Patrick
Well-known member
Okay, so Ontario Spring Break weather didn't start off too good.
I had taken a day off the previous friday (10th) for a day at Whiteface - RAIN, pouring RAIN.
Saturday was a beautiful day, however my daughter had her music class before we could leave on Spring Break.
This Spring Break was split in two part, small hills in the Laurentians especially for my youngest daughter (3), followed by Vermont (Smuggs and MRG) for my oldest ( 8 ) while the youngest would stay at grand-mom's for 3 days.
Let's say that the weather made for much last minute planning.
Sunday: planned day somewhere in the Laurentians (Alta, Avalanche or 40-80). Not good, pouring RAIN. :x Went to visit the Science Centre in Montreal's Old-Port instead.
Monday: Same skiing weather, good if you're a duck. Most museum are closed on Monday and not much to do. My mom, wife and oldest went to play...bowling in a smoke filled place.
Tuesday: It's getting colder and slight rain in Montreal but flurries are forecast.
Destination: Vallée Bleue, a tiny hill (111 meters vert) right in the village of Val-David. Surfaces were spring with a fresh snow over an inch or two lose ice. Pretty good conditions all things considered. All runs were open and the sudden rise in temps and rain didn't affect the trail coverage and terrain openings. The area close it's second chair because the place was dead. Less than 10 cars in the parking lot.
After the day skiing, I wanted to see what was left of Sun Valley. A lost area just a few kilometers away. One of my earliest recollection (late 60s) of skiing involves this place and it's Swiss atmosphere and Chalets. The Chalet apartments where we stayed was still there, however I didn't the old main lodge. It's looked like it burned down, however I didn't walk around to see.
Sun Valley vert wasn't big (approx 140meters), it had two sides. The North side (not the main side) is right next to the Laurentians Autoroute, just passed Exit 76. This place has been close for over 20 years now.
That's night, we sleep in the village less than 1km from the Vallée Bleue.
Wednesday: Belle Neige, just 3km south of VB. BN is another ski area at an early age, probably the year after that Sun Valley trip. Belle Neige vert is 157 meters and has 1 quad, 1 double, 1 t-bar, 1 carpet. When we had our trip there when I was maybe 5, there was a double t-bars roughtly where the quad is and another t-bar elsewhere.
Snow surfaces were definately getting harder as the temps were colder. Less snow falling on this day, just a few snow squalls (sp?). Tried the short Original (glades), conditions weren't that great (what else after this weather). Dynamique, a short wall was hard and icy. The rest of the trails conditions were great (all things considered - weather and sleepest).
The trail of the day was probably "Sentier des Toutous" (Stuffies Path). My 3yr old couldn't get enough, as my 8yr old - surprise, this is the first time there favorite trail is the same. The short and narrow trail (400-500ft long?) is covered with 500 stuff animals (Snoopy, Dolls, Smurfs, Big Dogs, Teddy Bears, etc etc). In the trees, on logs, on rope crossing overhead.
A great two first two days overall and first part of the trip.
After one night in Montreal, we left the next day for Vermont with wife and my oldest daughter.
Thursday: destination Smuggs...
(see next report coming soon).
I had taken a day off the previous friday (10th) for a day at Whiteface - RAIN, pouring RAIN.
Saturday was a beautiful day, however my daughter had her music class before we could leave on Spring Break.
This Spring Break was split in two part, small hills in the Laurentians especially for my youngest daughter (3), followed by Vermont (Smuggs and MRG) for my oldest ( 8 ) while the youngest would stay at grand-mom's for 3 days.
Let's say that the weather made for much last minute planning.
Sunday: planned day somewhere in the Laurentians (Alta, Avalanche or 40-80). Not good, pouring RAIN. :x Went to visit the Science Centre in Montreal's Old-Port instead.
Monday: Same skiing weather, good if you're a duck. Most museum are closed on Monday and not much to do. My mom, wife and oldest went to play...bowling in a smoke filled place.
Tuesday: It's getting colder and slight rain in Montreal but flurries are forecast.
Destination: Vallée Bleue, a tiny hill (111 meters vert) right in the village of Val-David. Surfaces were spring with a fresh snow over an inch or two lose ice. Pretty good conditions all things considered. All runs were open and the sudden rise in temps and rain didn't affect the trail coverage and terrain openings. The area close it's second chair because the place was dead. Less than 10 cars in the parking lot.
After the day skiing, I wanted to see what was left of Sun Valley. A lost area just a few kilometers away. One of my earliest recollection (late 60s) of skiing involves this place and it's Swiss atmosphere and Chalets. The Chalet apartments where we stayed was still there, however I didn't the old main lodge. It's looked like it burned down, however I didn't walk around to see.
Sun Valley vert wasn't big (approx 140meters), it had two sides. The North side (not the main side) is right next to the Laurentians Autoroute, just passed Exit 76. This place has been close for over 20 years now.
That's night, we sleep in the village less than 1km from the Vallée Bleue.
Wednesday: Belle Neige, just 3km south of VB. BN is another ski area at an early age, probably the year after that Sun Valley trip. Belle Neige vert is 157 meters and has 1 quad, 1 double, 1 t-bar, 1 carpet. When we had our trip there when I was maybe 5, there was a double t-bars roughtly where the quad is and another t-bar elsewhere.
Snow surfaces were definately getting harder as the temps were colder. Less snow falling on this day, just a few snow squalls (sp?). Tried the short Original (glades), conditions weren't that great (what else after this weather). Dynamique, a short wall was hard and icy. The rest of the trails conditions were great (all things considered - weather and sleepest).
The trail of the day was probably "Sentier des Toutous" (Stuffies Path). My 3yr old couldn't get enough, as my 8yr old - surprise, this is the first time there favorite trail is the same. The short and narrow trail (400-500ft long?) is covered with 500 stuff animals (Snoopy, Dolls, Smurfs, Big Dogs, Teddy Bears, etc etc). In the trees, on logs, on rope crossing overhead.
A great two first two days overall and first part of the trip.
After one night in Montreal, we left the next day for Vermont with wife and my oldest daughter.
Thursday: destination Smuggs...
(see next report coming soon).
