Glades/Sous-Bois, fun, hard???

[Gpaul]

In planning my NE and Quebec trip next 3/25-4/10, I've encountered LOTS of comments on GLADE skiing (sous-bois dans Quebec), especially regarding Jay and Sutton. We've never really skied these trails, are they really fun, and how hard is to do them?

As y'all may be aware, we go for LONG STEEP GROOMERS.



And this, from the DFL poll/thread, can someone pls paste said thread:

I suspect this poll will be more lopsided than the trees vs. groomers thread.

Gracias!

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm not seeing any poll. GPaul. :blink:

And skiing glades is very, very different from skiing and riding steep groomed cruisers. No real comparison in my mind.

 

[riverc0il]

In planning my NE and Quebec trip next 3/25-4/10, I've encountered LOTS of comments on GLADE skiing (sous-bois dans Quebec), especially regarding Jay and Sutton. We've never really skied these trails, are they really fun, and how hard is to do them?

As y'all may be aware, we go for LONG STEEP GROOMERS.

tree skiing to me is the culmination of every type of skiing technique used by the expert skier with exception of carving big arcs... the skill you probably specialize in if you favor long steep groomers. one needs to be able to ski powder, natural snow, moguls, make tight turns, have good control especially at speed, turn on a dime reflexes, and the ability to read variable terrain.

fun? oh yes, yes indeed!!! how hard is it to do them? if you don't have the requisite skills, very hard and potentially dangerous. unfortunately, there are very few "easy" glade trails, though jay peak is a good place to start as they have some easier areas and many of their tree runs are fairly sparse. burke.... not so much. tighter glades than jay for the most part though they do have one rather mellow glade in the beginner area with very little pitch.

you really 'just gotta do them' to learn them, but you should at the least be proficient at skiing moguls, powder, and variable natural snow.

 

[koreshot]

I think Tremblant may have a few easy glades as well. First time I skied woods was in Tremblant.

I think looking ahead 2 or 3 turns and being able to make quick turns in control is the most important thing. Most tree runs on the EC are relatively dense, slash turns to check speed are often needed.

If this helps any, I have taken a few newbies into the woods recently and the ones that had the most difficulty were people who have a tendency to sit back. If you are comfortable on signle diamond bumpy trails and can ski them in rythm and in control, I say go for it! A day tree skiing will elevate your game greatly.

 

[SnowRider]

Unless you consider Jay's beginner and intermediate glades as real glades then there is really no comparison.

 

[Gpaul]

Thanky all, no glades for these knees!

 

[Mrs. AHM]

Quebec-- Oui!!

AHM and I had a rocking day at Le Massif a few ago-- Souis B. etc. are definitely do-able-- some tight trees with a decent amount of steep. You WILL enjoy some groomers with killer views of the St. Lawrence, and all of them end with a short, steep sweeper towards the base lodge. AHM and I were disappointed with Mt. St. Anne-- ice bumps and poorly cut trails-- we had more fun on snowshoes (where the dodsleds run) than we did skiing. Please enjoy the Quebec City restaurants-- there is some great dining there.

 

[Gpaul]

Merci Mrs. AHM! We'll be there sometime during 3/24-4/8, hopefully not too much ice at MSA (and more hopeful of any snow at that time).

Would 3 days @ Massif be too much, considering basically the blue and black groomers?

Any restaurant suggestions appreciated:grin: .

Have you been to Eastern Towsnhips? Worth my time, assuming good conditions of course.

Gracias.