Saturday 10 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 7 - Mooney's Bay Circuits (3.2 km each)

Today's route:

Mooney's Bay - 3 circuits plus add-ons - 10.8 km, 40 metres ascent, 1 hour 45 mins including 6 mins stops.

On an overcast, relatively warm, day with light snow falling, we decided to give Gatineau Park a miss and obtain a bit of exercise at Mooney's Bay, where there's a pleasant 3.4 km circuit within a five minute drive from home.

We met Shane and Stephen, who completed a couple of laps with us before returning to their base to get sorted out for the week ahead.

This lazy day forms part of our annual 'beach holiday'. Today's pictures show Sue with Shane and Stephen, posing in front of a sign that warns about the risks of swimming off this beach. The lifeguards, as you can see from the bottom picture, were taking a break.

Kanata parkrun number 61

The Kanata parkrun regulars were joined by more than four 'tourists' this morning. Ken, Shane and Sue joined me, as well as an unknown runner who came in ahead of everyone else. Ken and I jogged round in modest times given the good conditions, with Shane a little way behind nursing a back injury. He and I have both done over 160 parkruns. Sue, nursing her sore Achilles, trailed behind with the tail walker and just managed to finish inside an hour. "Zoe would be proud of me" she commented, referring to one of Wythenshawe's stalwart runners.

The picture shows Ken finishing whilst the tail walker, Michelle, follows Sue at the start of the second half of the horseshoe.

The Morning Owl café provided good coffee and cake for most of today's 16 participants (I hesitate to describe us a 'runners' - more like slow joggers!)

Friday 9 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 6 - A P17 (Wakefield) circuit via trail 52 and Renaud Cabin

Today's route:

P17>#53>#52>#50>#55>Renaud Cabin for lunch>#55>#50>#51>#53>P17 - 24.5km, 410 metres ascent, 4 hours 6 mins including 36 mins stops.

Sue and I were joined by Ken and Susan for this excellent outing in pristine conditions. Lac Philippe glittered as we passed by on trail 50. 

There was plenty of room in the lunch cabin, which now has dotted windows to stop the birds flying into the glass. Judging by the size of the wild turkeys that lurked below the feeder, such an incident could spell disaster for the window as well as the bird!

Sue and I took the shorter route, trail 51, back to P17 car park, whereas Ken and Susan, who are faster skiers, took the slightly longer trail 53. We all arrived back at more or less the same time.

A coffee shop in Chelsea provided a good choice of apres ski nourishment - Sue is pictured with hers.

Back at base, Shane and Stephen (who we met last year on the Exodus trip to Estonia) called in for a cuppa on their way to stay at Lester and Lynette's air B&B. They arrived on the same AC flight from Heathrow as we did last week. We will be seeing them from time to time over the course of the next ten days or so. 

Now we are seven!

Thursday 8 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 5 - A Circuit from P3 (Gamelin) past Pink Lake via trails 5 and 15

Today's route:

P3>Gatineau Parkway>#5>#15>#35>Pink Lake>Gatineau Parkway>P3 - 16km, 245 metres ascent, 2 hours 42 mins including 24 mins stops.

A blue sky day, not as cold as expected at minus 12°C plus wind chill. Quiet on the trails. Trail 15 is another favourite, as is the fast Parkway descent from Pink Lake, so we were happy. It was warm enough to stop for a cuppa and cake on the trail (no cabins on this route) - an unexpected pleasure.

Chatted to a couple of chaps from Nova Scotia. Apparently there is no snow there and everything is green. They are in Ottawa for the CSM (Canadian Ski Marathon) which takes place this weekend. None of our gang are - for the first time in living memory - doing the CSM this year.

Helen has a cold so visited the doctor. Susan arrived from Connecticut. Ken went to work (soon to be a thing of the past as he retires at the end of the month).

More visitors are expected - watch this space.

Wednesday 7 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 4 - P7 (Kingsmere) to Champlain Lookout and back, using Parkways and trail 1

Today's route:

P7>#36>#1 Ridge Road>Keogan Cabin >Fortune Parkway>Gatineau Parkway>Champlain Parkway>Champlain Lookout>#1>Huron Cabin for lunch>#1 Khyber Pass>#1>#36>P7 - 15.7 km, 275 metres ascent, 2 hours 58 mins including 37 mins stops.

A lovely ski with Sue. Light snow fell throughout, and it was cold, so very few pictures taken. Quiet trails in the main, but there was an incident. An old lady suddenly appeared beside me and cut in to the groomed trail I was on over my skis, falling over in front of me. She wasn't hurt and I managed to stop before skewering her, so I moved to one side and continued on and moved well over when she caught up again. "Take care!" I offered but she completely ignored me. Sue had seen her antics and had spoken to her. Apparently I was to blame for the fall! Sorry, old lady, but you don't own the trails - pity others who get in your way.

Luckily the drivers in the 10 cm of snow that fell today were more courteous.

The pictures today were taken at Huron Cabin, plus a picture of my electric gloves for Conrad. The power packs - one on each hand - each contain three AA batteries.

Tuesday 6 February 2018 - Snowshoeing at Mont Cascades

Today's route:

Red>Grey>Yellow (see image above) - 5.5 km, 250 metres ascent, 2 hours 20 mins including 30 mins stops.

Helen had some downhill skiing booked at Mont Cascades, where there are no x-c ski trails. So Sue and I borrowed some snowshoes, having left ours in the UK as we never seem to use them here!

Nice woodland (albeit contrived) trails led to viewpoints over the Gatineau River. Despite me having cold hands for a while, having foolishly left my electric gloves at home, it was a lovely little outing with a satisfactory rendezvous at the club house for a late lunch. 

Monday 5 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 3 - P16 (Vallée Meech) to Herridge and Healey Cabins, returning via Meech Lake

 

Today's route:

P16>#50>Herridge Cabin>Healey Cabin for lunch>#50>#36 to Meech Lake beach and back>#50>P16 - 13km, 240 metres ascent, 2 hours 50 mins including 35 mins stops.

A lovely outing with Sue and Helen, in perfect conditions under a deep blue sky. No fire in Herridge Cabin so we went to nearby Healey Cabin and enjoyed lunch with a couple of Helen's friends. Lots of  blue jays and one grey jay outside.

4 February 2018 - A Birthday Supper

I'm not a fan of birthday celebrations, but this one did provide an excuse for some goodies, albeit the lobster racing could have been a bit messy. Sadly, there weren't enough berries available for the cake to match my advanced years.

Sunday 4 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 2 - P10 (Fortune) to Huron Cabin via the Burma Road (trail 3), returning via Fortune Parkway

Postings from this trip will be brief diary entries by way of notes and a log, as similar reports have been made, with many illustrations, in previous years. So I'm continuing with the 'mobile' postings rather than faffing with downloads to the computer, etc.

Today's route:

P10>Fortune Parkway>#3 Burma Road>#1>Huron Cabin for lunch>#1 Khyber Pass>Fortune Parkway>P10 - 12km, 210 metres ascent, 2 hours 19 mins including 35 mins stops.

Overnight snow was fortified by day long flurries, about 10cm in total. Sue stayed at home to work and nurse her sore Achilles. Helen went on what we thought might be a 'Wild Lobster Chase', but she excelled herself and returned with the goods. Meanwhile,  Ken and I enjoyed a lovely ski from P10 and up the Burma Road, my favourite ski trail.

The afternoon will be spent 'Beach Holidaying' and no doubt we will witness the sad demise of the lobsters.

Saturday 3 February 2018 - X-c Ski Number 1 - A short circuit from P3 (Gamelin) using trail 5 and Gatineau Parkway

Our annual visit to Gatineau Park commenced on a sunny afternoon in about minus 6°C. A bit warmer than the earlier parkrun at Kanata.

P3>Gatineau Parkway>#5>link trail>Gatineau Parkway>P3 - 11km, 140 metres ascent, 1 hour 45 mins.

Good to have all four of us - Ken, Helen, Sue and me - on this short outing in good conditions. Lots of people out in the sunshine, but as we finished the views to nearby Ottawa city centre were obscured by snow flurries.

Kanata parkrun number 20

After yesterday's long journey, including a scenic interlude over the southern tip of Greenland, to Ottawa, it was a pleasure to join eleven others in enjoying a run along some woodland paths around Kanata on a cool morning. Dog walkers had helped to pack down the snow, which provided scant cover for a layer of ice. However, the Yaktrak crampons weren't needed, my trusty Keen Targhee II trail shoes being up to the job, if a little heavy for running.

I was quite happy with a time a shade under 28 minutes, and even happier with the chocolate cheesecake served by the local café afterwards.

Helen came along and served the parkrun cause by way of being back up timer, whilst Sue stayed at home to work and Ken took part in a truncated triathlon.

Snow/skiing conditions are a little dubious, but the sun is shining and we are all happy, Ken in particular after having blasted through the 'triathlon' (12 km skating then 5 km running) in little more than an hour.

(Sent by phone as Sue has appropriated the computer for work purposes.)

Now For Something Completely Different

Not exactly 'Green'. Perhaps a misnomer at this time of year?

Zillertal Rucksack Route, aka Berlinerweg, Index to Postings

Here’s the index to my postings relating to our Berlinerweg / Zillertal Rucksack Route trip in July 2007. Hopefully somebody might find these diary entries and be inspired to try this excellent route, but regardless of that, I’ve enjoyed typing up the hand written diary and re-living the trip during a rainy January in Manchester during which very little of excitement has taken place and too much time has been spent attending funerals.

Stage 1 – Mayrhofen to Edel Hütte (2238 metres)

Stage 2 – Edel Hütte to Kasseler Hütte (2177m)

Stage 3 – Kasseler Hütte to Greizer Hut (2227m)

Stage 4 – Greizer Hut to Berliner Hütte (2044m)

Stage 5 – Berliner Hütte to Furtschagl Haus (2295m)

Stage 6 – Furtschagl Haus to Friesenberg Haus (2500m)

Stage 7 – Friesenberg Haus to Gamshütte (1916m)

Stage 8 – Gamshütte to Mayrhofen

Enjoy!

Zillertal Rucksack Route, aka Berlinerweg, Stage 8 – Gamshütte to Mayrhofen

Saturday 28 July 2007

Woke at usual time - 6.45am - after father and son had bucked the familiar crisp packet ritual and quietly removed themselves to breakfast, which was laid out in the positions we had occupied last night.

We don sun tan cream before heading off from this last high residence - for a month, anyway - it's a nice day with high cloud, but there's an 'end of term' feel as Manfred is gone* and the others, all strangers really, head up not down.

Anyway, we take the Hermann-Hecht-Weg to start our 1200 metre descent to Mayrhofen.

Decide against the shorter descent to Ginzling, as we may not be able to afford the bus fare from there.

It turns out to be a lovely woodland walk in the cool morning air (usual 8 am departure) through the bilberry zone, then the raspberry zone, and into the pine and fungus zone.

Views across the main valley to various parts of our route over the past week. We are in the sun, but Mayrhofen looks rather grey below as high clouds build up.

Lots of lovely flowers - many different from those seen over the past week, as we are lower.

We descend through thick woods to gradual awareness of motors and industrial noise below, after a week away from all that.

Green arrows on rocks mark the route, that has been bisected many times by a LRT that now runs up the hillside, presumably for logging.

At 9.45 we reach a road at 1000 metres. From here we follow yellow signs - the first three all say 'Mayrhofen 1½ hours' - up past a football pitch, then gently down through woodland to join the old road to Ginzling, from where we stroll into Mayrhofen after a three hour walk, and spend our remaining cash on coffee at Café Solo, before a visit to the money shop and reunification with the bus (our large car) - it's had a nice rest at the cable car station.

The last lap into Mayrhofen

Edelweiss in Ginzling

Then we book in and set up camp at the crowded but well equipped and quiet campsite. The showers are great! Then up to Ginzling for lunch at the Alte Hotel Ginzling for deep fried trout, as recommended by Allan Hartley. Even the skin is delicious. We have no gripe with Allan on this.

Later – a deluge in Mayrhofen

Here’s our route for the final morning – about 10 km with 250 metres ascent.

*back to Heidi Marie and his routine of 'bedtime 1am, up at 8am, breakfast and papers until 10am, lunch 3.30, dinner 10pm’! He is looking forward to a good 'bottom wash'. (Aren't we all!)

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