Le Massif

[legalskier]

Crank's TR & the article in Feb/Mar Ski mag piqued my interest. The only thing I knew about Massif before was through Martin Griff's blog. It's just too far north to stay on my radar. The owner, Daniel Gauthier, is a co-creator of Cirque de Sloleil. He purchased Massif in 2002 and has a long term improvement plan which is scheduled for completion in 2013-14. He even bought a RR track to transport customers there.
Here's a good article about it:

Le Massif – No More Clowning Around
Ex-Cirque du Soleil co-owner DANIEL GAUTHIER has taken his high-wire act up a notch to include chairlifts and gondolas at a new business venture, Le Massif.
http://skicanadamag.com/2011/10/27/travel/no-more-clowning-around

Yes, that's a triple black-

http://blog.nj.com/skiing/2009/03/le_massif_triple_diamond_dare.html

I gotta get up there.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

It's on my list too

 

[skiahman]

If LeMassif isn't on your list then get it on there and get up there. A one of a kind mountain...fantastic views, great terrain, insane glades and lodge food like no place anywhere. And all those French-speaking babes. Oh la la!

 

[awf170]

"SkiBumBob was up for the challenge and joined a group of snowsport journalists, two guides and a photographer on a plunge down the 65 degree trail, while I joined a less ambitious group down a single diamond."

Where do they come up with this rubbish? It is probably not even 40 degrees. I'm pretty the reason that it is a triple black is just because it is the official race trail.

Anyway, the place is definitely on my hit list. Not to mention that they're also having a real good season so far.

Also, it is worth checking out their photo of the day section. Some wicked good stuff there. Here is one from earlier this season:

 

[riverc0il]

On my list though I could care less about how they assign difficulty ratings. Just seems like a place that every dedicated east coaster should check out at least once.

 

[crank]

We did not ski the triple black...Didn't really even think about it. We mostly skied glades of 1&2 black diamonds. Nothing was incredible steep but everything had a decent pitch.

If you plan a trip to Le Massif do not pass up Mont Sainte Anne. I like them both almost equally and Sainte Anne has a ton of long, straight, steep bump runs down the front...plenty of glades and cruisers too.

 

[AdironRider]

I went there once in college. Fun place, and I found the conditions to be top shelf in terms of standard East Coast fare. I heard they get little in relative terms thaws or rain which lets the snow hold. I know when I was there it hadnt snowed in over a week and you couldnt tell.

I forget the French they used to name the trail, but its nothing to write home about. Dont get me wrong its a good run, with consistent vertical, but triple black diamond? Nah, not on something that wide open. At least Smuggs has some committing turns that need to be made.

 

[deadheadskier]

Didn't they have to "build the mountain top" to get the extra vert needed for a women's DH course? Anyone know how much higher they extended their peak? Is it pretty noticeable as an "artificial" mountaintop? Anyone got a decent picture of it?

One of these days I'll get there. Anyone ever just catch a flight from Boston? I took a non-skiing trip to Quebec City and it's a real haul. Taking a quick flight to stay in QC and then the train out to the mountain seems like a much better option.

I certainly like the owner's attitude about the place. He obviously made a ton of money to lose with Cirque to Soleil. There's a brief interview with him on the back page of the current Ski mag. He states, "I know we will not make a lot of money. That is not the point." .....refreshing

 

[steamboat1]

Didn't they have to "build the mountain top" to get the extra vert needed for a women's DH course? Anyone know how much higher they extended their peak? Is it pretty noticeable as an "artificial" mountaintop? Anyone got a decent picture of it?

Looks like one of the pyramids in Egypt. Sorry don't have a pic.

 

[crank]

This shot is from my last time up there 3 years ago this week. you can see the hump they built.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Le massif seems to be a sort of upside down mountain.Would you park at the top or the bottom?It appears most of the parking is at the summit.From what I can tell coming from the south as most of us will do,you drive by the entrance for the summit to get to the base area.weird huh?I must say the more I look at it on Google Earth the more the whole area looks very unique for a ski area.Any ski area I have seen in person or not have a mountain in some form.It appears that the main highway (138) is the same elevation as the summit and all the surrounding area on a plateau with the descent headed right to the St Lawrence.Real different.

 

[skiahman]

Technically it's not a mountain. It's cliffs. Very unique. Forget parking at the base if you're coming from QC. Save yourself the trip and park at the summit. Great in the morning-hit the trail without the lift ride. Kind of a drag at day's end though having to ride the lift back up. C'est la vie!

 

[steamboat1]

1st time I skied Le Massif there were no lifts. You parked at the top & skied down to the base where a school bus would pick everyone up & take you to the top again. Lot's of fun back in those days.

 

[skiahman]

Bus rides were before my time and I'm curious what route they took to get you back to the top. Was there a rode on site or did you have to go all the way through Petite-Riviere-St-Francois and out to 138?

 

[reefer]

Didn't they have to "build the mountain top" to get the extra vert needed for a women's DH course? Anyone know how much higher they extended their peak? Is it pretty noticeable as an "artificial" mountaintop? Anyone got a decent picture of it?

One of these days I'll get there. Anyone ever just catch a flight from Boston? I took a non-skiing trip to Quebec City and it's a real haul. Taking a quick flight to stay in QC and then the train out to the mountain seems like a much better option.

I certainly like the owner's attitude about the place. He obviously made a ton of money to lose with Cirque to Soleil. There's a brief interview with him on the back page of the current Ski mag. He states, "I know we will not make a lot of money. That is not the point." .....refreshing

Her's a couple I took two Aprils ago...thought the Egyptians were here.............threw in a couple more of the "river". Loved the place and I couldn't ski the glades..............didn't mind the drive, like having my vehicle, my own schedule. Will go back.

 

[crank]

NIce pics. The Canadian Shield is what they call the land mass that tumbles down to the St Lawrence there at Le Massif. I first read about the place and wanted to go when they had the busses... back in 1990 I believe, but I knew my wife was not a good enough skier to deal with it.

 

[SIKSKIER]

This looks like the only ski area that you could have a ski in ocean front house.I'm liking those house locations at the base.

 

[steamboat1]

Bus rides were before my time and I'm curious what route they took to get you back to the top. Was there a rode on site or did you have to go all the way through Petite-Riviere-St-Francois and out to 138?

Yes, all the way around, same bobsled course road you'd take today to get to the base area. If I remember right you were able to do maybe 4 or 5 runs a day.

 

[steamboat1]

I went there once in college. Fun place, and I found the conditions to be top shelf in terms of standard East Coast fare. I heard they get little in relative terms thaws or rain which lets the snow hold. I know when I was there it hadnt snowed in over a week and you couldnt tell.

It can get a little crusty at times on the lower elevations with the salt water breezes off the St. Lawrence depositing the humid air. Same at St. Anne but less so.

If conditions get like this Stoneham which is just a bit north of QC will have better conditions being that it's much further from the seaway. Usually get a bit more natural snow up that way also.

 

[legalskier]