A winter’s gift: Groomed Cross-country ski trails along the Ottawa River

Non-profit group announce grooming of trail from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum to the National Capital Commission Riverhouse has become permanent

[Editor’s note: This column first appeared in a 2021 edition of the Manor Park Chronicle.]

Ski season opened for me on Jan. 1 when I ventured out for a run beside the Ottawa River. Not a lot of snow, but enough for a cross-country workout along the upper trail and a chance to do something about excessive Yule intake.

Most Manor Parkers will be familiar with the trails: the lower graveled path alongside the river and the parallel paved path on the same level as the Parkway. In the non-snowy seasons both are popular walking, jogging and cycling paths – connecting to Ottawa’s incredible cycling network.

In past winter seasons the cross-country tracks were those made by yourself, if you were early after a snowfall, or by other skiers. Regardless, these tracks would soon be trampled by boots or snow shoes. And there were snowdrifts to navigate.

But not this year! In gleaming parallel lines, one set for traffic moving east and the other for skiers moving west, were groomed tracks obviously made by a machine designed to improve cross-country skiing–the same contraptions used in the vast NCC labyrinth in the Gatineau.

And better still, the machine had groomed both the upper and the lower trails. The vastly increased number of skiers this winter is testament to the skill of the groomers and the imagination of those inspired individuals who conceived the idea and brought it to life. Who are they? They deserve gold stars and our thanks.

East-west network

Jean Lepage initiated the idea. Ian Gadbois, now president of Ski Heritage East, joined the planning with Alexa Brewer. They were determined to transform the ungroomed paths along the Ottawa into professional cross-country trails. In time, they would link the trails, forming an east-west winter trail network.

For this purpose, they acquired a used grooming machine and support from the NCC, the City of Ottawa, in-kind donations and, significantly, 19 commercial and institutional contributions.

Representatives of Ski Heritage East emphasize that “a lot of neighbourhood support” will be necessary to see the project through. The indefatigable head groomer is Lyle Fair. Other members of the board include Reece Rendall, Alan Mortimer and Robin Gibson.

Clearly progress is being made. Thanks to the efforts of the NCC in partnership with the Urban Winter Trails Alliance, including Ski Heritage East, this season has seen a 50 percent increase in winter trails in the city over 2019/20 to a total distance of about 80 km. Ski Heritage East is responsible for the trails close to us—adjoining the Mile Circle, the RCMP pasture and the Rockcliffe airstrip. And, lest I forget, there are two convenient parking lots at the edge of the trails.

Meanwhile, enjoy the freshly tuned trails while they last– and remember, if you are walking, please don’t trample the grooves.

See “Gaspé trailhead funding gets city approval” for more cross-country ski news.