Marble Mtn or Le Massif

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These are 2 places ive wanted to ski. Intend to do one the week of Feb 17. Any thoughts on current conditions or over-all experience re these hills would be appreciated
 
Newfoundland is having an amazing snow year. Haven't been myself, and by all accounts Marble is somewhat unremarkable, but the snowpack in Newfoundland is en route to a record. You could always combine a trip there with a day or two at Blomidon Snowcat skiing or backcountry in <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/grosmorne.htm" TARGET="_blank">Gros Morne N.P.</A> (or <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/grosmorne2001.shtm" TARGET="_blank">another story here</A>). Newfoundland is a haul from anywhere, though, and no options exist beyond those mentioned. <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/lemassif2002.htm" TARGET="_blank">Le Massif</A> is a wonderful place, but in and of itself probably won't keep the advanced skier entertained for a couple of days. Fortunately, you have Mont-Ste.-Anne, <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/stoneham2003.htm" TARGET="_blank">Stoneham</A>, <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/lerelais.htm" TARGET="_blank">Le Relais</A>, Mont Grands-Fonds, and even <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/montedouard2002.htm" TARGET="_blank">Mont-Édouard</A> and <A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/massifdusud.htm" TARGET="_blank">Massif du Sud</A> within reasonable distance from Le Massif.
 
As Marc, I never went to Marble Mt, but I skied le Massif few times in the last years. It's a very nice mountain with an incredible view on the St-Lawrence River. It's a very intermediate ski area in general and there is few real challenges, especially if the "Charlevoix" is closed for competition or practice. So, it depends of what you like in ski. The ski patrol is really rough and you must be extremely careful if you go in the woods, cause they really like to cut lift tickets. There is only one glade all over the huge mountain and as I've seen, it's just when the conditions are really good that they open it. <BR> <BR>So, in general, it's high, with wonderful view, with super nice cruiser runs, nice bump fields, but a lack of challenge for the ones who like that ! <BR> <BR>For actual conditions, I didn't ski it this year, but it's surely great, especially on top, as they got almost 100 inches of natural snow and it doesn't melt fast in that part of Qc !! <BR> <BR>Photo of the resort, from St-Lawrence River <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1874.jpg" ALT="Le Massif">
 
That photo, as much as any that I've seen, accurately depicts the decimation of <I>La 42</I>. What a shame!
 
Yes, you're totally right, it's a HUGE loss for our kind of skiers. I really prefered to walk 1 mile to reach it / come back to have that wonderful 1,25 mile long moguls trail than how it's now ! <BR> <BR>This is the mountain before last year, "la 42" was the lone trail far on the left side of mountain. There was 3/4 mile of walking to reach it and 1/4 to go back to chairlift, but that was a pure gem. Now, there is a chairlift in the zone and the huge world cup trail (Charlevoix) destroyed 50~60% of the length of the trail and we don't need to walk anymore to reach 42... then the trail conditions are really less good than they used to be as it's crowded. It's sure there is some nice new trails on the side, but it's a really big loss for us. <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1875.jpg" ALT="good old time">
 
Le Massif...The end of a dream... <BR> <BR>The 25 M$ Le Massif expansion plan has ruined the moutain. Now, it can be accessed from the top and lift capacity has been doubled. As the Charlevoix is hardly ever open to the public, only one full lenght trail and two half trails (half the vertical) have been added. And the 42 has been lost for a big part. The end result is that the area is now over-populated and over-skied. Combined with insufficient natural snow and lack of water for the snowmaking system, this season has been again, like last year, a big disapointment. <BR> <BR>High priced consultants and engineers have ruined Mont-Sainte-Anne 15 years ago and now they have started doing the same job at Le Massif. McSkiing is just around the corner. Le Massif used to be the place of real, natural skiing. It is becoming, like most others big areas, a heaven for advertising, car demos, radio station promotions, blaring music and crowds <BR> <BR>And that National Training Center (Charlevoix trail) is a white elephant that has destroyed the great skiing potential on the front face of Cap Maillard.
 
I appreciate this commentary. Im going to Le massif on feb 16 in any case.But to learn of the existence of mont edouard & massif du sud is fabulous. Next year
 
I appreciate this commentary. Im going to Le massif on feb 16 in any case.But to learn of the existence of mont edouard & massif du sud is fabulous. Next year
 
Le Massif du Sud is really the best of the Massifs, for the great skiers. They have some of the best trails in the east, even if the mountain just have 1300' high. Just the extreme side of the mountain value the 3h30 of driving from MTL. It's the biggest continuous steepness I've ever seen. the trails 2,3,4,6,7 are some supersteep powder glades with a single pitch of over 40 degrees during more than 1000 feet high. #5 is the best straitgh trail I know. It's the same steepness than the glades, but without trees and it's a gigantic bump field without icemaking, then with rocks, ledges, etc. #8 is a super long glade, over 1 mile long, wild, narrow trees, going down in a huge canyon for half of the length. The other side of the mountain has super nice groomed boulevards for every level of skiers... <BR> <BR>Here is a pic. The left side of the mountain is the extreme one. Don't just consider the height illusion of the pic; the left side is almost the same vertical drop than the whole mountain, as it's a flat for going there and one for going back, but you don't have to walk too much. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1905.jpg" ALT="super mountain !!">
 
PS, I tried the mountain last year after I've seen the report of Marc on the mountain. <BR><A HREF="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/massifdusud.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.firsttracksonline.com/massifdusud.htm</A> <BR>Thanx Marc !!!!!!!!!!
 
We actually got 25 cm at Le Massif on feb 4, the first significant snowfall since dec 15! One more big dump is still needed to cover most of the rocks on interesting no-snowmaking expert trails. <BR> <BR>Pray for snow Releasetom. <BR> <BR>In other news, Le Massif has just appointed a new General Manager. The guy comes from Tremblant. Is it one more step towards Tremblant-style "pack'em on the mountain" skiing ? <BR> <BR>See the link: <BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.lemassif.com/Eng/communiques/New%20dg.html" TARGET="_top">http://www.lemassif.com/Eng/communiques/New%20dg.html</A> <BR> <BR>Let's hope the new owner can understand that he must save the mountain from its ongoing transformation into one more "skiing factory"
 
Or here: <BR><A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/news/stories/104436111721166.shtm" TARGET="_blank">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/news/stories/104436111721166.shtm</A> <BR> <BR>Tsk, tsk ...
 
As someone who used to essentially live at the eastern end of the Champlain Bridge, on Montreal's south shore, I can't really think of anyway that would qualify as "good". I mean, every way to cross the St. Lawrence in the Montreal area can be a total cluster when it wants to be, and the 20 is a far quicker method to get from Montreal to Quebec than the 40 is. <BR> <BR>That said, from Dorval you could hop across the Mercier Bridge and suffer through the few miles of traffic lights in Delson and Candiac to get to the new 30 to angle around the South Shore cities of La Prairie and Longueil to meet up with the 20 east of Montreal. That's probably the best bet. The Champlain Bridge looks better on paper, but the traffic on it is frequently a nightmare. <BR> <BR>If you're really insistent upon taking the 40, I'd turn north at Dorval on the 13 (Autoroute Chomedy) all the way across Laval to the 640 on the north shore to get to the 40 or the Autoroute Laval (440 to 25) - the lighter traffic there should more than make up for the m
 
Dang it, I just learned the limit on my Palm clipboard! <BR> <BR>That last sentence should have concluded: <BR> <BR>... more than make up for the traffic on the Autoroute Metropolitaine (40) through Montreal, which should be avoided at all costs. <BR> <BR>In summary, I suppose that my advice is to skirt Montreal via the north or the south, and head around at the westernmost opportunity. Personally, I much pefer the southern route.
 
Dang it, I just learned the limit on my Palm clipboard! <BR> <BR>That last sentence should have concluded: <BR> <BR>... more than make up for the traffic on the Autoroute Metropolitaine (40) through Montreal, which should be avoided at all costs. <BR> <BR>In summary, I suppose that my advice is to skirt Montreal via the north or the south, and head around at the westernmost opportunity. Personally, I much pefer the southern route.
 
Usually, when we go to Beauce, Quebec & Charlevoix regions, we use the 20, cause it's less boring than 40 (even if I stay on the north side of Montreal). The best way to change of highway to go 138 is certainly at Quebec. You just have to take the highway 73 and it's not really far to reach the 40 which change fastly in 138. At Quebec, there is almost no circulation problem, not like in MTL where it's many hours by day !! <BR> <BR>As Theinsider said, now, the main parking of le Massif is on the top of the mountain, so you save about 15 minutes of driving and it's better for the brakes, cause the usual road was going down on 2000' high in few miles. but for the crowd... may be the 15 minutes wasn't so bad...
 
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