Demsis Thanks Skiers with Free Treats
UPDATE - This event starts at 10am not 2pm
Demsis Recreational Services would like to thank all skiers for the 2009-2010 season.
This Saturday March 6th at 2 pm at the Keogan Parking Lot (accessible by ski, not car), come out for some hot chocolat and tasty treats. This free activity is brought to you by Demsis. Come and meet the team!
Search for Victims Near CEGEP de l’Outaouais
An early report from Le Droit indicates a young woman was found badly burned in Gatineau Park behind Cégep de l'Outaouais and that more people may still be in the woods.
Other reports from the Montreal Gazette, Radio Canada and LCN
Wakefield Steam Train Vandalized
An article at the Ottawa Citizen website reports that thieves have damaged the Wakefield steam train in an effort to steal copper wiring. The police evidently caught them because they were trying to burn the plastic insulation off before selling the copper.
50 Years Ago Today
Anyone who has skied at Camp Fortune in Gatineau Park will know that there is a ski run there named Heggtveit running down the east side of the Skyline chairlift. Many will know that this trail is named after Anne Heggtveit who won a gold medal 50 years ago today.
In happy synchronism with the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the Canadian Ski Museum (at 1960 Scott Street, upstairs from Trailhead) presented Anne with a commemorative framed poster yesterday.
Here Canadian Ski Museum Chairman Ivo Krupka talks about Anne's accomplishments from a young age.
Here she is presented with her commemorative poster.
Here she shares some reflections on her experiences as a competitive skier.
Here she talks briefly about the training of athletes these days, the difficulty of winning medals, her feelings about the otherwise good but ill named "Own the Podium" program, and an appreciation that the sport of skiing is diversifying.
She also had a vist from Pierre Poilievre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister who dropped by to give Stephen Harper's greetings (I don't know, but Pierre seemed to me to be in an unseemly hurry).
Here are a few links from the Camp Fortune Ski Club about Anne
Sufficient Snow
The NCC has removed it's notices about there being insufficient snow to facilitate grooming on some trails now that we've had 10cm of wet snow in the last 24 hours and more forecast to come.
Still, the temperature is predicted to soar so...
BBQ, Beethoven, Black Sabbath and (evidently) Gatineau Park Skiing
The Grateful Griller gets some inspiration on the ski trails.
A Toronto View of Gatineau Park
As reported in Examiner.com Toronto.
"Although Gatineau Park is the playground for those traveling to Ottawa, Ontario, the park is actually located in Quebec, Canada (hence the French name)...what is so great about the park? The highlight is probably the fact that access and most programs are FREE."
Pride of Place
Now that Winterlude is over the NCC website main page gives Gatineau Park top billing.
The emphasis of their new banner and links is on cross country skiing, though other activities are of course listed.
So... Environment Canada, get with the snow!
“Parc de la Gatineau hunting reserve”?
In a posting from Quebec's Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, that talks mostly about trapping regulations, Gatineau Park is identified as one place trapping is not allowed. But in making mention of Gatineau park the post refers to it as a hunting reserve; one supposes in error.