The snow in this shot is really nice. Adds to the depth between the trees in the foreground and the trees in the background (or the not foreground).
Sue
March 14, 2013 20:18
Too bad it didn’t motivate Demsis to get out and groom. I read the reports on XC ski Ottawa website…I don’t even bother w NCC website anymore. Funny how the racers had a completely different take on the conditions compared to the recreational skiers! I am finding more and more that the skate skiers are winning out over us classic skiers when it comes to trail maintenance (which doesn’t help considering we are already dealt a blow with all the freeze/thaw cycles).
I have a leg that won’t allow me to skate in icy conditions, otherwise I would have skated, and possibly have enjoyed it somewhat more.
Stu
March 14, 2013 22:04
I did the same classic run with waxless skis that I do every day from Asticou to where trail 5 meets 15 & back on the Pkwy. and it went fine. The dusting of snow overnight made the tracks slow. There was new grooming on one side of 5 by 10:30am & it was very good!
Wrt the different take between racers and recreationals: in the reports from yesterday it was probably more a case of different conditions. Sheila Kealey gave a glowing report for the GP from P8 – the GP had been recently tilled and trackset and was probably as great as she reported (for both skating and classic). I also started (skating) from P8 but, because I’m trying to convince a banged-up ankle to heal itself, I turned left and chose the easier option of the Doldrums – it had only been trackset on Wednesday and by Thursday AM was quite hard. Consequentially… Read more »
Sue
March 15, 2013 19:58
Thanks for the clarification Ron…I really look forward to your and Paul J and Joanne’s updates…still can’t figure out why you and Paul never seem to connect since you always seem to be one ski behind the other…lol!
Ron
March 15, 2013 20:36
We connect frequently – sometimes we decide who’s going to put in the report. But Paul is a back-country specialist – I’m becoming more of a grooming addicted dilettante.
I run into Paul from time to time, too, although I don’t do much back country, unfortunately . I can recognize him now from way in the distance. Somehow, I never see Ron anymore. Must change my locations!
Stu
March 15, 2013 22:55
I read the Park reports daily and the 2 that usually nail the conditions I`ve seen are David Brownrigg & Megan McTavish.
I guess you see the conditions similarly to David and Megan. Interestingly, there are a couple of reporters who usually give thumbs up, and rarely report conditions as poor, but perhaps they are younger, more physically resilient (than some of us), have better skills at certain types of skiing, go out earlier in the day, or simply enjoy being in the park so much that the conditions don’t affect their rating. Craig’s goal for the site was to have a variety of reports from many types of skiers, which I think he has achieved nicely, but I wouldn’t call it… Read more »
Ron
March 16, 2013 09:29
I’ m totally in agreement with Jo-Ann. The real clue is diversity – it’s the multitude of ways that skiing is pursued in the park – backcountry, classic, skating, touring etc. There’s a great range in tastes from tourers to elite-racers. In spite of the range in abilities I’m impressed by the consistency in the reports with regard to the conditions; most reporters try to report broadly on the conditions – e.g., a skater will give his/her view of the classic tracks and the backcountry trails. The racers can derive info’ from a tourer’s report; a tourer can derive info’… Read more »
Stu
March 16, 2013 19:43
Just to clarify, I`m a geezer that turtles along & maybe it`s because David Brownrigg often reports on the area that I use most, makes them seem right on. Likely most other reports are just as good.
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The snow in this shot is really nice. Adds to the depth between the trees in the foreground and the trees in the background (or the not foreground).
Too bad it didn’t motivate Demsis to get out and groom. I read the reports on XC ski Ottawa website…I don’t even bother w NCC website anymore. Funny how the racers had a completely different take on the conditions compared to the recreational skiers! I am finding more and more that the skate skiers are winning out over us classic skiers when it comes to trail maintenance (which doesn’t help considering we are already dealt a blow with all the freeze/thaw cycles).
I have a leg that won’t allow me to skate in icy conditions, otherwise I would have skated, and possibly have enjoyed it somewhat more.
I did the same classic run with waxless skis that I do every day from Asticou to where trail 5 meets 15 & back on the Pkwy. and it went fine. The dusting of snow overnight made the tracks slow. There was new grooming on one side of 5 by 10:30am & it was very good!
Wish I’d tried there.
Wrt the different take between racers and recreationals: in the reports from yesterday it was probably more a case of different conditions. Sheila Kealey gave a glowing report for the GP from P8 – the GP had been recently tilled and trackset and was probably as great as she reported (for both skating and classic). I also started (skating) from P8 but, because I’m trying to convince a banged-up ankle to heal itself, I turned left and chose the easier option of the Doldrums – it had only been trackset on Wednesday and by Thursday AM was quite hard. Consequentially… Read more »
Thanks for the clarification Ron…I really look forward to your and Paul J and Joanne’s updates…still can’t figure out why you and Paul never seem to connect since you always seem to be one ski behind the other…lol!
We connect frequently – sometimes we decide who’s going to put in the report. But Paul is a back-country specialist – I’m becoming more of a grooming addicted dilettante.
I run into Paul from time to time, too, although I don’t do much back country, unfortunately . I can recognize him now from way in the distance. Somehow, I never see Ron anymore. Must change my locations!
I read the Park reports daily and the 2 that usually nail the conditions I`ve seen are David Brownrigg & Megan McTavish.
I guess you see the conditions similarly to David and Megan. Interestingly, there are a couple of reporters who usually give thumbs up, and rarely report conditions as poor, but perhaps they are younger, more physically resilient (than some of us), have better skills at certain types of skiing, go out earlier in the day, or simply enjoy being in the park so much that the conditions don’t affect their rating. Craig’s goal for the site was to have a variety of reports from many types of skiers, which I think he has achieved nicely, but I wouldn’t call it… Read more »
I’ m totally in agreement with Jo-Ann. The real clue is diversity – it’s the multitude of ways that skiing is pursued in the park – backcountry, classic, skating, touring etc. There’s a great range in tastes from tourers to elite-racers. In spite of the range in abilities I’m impressed by the consistency in the reports with regard to the conditions; most reporters try to report broadly on the conditions – e.g., a skater will give his/her view of the classic tracks and the backcountry trails. The racers can derive info’ from a tourer’s report; a tourer can derive info’… Read more »
Just to clarify, I`m a geezer that turtles along & maybe it`s because David Brownrigg often reports on the area that I use most, makes them seem right on. Likely most other reports are just as good.