Camp Fortune - November 26, 2017

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 speed and push out some quick turns down the mountain.

Yes, it was all coming back to me... the exhilaration of powering through turn after turn... the excitement of pulling off a quick and sudden stop, spraying snow off to the sides... the mandatory chairlift rituals of reviewing the last run and talking to your fellow chairlift riders about their time out. YES... winter is here and the ski season along with it!

Between my runs down the mountain, I took the opportunity to scope out recent changes and improvements at Camp Fortune for this season.

New this year are RFID access gates, installed at all the main lifts at Camp Fortune. Upon your initial visit, your lift ticket or season pass will be loaded onto an RFID (radio-frequency identification card). This card can be placed anywhere in your jacket (away from other cards or cell phones to prevent interference). Upon approaching the gates at the lift, with a valid card they will open and grant you access. On future visits, you can reload your card from home or on your cell phone, avoiding the ticket counter and heading directly to the lifts. It's as simple as that. A nice bonus is return visitors who already have their Express Card can take advantage of a discount on their lift ticket purchases.

This type of technology is very prominent in Canada and the USA (Sommet Saint-Sauveur and Jay Peak for example), so it is great to see it being adopted at Camp Fortune due to the benefits it brings.

Also new at all main lifts are red ski mats in the loading areas, designed to ensure a smooth and flat surface to reach and board the chair. Gone are the days of small slopes or ruts. Getting into the right position is now much easier and I'm sure will result in fewer stoppages of the chairlifts from misloads.

Pineault being the snowpark trail at the mountain did have some boxes and rails set up for jibbers and boarders alike.

With the season now launched, the mountain is ready to take advantage of the favorable snowmaking weather to expand the skiable terrain as soon as possible. With any luck Paradise on the Meech side will be ready next weekend, so stay tuned.

If you made it out to Camp Fortune this past weekend, let us know about your time out on the slopes by sharing with us your story, experience, and photos below.

Have a great week ahead and happy skiing