Mount Orford, Quebec, 24-26, 2003

[billski]

Conditions were quite good (for late March) all around. The black diamonds that faced north were the best, having preserved the snow. It's all corn all around, but they've got a pretty deep base. No one around, so few people they closed up the shop and cafe early. Must have been 25 cars in the lot on Tuesday. Rained a bit on Saturday and again on Wednesday - Wed. was a travel day - it was raining off and on, but still saw several soaking wet skiers out there. <BR> <BR>The xperts are much more challenging and interesting than one might suspect for a 1700' vertical mt. The double blacks were mostly closed, looks like the snow hardly stuck to them at all, even early in the season. <BR> <BR>Temps stayed arount 0 (er, 32F) all week, though lots of melting going on down at the base. <BR> <BR>On Sunday, it was busy with people but still never a lift line until the quad stopped. <BR> <BR>You really can't beat the prices - US$24 for adult all day, my kids were skiing for $12. Rentals were quite inexpensive too - check out their web site for the prices - xchange rate of CDN$1.50 to US$1.00. <BR> <BR>Very impressed with the number of black diamonds on Orford. <BR> <BR>Giroux was slushy all around due to it's mostly westerly orientation, so it was slow going and the family tired early. <BR> <BR>During the week only two lifts were open, servicing Giroux and Mt. Orford. Derosches was inaccessible midweek. <BR> <BR>Lodging was obscenely cheap - we rented a 3br "chalet" (a house) for $90/night. Gourmet (really!) French eats in Magog - US$65 served five people including desert, coffee, and wine for me. <BR> <BR>The staff claims they'll stay open until Easter. Crowds are gone, and you can ski till you drop. Lots of competent skiers. <BR> <BR>My 6 year old got a private snowboard lesson for $20, it lasted 1.5 hours, I suppose because there was no one else to teach! <BR> <BR>Lots of very fit retirees skiing about. <BR> <BR>Check out Quebec for skiing next year if you're going with a family of various abilities and want to keep a lot of money in your wallet.