A Spring ski in the GAT

Today I hit the GAT ski trails for what will very likely be my last ski of the season. Joining me was Mike and Ken on what turned out to be a sunny warm (12°C) spring day.



Not long after leaving P10 we passed the monster grooming machine... two of them. They were doing a great job tidying up the scars of the skate skiers and giving the illusion of a fresh snowy surface. This early in the day the trails were a little icy in the shade but just right in the sun (this would change as the day continued to grow warmer... but still very ski-able).

Our first stop was Shilly Shally were signs of spring were breaking winter's grip in every direction. The birds were busy singing and eating their fill of seeds now uncovered by the melting snow. We even spotted a robin in the mix sparking a debate surrounding the old wives' tale that a robin is the first sign of spring. (closing arguments can not be printed in this family friendly blog)



From here we skied straight on through to Huron Lookout where we spotted our first patch of blacktop. Now that's a sure sign of spring. Here we snagged one of the free picnic tables and relaxed to a fine lunch and a couple of tasty pints.



After lunch Ken decided he was going to part company and head back to work for one last meeting. It wasn't until he had skated off into the distance that I realized he still had one more pint in his pack. Luckily so did I.

From here Mike and I skied on the next lookout and then over to Western were we were greeted by the duct tape "ICE" sign at the top of the trail leading down to cabin (btw somebody should come back and update this sign to read "MUD"). After removing the boards we walked down the mud soaked hill to enjoy some more rays and one last pint on the back bench.



Western's back bench is a great spot to catch some sun and enjoy another great view of the Ottawa River and valley below. My only complaint here is that some cautious do-gooder has placed a rather ugly chain link fence between me and the view. Arg.

The ski back to P10 was much slower as the sun had cooked the snow up into a mix of watery slush and ice pellets. No complaints though, it only helped stretch out what Mike and I knew was going to be our last ski of the season.


Cheers to another great xc ski season...though not nearly as awesome as last year.

Hut to hut traverse in the GAT

Gatineau Park: P12 to the Gatineau Visitor Centre (15 km)
Start, P16 Pine Rd: N45 32.221 W75 53.968
End, Visitor Centre: N45 30.309 W75 48.745
Western: N45 30.840 W75 55.045
Huron: N45 30.342 W75 53.980
Shilly Shally: N45 30.438 W75 53.183
Keogan: N45 30.353 W75 52.816
Click here for a view of the map of the Gatineau trails.

Today I joined forces with Kenmore for a hut to hut traverse in Gatineau Park. We left one vehicle at the Visitor Centre and then drove up to P12 to start our day's adventure.

Conditions were perfect by my definition. Blue sky, temperature rising to meet its forecasted -5°C, and the groomers were out working their magic. Sweet.


By about 11:30 we had reached Western hut and stopped for our first photo op and a bite to eat. Kenmore was hoping to toast up one of his wraps but unfortunately the people before us hadn't bothered to start the fire. As everybody left we cracked a summer ale and started to work on some flame. After a few minutes the fire was roaring but the woodstove was still too cool to toast up Kenmore's sandwich so strapped on the boards and continued on down to the next hut.


We hit Huron shortly after noon and the place was jam packed with retirees bustling about chatting and eating their lunches. Busy or not, we were hungry and the woodstove was hot and ready for toasting sandwiches. So we grabbed the last table and kicked back.


After lunch it was down to Shilly Shally. We were going to just snap a pic and move on but as luck would have it the hut was empty and the fire was going so we decided to stop in for another pint. This is a very small hut which is rarely empty.


From here we skied down to Keogan and although it too was empty we were out of excuses (read beer) so we snapped the pic and moved on down the trail.


From this point on the all hills pointed down and the pace really picked up. Suicide Hill is officially marked "Steep" and about midway it comes to a "T" where you have to either take a left, a right, or come to a screeching stop before hitting a bench and going over the edge of a cliff. To make things even more interesting, I have yet to come down this hill without finding half a dozen people standing around the bench chatting. I don't think they realize that not all skiers barreling down this hill are Olympic athletes able to bob and weave and stop at will. Luckily I managed not to take out the old fogies.

Normally we take a right at the mid point of Suicide Hill and head down to P7 but this time Ken lead me down the left trail and its infamous Penguin Hill. Damn this is one fun hill! Thankfully conditions were not icy or I would have went down on my ass.

Penguin behind us we came to a spot that Kenmore laughingly describes as the section where "the elevator shaft drops out". Ha, I thought. How much steeper can it be compared to Penguin? Well I soon had my answer first hand and it was exactly as advertised and before I came to the second 90° turn I decided to avoid "death by tree" and I bailed. BLAMMO! My 3 year wipe-out free streak was officially over. Luckily nothing was broken but I did manage to bang up my knee on my ski. I'm icing it now as I type this blog... hold off on the Get Well cards please until I see whether or not I need a cab from the back parking lot at work.


Last hut of the day.
All said and done this was definitely one of my top 5 ski trips. Cheers to that!

Merry Christmas from Lusk Cabin

Gatineau Park: P19 Lac Philippe to Lac Lusk (13 km)
P19 Lac Philippe: N45 37.394 W76 00.546
Lac Lusk: N45 35.100 W76 00.772

The last time I was out at Lusk Cabin was April 14th (see blog). It was my last x-c ski of the season and skies were blue and it was 8°C. While the skies were blue today, the temperature was a crisp -28°C. Wind chill or not, it was a great day to be out on the trails.

Surprisingly the drive into Lac Philippe from west side Ottawa was essentially traffic free. I'm beginning to think that it's the striking OC Transpo buses that cause all the congestion in the first place.

Signage at the Lusk Cabin trail junction



Lusk Cabin

There were only three others at the cabin when we arrived. One guy was skiing/training for the next upcoming ski marathon. Marathon number 31 with all 30 badges of honor sewn on his backpack to prove it. Although he didn't say anything to me, I don't think he approved of my Gatineau energy drink. One bottle of Rock Art Brewery Ale from Vermont. To each his own I suppose.

The other two in the cabin were hoarding all the space on the woodstove with their mitts and toques in various pots and pans. What's up with that? Needless to say Mike and I had no problem shuffling everything to the side so our aluminum foil wrapped sandwiches could warm up. After all, what's more important, their toasty fingers or my toasty chicken and cheese sandwich? (that's what they call a no brainer folks)


About 15 minutes after arriving all the other guests left and Mike and I had to the cabin to ourselves. I quickly stoked up the dying fire with some fresh kindling chopped by Mike himself. With a proper fire, the cheese in our sandwiches quickly melted and ready to eat. Yum.

By 1:15 we were back on our skis and heading for home in order to beat (the non-existent) traffic. Another great day in the GAT - even if it was a little on the chilly side.


Merry Christmas everyone!

Birthday ski in the GAT

Gatineau Park: P16 to Healey Cabin (10 km)
P16 Pine Rd: N45 34.345 W75 53.134
Healey: N45 34.318 W75 56.019

Today was my birthday and what better way to celebrate one's birthday than with friends, family, and the great outdoors. My father (aka Opa), Sara, Emma, and I hit arrived at P16 around 9:45 and we didn't make it far down the trail before being joined by Ken and Mike. Together we all skied into Healey Cabin under what proved to be perfect temperatures and ski conditions.


Special guest, Opa.

Today was even more exciting due to the fact that we were all testing out our new waxless skis. Sara, Emma, Opa, and me all purchased new waxless x-c skis within the last week. Other than the odd hum when zooming down the hills, these new boards are simply awesome. No fuss, no mess.



Break time.
This will make it my second GAT birthday ski in a row. Cheers to me and everybody that joined me on my first ski of the 2008-09 season.




Now get out the pen and mark this day down on your calendar for next year folks.

Last GAT hike of 2008

Gatineau Park: Lac Hatchet (5 km)
Parking: N45 34.764 W76 05.502
Lac Hatchet: N45 34.896 W76 06.743
GC1C8V7

Mike, Ken, and I decided to take this day to hike what may very well end up being our last hike in Gatineau park before it's time to slap on the skis and slide on the white stuff. This time we decided to explore one of the more remote trails in the north west end of the park along the Eardley Escarpment. The first and last time I was hiking on this trail was last May. As you can see from my blog, it was much greener and alive looking back in the spring in comparison to today's rusty browns and dull greys.

May 2008


November 2008

Today was a day to relax and reminisce about all the great hikes we collectively managed to squeeze into what seems to be an ever shrinking hiking season. We even took a moment to present Kenmore with his 46er prize that Mike, Dave, and I created for him to celebrate his accomplishment. Now every time he dons his new t-shirt he will think of the Adirondacks, his friends and hiking partners, and ... umm, Bigfoot (did you spot him in the right corner of the shirt?).



Some time around noon we found a rocky spot with a great view of the Ottawa River and sat down to enjoy some lunch and a pint. There was a light dusting of snow in the air but it didn't amount to anything that would actually stick. Soon enough though this whole area will be blanketed in snow. (exciting, isn't it?)




After lunch we hiked in to Lac Hatchet where we stopped at at a rocky point overlooking the lake and a beaver house. Ken and I enjoyed another pint while Mike wandered around snapping photos for one of the many calendars he plans to print up for his friends and family this Christmas. This year he seems to be working a few different themes. Personally, I'm holding out for the "Views from the 2 foot tall hiker" calendar.


Slowly we started to make our way back to the car. After a few more stops and pauses to enjoy the view I started to realize that what we were really doing was postponing the inevitable. The end of the hike, the day, and another season.

The Acid Tower, Gataneau Park

Originally taken April 2003
P11 parking (O'Brien): N45 31.619 W75 51.855
Approximate length of hike: 7 km

Ok ok, before I get into it, yes, I forgot my camera at home today. No photos for the blog - other than those of the area taken on previous hikes.

I woke up this morning thinking it was going to be another rain day but alas the sun started shining thus prompting me to double check the day's forecast. Surprise. It had changed (again) and now called for something resembling dry. So I told the kids to pack up and we were soon heading off for lunch and a hike in Gatineau Park. Sweet.

Our plan was very similar to last weekend's: hike, eat lunch, hike some more. And that we did. And as luck would have it, we even managed to score some sunshine during our lunch break.

On the way out we stopped at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre for the first time ever. Small but very nice. Worth a visit - especially if you have kids.

From there we started our quest for a poutine in Chelsea. The first place we stopped (my usual post x-c ski stop) was closed, second didn't serve french fries of any kind, which left us with the last place in town. The Chelsea Pub. Bingo! We split a large and I washed my share down with a side of Boreale Rousse.

Exercise + food + good times = Mission complete. Cheers to that!

A GAT hike to cure for what ails ya

P11 parking (O'Brien): N45 31.619 W75 51.855
Discovery Trail, Gatineau Park: 7.6 km

Both kids have been sick for a few days now. Saturday we decided to spend the better part of the afternoon at a drop-in clinic having them "officially" diagnosed with a barking cough and a fever. They were both prescribed some medicine and one of them even got a puffer (her bark is noticeably worse).

Well this morning I decided that today seemed like the perfect day to take one of these sick children off of mommy's hands and give them a dose of outdoor medicine. For me it's a cure-all to tackle whatever life wants to throw at you. Guaranteed.

Fall


Winter
Sara and I managed to hit the trail early thanks to the spinning back of the clocks last night. When we left the lot there were only a couple of other cars besides our own. We hiked in enjoying the blue skies and sunshine stopping only momentarily here and there to try to capture the morning's beauty on camera.



The hike was quiet on the way in but as soon as we turned around to head back to the O'Brien parking lot the traffic picked up considerably. Not surprising given the great fall weather.

At one point we found a sunny log to sit on off the trail where we could enjoy a lunch and a Halloween snack (and for one of us, a pint). We were surprised at how many fellow hikers walked by and didn't once spot us only 20 feet off the trail. Too busy chatting and soaking in the rays to notice us I suppose.



Click photo for a larger image.
After lunch we hopped back on the trail and were soon greeted by a high school class heading into the woods for the night. Some looked excited, many looked indifferent, and one was smoking ganja. Well, whatever helps you get through the cold chilly nights.

By the time we finally arrived back at the parking lot we'd seen over 40 people and 9 dogs (are dogs even allowed in Gatineau Park?). Seems we weren't the only ones looking for a cure.

Cheers!

GAT hike up the Eardley Escarpment

Today was sweltering hot. The temperature officially reached 39°C with humidex making it the hottest day of the year... so far. That said we weren't about to let a little sun and humidity (or bugs) keep us from celebrating our friend Dave's 40th birthday in the GAT.

Dave, Ken, Diane, and I all hit the trail just after 9:30 (temp was already 34) and proceeded to follow the creek up to the Yellow Box trail. Bugs were out in force but some DEET and a steady pace kept them at bay until we broke though to the first opening where we were greeted by a great view, and a welcome breeze. Bugs be gone.

Ken and Diane check out the view


The View
After a short lunch break we continued up the trail and around to the next look out point. The breeze had now graduated to a steady wind and the view was even more spectacular. Time for another snack and a pint for Kenmore and I while Dave enjoyed a second Coke Zero and Diane polished off her gazpacho. To each their own, I suppose.



After being buried in a near-record setting snowfall the GAT was once again teeming with signs life. We spotted lots of spring wildflowers, a variety of bugs, a deer carcass or two, frogs, a couple of garter snakes, a red-tailed hawk, and several turkey vultures.

Photo by Dave.



The day wrapped up with the usual stop at the local frites truck. Diane opted for the triple chocolate brownie ice cream while the guys enjoyed a round of medium fries. In celebration of his birthday, Dave washed his down with a Slushie. Yum!

A great day for a celebration... Happy Birthday Dave!!