Canada’s Capital Region — With recent snowfalls, the 2013–2014 cross-country ski season in Gatineau Park will continue until April. The NCC notes this season as being exceptional compared with the previous eight seasons for which records have been kept. This year, the NCC also saw an increase in the number of season passes purchased.
End of season extended: The NCC will continue grooming operations and the ski patrol service until at least Sunday, April 6. After that date, services will be adapted according to the weather conditions until April 15 — which is well past the March 31 expected end of season used for planning over the past eight years. Grooming operations will not continue past April 15.
The 2013–2014 ski season so far: The season began on November 29, three weeks earlier than the 2012–2013 season. So far, skiers have had 119 days of skiing, while the previous eight seasons had an average of 113 days. More than 6,400 skiers bought a season pass this year, representing an increase of more than 9.5 percent over last year. Sales of daily passes are also up this year.
Spring work: Spring cleaning and maintenance of the Gatineau Park parkway network will take place over the coming weeks. The parkways are scheduled to reopen for vehicles at noon on Friday, May 2, except for Philippe Lake Parkway, which will reopen on Friday, May 9.
Kudos to our partners and to the Park users: The success of this exceptional season is due in no small part to the work and involvement of the Services récréatifs Demsis team; the volunteer ski patrol team; the special events organizers, including the organizers of the Gatineau Loppet; and the participants in the Park Dialogue Winter Trails Workshop. The NCC hopes to see you all on the cross-country trails into April.
For more information about winter activities in Gatineau Park, please contact the NCC at 819-827-2020, 1-800-465-1867 (toll-free), 613‑239‑5090 (TTY), or visit gatineaupark.gc.ca.
"Heat Recovery Formula!"