Mont Ste Marie - January 27, 2019

We rolled into Mont Ste Marie just before 10 after a long drive that included being stuck behind plows, big trucks and driving in a white out.  Well the drive was worth it.  MSM with 1200ft vertical across two mountains was 100% open. The resort had about 10cms of fresh light powder and snow would continue to fall on and off all day.  In the morning the snow fell heavy and it was rather windy. So windy that the Cheval Blanc quad was restricted to two a chair. This caused a pretty long line up but by noon the wind died down and we were back to normal.  The conditions were pretty much perfect with consistent light powder covering all the runs.  New features this year included a new racing building at the top of Dustin Cook.  We also checked out the new glades off Carroussel.  This steep section includes some nice cliff drops through mature hardwood. The entrance is a little tricky though as there is no signage and you need some serious speed off Carroussel to enter.  On the way back to Vanier for lunch we took the old Klotz trail which has now been reopened. The entrance is a mess though as it’s a thin tunnel through overgrown bush.  This area needs to be cut back and cleaned out.  The rest of trail is fine with the right side giving access to some glades/forest skiing through mature pines.  After a late lunch we skied the Vanier side. The snow was plentiful and soft enough to ski the power line cut next to Chanson then down onto the natural snow run of Crescendo.  We stayed till the last chair at 4pm. The skiing was that good.

Almost a white out

The new starting hut at the top of Dustin Cook.

Glades off Carroussel

Power line cut