Holy crap, Batman! You guys have really been going at it. Thanks for taking these bulletin boards to the level where they should be used. Spread the word, tell your friends, keep it up. <BR> <BR>On that note, one thing that has hampered the development of these boards was the separation between conditions reports and everything else. Nothing really gelled between the two. That's all due to change in the coming days, as we prepare to merge the Liftlines and No-Bull boards. No exact ETA to offer, but don't be surprised if you show up one day and all is combined. Nothing will be removed, just added together. <BR> <BR>Patrick/Kevin: For a daytrip from the Loaf into QC, or general exploration of the province's skiing, consider of course Massif du Sud in St-Philemon. My personal favorite in the province, actually. See <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/massifdusud.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.firsttracksonline.com/massifdusud.htm</A>. Don't let the meager vertical drop deceive you, the place can kick my butt. Should be a pretty easy shot up across the border and through St.-Georges. As you suspect, things really flatten out quickly as you head north into Quebec from Maine. <BR> <BR>As for Orford, you can't let a 1980s impression keep you from going back now. As Frank said, the place has changed dramatically since the ice storm. What they were not previously allowed to cut, due to restrictions of being within a park, Mother Nature thinned for them. All they needed to do is remove the deadfall and slap a trail sign at the entrance. Ranks right up there with MRG and Jay for glades, and there's some really hairball stuff even without the glades. Frank's namesake trail is one of the best in the east for natural challenge, IMO. See <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/orford.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.firsttracksonline.com/orford.htm</A> for details. <BR> <BR>Regarding your language inquiry, parts of the Eastern Townships along the VT and NH borders are very anglophone, dating back to the US Revolutionary War over 200 years ago when British Loyalists fled across the border into Canada. Even today, these pockets of the English language remain intact. <BR> <BR>Move further east to the area north of Maine, however, and it's another story. French, French, and more French, but I've found the rural population out there to be exceedingly friendly despite the language barrier. Good luck finding any employee at Massif du Sud who speaks a lick of English -- if an anglophone caller is trying to make reservations, they generally go grab the GM to take the call because he's the only one. Terrific people out there, though. <BR> <BR>With Le Massif's gradual induction into the Big Time, things are changing there. When I started to visit there, it was nothing but French. Today, as they draw more visitors from Montreal, Ontario and the States, the staff is becoming increasingly bilingual. <BR> <BR>Finally, if you're really into heading into the wild blue yonder, IMHO no hairball ski trip through the province would be complete without a stop at Mont-Edouard (see <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/montedouard2002.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.firsttracksonline.com/montedouard2002.htm</A>). OK, it's on the other side of nowhere, but wow ... what terrain! And no one there to have to share it with. <BR> <BR>Finally, to all: as Frank has suggested, it would be a blast to get you folks all into the chat room next Wednesday to discuss this all in real-time. Attendance is generally pretty sparse at this time of year for those things, anyway. One week from this Wednesday at 9 pm Eastern at <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/chat.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/chat.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>OK, Marc out ... for now.