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by Dave

35th Gatineau Loppet Set for Feb 15-17, 2013

October 11, 2012 in xc skiing

gatineau_loppet_35This year will mark the 35th anniversary of Canada’s largest cross-country ski event: the Gatineau Loppet!

Skiers are already excited about the two new long courses set up for this year: the 38km and 55km, which run the length of Gatineau Park and cross the municipalities of La Pêche, Chelsea and Gatineau.

The 2, 5, and 20k classic routes and the 10, 31, and 51km freestyle courses still start from Mont-Bleu High School.

This event is on the calendar of the prestigious International Federation “Worldloppet”, which includes the 16 most important events of long distance cross-country skiing around the world. This sporting event held each year around 5,000 participants from some twenty countries.

Registration is already open, in fact early-bird prices ended Sept 28th! But don’t despair: through a partnership with DEMSIS, Gatineau Loppet participants will get a 15% discount on the price of their Gatineau Park winter ski pass if they register between October 15th and December 1st.

Visit www.gatineauloppet.com for full details and registration!

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by Dave

Will Declining Ottawa Precipitation Spell the End of XC and Snowshoeing?

January 28, 2012 in gatineau park, ski, snowboarding, snowshoeing, xc skiing

Charles Hodgson has posted a couple of scary graphs on GuideGatineau that are sure to make winter lovers take pause. The City of Ottawa has recently published a report on Ottawa waterheds within municipal boundaries, and a clear trend towards less and less winter precipitation (i.e. the white stuff) seems pretty obvious:

ottawas-seasonal-precipitation

As you can see, precipitation in the winter has fallen from around 220mm to under 175mm over the past 100 years, or, assuming a 10:1 precipitation:snow ratio, about 2.2 metres to 1.75 metres. This, despite overall precipitation and that in other seasons has risen. What could this mean for skiers, snowshoers, and other snow-hounds?

A 2005 report by the NCC actually predicted that by 2050 there might not be enough snow to offer XC and snowshoe trails in Gatineau Park!

Scary stuff indeed. Read Charles’ full post over at GuideGatineau.

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NCC Holding Consultations on Three Gatineau Park Plans

January 16, 2012 in biking, camping, gatineau park, hiking, mountain biking, nature, news, paddling, rock climbing, ski, xc skiing

gatineau_park_outdoor_recreation_planThe National Capital Commission (NCC) seeks the public’s input in the elaboration of three plans for Gatineau Park. As of today, the NCC has posted on its website documents supporting a public consultation on outdoor recreational activities in Gatineau Park, issues and proposed solutions to improve travel to and within the Park and on the management of Gatineau Park’s cultural resources.

  • Gatineau Park Outdoor Recreation Plan– The NCC is seeking opinions on the priority for the implementation of proposed strategies for outdoor recreational activities in Gatineau Park, while respecting ecosystem conservation objectives.A workshop on this plan will be held from 9:30 am to 12 pm, on Saturday, January 28 at the Best Western Hotel, 131 Laurier Street, Gatineau, QC. Participants are asked to confirm their attendance in advance, before January 25, 2012, at info@ncc-ccn.ca. The public can also complete an online questionnaire before February 19, 2012.

 

[A quick note: you can check out a very long PowerPoint presentation of the Gatineau Park Outdoor Recreation Plan here]

  • Gatineau Park Sustainable Transportation Plan– The NCC wants opinions from the public on priority issues and proposed solutions to improve transit to and within the Park, again in the context of ecosystem conservation objectives.A workshop on this plan will be held from 1:30 pm to 4 pm, on Saturday, January 28 at the Best Western Hotel, 131 Laurier Street, Gatineau, QC. Participants are asked to confirm their attendance in advance, before January 25, 2012, at info@ncc-ccn.ca. The public can also complete an online questionnaire before February 19, 2012.
  • Gatineau Park Cultural Heritage Plan – Consultation on the Gatineau Park Cultural Heritage Plan is solely online, on the NCC’s website. The NCC wants to know the public’s interest in Gatineau Park’s cultural resources. Participants are asked to complete an online questionnaire before February 19, 2012.

A conservation park of 361 square kilometres, Gatineau Park is 15 minutes from Parliament Hill and in the heart of the Capital. The Park is a prime destination for visitors and residents alike. According to recent research, it is estimated that Gatineau Park receives over 2.7 million visits each year.

For more information on these public consultations, the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 613-239-5090 (TTY), 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.

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2011 Cross Country Ski Season Kicks off in Gatineau Park

December 29, 2011 in xc skiing

crosscountryskiing4The 2011/12 cross country skiing season finally gets underway today in Gatineau Park, with just 2 days left in the “2011” part!

The NCC has announced they’re opening 63km of trails today, including the Fortune Parkway, the Gatineau Parkway and the Champlain Parkway. Ski conditions vary from fair to good. Trailheads giving access to these open trails are located at parking lot 3 in Gatineau, as well as lots 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 16 in Chelsea and lot 19 at Philippe Lake. All services are operational, including the professional ski patrol, parking lot attendants and trail maintenance.

For up-to-date trail reports you can visit the Gatineau Park Cross Country Ski Trails page, or hit the NCC’s grooming reports for Gatineau Park Cross Country Ski Trails. XCOttawa is where you’ll find the original trail reports, too.

I only got out a few times last year but I hope to ramp it up this season. The trail openings come just in time, too – I’ve got the Lusk Lake cabin reserved next week, and it’s ski-in only!

Enjoy the season everyone!

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by Dave

Last Week to Save on Gatineau Park Ski Passes

December 9, 2011 in xc skiing

gatineau_park_xc_passThe NCC is reminding cross country skiers that this is the final week of their early-bird discount on Gatineau Park xc passes. Early bird prices are in effect until December 15th, and you can get $30 off your pass if you act soon!

 

Season Pass Daily Pass
Early Bird Sale Price

(Until December 15)

 Regular Price

(After December 16)
Adult (18 to 59) $140 $170 $14
Student (18 to 24) $90 $100 $10
Senior (60 and up) $90 $100 $10
Youth (13 to 17) $80 $85 $10
Family (2 adults and 3 youths) $325 $375 $30

 

You can get your pass at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre or online at reservations.gatineaupark.ca.

From the NCC press release:

Save on cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park! Buy your season pass by December 15 and take advantage of discounted prices.

Prepare for winter adventures in Gatineau Park, just minutes from downtown Ottawa. This beautiful conservation area is home to one of the largest networks of cross-country ski trails in North America.

Gatineau Park features:

  • Over 200 kilometres of trails for classic cross-country skiing. This includes 100 kilometres of trails shared with skate skiers, and 45 kilometres of back-country ski trails.
  • Hilly terrain, ideal for ski touring, with 320 metres (1,050 feet) of vertical drop.
  • 10 day shelters that come complete with wood-burning stoves and picnic tables.
  • Cabins, yurts and campsites that are located just off the ski trails.

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