This was our third trip to the Quebec area hills and we will definitely be going back many times in the future.
First, it looked like winter. There was a good 4 feet of snow on the ground everywhere. I had been noticing that it had been staying under freezing there throughout most of our recent thaw/freeze cycles. That helped a lot. We got 3-4" of new snow Thursday night and during the day Friday which was a perfect densest, but not gloppy consistency that skied really well. In the glades we found some fresh lines and the snow there was deep and not crusted at all. My skis released at one point and I sank in past my waist. Ski poles easily went all the way into the snowpack.
Ste Anne2/17
snowing, patchy fog and great conditions everywhere. Temps were just under freezing. We had driven through a mixed bag of precip in the states but it was all snow up there The crepe tent by the gondola is, sadly, no longer there. Ste Anne has a rally good, fast, modern lift system and we got a lot of mileage in. Skied everything from groomers to bumps to glades and all were in great shape.
Le Massif 2/18
Sun and clouds, temps in mid to upper 20's. Groomers were smoother and faster than at Ste Anne. Also, this was Saturday and Le Massif was the most crowded I we have ever skied it. Having said that though, The longest line we waited in was under 5 minutes and often we had no lines at all. SOme of the main touristy groomers were crowded and icy at choke points. Glades and bumps skied great. We hiked and skied the Le Massif backcountry after lunch. Said backcountry is about a mile hike through the woods and you come to 3 cut glades. The woods looked too thick to ski otherwise although there were 1 or 2 spots with a set of tracks heading off along the trail. We found the best snow of the trip here and were bouncing off pillows of snow...actual deep powder, not fresh, but nice and dry...well worth the hike. The back country run was our last of the day as we got to the gondola at the bottom a little before 4 and rode up to the lodge and parking lots at the top.
Looking towards resort from top of backcountry glade
St. Lawrence must be 3+ miles wide here.
On the backcountry trail. I stepped off the side and sank to my waist!
Ste Anne 2/19
The best snow was on the west side and this was our first time there that the t bar that brings you back up from the west side was open. Groomers were faster but in good shape. Glades still in good shape but hard to find fresh. Lower down the sun mouse have warmed some areas because we hit pockets of chunky stuff in some of the glades. No major lines and only crowds on a few main runs. Amazing for a Sunday at an area so close to a city. It does not show in my pics but you could see Quebec from the mountain.
All the way on skier's right side top of Ste Anne
The boys enjoying a treat at the trailside sugar shack with my skis taking a break in the background.
First, it looked like winter. There was a good 4 feet of snow on the ground everywhere. I had been noticing that it had been staying under freezing there throughout most of our recent thaw/freeze cycles. That helped a lot. We got 3-4" of new snow Thursday night and during the day Friday which was a perfect densest, but not gloppy consistency that skied really well. In the glades we found some fresh lines and the snow there was deep and not crusted at all. My skis released at one point and I sank in past my waist. Ski poles easily went all the way into the snowpack.
Ste Anne2/17
snowing, patchy fog and great conditions everywhere. Temps were just under freezing. We had driven through a mixed bag of precip in the states but it was all snow up there The crepe tent by the gondola is, sadly, no longer there. Ste Anne has a rally good, fast, modern lift system and we got a lot of mileage in. Skied everything from groomers to bumps to glades and all were in great shape.
Le Massif 2/18
Sun and clouds, temps in mid to upper 20's. Groomers were smoother and faster than at Ste Anne. Also, this was Saturday and Le Massif was the most crowded I we have ever skied it. Having said that though, The longest line we waited in was under 5 minutes and often we had no lines at all. SOme of the main touristy groomers were crowded and icy at choke points. Glades and bumps skied great. We hiked and skied the Le Massif backcountry after lunch. Said backcountry is about a mile hike through the woods and you come to 3 cut glades. The woods looked too thick to ski otherwise although there were 1 or 2 spots with a set of tracks heading off along the trail. We found the best snow of the trip here and were bouncing off pillows of snow...actual deep powder, not fresh, but nice and dry...well worth the hike. The back country run was our last of the day as we got to the gondola at the bottom a little before 4 and rode up to the lodge and parking lots at the top.
Looking towards resort from top of backcountry glade
St. Lawrence must be 3+ miles wide here.
On the backcountry trail. I stepped off the side and sank to my waist!
Ste Anne 2/19
The best snow was on the west side and this was our first time there that the t bar that brings you back up from the west side was open. Groomers were faster but in good shape. Glades still in good shape but hard to find fresh. Lower down the sun mouse have warmed some areas because we hit pockets of chunky stuff in some of the glades. No major lines and only crowds on a few main runs. Amazing for a Sunday at an area so close to a city. It does not show in my pics but you could see Quebec from the mountain.
All the way on skier's right side top of Ste Anne
The boys enjoying a treat at the trailside sugar shack with my skis taking a break in the background.
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