On Sat afternoon and evening we kept an eye on the weather.　 The temp hovered around the freezing point with snow and rain falling, depending on just where and when one was checking the weather.　 But it became clear that, while there was rain mixed with the snow in town and points south, in the Laurentians they were only getting snow.　 So at the End of Season Party on Sat evening, we quickly reached a consensus that Gai Luron would be the place to go on Sun morning.　 A tweet to this effect was duly issued.

It definitely did not feel like the second day of spring as we arrived at Gai Luron at 10 am on Sun.　 The Swix thermometer at Gai Luron said it was -12 C, but our car dashboards were reporting more like -15 C.　 However the sun was out and that helped.　 There was a reported wind of about 25 km/h, but it was from the west and the Gai Luron chalet sits on the east side of the big hill with all the trails, so we did not feel the wind at all.　 What’s more, they had received 3-5 cm of powdery snow and the trails were all freshly groomed.

There were only six of us who gathered in the chalet at 10 am — me, Mickey, Scott, Ghyslaine, Roy and Dennis.　 There were several more members at the EOS party the previous evening who had expressed their intent to join us, but that was earlier in the evening, before the effects of a late night of eating and joviality apparently caught up with them!

After applying green(!) wax to our skis, we were off Continue reading →

We were expecting 20 cm of snow to fall up north last Sat night, but not also in the city.　 There was a lot of snow to clear off the cars on Sun morning and as a result we all arrived 10-15 minutes late at Parc des Campeurs for the scheduled 9:30 am arrival time.　 With the cold winter we have had, the temp was a blessedly mild -3 C under cloudy skies. It pretty much stayed at that temp the whole time we were there.

With all the new snow that had only just stopped falling as we arrived, the ski centre was behind in their grooming.　 With so much snow on the ground, they elected to first do a quick pass on the green and blue trails by snowmobile so they would be flattened (or “tapé” as they called it in french).　 So when we started skiing, it was on those flattened trails, but with some shallow tracks created by skiers who had already gone ahead of us.

We all started out together on the trail that winds through the campground, in between the snow-covered trailers.　 We got a couple of great group shots of all of eight us (in two photos, seven at a time).　 Sharon then went off to do her own thing while the rest of us took the green Stonehaven trail.　 The trails were beautiful, with much fluffy snow sitting gingerly on the tree branches.　 It happened several times that a slight breeze would nudge the overhead branches and unleash a small cascade of snow on top of us.　 One of the photos captures Continue reading →

It was a bit thin on the ground this week – the number of Beaver Tails skiers at Gai Luron that is – not the snow.   (For the bean counters in the club – that translates to 8 people).  Spies report there were just as many if not more at Cap St. Jacques.

Our president, switching sides for this week (don’t worry – he is just downhilling in BC in balmy warm conditions) was not available. Keith being of ill mind and body, suffering from flu/cold, sent me in his place to represent the club.  Weather was a warm -5 degrees with a grey sky and messy roads.  However, when I arrived the sun came out. Perhaps it was the time change or the end of spring break because it was quiet at the ski center with parking still available in front of the chalet.

At 10 am there were only 2 BTers ready to go (Rick B. and yours truly) until the Stowe Derby girls Monique I. Helene and Cheryl showed up raring to go.  Then there was Glenn, then Jack and then Dennis.  If anyone else trickled in after 10:15 I did not encounter them.

I got the group, and I use the term loosely, photo and off we went to check out the freshly groomed trails.  Most went out on the “L” trail and Rick and I decided to do the rest of the trails (“A” “G” “U” “I” and “G” again to add in the expert boucle).  I think this was the first time this year I used Blue wax and did not need a tube or mittens or 3 layers of underwear.

As the morning got warmer my blue wax started to fail me in the kick zone.  The last loop was hard work.  I know I should have put on some violet or a warmer wax as the temperature was hovering around -2 but I did not bring it with me.

We never saw the other skiers which is unusual because you normally bump into people where the trails cross each other.  The parking area was busier when I left around 12:30 but it was not full which is unusual for Gai Luron on a Sunday afternoon.

I had to try out the new Timmys on the way home only to bump into an ex-CCBer  I had not seen in a long time.  After lunch I found that my legs had indeed had a workout because they were tired but I got a second wind and checked out the newish Premier shopping center on the way home.   You would be amazed how much work it is searching for bargains.  I think this was more tiring than the skiing.  It is quite an interesting layout for an outdoor mall.  Just walking from my car to the shops was a 1 km walk.  This could become a new biathalon “ski-shopping”.  Anyone else interested?

We have often been frustrated in recent years in timing　our trips to Montagne Coupée with good conditions, especially since we usually visit in early March.　 Too warm, too cold, too icy — we’ve had it all.　 Last year was a long winter and we had good snow although the descents were a little fast.　 This year, we got it right.

It was sunny and -10 C with low winds　as the ten of us met at the chalet.　 We broke up into two groups. 　eight of us looking to go hard and long, while the remaining pair opted for a more measured pace.　 We all opted to start with trail 9.2. 　(The trail numbers at MC correspond to　the distance of the trail, to one decimal point.).　 This begins with a 2-km long plunge to the L’Assomption River.　 This descent can be uncomfortably fast, but the trail had well groomed and no one had any difficulty.　 At one point, if you look left through the trees, you can see the new monastery to which the monks from Oka relocated a few years back.

Our octet followed the loop that brings us back along the river a second time.　 We then embarked on the long steady climb back towards the chalet.　 When we reached the road about 1 km short of the chalet, we turned off to follow trail 7.2.

This trail, like the first one, takes one through a pleasing mix of woods and open fields.　 We spend most of our time skiing through the woods, we sometimes forget how lovely snow-covered hills and dales can be.　 Of course, it’s not as appealing when a cold wind is blowing, but that was not the case on this day.

It clouded over and got a bit breezier　as we made Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe that it had been four years (Feb 2011) since the club last had a weekend trip to Mont Ste Anne.　 We had gone there every year without fail for over 10 years until then.　 But then our favorite place (Hotel Val-des-Neiges) got sold to a condo developer and we decided to take a break from Mont Ste Anne.　 This year we decided it was time to try going back.　 Joanna offered to investigate and found us a good deal at the Chateau Mont Ste Anne, which is right at the base of the downhill ski center, instead of 1 km down the road like our old place.　 It was a bit surprising then that only 11 people signed up for the weekend.　 But there has been a trend in the club in recent years to travel shorter distances to our weekend spots.　 At the last minute, one person had to stay home due to a work conflict, so in the end we were only 10 people at Mont Ste Anne.

We all drove up Friday afternoon and checked in.　 The rooms are very comfortable and are all equipped with a small galley kitchen, so you can bring your own food if you want.　 But we all opted to meet in the lobby at 6:30 pm and start the weekend with another old tradition — dinner at the St Bernard Resto Pub down the road near the place we used to stay.　 It was as good as we remembered it.

The next morning we enjoyed our buffet breakfast in the dining room while admiring the view of the ski hill through the full-length windows.　 Saturday was going to be the big ski day for all of us and we plotted how to attack the trails.　 It was -16 C with low wind, which Continue reading →

Not at Mont Ste Anne’s or doing the Sutton Derby or recovering from Gold medal performances, then you had to be at Oka. A more typical winters day and fresh snow cajoled a keen group of skiers, oh yes and a snow shoer  to come out to play. Not a mention of entrance fees was heard from anyone just the delight of dispensing with multiple layers of clothing and face masks. Oh isn’t -9C wonderful…The day started with the gallant Glenn K and buddy Vivian  H trying to extricate a car which had not quite made the right angled turn in the Parc.  Ultimately a parc truck had be sought.  Everyone else seemed to arrive without incident as did a multitude of other outdoor types particularly ski school kids. There was a festive mood in the air , especially when the ski school warm up music started up. It would appear that several of our group had been watching too  much “Dancing with the Stars” so there was a high degree of body twitching in tune with music. A trifle embarrassing.
Then we were off, as usual the main group headed for the 3, which was found to be excellent condition although I did hear of one face plant, that right Roy?
A couple of skiers left to ski the secteur  le Calvaire, funny I wonder Continue reading →

We made the right call last week to switch the destination from Far Hills (Val David) to Gai Luron (Saint Jerome).　 Being just 30 km further south made a big difference in the weather.　 Sure, it was still cold at Gai Luron, with a temp of -18 C at 10:30 am.　 But it was -21 C at Val David, and the entire region north of Ste Adele was under an “extreme cold” weather advisory.
When the initial four of us arrived at Gai Luron, it was indeed a bit chilly.　 But it was sunny and, as usually seems to be the case at Gai Luron, the wind was much less than what was in the forecast.　 At 11 am Mickey, Glenn and I set out on the L trail, while Sharon stuck to the shorter loops.　 As soon as we got into the woods, the wind ceased to be any sort of issue.　 Indeed, when we paused briefly on the trail 2 km into our ski, Glenn exclaimed, “It’s not so cold!”　 Please note, I did not do or say anything to elicit this statement.
The trails were in the perfectly groomed condition we have come to expect at Gai Luron.　 At the 3-km point, we opted to take the first extension to the L, called “Boucle B”.　 It’s a single track that lopes through the woods for 2.5 km.　 It has lots of dips and curves, but all the short, sharp descents are followed by enough of a straight runoff stretch, and so there is never any cause for concern.　 We then did the rest of the L, for a total of 10.6 km.
When we got back to the chalet, Den and his son Chris had just arrived and were ready to join us for the next go around.　 Mickey and Glenn were up for more skiing, but not me.　 I thought taking six days after doing the marathon would be enough to get “back on the horse”.　 Boy, was I wrong.　 I had to drag myself around the L trail, and came off it feeling tired and hurting.　 I promptly prescribed myself another week off from skiing!　 But the remaining five stayed a while longer to enjoy more of the great conditions.

It was another cold day last Sun, but like Sat it was sunny and the winds were low.　 That makes a big difference in terms of skiing comfort.

With a temps of between -20 C and -18 C, I was expecting a small group to show up at the Viking Ski Club in Morin Heights, but we ended up being a dozen strong BTers ready to take on the trails.　 The Viking trails have their fans among the BTNSC and it had been three years since we last paid a formal visit there.　 We assembled in the Viking club house at 10 am and discussed route options with our Viking Ski Club host, Derek Wills.　 At 10:30 am, we set out across the road and skied down to the lake to start the trails.　 At the first junction, Jessica B, Luc, and Vivian decided to split off and go for a shorter and more relaxed ski.　 That left nine of us BTers to follow our Viking tour leader, Derek.

It certainly was good to have Derek at the front, especially since the connection from the initial trail to the Crown South trail took us along the side of a road and was not obvious.　 We then got going on the Crown South trail proper.　 That takes one through the woods and across lakes and marshes.　 The Crown South trail is single track, but it is well-groomed.　 So it is not back-country skiing in that sense.　 But compared to a typical ski center, where you have the sense of security of being in a place with distinct boundaries, the trails at Viking have a wilder feel because they just go off into the countryside on public (i.e., crown, or government-owned) land.　 If one does not pay attention to the map and the trail markings, you can get well off course.　 But with Derek’s guidance, Continue reading →

Admittedly, it was a cold start to the day last Saturday morning.　 If it was looking so cold (-20 C) outside our windows, how much colder would it be if we actually ventured north to Gai Luron?

But the sun was out and I had suggested Gai Luron as the recommended destination for our informal Sat outing.　 So off I went to Gai Luron.　 At least I had the good sense to delay the meeting time to 10:30 am.　 I arrived at the same time as Monique I.　 To our surprise, the first parking lot was already full and we had to park across the road.　 But we soon discovered why this was so.　 I don’t know if they have their own micro-climate, but the temp at Gai Luron was already down to -16 C and there was almost no wind.　 I guess the locals realized this and flocked to Gai Luron.　 The chalet was buzzing with customers, but there were no other BTers there besides the two of us.　 After waiting in vain for anyone else to show up, we set out at 11 am.

It is always something of an inspiring sight to see the array of parallel trails at the start of the Gai Luron network.　 This is all the more so when the sun is out and all the fresh snow has been immaculately groomed. 　 We decided to to go for the L trail, the longest one on offer.　 We were soon meandering through the woods, up and down short hills, with the sun filtering through the trees.　 After all these years, I still find myself taken aback at how beautiful the trails are at Gai Luron’s small and close-by center.　 The conditions were gorgeous!

After a short stop so Continue reading →