A fun snowshoeing adventure through Mount Royal Park in Montreal that almost ended at the hospital.  Here's our adventure... Ana and I both arrived at the Mount Royal Park around 3:30pm. The park features cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing trails. We started our hike near the main pavilion, in which you can change, lock your personal belongings or even rent skates, snowshoes or equipment. Mount Royal seen from the top of Place Ville-Marie. From here the starting points of the various trails are all marked. For our hike, it was the purple snowshoe signals that we needed to follow. This trail is a loop of around 3km in length so regardless of where you begin, you will eventually end back at your starting point. Just a few minutes after we began the signals used to guide yourself along the trail started becoming hard to follow as they were spaced much too far apart...

If I were to describe the ski conditions I experienced this day at Calabogie Peaks I would use one word... pristine (adjective)  in its original condition; unspoiled. clean and fresh as if new; spotless. From this, you can gather that the snow was in impeccable condition. Calabogie Peaks has done everything to maximize on this fact, from the perfect snow grooming to just the quality of the snow everywhere on the mountain.  My standout trail was O'Brien's Fancy, a nice intermediate speed trail, with plenty of drops and dips. Needless to say, I lapped it quite a bit. Other choice trails were the combination of Causeway-Baileys and Finnegan of the Lakeview quad. Bottom of O'Briens (on the left) I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start from the beginning... I arrived at the mountain shortly before 9am, where I was greeted by the enthusiastic parking attendants guiding incoming cars to their spots. It was...

Here we are the second day of the New Year 2017. Getting up early on a day off can only mean one thing, it's a ski day. Destination... Mont Ste Marie, for its two mountains, long trails, high speed lifts and highest vertical in the region. Ski conditions were great, firm base with a small layer of powder on top. On the Vanier mountain, all trails except Caroll-Ann and Tornade were open. The best conditions in my opinion were on Bellevue, although Sérénade was a close second. Those trails had nice grooming, and quick lines to carve.  Chanson, the main beginner trail that runs from the top of the mountain to near the bottom was open, however it was clearly marked with a sign indicating Marginal Conditions as it did not have a full snow base to be fully groomed. This resulted in some bumps and moguls, but I'm sure this will change in...

I live in Gatineau, but love Montreal so as a result, I've found myself traveling down the 417 and Highway 40 many times. Minutes after you cross into Quebec, you spot a ski mountain in the distance. Then the road turns away and you continue to Montreal. Little did I know what I had been missing. I have been reading Jake's reports on the forums of Mont Rigaud for too long, something had to be done to rectify this situation, gone on long enough. So Wednesday morning I packed up and set-out towards Montreal... I meant Rigaud. Arriving at the base at around 9:30am, the mountain is already open and there aren't too many cars present. I enter into the chalet and find that it is very well laid out. A wood burning fireplace helps create a warm feeling and that classic mountain smell. Strapping on my boots and heading outside,...

After a week of snow storms, the mountain is in phenomenal condition. It was hard not to be excited on the way up to the mountain this morning. All along the drive and upon arriving, it was snowing. Camp Fortune currently has 3 trails and 2 lifts open. On the Valley side, they have Allen's Alley and Pineault. The Meech side is also now open with Paradis, the longest trail at Camp Fortune with over a mile in length. Conditions everywhere were excellent, the base was firm and the surface had an inch of fresh snow as a cover.  Lift lines were fairly short, with waits of less than 3 minutes on the Valley and mostly direct to the lift on Meech. Pineault. Allen's Alley. We are definitely experiencing the best pre-Christmas conditions in a long while, especially in contrast to last season where we did not have a White Christmas. There...

My passion for skiing started many many years ago, on the slopes of Camp Fortune, so it was only right that the new ski season for me would start here too. The Quebec ski season finally began this past Tuesday at Sommet Saint-Sauveur, with Mont Tremblant following on Thursday. Camp Fortune launched their new season yesterday and is the third to open in the province and first to open in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. With only two nights of snowmaking, Pineault, one of the mountain's main beginner trails is now open. Ski conditions were great for the early season. Complete coverage over the main part of the trail, with soft and forgiving snow, perfect to help get you back on the slopes and have fun. Lift lines were less than a minute and most often zero. The weather was hovering around 0'c, and had some light snow flurries. Park jibbers were happy to find several boxes, rails...

After a week of serious snowfall, 51cm in Ottawa, you can be sure that ski conditions were going to be among the best you will ever find. So this Friday night, I set out after work to meet up with René and Sam to ski the snowy slopes of Mont Cascades. All the trails of the mountain were open, minus Hogan and Gratton (which are not lit for night skiing). The weather was not as cold as it has been the past few weeks making it easy to enjoy the snow without freezing. However, ice pellets were falling on and off throughout the evening. This in no way reduced the enjoyment of the evening, for the conditions were worth every moment. No ice but soft snow everywhere. Being Friday night, the mountain is open till 11:55pm, making it the perfect place to start the weekend. The new Doppelmayr quad chairlift adds...

Exactly two weeks after my first visit this season to Camp Fortune, I found myself back on its slopes. Having loaded my gear into the car the night before, there was no excuse not to arrive early. The mountain opened at 9am, but I left home at 8am, being sure to be among the first to enjoy the snow. As I only live 12 minutes away, you can imagine I arrived quite early. Luckily the chairlifts were already spinning by the time I was all set to go and was treated to an earlier start than anticipated.  This weekend, the mountain had two trails open, Pineault (beginner) and Paradis (intermediate), offering skiing on two sides of the resort. Paradis is the longest trail at Camp Fortune, and one I very much enjoy. It has long straight sections with several turns and consistent slopes. Conditions were firm with a good base, great for carving and enjoying some...

Here we are, the beginning of the ski season in the National Capital Region. While it is no longer the first day for Camp Fortune (that was Thursday), you can definitely feel the excitement and anticipation of getting your own ski season started. The Pineault quad chairlift and trail were open with a good base and coverage. Yes it did rain on Friday, but no it did not have any effect on the snow or the mountain. Ski conditions were right up with what you'd expect mid-season, which is nothing short of great and certainly a fantastic way to start the winter. Score : Camp Fortune 1 - Mother Nature 0. Heading inside the spacious lodge, and with the opening only minutes away, I strapped on my ski boots and clunked my way out to the lift. Riding up the mountain, you can clearly see the contrast between nature and human passion and...

Lots of natural snow, amazing slopes and a consistent fall-line, this is Mont Chilly, located 1 hour and 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa/Gatineau, in the Pontiac region of Quebec.    I had never before visited this mountain, but I came away thoroughly impressed, and eager to return. I set out, knowing I was going to experience something new, but had no idea it would become one of my best ski days in a very long time. I haven't been out right after a good snow storm for a long while, so skiing in prestine natural snow on a new mountain was a great change of pace.   The natural snow, the powder, the glades, the pitches of the trails, everything spoke to me. It is without a doubt, the last best kept secret of the region. From the mountain itself, to the lodge and family that operates it, to the people that...

It may not have been the warmest day of the year, neither the sunniest, but when there is fresh snow on the ground, the rest doesn't matter. A visit to Mount Pakenham was in order. This family friendly mountain is widely known as one of the premiere institutions of learning how to ski and snowboard in the province of Ontario. "It All Starts Here" is Mount Pakenham's motto, and it quickly becomes clear why. The mountain has 10 trails, for all skill levels, including some glades, and a terrain park. The mountain is layed out and setup, in such a way to ensure everything is available to have a proper progression while you learn, from a first time beginner to an advanced skier. From magic carpets and a rope tow at the base of the mountain, to a t-bar and chairlifts, everything is made simple, accessible and comfortable. The chalet, recently...

Ski Vorlage is a mountain I grew up on, that truly built my passion and love for skiing. With 17 trails, spread across an expansive mountain, there is plenty to love. Ski Vorlage is widely known as a family ski resort. Everything is built for families, from the gentle beginner trails, to the spacious lodge that overlooks all the trails, to the snow school. This mountain gets the formula right for families and children and takes pride in it. I have never visited where I didn't see kids happy and enjoying their time on snow. All the staff are enthusiastic as are the snow school instructors. For those visiting without children, the mountain is mainly free of the louder teenage groups, so your experience will be calm, enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons. La Pente Douce is the easiest trail, served by a double chairlift. While the mountain doesn't...

Another weekend upon us, another ski day arrived. Finally a reprieve from the cold frigid weather, it was time to load up the equipment into the good old four-wheel drive and head up to the ski mountain.   Conditions were amazing all over the mountain. With almost all trails open, the skiable terrain at Camp Fortune is big and vast. On this visit, I took the opportunity to do some exploring. Despite being the place at which I first learned ski at age 5 with my parents, I still had not yet experienced the glades that appear on the trail map. There are three official glades for you to choose from. One at the top of Skyline (following the start of Sparks), another between Skyline and Meech, and the third to the side of Marshall in the Valley. It was this trail, called Off-Piste that I chose to explore. Always fun,...

The weather held lots of promise, with more comfortable temperatures and snow forecasted throughout the day. I set my sights on discovering a new mountain, one that had been calling to me for a very long time. After reading about Jake’s many visits to Mont Blanc, I knew it was finally time to discover it myself. Having passed it many times on Highway 15, and having explored part of the mountain on foot in the off-season, I had an idea of what to expect. But the reality was even more. This is quite the ski resort. Not only is there world-class skiing, Mont Blanc has on site lodging, with hotel rooms and studios, an indoor adventure gym for young kids that also serves as a daycare (called Jungle Magique), indoor pool, 2 lodges, 3 hill sides, impeccable ski conditions and more. It has everything one needs for a short visit to...

What an incredible day. My first visit of the season to Mont Ste Marie and it sure did not disappoint, with ski conditions you would expect in January and February. The time was 7am, actually it was more like 6:30am. I woke up with the feeling of being eager and ready to go skiing. After having a nutritious breakfast, and quickly packing my ski gear, I was out the door. Looking forward to the drive up, and once again experiencing the new Highway A-5 extension, which feels like you are driving in the Laurentians, I carefully was taking note of the time spent getting to the mountain. Exiting the highway after 25 minutes of driving in Wakefield, and then continuing on the windy path to the mountain, the entire trip took an hour. Being used to many years of doing the 2 hour drive up to the Laurentians, this was definitely...

Mont Orford was the destination choice today to start off the 2018-19 season. There were other options that were thought of that involved a bit of travel, however I decided to stick to something nearby. This would be Orford's second weekend of operation. With the dump of snow this past week Orford was a good choice. All of Giroux North was open counting for about a dozen trails with the Giroux North Quad giving access. I arrived at the mountain at 8:45 under cloudy skies and the temperature hovering around 0 to -1 Celsius. I met up with an old friend of mine from my Owl's Head days so this venture was not a solo one. There was a decent crowd, but the wait in line was no more than a minute or so if that. I wouldn't even consider this a wait. Everything was flowing smoothly in line.  Today you were skiing on a mix of groomed man made and packed natural...

Not your traditional report per say, but more of a preview of what is happening in the mountains of the Townships. I was at Mont Sutton  today visiting a long time friend of mine who runs the ski shop there for step one of my preparation for the upcoming ski season. It was a nice day for a change, and decided that a small road trip was in order to get the skis tuned up. There had been some snow on the weekend. In the lower elevations it was brown, but up in the mountains there is some snow, and looks like winter.  It was chilly this morning when I left for Sutton, and upon arrival at the mountain it was a bit windy which made it feel colder than it really was. After I was done at the shop I decided to take a ride over to the Chair 5 sector of the mountain for a quick peek,...

This micro trip report is brought to you by a lack of sleep the previous night. Made it to the hill at 3:15 but I didn't read the fine print, closing was at 4pm! Just enough time for a few good runs on this snowy day with 20 cm of freshly fallen sticky powder. This is the first time so far that we had to wait in a line to get on the chair, there were a ton of people out. And while Nordique and the Rockstar park (top) were roped off, it wasn't stopping people from dipping under the line, with many fresh tracks covering the runs - definitely for rock skis. After the lift closed we headed over to Axis Boutique and met some familiar faces from AKAMP. The day was a tease and I'll be back tomorrow to enjoy more of it! Nordique top is significantly improved over last week's...

I had initially planned to go to Saint-Sauveur on Saturday but the anticipated night skiing didn't happen due to the weather. So I headed up on Sunday afternoon, arriving around 3:30 to the beginning of sunset. Some people were still arriving and some were leaving and mentioned it was pretty icy, which wasn't surprising given last week's rain. I got ready and headed to L'Etoile, currently the only running chairlift serving the 70 Ouest. What a difference a week makes - compared to the previous week's coverage of natural snow, the Nordique was almost bare all the way up, with just a few snowy patches remaining. The 70 Ouest itself had corn in some spots but for the most part was thin cover over ice, with some short sections of only ice. Sharp edges were useful here! The snowpark also changed as the pipe was out and only the rail remained, but...

Sommet Saint-Sauveur surprised with an early opening Friday, but it wasn't until Saturday evening that I was able to head up, and it seems as though I picked the perfect time! As I started walking to the car with all my gear, heavy and wet flurries were falling from the sky. So much so that I had to turn back to rescue my balcony herbs from certain death! I got on the road just after 6:30 and was cruising along steadily in the storm when I realized how slick the roads were as there were no salt trucks up and running. It ended up being a rather slow drive, and I pulled into the parking lot just after 7:30 for the first night ski of the season. I picked up my Passe Parfait, and headed to l'Etoile for a ride in the falling snow -- it was really coming down! The snowmaking of...

I'll admit, I wasn't prepared for an early season start. My alarm went off at 9am and for a hot minute I contemplated nixing my plan for the day's mini road trip - I am not a functional morning person and the morning's first thought of a three hour long trip in the car was not altogether motivational. When my second alarm went off ten minutes later I decided to suck it up and get moving while my partner and cats continued to snuggle under the covers. I'd packed all my gear the night before and had only to get ready and make a quick coffee and breakfast sandwich before hitting the road - I was out of here by about 10:30 and onwards to Killington! The skies were cloudy with some flurries, and the roads were clean and it took me about an even 3 hours and 15 minutes to get...

While in the Stoneham-Tewkesbury region this weekend for a family visit, I decided to take advantage of some time and head off to Station Touristique Stoneham for the morning to get some turns in. Staying at the Manoir Lac-Delage overnight, I was at most 10 minutes away from the hill. Manoir Lac-Delage is a popular hotel that had their own ski hill at one time and has since been closed for a number of years. All the trails are grown in, however there are some leftovers of the double chair and t-bar that they had. I arrived at Stoneham just after 8 am and there were already people rolling in. At that time it was mostly cloudy, and a balmy -18 degrees, luckily with no wind. 18 of 42 trails were open with all 4 Quad Chairs spinning and the 2 beginner carpets. The first rides of the morning were up the l'Alize Quad chair...

It's the final day of 2018 and wanting to end it in true skiing style, a ski double-header was on the menu. Mont Ste Marie in the morning and Camp Fortune in the afternoon. (Be sure to check out the other report here). I arrived at Camp Fortune around 1pm on the Valley Side. Saddling up my ski boots once for the second time today, I was off to the trails. Betting big, I decided I would just focus on the Meech sector of the mountain this visit. It did not disappoint the slightest. Wow, Paradis and North American are in excellent shape. Other than my final run out through Allen's Alley, the rest of the time was spent on these two trails. Paradis is the longest trail at Camp Fortune at approximately a mile in length. All along the way, you can catch glimpses of Meech Lake in the distance...

It's the final day of 2018 and wanting to end it in true skiing style, a ski double-header was on the menu. Mont Ste Marie in the morning and Camp Fortune in the afternoon. (Be sure to check out the other report here). Arriving at Mont Ste Marie just before opening at 9am, I was quick to get ready and start the day. Heading up Vanier Mountain, the first trail was Serenade. This intermediate trail definitely has a big mountain feel to it. It really weaves its way down the mountain and you feel yourself being transported to another place. Serenade is surely a Mont Ste Marie classic. Next up was Bellevue, another big mountain type trail. I'm going to stop and clarify for a moment what I mean by big mountain. Mont Ste Marie is the largest ski mountain in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, with generally double the vertical drop of...

What an amazing day out on the slopes at Sommet Edelweiss this Christmas Eve. 7 trails were open, which included Easy Street, Chemin des Bois, Rockstar SnoPrk and Zoomer, as well as the Edelbahn Express quad detachable. After reading yesterday's report from Gordo, I knew that despite the rain, the conditions were very good, but it still didn't completely prepare me for the reality. Phenomenal ski conditions were the special of the day. No ice anywhere, and perfectly groomed slopes. There was a light snowfall in the morning so the trails had a fresh dusting of snow on top. Add to this some heavy snowmaking taking place on Zoomer and very few people out on the slopes (thank you to all those last minute shoppers) and you have a winning combination. Edelweiss offering the highest vertical drop of the main 4 mountains nearest Ottawa/Gatineau, the trails are long and varied in...