NCC XC Ski Conditions Page Live
Gatineau Park authorities have started updating the web page showing trail conditions in anticipation of the coming snow. They say:
Once the snow piles up, you will find up-to-date ski conditions here.
With the first snowfall behind us, we are eagerly awaiting the 2010-2011 ski season at Gatineau Park!
1979 Article on Trail Names
Ken Bouchard was good enough to give me this article from March 3, 1979 from the Ottawa Journal.
Gatineau Park Legislation and the Light of Day
A recent Ottawa Citizen piece gave voice to a familiar critic's assertion that Bill C-20 would not afford protection to Gatineau Park.
I heard a radio clip of Paul Martin saying that one can't always consider success against what might be perfect, but instead against what might have been. In the case of Gatineau Park legislation the amendments to to the original legislation now provide that for the first time the NCC are legally required to undertake regional and national consultation in producing a Gatineau Park Masterplan every ten years. The original legislation did not require this.
Nor did the original legislation require that the House of Commons and the Senate see the new Masterplan before it is approved. This at least lets a little daylight in on the process.
Of course evil-doers can game the system. Consultations could be perfunctory; Parliament and the media might be distracted by some other issue and a Masterplan be slid through. Of course the universe could be better than what's proposed.
But that doesn't mean what's proposed isn't better than what we've had so far.
See also here.
Unofficial Trails Issue
The NCC are moving to reduce hiking traffic in areas of Gatineau Park deemed most ecologically sensitive. It is the discussions of this issue that were planned to take place last Wednesday but had to be delayed due to illness.
They placed banners like the one below along unofficial trails which they hope hikers will stop using.
One must suppose that talk and signage aren't enough because they have also dug barriers where hikers habitually parked their cars.
I'll keep you posted on how discussions go.
NCC – Demsis Online System Now Working
reservations.gatineaupark.ca now appears to be functioning correctly.
For skiers wanting to buy season passes this is well ahead of the main dump of snow so fixed in plenty of time, but for those who wanted to book cabins or yurts at popular times the delay was particularly frustrating. Those who were able to book at the Gatineau Park visitor centre seem to have snatched up most of the hot dates. I had reports from people who tried to phone their bookings in - understanding that phone messages would be returned - who appear to have missed their opportunity because phone calls were not returned. Some online users were successful but in the main most appeared to log off empty handed.
According to this Citizen article weekday bookings will be offered at half price in an attempt to smooth user frustrations.
Highway 5 Criticized
The Ottawa Citizen has a story about a coalition of environmental groups who want Highway 5 to be reconsidered in view of the ecosystem damage it will cause Gatineau Park.
CBC Coverage of Online Booking at NCC
The CBC story says the system is still down (this being Tuesday) but I just had a look at it may be working better now.
Citizen Coverage of NCC Online System
NCC spokesman called the old way of taking reservations "pre-Cambrian."
Yurt & Cabin – Ski Pass Online System Status
Paul offered a Demsis link that appears to work for online purchase. The URL that was circulated earlier still doesn't show a working transactional site.
I've got reports of lineups for purchases in person at the Gatineau Park visitor centre.