It has been a few years, but The Halton Outdoor Club is visiting Ottawa once again to ski and snowshoe the fabulous Gatineau Hills. Gatineau is known for its rolling hills, beautiful scenery, and typically great snow conditions. If you bring your skates, you can also skate Ottawa’s famous Rideau Canal. We will ski and snowshoe at Gatineau Park and Nakkertok Nordic both of which offer trails suitable for all levels of ability from beginner to advanced. The trails are beautifully groomed and track set for classic and skate skiing. Snowshoers also have many options.
Itinerary:
Wed. Feb. 19:
We depart Burlington at 9:00 a.m. from the Guelph Line Carpool Parking Area. Overnight parking is free of charge. Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. Guelph Line Carpool Parking - Google Maps
Taking the 407 to 412 or 418, we plan to stop twice at On Routes on the 401 along the way. We will arrive in Ottawa around 4 p.m., giving you some free time to explore the ByWard Market, check out the local eateries, walk the city or skate the canal, if we are lucky. There are many local restaurants within walking distance, or order in if that is your preference.
Thurs. Feb. 20:
We depart at 9:00 a.m. We will ski and snowshoe at Nakkertok Nordic – South section with its 80 km of groomed and wilderness trails.
Leave @ 4:00 p.m. for the hotel.
Our Group Dinner is at the Meule et Caquelon restaurant. We will offer a three-course fondue selection (beef, chicken or cheese) with appetizer and dessert. (An e-mail will be sent after registration) This will be a great opportunity to talk with others about which areas to ski/snowshoe in the coming days.
Leave hotel @ 6 p.m., return ~ 8:30 p.m.
Fri Feb. 21:
We will ski and snowshoe at Gatineau Park with its many groomed and track-set trails, amounting to an impressive 200 kms skiing and 80kms snowshoe trails.
We will leave @ 9 a.m. to go to the Visitor’s Centre for our trail passes.
We will have two drop offs: Parking lot 2 and 20.
For those who wish to have more opportunity to skate the canal, explore Ottawa or relax at the hotel, there will be an earlier departure time and a later departure time for those who want more time on the trails.
The bus will stay at parking lot 20. The early departure will leave lot 20 at 2:00 p.m., picking others up at parking lot 2 @ 2:30 on the way to the hotel. The bus will return to Parking lot 2 for a later pick-up at 4:00 p.m. and then a 4:30 p.m. pick-up at Parking lot 20, before returning to the hotel.
Sat. Feb. 22:
We will ski and snowshoe at Gatineau Park:
We will leave @ 9 a.m. to go to the Visitor’s Centre for our passes.
We will have two drop-offs: Parking lot 1 and 17, similar timing to Friday.
Sun Feb. 23: ½ day skiing/snowshoe
Checkout is at 8:30 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. departure.
We will ski and snowshoe once again at Gatineau Park for the morning, Parking lot 5, departing @ 12 Noon for the drive back to Burlington,
Our lunch stop will be at On Route Mallorytown or Kingston-Division St.
We will make a second stop at On Route Newcastle or at the Big Apple – Colborne
Our estimated arrival time in Burlington will be between 7:00 and 8:00 pm.
Notes:
1. You will need to bring your own lunch and water for each day.
2. Gatineau Park has no chalet, just warming huts and vault toilets.
3. Nakkertok has a heated building and vault toilets.
4. The parking lots we use at Gatineau Park may change due to circumstances like the park closing them or the bus can not get there. Alternate locations with similar skiing/snowshoeing will be chosen.
Accommodation:
We will stay at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, which is in the heart of the ByWard Market and downtown Ottawa. It is within walking distance of Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. The hotel has a small restaurant and a pool. The hotel rooms are equipped with mini-fridges, internet, hairdryers and tea/coffee makers.
Other than the one group meal, meals will not be included with our stay but there are several good breakfast establishments very close by and a myriad of options for dining out in the evening, all within walking distance.
Trip cost:
The trip cost for skiers is $970 for double accommodation and $1408 for single.
The trip cost for snowshoers is $930 for double accommodation and $1368 for single.
** You can only register for snowshoeing if you plan to exclusively snowshoe. If you ski and snowshoe you must register for skiing.
The maximum number of participants is 44. Four rooms are available for “single” accommodation, on a first come-first served basis.
NOTE: If we are unable to match you up with a roommate and there are no alternative rooming arrangements, we will cancel your registration and process a refund.
Inclusions:
- All transportation by coach bus
- Four nights accommodation
- Ski/snowshoe passes for 4 days
- One group dinner
Exclusions:
Please Note: Masks are not required on the HOC bus. Wearing a mask is optional and the choice remains at the discretion of the individual as their own comfort and concern dictates. If provincial regulations change, mask mandates will change accordingly.
Cancellation Policy:
If you need to cancel, please contact Cheryl, our Club Manager at manager@haltonoutdoorclub.ca. A refund (less $25.00 processing fee), will ONLY be issued if we can replace you from the waiting list.
In the event that the trip is cancelled by the club at any point, you will be given a full refund.
If the trip experiences inclement weather that interferes with our planned activities, the trip will NOT be cancelled. Leaders will try to find suitable alternative activities.
While in progress, if the trip experiences unexpected circumstances that are beyond our control, that result in changes to the itinerary and unexpected expenses, members are responsible for any extra expenses that may be incurred.
Questions or concerns? Email Sue and Frank Elias at fselias@cogeco.ca.