had been done for today.

Today was memorable for me. It was the first time I've ever "crust cruised", (thank you Craig, Ron and Ken) having always imagined it as something daring and icy that only other people do. I'm totally hooked! It was the most fun I've had on skis in years. Too bad it's so late in the season now. Some areas were starting to get mushy by the time we had checked out 3 or 4 of the swamps along Ridge.

Tomorrow should be another beautiful day!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

I should have started earlier and gone to P10! Tomorrow for sure! At 3:00 the Gatineau Parkway was quite fast and controllable in the sun, but the shadier areas were quite hard and for me, at least, difficult to edge. (Probably Ken and Karl would have loved it!) It made my knees ache. I tried both sides of Meech Lake Road, then bailed out and went for a very enjoyable run instead. It was hard to believe the grooming had been thorough in these two locations, because it was so hard packed and didn\'t even seem to be chewed up by earlier skiers. The classic tracks on one side were very shallow, about a third the regular depth.

It was a great day for Crust Cruising (to be known as CCing)(thanx for term to Ken Trischuk), for trail skiing, and for Warm Rock Sitting (to be known as WRSing).

Went from P10 via FP to CP to lookout then via #1 to the pond 1 km past Wolf Ridge - spent 2 hrs CCing the pond surface - returned, via #1, to the pond between #1 & #24 - spent some more time CCing and then some WRSing - then reluctantly returned to P10 via #1, CP, & FP.

The morning tracksetting was excellent deep loose sugar snow leaning to powder in the cold spots. It appeared to go all the way - at least as far as McKinstry. On the way back in the shade the snow stayed unchanged; in the sun it became soft but not mushy; where the sun had been it tended to glaze over. The CCing was unbelievably good firm and fast. The tracks looked excellent everywhere.

Via the ski pole test I estimated that, beside the track, the snow depth was about 60 cm on top of the hard base from the January rains. It’s quite compact and should be slow to melt.

Today was as close as this OF (connu en francais comme VBH) will ever get to paradise.

Beautiful spring conditions. Fresh grooming for the skate lane of the Parkway from P10 to the lookouts. Other places the skating was fine even without new grooming. No new classic tracks but they looked solid regardless. Ridge wasn't groomed but didn't need it as it was smooth and not too rutted. Crust cruising in the woods was excellent if you get up early enough but I expect the snow pack will soften up by 10 or 11am as the sun gains some strength.

Near perfect conditions! Ridge and the parkways were very well groomed, level and wide. The snow was much better than on Monday as the moisture in the snow has evapourated or drained off making corn of the sluch. The freshly groomed dry corn snow was melting and glazing a bit which made for unlimited glide but easy edging. Grips was rock solid with Vauhti Silver Plus klister. A day that makes an out of shape racer feel like he could knock out a solid 30km classic race.

Burma was a dissapointment. It was ungroomed, uneven, rutted from old traffic and generally hard all the way...except for the climb up from Fortune parkway oddly enough. There are no bare spots and no lack of snow for groomers to make use of so this was strange. Maybe on Wednesday, the 3rd day of week, on the 3rd day of the 3rd month Trail #3 isn't groomed for superstitious reasons?

Yes - the grooming was great this morning on FP, CP, & #1 as far as the water tank at #24 - a great sugar snow surface - after the water tank #1 became frozen boiler-plate with frozen-in snowmobile tracks. By 2 PM, below Gossip Corner, FP was starting to become hacked-up in the skating track from all the traffic. Everywhere the classic tracks were firm but hard to icy - definitely Klister.

The best conditions, however, are to be found on the ponds and bogs. Skated the pond between #24 & #1 and the two ponds beside #1 between the lookout and Huron. They’re great - firm and fast - a real delight.

Everywhere the snow is holding up - the temperature seemed to be about 0 C on the ridge and only slightly above 0 at P10 - so we’re not losing any. It still looks like winter snow but is quite firm off-track.

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.

Beautiful spring conditions (too soon!) out there. Groomed trails are in great shape with solid classic tracks and a good base for skating. Found a few downed trees across trail 21 but they were in flatter areas so no trouble getting around them. A few streams are openning up so keep an eye out for water hazards.

+4C today means Spring skiing rules are in effect..

- Skiing between 9-11 and 4-6 is best.
- Skate or klister, choose wisely.
- Structure your skis.

Snow coverage everywhere is good. The parkway below P1 was sloppy and slow, but once over the bridge it was firmer and easier going. I found trail #5 was faster than the parkway, though it was softer, but ski flex might have a lot to do with that. Trail #15 looked great too but I was skating and didn't venture that way. Classic looked good as the tracks were firm, but wet - like the Olympic 50km conditions!

P10 - Fortune, Ridge, 24, McKinstry, Fire Tower

It was roulette, and we won! When we left home, the NCC web site still gave #1Blue a yellow triangle and indicated it was last groomed on Feb. 24. We figured it was worth checking out. Surprise! It was in great shape and looked recently done. It hadn't seen much use, and was uniformly groomed, unlike the stretch of Ridge between Huron and Western (some large snowmobile ruts).

The snow was reasonably fast at 9:00 a.m., and the fact that I even made it there and back is proof that the conditions never did get super slow. The slowest part was when I picked up some klister from a downhill classic track. After wiping it off at McKinstry, things really picked up!

I didn't quite make it all the way to the Fire Tower, but Garry reported that it was "all good".

There are two photos at musicianonskis.ca

Skated from Mackenzie King to the Lookouts. Conditions were nice but plenty wet. Lots of fresh snow in the last week has been well compacted but +3C and raining meant the track was pretty slow. Quite happy though to be skiing on snow again. Cooler temps in the evening made the track firm up and get icy on last nights ski but it softens up during the day. I've gotta try to find the "magic" hour between ice and slush...

I used to look down my nose at no-wax skis. Yesterday I bought a pair. Today I tried them out.
The heavy wet conditions are messy to wax for and the no-wax was a breeze. No backslip at all, though the forward glide wasn't exactly rocket-powered.
Skyline had been skied since the last snow and the human trackset are pretty good but the snow isn't very forgiving. Less clumsy than my last outing during the snow, but still it is the trail forcing the skier's direction, not the skier cutting his/her own path (except when you are all the way out of the existing tracks).
The NCC site had reported "debris can be found on the trails in the forest" and since I hadn't seen that during the storm on Wednesday I was skeptical. But they were right. The heavy snow, before it was shed by the trees, knocked quite a number of branches down. I will post a couple of pictures of that at GuideGatineau.
The sticky snow made for good snowmen and I also will post a picture of one I saw at Wattsford Lookout.

It is fast out there. Really fast. Fast enough to make you seriously consider changing your underwear after skiing down the meech hill in the dark.

There was a beautiful full moon tonight and the trails were just starting to harden up by the time we started skiing. The parkways were bomber. Ridge road was good as well, but as we got farther out in the park, it looked like the groomers hadn't been by as recently. There was a crust that poles punch through easily on the trails down towards Meech and on Burma, but a skidoo had put some ruts in the trail and made it near impossible to slow down/step turn/retain any semblance of control. Needless to say there were a few crashes, one broken pole and a lot of sore and wobbly body parts by the end of a two and a half hour ski.

The sheer speed and exhilaration to be found on the parkways right now is something special. Strap on a pair of skate skis and get out there for a cruise.

Wow, lots of snow out there. That storm makes up for the winter drought and really improves the Spring skiing outlook. Actually it was Spring out there today: +2C at 2pm, bright sun and soft tracks initially. It was still faster than earlier reports described, probably similar to the Olympic conditions. Skiing wasn't as labourious as expected though the going was hard enough that snowman break was required to enjoy the sun.

We were passed by a groomer on Ridge at 3pm and that fresh pass really sped things up. (A bit late in the day I thought, but no complaint for how it improved my ski.) Even with all the grooming Ridge is still a bit narrow and concave for skating, but with another few days of grooming it should get better for skating and classic. The tracks were glazed and wet so klister was probably called for this afternoon. By 4pm it was really firming up and glide was getting fast. With the existing base helping to cool the softer, wetter surface snow overnight the skiing should be great tomorrow!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

A rare day! The skating was so much better than anticipated. Ridge and the parkways had been groomed earlier in the day and were not too slow considering the warm temperatures. When the groomer passed again on Ridge Road around 1:30 the skating became really fun! I did not want to go home, ever!

I skied only a portion of Burma, as it was very soft and messy from some sort of snowmobile spree. There was no moose, but it was brilliantly beautiful in the warm sun.

The photo is of Craig Storey , the genius who created this ski trail site. He and Graham were skiing on the Champlain Parkway this afternoon.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

Well, the snow has stopped for now. The groomers are hard at work packing it down. At 7:30 this morning a skate lane had been done on the parkway near P5 and they were working on Ridge road (both classic and skate). It looked like it was slow going with lots of branches to move and heavy snow to pack. I skied from P5 to Keogan and down to P7 and it was great!

Fresh grooming on Doldrums this morning and remarkably good glide for skating despite warm temperatures. I was using red glider and no rilling- with warm wax and rilling I'm sure the skis would have been even faster. There are many skiers out, and as the snow warms and is churned up conditions may deteriorate, but for now it's very good.

Lots of fresh snow today! There had obviously been some grooming done sometime later in the day. There were pretty well defined tracks, but they were a bit soft. Skating was surprisingly good. The surface was a bit soft, but not too bad at all. Watch out for the puddles of slush underneath the new snow on 29!

I was lazy, missed the morning window and decided to wait out the mid-afternoon drizzle. At 5:00 it was very nice. The snow was pelting down, and quite a bit of fresh stuff was down. The Doldrums had evidently been groomed not too many hours before. It was fairly slow, and the poles frequently jammed in the snow, however it was surprisingly firm, not deep or mushy (see attached photo). After yesterday's horrifying classic wax adventure it was very pleasant to be skating!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

It keep snowing and snowing and snowing. I don't know how many centimeters have fallen up here in the last couple of days, but something like 30 would be my guess. It's still coming as I type this.

The groomers have been doing a good job keeping things fairly well packed and track set. For sure, the tracks are continually filling up with fresh snow, but the surface underneath is firm for either skate or classic.

Watch out for heavy looking branches that might break off!

The slushy conditions in Ottawa were replaced by more and more white stuff as we drove up to Kingsmere this afternoon. I'm sure there is almost a foot of wet snow along the high sections. We gullumped along Skyline. First tried red wax but it was awful, no grip at all. Purple was okay if you can live with clumping clods of snow under your feet as you climb, that you can kick off to descent. Heavy snow made control difficult but falls were soft. Density of snow meant that other people's falls left slightly hazardous sitzmarks. Very beautiful and a little foggy by 4pm.

There's lots of heavy fresh snow falling steadily and accumulating nicely. It looks like a winter wonderland again! But, it was a bit of a slog at noon hour today. The morning grooming was well buried on Ridge and the parkway. I noticed some flatness on #3, so it must have been groomed as well.

Except for the really skied in sections of the trails there was very little glide out there. Even still skating was the better choice of techniques! Fresh falling snow at 0C seemed to be causing problems for every classic skier I saw out there. Once this significant accumulation is packed the park will be in excellent shape!

Les conditions sont excellentes. La majorité des sentiers ont été entretenus tôt ce matin.

One might say the ski conditions in the park are improving in a hurry right now. Of course, during the improvement process itself, things can be a little tricky. Looks like all the Parkways and Ridge were groomed early this morning and are in good shape. For sure, count on it being a little soft and slow, and count on the grip waxing being a bit tricky.

I knew it would snow eventually!

Continuing on from Jo-Ann’s report... Conditions just kept getting better - skied classic between the water-tank on #24 and Lac Bourgeois - not missing anything - just enjoying the great snow conditions. The classic tracks were unbelievably fast with good kick (with fluor wax) - the skate lane was soft and a touch on the slow side but still good. Some people were having trouble with sticky-snow. The big track-setter passed me on Champlain and again on Fortune on the way back to P10 - he seems to be doing the parkway loop while the snow keeps coming - a great job. With a bit of frost tonight the conditions should be super-beau tomorrow morning. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll try to get out there as early as Jo-Ann.

Lots of fresh snow and it kept falling! Perhaps as much as 10 cm. At 8:45 P10 was almost deserted. With the new snow, it was a pleasant surprise to find classic tracks on the "up escalator" of the Fortune Parkway. They were fairly recent, perhaps an hour or two old. Two minutes in, the groomer passed by and finished the "down escalator". Fortune, Ridge and Burma were deserted. Ridge appeared to have been groomed some time in the morning. Burma was not groomed but was delightfully inundated in fresh snow. No moose today. By 11:00 the Fortune Parkway was quite busy.

By 11:00 the snow was feeling more like snow man snow than powder. Let's hope the temperatures stay below zero. How wonderful it is to have some fresh snow!PCEtLSBDYXJvdXNlbCAjNTc4IC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iY2Fyb3VzZWw1NzgiIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbCBjYXJvdXNlbC1kYXJrIHNsaWRlIiBkYXRhLWJzLXJpZGU9ImNhcm91c2VsIiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLXRvcDogMTBweDsiPgk8ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1pbmRpY2F0b3JzIj48YnV0dG9uIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDU3OCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZS10bz0iMCIgY2xhc3M9ImFjdGl2ZSIgYXJpYS1jdXJyZW50PSJ0cnVlIiBhcmlhLWxhYmVsPSJTbGlkZSAwIj48L2J1dHRvbj48L2Rpdj48ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1pbm5lciI+PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtaXRlbSBhY3RpdmUiPjxpbWcgc3JjPSJpbWcvMjAxMDAyMjMvRmViXzIzX0dyb29tZXIuanBnIiBjbGFzcz0iZC1ibG9jayB3LTEwMCIgYWx0PSIwIj48ZGl2IGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jYXB0aW9uIGQtbm9uZSBkLW1kLWJsb2NrIj48aDU+Q2FwdGlvbiAjMDwvaDU+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PC9kaXY+PGJ1dHRvbiBjbGFzcz0iY2Fyb3VzZWwtY29udHJvbC1wcmV2IiB0eXBlPSJidXR0b24iIGRhdGEtYnMtdGFyZ2V0PSIjY2Fyb3VzZWw1NzgiIGRhdGEtYnMtc2xpZGU9InByZXYiPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jb250cm9sLXByZXYtaWNvbiIgYXJpYS1oaWRkZW49InRydWUiPjwvc3Bhbj48c3BhbiBjbGFzcz0idmlzdWFsbHktaGlkZGVuIj5QcmV2aW91czwvc3Bhbj48L2J1dHRvbj48YnV0dG9uIGNsYXNzPSJjYXJvdXNlbC1jb250cm9sLW5leHQiIHR5cGU9ImJ1dHRvbiIgZGF0YS1icy10YXJnZXQ9IiNjYXJvdXNlbDU3OCIgZGF0YS1icy1zbGlkZT0ibmV4dCI+PHNwYW4gY2xhc3M9ImNhcm91c2VsLWNvbnRyb2wtbmV4dC1pY29uIiBhcmlhLWhpZGRlbj0idHJ1ZSI+PC9zcGFuPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJ2aXN1YWxseS1oaWRkZW4iPk5leHQ8L3NwYW4+PC9idXR0b24+PC9kaXY+PCEtLSAvY2Fyb3VzZWwgLS0+

In the Park, in the dark. Skate-skied Gamelin to Pink in hazy moonlight. Conditions were fast, easy-floatingly fast. Tracksets to left and right seemed to encroach on the skate lane. Saw a couple dozen other denizens of the darkness--some with headlamps--some without. I began saying a cheery hello to all of them but got so carried away I almost said hello to a signpost that loomed out of the darkness.

Skated from P10, FP to Ridge, Ridge west to Wolf Trail above Blanchet, and back. FP badly churned by snowmobiles. Ridge in remarkably good shape despite Gatineau Loppet traffic from this morning. 1B very good apart from ruts left by heavy traffic on the hill just east of intersection with 9. Classic track obliterated in some places. Roughly 5cm of fresh snow has made a huge improvement. Even if there is no grooming, skiing should be quite good tomorrow.

Conditions were fair to good and many people were out! The fresh snow made for fairly slow skating for the most part, although the snow was starting to get a bit icy by mid afternoon, particularly in the classic tracks. The only annoying part of the day were the meter-wide ridges which cropped up frequently beside the classic tracks. With so many people out today, it meant constantly shifting over to the the ridge when encountering by other skiers - Pine Road is not very wide for passing even when well groomed.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

Another stunning day! Lots of people were out, and P10 had enough cars for a middle row. No new grooming, but it was as good as - or possibly better than- some groomed days I can recall. There was a bit of fresh snow on top of the previous grooming. It was mild and damp but the grip worked well. Fortune was in good shape, Ridge to Huron was good, up to the Lookout was good, 1B was great, 2 to Western was lovely, and the fresh snow on #9 - just to where it intersects Burma - made it the most fun of the year. Just one teeny little rock was peeking out. Burma was a lot of fun, no bare spots noticed, although the last hill down was pretty icy (splat!) It would be nice if Demsis would chew up that ice a bit. The parkway tracks were getting quite slow by the time we finished up. It was too much fun skiing today to take photos!

Skated P10 to Ridge west to Champlain Lookout, then back via CP.

2cm of fresh powder over a hardpacked base. Absolutely no sign of grooming anywhere, but skiing is still very good. I didn't see any distance markers up for the Gatineau Loppet- perhaps a sign that the route is still undecided.

Skied the Gloppet 5 km Classic course again tonight. The parkway was groomed sometime today. Trail 5 appears to have been groomed. 26 & 29 had not been groomed. Can't quite figure out the start for the loppet either. Guess we'll see on Saturday.

The tracks were good, but starting to glaze over a bit in places. There was also some blowing, dry snow in the tracks.

Skated from Gamelin to Notch Road. It has been recently trackset - conditions are excellent for both skate and classic - the tracks looked quite firm. Soft warm powder which was surprising fast for 0 C snow. Did not see any one having kick problems in the tracks. Took a few short detours on #15, #5, & #29 - they’ve still got a skier-tracked surface from the snow yesterday - #29 looked quite rough but good enough for commuting. With the wind and the drop in temperature there was some glazing of the powder on the way back.

Wow! What a great ski day! It's funny because the NCC site didn't indicate new grooming. With the bit of new snow, I expected the skating to be a bit of a slog, but the grooming appeared fresh. The skating was wonderful, and the classic looked so very tempting, too! To Herridge conditions were excellent, just the faintest of ridges to which we have become quite accustomed. Past Herridge, 4 heavy-footed walkers had dented the trail and there was the usual snowmobile rut. Still, with today's mild temperatures it didn't make much difference. Great skiing. More photos at musicianonskis.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

Skied the Gloppet 5 km classic route with my daughter. The new snow has improved conditions a fair bit. Still some slushy/icy patches on 29, but they're obvious and easy to get around.

Parkway didn't look like it had been groomed, but the tracks were well skied in, so no problems.

It's odd to be skiing in warm weather at this time of year!

Just a hasty skate between P8 and P9 and toward P5. The skating was lovely, looked freshly groomed in the center lane.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

Start P10. FP to Ridge, west to 24, and back via CP to FP

FP, CP groomed one side skate and classic- saw the groomer heading west on 1 near 24 intersection, so I expect the other side will be groomed later this morning.

Ridge not yet groomed today, so a bit hard packed but still easy to edge. Ice showing at sharp corner in Khyber Pass.

Very good skiing, skate or classic.

I did a little reconnaisance of the Gloppet. I skied the lower section around Skinouk, the stadium and the first 12km. Everything is generally in good shape. The parkway was freshly groomed, for skating, and was quite fast.

Trail #5 hadn't been groomed today, and it was hard in middle and a bit slow, but there was lots of snow to work with so easily groomable. The more critical sections: the corner of the Parkway onto #5 and that little turny downhill were in good shape. The downhill on #26 (off #5 into the stadium) was in great shape, as it hadn't been groomed lately it was quite soft. There was a bit of ice right at the bottom, but that would only require a small amount of snow to fix. The section to the bottom of #15 was nice.

The start area had the usual brown trucked in snow being spread out. It wasn't flat yet, but there was lots of snow for the entire field loop. There are a couple of ice flows, but again these would only require a few shovels of snow and a little elbow grease.

The section from 1km to the parkway is a skating rink. It needs some work - machine grinding, and shoveling. Shouldn't be more than a few hours to fix.

Skied from P5 on GP to CP, then CP to Champlain lookout, returned on same route. NCC web site claimed CP had been groomed, but in fact only a center band had been groomed for skating (see photo). It appeared no work had been done on the classic tracks. Skiing was still very good on a thin layer of fresh powder over a fairly hard base. It's likely similar conditions will hold tomorrow morning.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

Fire Tower from P8 via North Loop and FP. Fresh grooming for entire route. About one hour out a snow shower added about 4 cm of fresh powder in the area west of Huron. There are a few icy patches between McKinstry and the Fire Tower where ground water has come to the surface during the last thaw, but these aren't a major concern. There is also a bare patch in the sharp bend just below the bench where the Wolf Trail intersects Ridge. Overall very good skiing, either skate or classic. Highly recommended.

Très belle condition!

FP groomed this morning (see photo) and in excellent condition for skate and classic. CP east of T not groomed so far today but still in fairly good shape. Grooming on Ridge looks to be about a day old. Snow on Ridge hardpacked and dirty, but still skiable. Definitely worth skiing this afternoon if you can get off work.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

Excellent skate today. I was 15 min behind the groomer. One of the best day this year. I have to give it to Demsis (great work with little snow)skied up champlain parkway to the lookout, back on #1 to P5. #1 is getting thin, but still skiable. fast conditions. The classic tracks are in great shape, and fast. Enjoy your ski.

JR

Skied (skating) yesterday evening with my 11 year old daughter just messing around on the trails used for Gloppet 5 km classic and 10 km skate. When we started it was still light and the very hard packed snow was still soft enough to get an edge. The snow was firming up throughout our ski.

Trail 29 has some nasty icy spots, particularly as you head towards Gatineau Parkway. Trail 5 is scraped down to ice on the corners of the hills. Trail 26 from 5 to 29 was okay, but scraped bare in a couple of spots. Theres's a huge patch of ice at the turn at the bottom of 26, where it joins 29. Hope that's gone before the Gatineau Loppet!

Just a relaxing classic ski on trail 53. Fabulous weather and the 5 day old tracks are still holding. They were very hard, very fast (sometimes faster than I liked!). There was one bad icy spot to watch out for, but otherwise it was just just hard-packed, tired-out snow. The debris was a problem, however, in many areas and made my wax job totally irrelevant and almost sent me flying a few times! I had to stop halfway, scrape off the forest floor and start over . Otherwise, good skiing, considering the little snow we have had.

The photo at www.musicianonskis.ca shows a nice clean area of track.

I posted a couple pics and quick video at http://j.mp/bHs827
The trail out of P6 was recently groomed but pretty hard. Could still get an edge in it though. I soon departed on Trail #8 and found fast fun conditions but ones that take a little nerve. A few pieces of granite exposed through the thin cover, but generally amazingly fine skiing for having had no snow for so long.

Beautiful couple of days of sking. Grooming on the main trails is rock solid yet still providing reasonable grip. Steep descents are a bit icy but still managable. Found similar conditions out of P17 on Saturday - solid grooming though a little icy on the descents. I expect this is what we'll see for the next couple of weeks with no significant fresh snow in the near future. The backcountry trails are holding up really well considering the small amount of snow we've had. They're in great shape although you have to watch for the odd hazard (rocks, sudden dips etc.) here and there.

The trails are well used but still great to ski on. Where the trails cross or closely parallel streams one must be a little careful (mainly because these places are sunken). Beautiful and sunny, occasional nippy breeze. Passed lots of smiling faces.

Superb fresh grooming and track setting on FP and on Ridge, at least between Penguin and Champlain Lookout. 1B not freshly groomed. Excellent conditions for skate and classic, get out and ski this afternoon if you possibly can!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

It was the best of skis. It was the worst of skis. Great weather and at least 5 cm of fresh snow. Great grip wax. The tracks were fabulous, but not the classic ones that had to be skied in. There were (guessing) rabbit, fox, wolf, deer and something small all over the trails. The wolf tracks went right up the middle of trail #1 from McKinstry to the Fire Tower.

It was very a very scenic day, but extremely slow and exhausting. Nothing was groomed for classic until I hit the Fortune Parkway on the return trip many, many hours later. There were some narrow skate renovations done on Ridge Road and on the upper Champlain Parkway. 1B was being worked on by 2 snowmobiles when I reached it. It was a lovely kilometer of skiing except for the blue fumes.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

Classic up trail #3 and the change in snow texture leaving the parkway was dramatic; very hard packed on parkway, well used but powdery on #3. Special Blue wax was on the edge of being okay. Saw half a dozen happy looking people. Zipped along Parkway between Etienne Brule and Champlain lookouts, all parkway grooming looked pretty good. Trail 1b toward Western hadn't been groomed recently but was fine just the same. Back down #9 which has seen more traffic up top (west of intersection with #3) which has it in very good shape. #9 between #3 and Fortune Parkway also good but feels a wee bit rougher with fewer skiers over it. Since that was downhill for me "also good" conditions had me squeaking with joy.

Les conditions sont excellentes. Il y tombé quelques cm de plus qu'en ville en haut alors les conditions sont grandement améliorées. Important d'avoir un bon binder pour le classique car il y a encore des cristaux de glace dans la neige. Bon ski!!!

I would have rated the skiing excellent if the grooming had been consistent. On the Gatineau Parkway it was as beautiful as you could ever imagine at any top ski resort. It was still a bit soft at 11:00 and had (I suspect) likely been groomed just shortly before I headed out. However the Champlain Parkway (also similarly marked with a green check mark, as freshly groomed before 8:00 a.m. )had patently not been groomed for classic. The skate lane had been nicely renovated and generally conditions were quite nice. On the return downhill from Black Lake and also on the downhill back to the Mica intersection, the classic tracks were very shallow and "blown out" completely for a small stretch. The tracks were generally quite slow where covered with fresh snow. All in all, though, it was a fabulous day to be out skiing!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

Did the loop around Pink lake (35-15-5-GP), starting from the Notch overpass. Alas, the NCC report is right. No recent grooming on 15. But classic tracks are there, no rocks. Grooming on GP is solid, with a very thin layer of fresh snow on top. Grip was on the soft side, a colder shade of green would have been better.

Afternoon skate-ski to Pink Lake and back. Parkway felt hard packed, not quite toward icy. Sharp breeze out of the west made exposed sections less enjoyable. A thin layer of recent blown snow took a little speed off the glide. All in all on the good side of fair conditions.

As reported to me by Garry Tarr: "I skate skied from P16 along trail 50 starting around 10AM. 50 from P16 to the gate at Lac Philip was hard, icy and not very pleasant. There were numerous patches of debris from pine trees, thick enough to catch and stall a ski. There were also sections where bumps left by the groomer were frozen into the trail. I could only rate it as fair. Amazingly, as soon as I passed the Lac Philip gate conditions were superb. There was soft snow, fresh grooming, and not even any snowmobile ruts. The excellent conditions extended all the way to P19. Green 55 to Taylor Lake was hard and icy, just like the section between P16 and Lac Philip. On my way back to P16 I took a detour down 36 to Meech Lake, and found thick soft powder with tracks skied in. The ungroomed section of 36 was actually nicer for skate skiing than some of the groomed sections of trail 50."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

Beautiful albeit chilly day for a ski. Fresh grooming on all the main trails was good but somewhat icy. A good binder helped keep grip wax on the skis but I still had to stop once to reapply wax. Trail 54 black is a little light on snow cover as yet with exposed rocks, roots and creek beds. Easy enough to negotiate going uphill but tougher to dodge going down. The skating tracks on 50 and 55 looked to be in very good shape.

Despite the dire weather forecast, it was a stunning classic ski day! The grooming was sublime and there was not a trace of ice from last week's monsoon. Skiing in the sunny, sheltered location of Ridge Road, and wearing boot warmers and face protection, the windchill was not a problem.

There's been enough fresh snow on top of the icy base to give good coverage. Open streams abound but none I saw were a hazard or even inconvenient. Perhaps 4 people over the trail since last snow, Trail #8 (Highland) only one set of tracks. Some leaves in tracks. Blowy & cold from west on #17, more sheltered in #22-34-19. Biggest problem was frosty glasses (supposedly -32 with wind chill).

There had been grooming this morning, but a few quick blizzards dumped 5cm on top of that. The wind was howling so there was some drifting as well. Tracks were nicely skied in on Ridge and the cover was uniform and good everywhere I saw. Doesn't look like we lost too much in the melt down. No ice or rocks showing which is great for grooming prospects on the trails. Should be great this weekend!

Parkways were groomed at some point yesterday down to Gamelin and are in good condition, for both skate and classic. Trail 5, 26 and 29 have not been groomed, but overall are in great shape given the meltdown and light snow on top. There are a few footprints on 29 that are deep enough that you could break a pole but other than that, the lower part of the Gatineau Park all the way to the top of Pinks Lake are in good shape. One more pass of grooming and expect excellent conditions over the weekend.

The skiing is amazing today. Much of the parkways are groomed, and so is most of Ridge Road. Lots of people anxious to ski after the rain . . the parking lot at P10 was full at noon on a weekday! Skate tracks were great, and classic tracks looked nice and solid, but abrasive so use a good binder under your grip wax.

That little bit of snow we got this morning has whitened everything up nicely. Although nothing is groomed right now, it is definitely ski-able. We skated on the parkways and it was pretty well skied in, not icy, but also not a slog.
I'm not sure what the non-parkway trails are like but I assume if they were good before, they should still be fine now.
As for classic, there were some skied in tracks out there too. Waxing would be tricky though. I bet waxless skis would work pretty well.

CLOSED! The NCC has taken measures to close the trails off to skiing for the time being. This should prevent people from making deep ruts in what must be some pretty slushy snow right now. When it starts to freeze we'll hacve concrete. Hopefully we get the flurries predicted to there something soft to ski on by the end of the week. P1,P8, P9, or P10 are your best bets for early grooming. Double poling is the most useful technique on ice - point them straight and go, just watch out for those downhills.

Well that was a beautiful ski weekend, hope you got out and enjoyed it. We'll see what happens tonight and tomorrow. There's lots of base on the parkways, so at the very least they should be groomable by mid-week. Hopefully some snow follows the rain and we might not even notice this little warm blip.

Kind of day that makes you wonder if you're dreaming. Sunshine, warm temperatures, great grooming and fast conditions. If you're "thinking over" going for a ski, get on with it and get out there.

I skied Fortune Parkway and Ridge Road between Fortune Parkway and the top of Penguin-which was as described above. I was pleased to find that a large portion of the Fortune Racing trail had been groomed (skate only) and was in quite good shape. Fortune is a great place to train when it is groomed--check it out when you have the chance...

I skied only the Doldrums this morning but it was impressive. Yesterday's narrow renovated center lane for skating, (which was referred to as groomed) is fortunately gone. Whether you skate or go classic today it is in top shape and freshly groomed. Get out there and enjoy the wonderful conditions before Monday's rain arrives.

Read also "How are the trails really?" for a backcountry report.

Quite a nice, mild day today. Conditions were similar to yesterday, with a little more fresh snow having accumulated on top of an icy base. The amount of fresh snow varied a bit from place to place, but I saw as much as 5cms in the vicinity of Kingsmere. No real problem, but it can be slow going in spots, particularly while skiing in the tracks if nobody else has gone by before you.

As mentioned by Megan, there are a couple of centimetres of relatively dry snow on top of a hard track. This makes for quite nice skiing, although a bit on the slow side relative to what we have had lately. Even this little bit of snow should help the conditions a bit. I skied on Ridge and it was in good shape all the way from Penguin to the #24 junction.

Nice skiing this morning. I just went on the parkways but I'm sure everything will be in good shape. There was a couple of cm of fresh snow covering a very hard track. This made the classic tracks a bit slow, but the skating was great. Karl will probably update later with a more detailed report.

Fabulous grooming on a Monday! And the 4th day of good grooming in a row!
State of the art classic tracks and a perfect skate lane. Fortune, and Ridge out to the Fire Tower were not in "Good to Very Good" condition.

They were in "Outstanding, couldn't-be-better condition". What great skiing! Way to go, Demsis!

On a more mundane note, the waxing was tricky today due to the ice fog. A klister binder didn't work all that well, perhaps a universal klister might have been better? Or Teho green? In any case, the skate conditions were so good that it was possible to simply skate whenever the wax refused to work. It was just a great day to be out! There are three photos.

Skied late this afternoon from Asticou. Busy place with lots of skiers, a dozen snow shoers and a few walkers. The Gatineau parkway was freshly groomed and in great shape. The snow is quite fast but soft, not icy. Classic tracks looked firm and well formed. There had been a lot of traffic but grooming was holding up well. Trails #5 and #26 were freshly groomed and in good shape as well. Trail #29 was nice where groomed, but the ungroomed section was hard packed to icy. Still skiable, though your wax might not have worked as well there. Using that as reference skiing on the fresh groomed trails would be best.

Skiing was generally quite good today, although with some variation depending on where you skied. Everything that was groomed last night is in quite good shape for either classic or skating. Trails which were not groomed last night (notably #3 Burma ) are quite icy, but certainly passable if you are keen. This makes grip waxing a bit tricky. I would generally advise having some klister on your skis, but there are places where you could probably get away without it (freshly groomed sections)

Ridge Road beyond the 1A/1B junction was in excellent shape and made for beautiful skiing--fast, well groomed, and not icy.

I didn't check it, but apparently the Fortune Racing Trail was groomed overnight.

If you are heading up to the Park for a ski this evening, here are a couple of things to bear in mind:
1. Ridge Road is o.k for skating, but not particularly good for classic right now as a lot of ice and debris fell during the day and is now freezing solid, making it hard to get grip.
2. The Parkways seem to be in excellent shape for either classic or skating.Grooming must have taken place either last night or during the day today. If you go classic skiing, klister is recommended.

With grooming overnight, I would expect quite good conditions this weekend, although perhaps a bit fast and icy unless we get more snow.

It was perfect conditions for skating today! Mild weather and a bit of fresh snow over this week's grooming. Fortune seemed to have a renovated skate track although the NCC report didn't seem to mention it. Ridge was getting pretty skied-out up to Huron, as was trail 24, but Ridge beyond Western was beautiful for skating, with some fresh snow down. Classic tracks were okay on one side of the trail.

About 2cms of fresh snow on top of a firm and somewhat icy base made for very nice skating today on the Gatineau Parkway. Classic looked to be nice as well, but bear in mind that there is snow in the tracks so you might need to use a bit more wax or something a bit warmer than you might normally think relative to the temperature.

Beautiful sunshine today and not too cold. I classic skied on Champlain Parkway and trail 15. The skating lane on Champlain Parkway was groomed overnight, leaving very good skate conditions. The classic tracks were not re-set and have accumulated some windblown snow and ice. While a bit slow, it is still quite good skiing. Trail 15, though not groomed overnight, is also in quite reasonable shape.

Went out for a short afternoon skate. The conditions were fast and very well groomed. We skied the loop from last year's Eastern Canadians and it was awesome. Some of the sharp corners are quite icy and rutted so use caution but overall the trail were very nice.

Skied out from P16 to lac Philippe and back. Conditions were very good. Fast but grippy snow and perfect tracks set the whole way. Make sure you put a fairly warm wax on as the snow is fairly old now. Hope you can make the trip out... you won't regret it!

Wow! A cold, but beautiful day for skiing. We did a time trial this morning on Ridge Road and Burma and the conditions were great. The parkways are all in perfect condition too. We were also told that the Camp Fortune Race trails were also groomed, but we didn't get a chance to check those out ourselves. Bundle up and enjoy!

Kind of snowy and blowy out...nice once you get moving. P10 was full at 11AM. Ridge Road and the Parkways are in quite good shape for skating and classic. Ridge is groomed about as far as the junction with 24. Burma road (#3) in in passable condition for skate and classic, although certainly a bit rough.

Nice weather and everything I skied (Ridge Road, Fortune Parkway, Champlain Parkway) was in quite good shape today for both classic and skating. Conditions are a bit more abrasive than you might expect, so if going classic a binder or very thin blue klister base is recommended.

Maintenance crews appear to be cutting trees on the racing trail, so with some luck, that might be skiable soon.

Where I skied today, the conditions matched the Park's ski report! The Doldrums and Fortune Parkways were in excellent shape for both classic and skate, as was Ridge out to #3. Burma did look a bit worn and littered, but then it was listed only as fair. Many happy skiers were out today.

Skied P8-p10, up Fortune Pkwy, across Ridge to Penguin and back to P8.

Freshly groomed perfect conditions throughout. A truly wonderful ski.

Spectacular skiing today! Fresh grooming and good tracks almost everywhere I skied. Starting from p10, parkway was excellent, Ridge towards 24 good too. 24 is groomed part way, but if you're on classic skis keep going, because the skier-traffic single track is really fun (continues on 1 towards Wolf trail). Classic tracks do have some icy snow groomed in, so a binder will help keep your grip wax on.

- P10 to Ridge FP groomed for skating only.
- Ridge to Champlain maybe groomed in skate lane, but obliterated with snowmobile - deep ruts no classic grooming. No grooming on PKWY near lookout.
- Top end of Burma beautifully groomed no grooming at bottom end
- Grooming to top of FP, extending west towards Huron - but no grooming at Champlain lookout!
- No grooming on CP east of FP

See also this report at GuideGatineau.ca about Trails #3, #9, #28 .

The NCC is still working on clearing the ice damage to the trees on many trails.

Wear eye protection, there are eye level branches on most of these trails! See the photos: 1, 2

Gatineau Parkway at P5: nicely groomed

Ridge from Fortune to Penguin Hill: groomed by 8:10 (I remember this clearly because as  they passed us and we had to wait in the deep snow of the ditch at the base of Penguin. It was interesting trying to climb out!  )

Ridge from Fortune to Huron: somewhat groomed, but missing some classic tracks here and there, and the tracks for both skating and classic were often blown over. They did not look fresh.

#2 down to Western: well groomed, even had a classic track, somewhat windblown.

1B: there was a back country single track, no grooming whatsoever.   Very picturesque.

#1 from Western cutoff  : a large tree was blocking Ridge Road at the intersection, and there was no grooming whatsoever of any kind. Trail 24 was not groomed either.

Burma: large fallen trees and ski jumps had been removed and a snowmobile had passed through (is this the thing they call "grooming"?).  It was very beautiful, not at all boring and many people were skiing on the trail in both directions.  The last hill descending to the parkway was pretty narrow and full of icy chunks.

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.

Excellent day for skiing, so-so day for the grooming. We started out around noon from P6. The tracks weren't great but just being out skiing was. Tar was the wax of the day for sure..took us a few tries to come to that conclusion. We skied up #30 to Ridge, both had seen some grooming and there were classic tracks set down one side while skiers had done a good job of skiing in a classic track down the other side. Once we crossed the Fortune Parkway it was obvious that this section of Ridge had not been groomed "January 1 Before 8 am" as claimed. Neiter had Burma (#3), which likely has not yet been graced by a groomer this season. Lucky for us many skiers had ventured up and down Burma and had set an excellent single track. They were also passing on the warning that there was a large tree down across the trail about 100m from the Fortune Parkway. If decending be careful! While some skiers have built a ramp over the fallen tree for those unable to stop, it will like result in some good air time!

Last ski of 2009! We skied from P6 to Mica and then to the bottom of Black's Lake and back a few times this afternoon while it snowed, lightly at first then more heavily. It was ard to tell how recent the grooming was when we started but the base was firm and level and the tracks were visible. The debris in that area was minimal and mostly cleaned-up, quite beautiful scenery. By the end of the ski the conditions were great ~5cm of new snow at -5C, always fast, and the tracks looked like perfect Carrot skiing. The park might get significant snowfall from this storm as there was already than the 2-4cm predicted. If that happens skiing will be great.. just as we all go back to work. Happy New Year!

Wow...COLD out there this morning...at least relatively speaking. Megan says they were grooming when she was out (8AM) for both classic and skate heading from P8 towards the Mica intersection. She also said it is worth paying attention to where it has been groomed overnight because the ungroomed sections, owing to the fresh snow, are very slow.

Skiing was nice today. As for grooming, the parkways have been groomed for skating and in some areas there are new classic tracks (P10-Champlain pkwy, P8-P9 and P5-P8). In other places the old tracks are skied in and in some places there is no track. Ridge road is skiable but not groomed. There are still lots of branches and debris on the smaller trails but the parkway is mostly cleared up.
Checkout these photos - Beautiful ski, MusicianOnSkis.ca: 1, 2, 3.

It is a really nice day to be out skiing and enjoying the mild temperatures and fast conditions.

No grooming was done on the trails we skied today. It is warm enough, however, that skiing remains reasonable in most places. I would recommend skating over classic given that a mixture of about 3cms of snow and ice pellets has filled the old tracks and new ones have not been set. Skiing in Ridge Road and Burma is fair as well, but watch out for many fallen trees and branches.

The NCC grooming report states that they will not be grooming until we receive more snow.

Demsis closed all the parking lots in the Gatineau Park and took the day off, citing the weather. The visitor centre told us that no grooming is planned until there is significant snow fall.
Notwithstanding, skiing in the track was very good but skating is fair given that no rennovation has occured. We also went running on the snow shoe trails with yak tracks on running shoes - Awesome.
WEATHER FORECAST CHELSEA Freezing rain at times mixed with ice pellets changing to snow late this evening. Snow and ice pellet amount 5 to 10 cm. Temperature rising to zero by morning. Close to 15cm and high of -4 predicted for higher regions of the Gatineau Park.

I was skating today and the parkway had been groomed. It was firm with a little bit of a soft top which was perfect. The classic tracks were filled with blown in snow to the point that many could not be identified. There are a few spots near the top of Black and Huron where the is very little to no cover so watch out with new skis. You can also pull out the rock skis and take Ridge road which has a few rocks but nothing to worry about with an older pair of skis.

Nice, hard pack, not too abrasive, wax choice is easy. Champlain parkway was freshly groomed, had not seen a lot of traffic.
But LOTS of leaves and debris in the classic tracks from all the wind yesterday. What is worse: classic rollerskiing on wet leaves, or classic winter skiing on dry leaves... go right ahead and find out!

Meech Lake is ice skateable, but the window may close tonight with more snow. Trails #40, 2 black, 24, 1 blue were in good shape (at least as far as McKinstry), with only a couple of rocks anywhere, but the base is irregular and hard from the cold and the use.

Conditions were pretty quick today on the Doldrums. The skiing it was sweet! The snow was wind blown but still fast despite the cold. The wind was also fast, which made it feel cold. Skiing in a more sheltered area than this stretch is advised. But what I couldn't figure out was why the skating lane from P8-P9 is so narrow? Especially given the traffic in that section. Is that other lane beyond the classic tracks also for uni-directional travel? Both were too narrow for the number of people out there.

Great Morning for skiing in the Park. Beautiful, crisp, Sunny day with hard pack tracks both Classic and Skating. I did an early morning Classic Time Trial with some Carleton and Skinouk Skiers on a short loop based out of P5 - Penguin Picnic Area. The grooming on the Parkway was looking good and the tracks in that area were solid. After I skied Ridge Road from Penguin to Keogan, skiing was alright there and pretty well skied in by Mid-morning. Snow still seems a little thin on Penguin hill so be careful snow plowing on your way down. If you haven't been out yet, its not to late and well worth it! Enjoy!

Good morning of skiing in the cold. The tracks have firmed up a lot and are pretty much perfect now. Skate conditions also looked very good. Not the fastest conditions but defiantly the best skiing I've done so far this season. Grip waxing is really straight forward and the snow is not too abrasive so you won't need tons of layers (I had lots left over from just 4 thin layers). Have fun out there!

I headed out real early this morning from P10. Luckily I was skating because by then there was only one groomer pass in the middle of the Parkway, it was fairly good skiing, a little soft but as expected with the new snow. The tracks were completely covered with fresh snow early on but I met the groomer multiple times between 8:30 and 9:30am setting tracks on the Fortune Parkway. I also tried Ridge road but that need a lot of grooming work so I turned back. It's going to be a soft day skiing everywhere but with the cold weather predicted in the forecast things should harden up quite nicely.

First ski of the season for me! Fresh grooming on Ridge and the parkways this morning but conditions are still a bit soft. We need another 10-20cm, a few more grooming passes and a days of cold to firm things up and get the park in perfect shape. From P6 up #30 was decent for classic and skate, Penguin is thin with rocks at the top, Ridge to Keogan was generally really good with the odd bump and rock. Keogan - Kyber pass was good, rocks up Kyber, good to Huron and #3 crossing but from there it was soft uneven and rockier. Ridge = Rock skis to be on the safe side. Parkway near Champlain has its thin spots but Fortune pkway is in great shape. Enjoy!

Headed out fairly early from P8 up to penguin skating. The conditions were great except for a few exposed rocks near the top of penguin. We continued on ridge road towards Champlain before turning around and heading back the same way. Ridge road was in great shape, there were a few exposed rocks on the big steep hill between Keogan and Huron but they are easily avoided. It was nice to see some snow starting to fall as we finished up.

Another Beautiful Day in the Park! It was a little crisp this morning out there but it couldn't feel more like winter. I skied classic and the best tracks were defiantly from P10 to Champlain. Towards Blacks on the parkway, the tracks were really soft. The middle is getting pretty packed in and I would have to say skating would be really good. All around great skiing today and with a bit more snow and grooming we will be laughing!

The skiing was even better today than yesterday, unsurprisingly as the snow had another pass with the groomer and another day to settle. It was quite firm and fast between P8 and P9 but a bit softer and slower towards penguin and Pink's from p8.
Remember your sunglasses and lip balm for days like today, the sun realy scorches off the snow!

Great skiing today! All the new snow has been beautifully groomed! The snow is soft because it is so new but you can find good tracks for sure. I think classic is a better bet in the softness but skating probably wouldn't be bad either!
Winter is here, get out and enjoy!

I skied only briefly on the Doldrums. It was fun to have real classic tracks after several days of "do it yourself" . Lot of skiers were out. The grooming? Well it was fine, but don't expect anything out of the ordinary. The inside classic tracks were getting firm as people skied them. The center lane included a snowmobile track and a center area of loose snow. The skaters seemed to be having a slow time of it. One more pass would have made a big difference. That said, there is still great skiing to be had. Get out there and enjoy it!

GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH! Unless you've had your head in a hole for the last 24 hours you will know we have snow. I had an exam today, so going to the park was out. I had to get to my exam some way, but biking to school would have been nearly certain death. So, like any good skier would do, I strapped on a pair of revolutions, dressed myself for survival and trucked outside to write my last exam at Carleton. The bike path along the canal was decent for skate skiing, and I got some awesome looks coming through campus! Afterwards, Mooney's bay provided some awesome tele turns.

With only a bit more snow than yesterday, the conditions were much more enjoyable. It was one of those classic "blue-wax" mornings. I skied on the grass to the Lookout (it's a bit thinner between Huron on Champlain, but still okay), but you could likely ski anywhere on the parkway network providing you use the grass. Some skiers had managed to ski on the parkway itself but I couldn't quite manage it - my bases are bad enough already!

By 11:30 P10 was filling up with cars. Both hikers and skiers were showing up to enjoy the fabulous winter weather.

Photos should be up shortly.

I skied only to Fortune Lake and decided to bail out until there is more snow. As it was well below zero, the snow was powdery and loose, and there was no more snow at P10 than in the rest of Chelsea. It was possible to glide in the fresh snow and grass, but there was too little snow to glide on previously made tracks. A few centimeters more will make a huge difference! It IS snowing lightly (at noon hour) so perhaps this afternoon will be a bit better. And of course there is some photo evidence on my site!

Snowing in this end of town since 7pm. Who's been skiing? Send in your pictures and reports info@xcottawa.ca!

Looks like we might have lost our bit of snow! Remember, it doesn't take much. Let us know if you get out to ski . . .

There\'s enough snow to classic ski on the grass from P10. A bit more snow would help, but still an enjoyable outing!

Anyone ski in the park today? Our regular scouts took off to SilverStar and the rest are in Montmorency where winter arrived Friday night. If you skied today let us know!

There's skiing in Montmorency! Kyle, Anna, Lee, Matthias and myself are currently skiing on a one kilometer loop of man-made snow that is good for classic and skate. 10cm of fresh snow means it's possible to trek around on some of the other trails on rock skis for a change of pace. It's a crisp -5, and there's more snow on the way. If you feel the itch to get those boards on, it's only a 5 hour drive away.

Parkways are now closed for the season, sleep in and rollerski whenever you want! Honest, see this NCC press release.

Parkways are now closed for the season, sleep in and rollerski whenever you want! Honest, see this NCC press release.

Parkway closures for Roller Skiing are..(Map)

• P8-Mica until 9:30am - Saturday & Sunday
• P8-P9 until 10am - Saturday & Sunday
• P8-P9 and P8-Mica from 17:00 to 19:30 - Tuesday & Thursday

Please follow: Safe Rollerksiing Best Practices for athletes and coaches.