Mont Gleason - October 12, 2019

[Paul]

A trip out of town to view some fall colours was in order today so Mont Gleason was the destination. It was also a great reason to go take a peek at the progress of the new Quad. It was partly cloudy when we got there, I was with my son Lukas, and my long-time ski buddy Christian so it was day out for the guys. We got there around 11:00 and there was a good crowd of people already there. At Gleason today the festivities included their ski sale in the shop, the local fire department was there with a couple of trucks for the kids to explore, bouncy castles, and chairlift rides. 

What I really came here for was the new Quad and the progess. Both top and bottom terminals are in place, and all towers have been installed.The crew was installing the comm cable today. The base of the new Quad does take up some of the parking area. 

We decided to ride the Laurent-Lemire Quad to the summit to see what was going on up top, and for the view with the colours. Rides were one-way only with a multitude of ways down to the base that made for a nice hike. There are big changes going on at the base, but when we got closer to the top there are big changes to the upper Cascades trail where it is now wide open. The top section of the old t-bar lift line has now been incorporated into the trail as the tree line has been cut out. The terrain up on this trail looks very interesting. 

The Ride Up the Laurent-Lemire Quad:

As we got closer to the top, this is where you notice the changes to the top of the Cascades trail. There was a small island of trees in the middle where the starting cabin for racing was, and the trees that separated the t-bar lift line and the trail. All of this has been removed and is now a wide open area.

Once we got off the lift, we checked out the new Quad top terminal and the new lift line. As you look down the trail at the bottom of the main pitch, it looks like you could have 3 different lines to take. To the left, the bottom of the Cascades that leads into the Victoriaville terrain park, under the new Quad, or to the right if Gleason turns this into a trail with the bottom of the old t-bar line.

The New Top Terminal:

The Look Down The New Quad Lift Line:

After checking out the work at the top, it was time for the hike down the Gaudreau trail where the service road goes, and made for a nice easy hike down. The work that has been done at Gleason over the summer is quite impressive. I can't wait to ride the new lift, and ski the new terrain this winter. A lot of time and work has been put in over the summer to improve the mountain and I believe they have done a great job. I will be back this winter!

Here Are A Few More Scenes From The Day:

 

 

[Shane]

Great shots Paul. The new quad is nearing completion. I like how all three main lifts arrive at nearly the same point together, very interesting layout.

Your second last photo on my first quick glance, I thought was people going up by t-bar, as the gravel path and the nice line they are forming heading up the slopes.

Will the double chairlift be remaining for the forseeable future?

[Paul]

I haven't heard what the plan was for the double chair. When you see the photo of the top where the new Quad is and the top of the double, it looks like a recipe for congestion if both lifts are running with the Laurent-Lemire Quad. I would suspect during the week only one of the Quads will run. You can still access either Quad from the Gaudreau, Ling and other trails on that side of the mountain by the access crossover in front of the chalet. I wouldn't be surprised if the double would be dismantled in the next couple of years.

I never noticed the positioning of the people until you mentioned it. That is the bottom section of the Gaudreau where you come out at the bottom of the double chair, and the other side of the double is where the crossover is to head back the both Quad chairs. It's going to be interesting to see it this winter.