By: musicianonskis
Tags: Fortune Parkway
Category: Cross Country Ski Photos, Gatineau Park, Winter
| Aperture: | f/8 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length: | 24.978mm |
| ISO: | 800 |
| Shutter: | 1/200 sec |
| Camera: | Canon PowerShot G12 |
Rant: Demsis groomed the parkway and the NUMEROUS skiers were thrilled. So were the many walkers using the groomed center area. In the time I was out, I spotted at least 7 groups of walkers on the fortune Parkway, including one group with about a dozen people. Here is the question: at what point does a parkway become an official ski trail? Is it when it is first groomed? Is it when they start checking for passes? Or when the NCC site says the season has begun? Or is all this irrelevant because walkers use the ski trails all winter? The NCC site does not mention having groomed. “Note: Gatineau Park’s cross country ski season has not yet officially started. As soon as there is enough snow on the ground, we will begin grooming operations. “. However they DID begin grooming. The NCC needs a plan: create a walking trail beside the parkway perhaps? (a dedicated doggie ski trail would be nice, too, like they have in Silver Star, but there is a subject for another day…) Better signage ? Bouncers? Usher in the season to coincide with ski-able snow instead of waiting for an arbitrary date?
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You go girl!!! I chatted with two groups of walkers to educate them. NCC definitely needs better signage and people need more common sense. As skiers, we know not to walk as soon as there is enough snow to ski on — even if the trails are not officially open.
Walkers or hikers is a problem on ski trails pretty much all winter Jo-Ann, especially when there is no parking lot attendant, I have encountered it on P12, P7, P19, P10 but mostly during the end of the season. Some places do have signs but i guess they are ignored!!!!!
It’s all about education and communication. Isn’t it it wonderful that more people want to explore our beautiful Gatineau Park? For novice visitors, more explicit notices explaining what a ski trail looks like – maybe with a photo of the groomed trails, and information about where where they may walk (near that parking lot) would be very helpful. Some folks will still walk on the trails, but they can’t say that they didn’t know. We can do a lot by being positive and friendly when talking to walkers. Assume that they really do not know. Then may decide to try… Read more »
How about putting huge signs in the parking lots saying Ski Trails NOT walking trails – then there would be do doubt in anyone’s mind.