Spring ski to Champlain lookout

Went for a spring ski yesterday from P10 to Champlain lookout. Snow was "sticky" which helped a lot on the uphill part of the Fortune Parkway. It started out cloudy but the sun came out and made for a great day of spring xc skiing.

More pics

New Year, more snow!

The first day of a new year and 10 fresh cms of overnight snow, I think I am going to like this 2010!! The much needed snow was well appreciated to cover up the crusty trails and especially so in the trails other than the parkways. It sure was nice to make some first tracks in ankle deep snow on the trail down to the Brulé lookout. There was no view from the lookout due to clouds and more snow to come! I made a short stop at Huron to warm up and have a snack. There is more snow in the forecast and I hope to make the most of it this weekend!

Comparison shots of the Brulé lookout:





Other shots from today:

Crystal Forest

The recent weather (freezing rain) did not bode well for the xc ski conditions. Nor did the NCC website that claimed all trails were not recommended. Well I had been away for a few days and seemed to be coming down with a cold so I thought a ski would be the tonic. I headed to P10 which was full of cars. While there was a guy in the parking lot checking for ski passes I did not see much signs of Demsis work anywhere else. I guess they are all off for xmas holidays? Well the parkway was crusty and slick but it was actually good conditions for my waxless skis. There was signs everywhere of debris from the rain and trees coated with a thin sheen of ice. It had the look of crystal trees everywhere. Some just coated with ice and others either broken or bent over with the weight. It is strange that a sight that is so beautiful is so destructive to the forest. Every once in a while you would hear some tinkling and the odd crash of some ice falling from a tree. I would guess that the back country trails might not be so great but the parkway was good for a days skiing. With some extra snow and some grooming we should be back in business soon.

All I want for Christmas

Forecast today called for 5cm more snow and that is what I encountered as I headed up the Fortune Parkway from P10. It was warmer today than yesterday and the new snow is welcome. It doesn't look like they have groomed yet but perhaps that is because the base is too thin? I encountered some asphalt near the top of the hill from P10 and the occasional pole hit the road but who's complaining. Not me for sure. Also, a good sign when people are snowshoeing into Keogan from Camp Fortune. More snow forecast for early in the week. Let's hope we get another big dump. That's all I want for Christmas!

More comparison photos...

Spring skiing

In what was likely the last ski of the season, Bryan, Ken and I set out from P10 at about 10:30 for some spring skiing. As we made our way up the Fortune Parkway it seemed as though we had our own personal groomers as we were passed twice by two grooming machines. The freshly groomed tracks ranged from icy to soft to downright slush and they progressed towards the latter as the day progressed. But how could one complain when out skiing in shorts and thin fleece with the temps above 10C?

We headed up Ridge road, stopping briefly at Shilly shally and Huron before settling in a Brulé lookout where we had our pick of the picnic tables that were buried under snow the last time I was there. No woodstove to toast our sandwiches but a gentle breeze and warm sun. The occasional skier passed below on the Champlain parkway that was mostly pavement. There was a thin ribbon of snow about 2 feet wide! After lunch and some beverages, Ken announced that he was returning to work. Was he getting paid to ski?

Bryan and I then headed west. We went first to Champlain lookout which was bare pavement and the view along the escarpment showed no evidence of snow. We then continued to Western cabin. The trail there ended about 30 yards from the cabin, just past the duct taped ICE sign. We enjoyed a half hour sitting out back before setting out for P10. The trails were softer but still skiable and that last 2K down the parkway was more effort than normal but still a sweet way to end a ski day.

This was a great day and a great way to end a ski season that was four months long by my count! OK, now to plan my assault on the 46er patch!

P9 to P9 ... the long way round

I went out for a short ski today as a way to get some fresh air after recovering from a bad cold. It was a sweet day with sunny skies and fairly warm so it wasn't too surprising that P10 was full to overflowing when I got there. I opted for P9 (just down the hill) and a short, flat ski out and back on the doldrums. However, when I got to the gate at the far end, I decided to cross the road and continue. After climbing the first few hills on the Gatineau Parkway I was committed to the parkway loop. I've skied this loop a few times now and it is a great way to spend a sunny day. There are several long hills but because it is road they are never too steep. The stretch of the Champlain Parkway between the Gatineau Parkway and the Fortune Parkway has the most uphill and I was really feeling it near the highpoint and was pretty happy to finally see the intersection with Fortune. From there it is flat for a few kilometre and then at last you see the road sign with the car pointed diagonally down (the universal symbol that tells skiers that they can glide from here back to the parking lot.

A great day to be out, work on the winter tan and sweat out some germs!

The night shift

With several days of rain/freezing rain in the forecast and a full moon, Bryan, Ken and I decided to go for an evening ski from P10 up to Huron cabin for supper and some then skiing under the full moon. The outing took a near disasterous turn right at the start as Bryan left something behind at work: it was his foil wrapped sandwiches. The traffic was much lighter now that the busses are back running. We got to P10 under sunny blue skies and headed up the Fortune Parkway to meet up with Ken around Fortune Lake. The tracks were slick which made for lots of poling on the way up and predicted a quick ride back to the car later on.

We stopped in at Shilly Shally for a beverage before heading up to Huron Lookout to check out the sunset. While the sun was blazing, the mostly cloudy skies kept the photo session short. We headed back to Huron cabin and started preparing supper. There were pots of soup and sandwiches cooking on the wood stove, chili bubbling on a portable burner, french bread and cheese on the table and a well stoked fire. As we were working on dinner we were making mental lists of items to add to the menu for next time. We had the cabin to ourselves for more than an hour before a birthday celebration arrived.

With that we made our way back down Ridge road through the Khyber pass by the moonlight. The was no one coming up through the pass and it was clear sailing back to Shilly Shally. From there we stopped several times to take photos of the moon when it emerged from various bank of clouds (I have some practising to do on my night photography). The ride back down the Fortune parkway was awesome, other than a few bumpy moments in the tracks. At the parking lot there was some debate about finding the steepest, narrowest trail in the park and doing it in the dark but that was all talk.

Nights at the cabins are a cool scene and something to be done again, soon!

Winter...you're back!!

First ski outing of the season. There has been snow in Gatineau Park for several weeks but Wednesday's dump of 30-40 cms sealed the deal. I headed for P10 and although I had not bought my pass I got by with a "forgot it at home". I like skiing from this parking lot because at the end of the day you get an effortless cruise of 2 kilometres down the hill. I made a nice loop up the Fortune parkway and Ridge road to the Champlain Lookout and then back via the Champlain Parkway and the Fortune Parkway.

As per usual with the first xc ski of the year, several muscles groups announced their displeasure with this "new" activity but no permanent damage was done. It was a nice sunny day albeit quite cold until I started back towards the car. It was cold enough that I got an ice cream headache on the descent but I am guessing the people on their way up would not have been sympathetic. I stopped in at the visitors centre on the way home to get my pass.

Ah! Spring skiing

In contrast to Friday's sticky conditions, today was a perfect day. It was warm and sunny enough to make me think I should have put on some sunscreen and slick enough for some nice glide. I eased past the parking lot full sign at P10 and had my choice between two spots. A friendly sort greeted me as I approached the parkway and wished me a good day. I'm not sure if this is the guy who is supposed to ask for your pass or suggest that you pay. It would seem this winter that one could have skied free if one wanted to. I am happy to pay for a pass given the extensive network of trails and the usual great conditions but I must say I hope they go back to Lafleur next season.

I headed up the parkway and then took Ridge road to the Brulé lookout. I managed to snag the only picnic table that was above the snowline and sat for a nice break soaking up the sun and the view of the Ottawa river valley. Then it was all downhill back to the car. That is one thing I love about xc skiing, whatever effort you put in going uphill is rewarded with a relaxing slide back down! We'll see how many more weekends there will be to ski but I hope to get in a few more days like this before the season is over.

 

Parkway Loop

I went out today with an idea to do a short out and back on the parkways and I wasn't expecting the conditions to be real great after the January thaw and several days of rain. Well it turned out the conditions were pretty good on the parkways and it was a beautiful sunny day so I made a loop from P5 of the Gatineau, Champlain and Fortune parkways. The grip wasn't great but the glide more than made up for this and you could just use your poles on any surface that was flat or even slightly downhill. I saw a few people I know on the way up the Champlain parkway and saw lots of people having a great time going downhill likes bats outa hell on this stretch.

When I got close to Keogan cabin I wished I had brought some food and water but instead I just sat on a nearby bench and adjusted one of my boots that was giving me trouble. Then it was off down the Fortune parkway that seemingly only took a few minutes to descend...wheeeee! The remainder of the loop was quite a bit slower along the aptly named doldrums and then up the hill between P8 and P5. Timing worked out just about right as I made it home in time to hit the couch and tune in to NFL playoff action! Sweet day!