Another perfect day for spring skiing, today at Mont Cascades. The weather was once again cool but without the strong winds from yesterday. I arrived ready to hit the slopes at 11am and already the snow had begun to soften. Nearly all trails were open with a few exceptions (Gratton and two of the cross-over trails between the East Quad and the main side). It honestly felt more like skiing in the winter than the spring. Standout trails this visit were Hogan (which I chose to enjoy over and over), as well as Alouette and Interlude. With no lines at the lifts, it was refreshing to run lap after lap, enjoying the fantastic snow. After lunch, there was actually a few snow flurries that were falling, a little sign that one last snow storm may still be on the way, let's hope it won't be too late.  Mont Cascades has seen several improvements over...

It's the first day of April and the real start of spring skiing for me. Today's destination was Ski Vorlage, located in the picturesque village of Wakefield. Easter usually signifies the conclusion of the ski season for many ski areas, and at Vorlage, today was the penultimate day. The mountain was very quiet during my morning visit as there couldn't have been more than two dozen people skiing. Either it was the Easter holiday or the complete lack of snow in the city that stopped people from coming... their loss, as the skiing was great. The base in the morning was hard and firm but well groomed (typical of early morning spring skiing). As the morning progressed, the sun did its work softening out the snow into a creamy surface. The weather was hovering around 0'c but felt somewhat colder due to a fairly strong wind all morning. The beginner areas of La...

Fantastic bluebird day at Mont Ste Marie, the tallest mountain in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. I always love skiing here, whether it is for the high-speed lifts, or the large vertical drop, or even the trails that have that big mountain "Tremblant" feel... Mont Ste Marie never disappoints. I was able to make it out in the afternoon when it was starting to warm up in temperature. Ski conditions were fantastic, with a nice groomed base and virtually no ice. The temperature was a bit on the cool side with some strong winds, a little surprising for weather at the end of March, but it is doing its job at holding the snow in excellent condition. These are no doubt some of the best late March skiing conditions I can remember in a long, long time. Standout trails today were Serenade on Vanier mountain (for the big mountain feel) and Formidable on Cheval Blanc...

With another beautiful weekend filled with bluebird skies upon us, we decided to answer the call of the mountain and return to Mont Cascades for some more snowshoeing adventure. On this visit, we started our trek through the mountain from the World Cup side, versus the main chalet side. The trails from both ends link up once you reach the summit. The trails on this side start by passing in front of the World Cup chalet. Here you will find a large trail map flanked with snowshoes (reminiscent of those we used to use in elementary school). We choose trail #8, which is classified as double black diamond for difficulty. For the most part, the trail is fairly easy to hike, however as you approach the summit, there are two sections where the climb really increases in difficulty. Nothing impossible but the snow on this particular visit had a tendency to slip away...

There is absolutely nothing better to do on a Friday night after work if you are a skier, than night skiing. This visit was at Camp Fortune, perfect for the variety and number of trails and terrain available to enjoy. The proximity to the city makes it even easier and quicker to get on the slopes as soon as the clock hits quitting time. Arriving around 5:30pm, the mountain is not busy, but it is very clear that the conditions are perfect. The recent snow of the past week and a half have brought the ski conditions to arguably the best they have been of the season... bar none. Just when it seemed like the end was quickly approaching, new snow arrived and arrived it did. The trails are perfectly groomed, absolutely no ice, and a pure joy to ride. Hats off to Camp Fortune for making the experience top notch...

After having received some new snow during the week , it was time to get back out on the snowshoe trails last Saturday (March 10th). This time the location was in the Ottawa Greenbelt, which is part of the NCC. The Beaver Trail is located in the Stony Creek Swamp area, about 15 minutes south west of Bayshore Shopping Centre. Typically you need a snowshoe pass to access the NCC trails in Gatineau Park, however the trails in the Greenbelt are free. The trail is fairly flat, and on this visit, it was also well traveled so the fresh soft snow had been packed down. Luckily we went off to the sides, in the untouched snow. There are several portions that cross wood boardwalks, over the frozen water. No doubt, the area would be quite spectacular to see in the summer, so a return visit is in order. Overall, it is...

It's the beginning of March Break in Quebec, the weather is warming up, and spring skiing has had an early start. Today's destination was Bromont, a place I really enjoy but had not visited in 5 years. The weather was mild, hovering around and above 0 degrees Celsius. Heading up from Ottawa, the 3-hour drive goes quickly thanks to the route being made up entirely of highways. The 'new' highway 30 that bypasses downtown Montreal is completely worth the $2.80 toll required to use it. Arriving at Bromont shortly before 11 am, the main parking is about half full, and the chalet has plenty of seats and tables free. After quickly getting ready, I headed out to start off on the classic Versant du Village, one of Bromont's 7 hillsides. The ride up the mountain's 385m of vertical goes quickly on the #4 chairlift, which is finishing its final year of...

In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Mike Davey of Kunstadt Sports, will guide you through the many choices of snowboard boots available, as well as the process of selecting the proper boots for you.  We encourage you to also view the accompanying video on snowboard and binding selection by following the link below. Snowboard and Binding Selection Choosing the right type of Snowboard and Bindings can be difficult. With so many options it can be confusing to decide which snowboard will suit your needs. Follow experts Peter Kunstadt and Mike Davey of Kunstadt Sports as they guide you through the many types and styles of snowboards and bindings available today. https://www.slopeedge.ca/content/snowboard-and-binding-selection

Choosing the right type of snowboard and binding can be difficult. With so many options it can be confusing to decide which snowboard will suit your needs. Follow experts Peter Kunstadt and Mike Davey of Kunstadt Sports as they guide you through the many types and styles of snowboards and bindings available today. We encourage you to also view the accompanying video on snowboard boot selection by following the link below. Snowboard Boot Selection In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Mike Davey of Kunstadt Sports, will guide you through the many choices of snowboard boots available, as well as the process of selecting the proper boots for you. We encourage you to also view the accompanying video on snowboard and binding selection by following the link below. Snowboard and Binding Selection Choosing the right type of Snowboard and Bindings can be difficult. With so many options it can be confusing to decide which snowboard will suit your needs. Follow experts Peter Kunstadt a...

In this video, Peter Kunstadt of Kunstadt Sports will explain the benefits of Ski Demo Days at the ski mountains. A ski demo day is the perfect way to demo and compare new skis in action on the slopes before making a purchase. With everything constant, a proper comparison can be made, removing things like changing ski conditions and how you may ski differently from one day to the next.

In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Erik Dinardo of Kunstadt Sports, will guide you through the many possibilities of customization available to make your ski boots fit any foot perfectly. Whether you need more room in a particular spot, avoid pinching, fixing cold feet, or correcting for bow leg or knock knees, ski boot experts can greatly improve your comfort and performance on the slopes by making your boots fit even better.  How To Select the Right Ski Boots for you In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Krista Bellinger of Kunstadt Sports, will guide you through the many choices of ski boots available, as well as the process of selecting the proper ski boot for you. How To Properly Fit and Size Ski Boots In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Krista Bellinger of Kunstadt Sports, will guide you through the process they use to fit a skier to a ski boot, thus ensuring comfort and maximum performance. How To Select the Right Ski Boots for you In this video, Peter Kunstadt and Krista Bellinge...

It was a beautiful Sunday morning at Mont Cascades. After several days that brought some fresh snow, the trails were all covered nicely with fresh powder and a soft but firm base. The trails at Mont Cascades are suitable for all skill levels and difficulties and are free to access. There is a parking lot located right at the trail entrance. Almost all trails lead you to the summit via the backside of the mountain. The #5 trail is the most direct route but is the steepest to travel. For today's visit, we took a combination of the #2-3 trails, and then the #4 trail to the summit area. This route is on average easy to intermediate but provides a nice scenic trek through the forest. As you near the summit, you are treated to views of the Gatineau River and the surrounding region. The trip up to near the summit...

It was a Friday night and there's nothing better than leaving the office with a stop at the mountain to start the weekend on the right ski. Destination was Sommet Edelweiss. Offering the highest vertical drop for night skiing in the region, all the trails except two (Easter Bowl and Descente Telesiege) were open. A decent amount of people were present but the lineup at the Edelbahn Express, the only lift open aside from the Magic Carpet, was non-existant the entire night. Just ski up and go. Conditions were quite good, full snow coverage, firm base with little to no ice anywhere. Meeting up with my good friend René, and his pals Pat and Jay, we conquered the slopes. The weather was hovering around -5 to -10'c however the winds at the summit were surprisingly strong and I wouldn't have been surprised if the temperature at the top felt a good 10 degrees cooler...

Being a big fan of skiing in the Eastern Townships, today's destination was Mont Orford, known for having one of the highest vertical drops in Quebec. This was my second visit ever to Orford. The drive was smooth with no traffic, although a bit long from Gatineau (about 3h40). Taking the highway 30 to bypass Montreal definitely saves a lot of time and frustration. Arriving at 10am, the mountain was already starting to fill up with cars but nothing major. The weather was much warmer than it has been recently and the sun was starting to shine. Heading into the main chalet, I was quickly impressed by the sheer size of it, spread across 4 levels, that begged me to quickly drop my bags and go explore. Of particular note, there is a nice sandwich/coffee bar on the same level as the customer service.  Quickly putting on my boots and gear, I...

Sommet Edelweiss is located in beautiful Wakefield, Quebec, and is a 30 minute drive from Ottawa, once you have crossed the bridge into Quebec. Edelweiss presents the second highest vertical drop in the Gatineau region. The mountain features 20 trails, served by 3 quad chairlifts, one of which, the Edelbahn Express is a high speed detachable. A magic carpet is set up in the beginner area. The Mountain and the Ski Trails The mountain has a unique form to it, shaped like an amphitheater, with all the trails ending in front of the main chalet. This is perfect for families, as you can always count on everyone ending up in the same general area after each run. Easy beginner trails are found to the left and become intermediate and expert trails as you move further to the right of the mountain, making it easy to know where you should and shouldn't be based on your skill level. For beginners just starting, there is a separate area at the base of the mountain, served by a magic carpet lift, all...

  The best Boxing Day deal today was going skiing. It was fairly clear that the majority of people you would have expected to be skiing had chosen to go shopping instead, leaving the mountain in pristine condition and contributing to no line-ups at the lifts. Thank you! As yesterday was Christmas Day and Camp Fortune was closed, the snow and conditions today were excellent. The fresh snow from the recent snowfall made the slopes perfectly soft and smooth. In fact, the only hard spots or ice I found was in the steepest portions of the expert trail Bud Clark. The rest of the mountain was offering the fresh fluffy stuff, with several spots to sneak in some first tracks. The skiable domain continues to grow, and already the Valley side is almost completely open, with the exceptions of Slalom and Duffy. Meech is in great shape with Paradise. It's sister trail,...

When the weather starts getting colder and colder, most skiers start counting the days till their favorite mountain opens. Some start counting right from the last day of the previous season (spoiler... that's me). The wait is over, the countdown is at 0, today was my first day out on the slopes for the new season. While it may only be my first day out, it is the third day of the season at Camp Fortune and conditions are amazing. Like past years mother nature having up till now only provided cold weather and a fairly valueless snowstorm, the snowmaking experts at the mountain took up the challenge and now have Pineault open to the joy of skiers and snowboarders. The snow surface is firm with some loose snow on top (like icing on a cake). I couldn't have asked for more, as the snow allowed me to open things up with some...

I got into skiing early, night skiing at Camp Fortune during elementary school. During high school, I had a season pass which caused a few skipped afternoons. I kept up skiing in high school with some straight all camber 210cm rockets when many buddies switched to snowboards during the early days of the sport. After high school though I basically stopped downhill skiing. I was based in Toronto for a while then Yellowknife up in the North West Territories where snow machining was the thing to do. Finally, when I moved back to Ottawa I decided to get back into alpine. I love downhill skiing... why had I stopped! Well, I bought some used Fischer Wateas 78's 181cms and got back on the hill. You don't forget how to ski. Anyway, I'm now hooked. Look I'm not some expert free rider or ex-racer but I like to go fast and I'll ski in any condition. I've switched up my skis a couple times now slowly moving to wider skis with more rocker. I've also tried Telemark skiing. I love skiing, I love being...

Waterville Valley Resort continues to offer opportunities for summer fun in the White Mountains with the addition of three new summer activities, including a partnership with GolfBoard to bring ResortBoard Adventure Tours to Waterville Valley, the first experience of its kind in New England. "It is exciting to not only be adding new activities that we have never had in Waterville Valley, but to also be creating a new type of experience in the Northeast," says Tim Smith, President and General Manager of Waterville Valley Resort. "You can't really experience the White Mountains without getting outside, getting off the beaten path, and seeking out a bit of adventure. Partnering with ResortBoards is allowing us to take some of what we love about snowsports and apply it to the summer months." ResortBoards are highly versatile personal transportation vehicles and can be used on pavement, gravel, loose dirt, mud, and even packed powder. The rugged design includes heavy-duty front and back spr...

I started skiing around 1980 with my elementary school program that would bring us up to the now defunct Glen Mountain near Knowlton in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. I wasn't warm to the idea of skiing at first but thanks to my grade 4 teacher, I am glad that she convinced me to go. The Glen ended up being my second home on weekends and days off from school for the winters to follow. I worked at Owl's Head for 12 years as a liftie in the winter months, and in the hotel during the summers and kept my connection to skiing. When I left Owl's Head in 2001 for a career change, I left skiing behind as well until 2012 when I rediscovered a new found passion for the sport. I enjoy discovering new ski areas, and I am a bit of a ski lift "nerd" at the same time. There is nothing more stress relieving to me than riding a chairlift and putting my two feet on skis at a ski hill for the day. My other interests are photography, music, hiking, and ski history. 

I owe my first skiing experience to my husband who introduced me to this great sport at Mont Saint-Sauveur a few years ago. Previous to this ski weekend, I noticed my husband's contagious passion for downhill skiing through his long-time practice of it, as well as his mesmerizing descriptions, videos and pictures of several breathtaking Canadian mountain landscapes that he has had the fortune to experience mainly through his skiing; I had to give it a try. Exposure to these mountainous environments in Canada has also brought back fond memories of my upbringing in Latin America where I grew up surrounded by the majestic Andean mountains. As a result, I fell in love with the sport and the beautiful scenery of the awe-inspiring Canadian mountains.I am looking forward to enjoying many more ski weekends over the course of the years to come. 

At the age of 5, my parents helped me navigate the bumps for the first time on Pineault at Camp Fortune in the Gatineau Hills. My passion for skiing really took off once we arrived at Ski Vorlage, the birthplace of my mother's skiing legacy. Snowy days, to long nights under the stars, it was here that I got the itch for skiing and the excitement that came along with it. After several seasons, eventually skiing every resort in the area, I became obsessed with the sport. Over the years, with family and friends, I began to explore more ski mountains, farther from home, discovering many unique, exciting and breathtaking resorts. What makes me excited? Is it the amazing views from the mountain tops, the high speed thrill of carving up the slopes, or a technical curiosity of the ski lifts... one thing is for sure, it's definitely the best way to enjoy the best season of the year, and one amazing life long passion. 

Camp Fortune is the closest ski mountain to the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, at only a 15-minute drive away. The mountain features a wide variety of trails, spread over 3 distinct mountainsides. Each side offers something different, from the family atmosphere to more challenging steep and higher speed trails, to long intermediate cruisers, Camp Fortune has it all, with 27 trails, 13 of which are open for night skiing, served by 8 lifts, consisting of 4 quad chairlifts and 1 triple. The mountain also features 2 base chalets, offering options for where you want to start and end your day. Located in Gatineau Park, Camp Fortune offers great ski conditions all season long thanks to snowmaking coverage on almost all trails. The Mountain and the Ski Trails The Valley is the main side of Camp Fortune, and is home to the large main chalet and all the services of the mountain. As its name implies, this area is formed inside a Valley with skiing on three of its sides. Starting with the Pin...

Join our Team   Are you passionate about mountain recreational activities and love adventure? Do you enjoy taking pictures or short videos of your time outdoors? Do you want to have a place to share your stories? If your answer is yes, then we want to hear from you. We want to share more experiences and adventures in the slopes, whether it is skiing, snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, and more. Please send us an email at and tell us a bit about yourself and why you would like to join our team. We look forward to all working together and helping promote the great mountain sports we all practice.Please email us at media@slopeedge.ca

Here we are, at the end of the ski season in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. With the snow nearly all melted from the city and the heavy rain received over the past week, you could easily think that the skiing is over. This is definitely not the case. In fact, I can't remember the last time I skied at Easter at Camp Fortune where they had this much snow, and the skiing conditions were this great. Even more surprising, the Valley is still open, with Pineault and Allen's Alley, in addition to the trails on Skyline.  I started skiing shortly after opening at 9am. The first trail I tried was Heggveit, the classic double diamond of Camp Fortune. Wow, what a ride. The snow was already softening out and the slope was impeccable. Just a true joy to experience. Thanks to the spring conditions and the more forgiving snow, the imposing wall of...