Le Massif, QC 03/23/10

[jamesdeluxe]

When we arrived at Le Massif this morning, people with cameras and microphones were setting up in the lounge for a press conference about the ski area's plans for next season, and they had a few newsworthy items to unveil. Cirque de Soleil big cheese and Massif co-owner Daniel Gauthier held court to announce a fourth (!) high-speed lift for the ski area: an eight-person gondola.

As he explained it, the gondola will provide improved access for beginners and intermediates, help disperse crowds at the base, and move people from the rail line that will connect the ski area with Quebec City and La Malbaie. Gauthier also mentioned that the new lift will improve access to expanded sidecountry at Mont Liguori.

With that amount of uphill capacity, I'd be very surprised to see any lift lines at Le Massif, even during the busiest holiday periods.

After yesterday's sunny blue skies and warm temps, it started nuking early this morning accompanied by 25 mph winds, which kept up the entire day. Le Massif's well-known views were nowhere to be found; today was all about storm skiing. We met up with guide Denis Robichaud, who had us laughing the whole day while we were doing 2,500-vert laps.

By mid-afternoon, more than eight inches had fallen. After having dinner earlier tonight in Baie Saint Paul, we came back to four inches on our car. Tomorrow should be pretty nice at Mont Grand-Fonds. Here I am, happy to be back in winter mode for another few days:

 

[Patrick]

James, we you aware that this press conference was happening today or was it only a coincidence?

Here is the detailed information from Le Massif

http://www.lemassif.com/en/montagne/nou ... _2010-2011

A 16M$ MOUNTAIN INVESTMENT


As part of his four-season tourism and recreation development, the president and general manager of Groupe Le Massif, Mr Daniel Gauthier, is proud to announce new installations for the 2010-11 season.

An 8-Passenger Gondola

* Omega IV Model by Doppelmayr, with mid-station
* Lift Capacity: Up to 2,800 skiers/riders per hour
* Length: 2,843 m

Aside from offering increased comfort to our clientele, the gondola’s loading area is to be located east of Grande-Pointe Express Lift, on a section of mountain boasting two new trails adapted to beginners. Also, the lift’s mid-station presents another loading option mid-mountain, therefore relieving congestion at the base.


Expansion of Mont à Liguori Off-Piste Sector

The integration of the gondola - with its base loading area located on the mountain’s eastern face - brings about the expansion of the current Mont à Liguori off-piste sector, which leads directly to the new lift’s loading area.

For a detailed look at the new map, please click here.
http://www.lemassif.com/docs/4ba8bb7e9c ... cartes.jpg

Beginner Sector at Summit with 2 New Lifts
* 8 acres of terrain enjoying natural snow coverage and 80 metres of vertical
* 2 new 450-metre trails, rated Easy
* 1 conveyor ski lift for beginners
* 1 lift serving the Terrain Park

For a detailed look at the new map, please click here.

Gauthier also mentioned that the new lift will improve access to the expanded sidecountry at Mont Liguori.

Not that much, as it's still pretty far away and you'll need to take the beginner lift to access the higher point to hike/skin your way higher. Make no mistake, there is a upward hike involved from the trail system until the top of Mont Ligori. The good news here is the addition of a midstation toward the bottom and addition to another green run at the bottom. For non-experts, the bottom is a real bottle neck when you need to get to the lower lift, so the addition of the mid or a green run bypassing the mandatory bottle neck is good news. The only negative is regarding the powder turns versus lift capacity, I guess Le Massif is far away from the day where yellow school buses were the only lift available.

End of day's snow reports talks about 10cm today...more snow on the way for that part of Quebec. Enjoy Grand Fonds tomorrow. And you making it to Mont Edouard on Thursday? Be prepared for some potential white knuttles driving.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

James, were you aware that this press conference was happening today or was it only a coincidence?

Purely a coincidence.

I guess Le Massif is far away from the day where yellow school buses were the only lift available.

That's what my :shock: was for. Throughout Quebec, I've heard people commenting that there haven't been any high-speed lifts installed in years, but they're apparently not referring to Massif de Charlevoix. I haven't done the hike, but in my opinion, it's good that they'll keep the Mont Liguori sector a somewhat more "sauvage" experience for people who want to earn their turns. Patrick, have you ever skied there?

 

[Patrick]

James, were you aware that this press conference was happening today or was it only a coincidence?

Purely a coincidence.

WOW!!! You've got a nose for news. Being at the right place at the right time.

I've heard people commenting that there haven't been any high-speed lifts installed in years, but they're apparently not referring to Massif de Charlevoix..

People memories aren't always good or objective. There was a wave of HSQ installed when they were the new 'thing', are they supposed to replace them all? When this started to happen, Le Massif didn't even have lifts. Le Massif is clearly in the Quebec top 3 mountains destinations in the province and are reinforcing that position. Unlike the Mont Orford stupidity saga, they are doing it right. Intrawest did it to Tremblant in the late 90s and Mont Ste-Anne in the mid 80s, unfortunately for MSA, what was new and avant-guard 25 years ago doesn't always age well.

I haven't done the hike, but in my opinion, it's good that they'll keep the Mont Liguori sector a somewhat more "sauvage" experience for people who want to earn their turns.

Definitely agree.

Patrick, have you ever skied there?

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8779

From that February 26 TR...

Once lunch was done, we went to the new "wilderness" area on top of Mont Ligori where you can either hike or skin up. A few woods in this area have been "gladed". After our 20-30 minute hike, there was maybe 20 people at the top of the 2-3 runs. Today is really a hard day to get away from people...this run (and Le Charlevoix) were the highlights of my day. Steep powder and woods. We lost Bendude as we thought he had gone ahead. (...)
So the only thing that was Epic about this day was the crazy ...drive to Quebec City. Best fun...Charlevoix's pitch and Mont Ligori.

And before you ask James. :worthless:

However Wolverine took a few action shoots, but you'll have to wait until I have more time to put them up.

Just need to find the time. :roll: Storm coming your way....

 

[Anthony]

A few years back there was a article on this site about the Massif saying it could go either way ( commercial /wild ) . With this announcement , which is no surprise , you can see where they are going. As a business they have to make money and to do this they have to expand . Quebec is the prefect place to expand a ski hill as the environmental laws are weak and hardly ever applied so permits will be easy to obtain . The addition of the new lifts and cutting of trails will destroy even more of the woods . I am sure the hard core locals are enjoying this as more of their prime areas to ski will be skied out even faster. I was ok with the current set up as not ideal but at least it was a compromise although the destruction of 42 was hard to take you still had the area on skiers left . To make money , you have to attract the masses and give the them the total vacation experience and this is the path the Massif has chosen . After all you can't make money off a family like us sitting in the woods for lunch eating energy bars and water :wink: . Well, still have MRG

 

[colin_extreme]

Nice one. I went yesterday, 52cm down according to the website.

East facing slopes were windblown, but anything west facing or protected was definitely sweet. "Le Mur" and the surrounding glades were great

Didn't quite seem like 52cm though, do they really take their measurements from the summit?

 

[Patrick]

A few years back there was a article on this site about the Massif saying it could go either way ( commercial /wild ) . With this announcement , which is no surprise , you can see where they are going.

The big resort has been in the works when the yellow buses started in the early 80s. For those that are not aware, skiing Le Massif in the early days was done via 4 or 5 runs per day via a School Bus shuttle from the base to the top. I remember finding the Quebec government studies back about a ski resort at Le Massif when I was working on a Geography term paper in University back in 1988. So there was rarely a doubt that it was part of the initial vision.

Quebec is the prefect place to expand a ski hill as the environmental laws are weak and hardly ever applied so permits will be easy to obtain.

There is always the perception that it isn't. Is it really? I can't really comment. We know of Tremblant, but what about the others?

The addition of the new lifts and cutting of trails will destroy even more of the woods .

I think the expansion the way Le Massif is going it is probably 'greener' than other. The whole vision tying to the train is revolutionary in term of the past trends.

I am sure the hard core locals are enjoying this as more of their prime areas to ski will be skied out even faster. I was ok with the current set up as not ideal but at least it was a compromise although the destruction of 42 was hard to take you still had the area on skiers left .

It already is...the demand is great and people don't like waiting for lifts.

To make money , you have to attract the masses and give the them the total vacation experience and this is the path the Massif has chosen . After all you can't make money off a family like us sitting in the woods for lunch eating energy bars and water :wink: . Well, still have MRG

The path was choosen a long time ago. Anthony, if you aren't a MRG shareholder, you should. That why I became one, I didn't like what was happening at many places I loved.

Nice one. I went yesterday, 52cm down according to the website.
(...)
Didn't quite seem like 52cm though, do they really take their measurements from the summit?

Yes, their measurements are from the summit.

 

[colin_extreme]

one thing that I like - they still run the lifts when it's windy!!