Cross-country skiers were not spoiled during the holiday season: the vast majority of cross-country ski trails closed in Quebec and Montreal

Cross-country skiing enthusiasts in Quebec and Montreal were not spoiled during the holiday season, as the significant amounts of rain that fell in recent days forced the closure of trails in major centers.

If the alpine ski mountains manage to do well thanks to their artificial snow, the same cannot be said of the cross-country ski resorts, where snow is rare.

In Quebec as in Montreal, cross-country skiers must be patient. On Friday, the trails were still closed or impassable due to lack of snow.

Trails closed

In Quebec, despite a measly four centimeters of snow received in the last few days, the Plains of Abraham trail is still “on the grass”, while the Sainte-Foy outdoor base, the Beauport outdoor center, the center of Charlesbourg and Domaine Maizerets are closed, to name just a few.

In Lévis, the La Balade cross-country ski center is open at 50%, but with “variable conditions”, specifies the director, Mathieu Letendre.

Dry track

The scenario is the same in Montreal, where all the slopes in town are closed. Only the brand new dry and artificial cross-country ski trail, located in Frédéric-Back park, welcomes skiers.

Installed since the fall, the 120-meter track made of small films “similar to Velcro” allows cross-country skiers to get active when Mother Nature refuses to get involved.

“It slides really well, our sports-study athletes train on this track, it’s as close as possible to the feeling of sliding on the snow,” explains Éloïse Cantin, director of the Montreal Cross-Country Ski Club.

According to Environment Canada, the forecasts for the coming days are not encouraging for fans of this board sport.

“In Montreal […]there will perhaps be a few flakes in the coming days, but not significant quantities,” mentions meteorologist Gina Ressler.

“It’s a little sad to see that,” laments M^me Canteen.

Even cross-country skiing lessons for toddlers, which are due to start on Saturday, will have to be revised due to the lack of snow. “We try to keep them active and imitate games on skis, but without skis,” describes M^me Canteen.

The Montreal Cross-Country Ski Club even wants to ask the City to review its way of clearing snow, to “optimize” the little snow on the ground.

«[On veut] raise awareness among operators to no longer treat snow as waste, but as a resource,” adds Stéphane Melançon, president of the board of directors of the Montreal Cross-Country Ski Club.

“An entire sporting ecosystem is under threat. No snow, no lessons, no young skiers, no coach, no replacements, no customers in the shops,” he explains.

Snowy Charlevoix

However, the good quantities of snow that fell in mountainous areas, such as Charlevoix and the north of Montreal, are here to stay, says the meteorologist.

Snowstorms are also expected in eastern Quebec and on the North Shore, specifies M^me Ressler.

According to Environment Canada, the Charlevoix region remains among the snowiest, with an accumulation of 80 centimeters received in the last few days.

In Mont-Tremblant, it is reported that it received 29 centimeters of snow in the last 48 hours.

Where to go for cross-country skiing

In the Laurentians:

• Hors Limite cross-country ski center, in Estérel (variable conditions)
• Le P’tit Train du Nord linear park, in Sainte-Adèle (icy in places, but passable)
• Domaine Saint-Bernard, in Mont-Tremblant (variable conditions)

The surroundings of Quebec:

• Camp Mercier (SÉPAQ), in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve (generally very good conditions)
• Mont Grand-Fonds, in La Malbaie, in Charlevoix (very good conditions)
• Mont-Sainte-Anne cross-country ski center (very good conditions)