Coach Trip: Winter Weekend in Gatineau Park, Quebec, March 1 to 4

Trip Information
Departure Time: 07:00
Return to City Time: 20:30
Departure Point: York Mills Bus Pickup

Trip Activities
Cross-country ski: adult ($22)
Cross-country ski: youth (13 to 17) or senior (60+) ($17)
Snowshoe: adult ($12)
Snowshoe: youth (13 to 17) or senior (60+) ($9)

Optional Items

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Coach Trips
Location (Google Maps): Gatineau Park

Hike Leader(s): Martina Furrer, Nijole Mockevicius, George Lennon and Tim Wainwright Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Terrain: Hilly, Variable

Description

Join us for an awesome weekend of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking in beautiful Gatineau Park. Explore over 200 km of ski trails (classic and skate), 80 km of snowshoe trails, and 11 km of winter walking trails. Enjoy two full days and two half days in the park. Guided snowshoe hikes (two levels) each day.

Transportation: We will travel in a luxury highway coach equipped with a washroom. Coach fare is $170 for adults and children over 12, $100 for children 12 and under. Bus will depart at 7 AM on Friday March 1 from 10 York Mills Rd. We plan to be back in Toronto between 8 and 9 PM on Monday March 4.

Accommodation: We will be staying at the Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown on the Ottawa River. It’s walking distance to downtown Ottawa (shops, restaurants, and the Rideau Canal Skateway) and a 15-minute drive from the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Old Chelsea. Accommodation cost is $496.26 per room or $248.13 per person based on double occupancy, in standard hotel rooms with two double beds. Single occupancy costs the same: $496.26 per room. These rates include three nights’ accommodation and three hot breakfasts. Prices include all taxes and fees. Gratuity is extra.

Extra costs: Lunches, dinners, and trail passes are not included in the above prices. All participants will need to pack lunch for Friday. We will have a group dinner at the Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown on Friday. Saturday and Sunday evenings pick from any of the many restaurants in downtown Ottawa or downtown Gatineau. Trail fees are: $22 for adult skiers, $17 for youth and senior skiers (13 to 17, and 60+), $12 for adult snowshoers, and $9 for youth and senior snowshoers (13 to 17, and 60+). Access to all trails is free for children 12 and under. You may be asked to purchase your trail passes online or on site yourself.

Cancellation policy: The trip will not be cancelled due to weather. We are hoping for lots of snow and winter temperatures. If there isn’t enough snow to ski and/or snowshoe, we will hike. Coach fares are non-refundable.

Registration instructions:

1. Reserve and pay for your seat on the coach via this webpage starting at 8pm on Sunday October 22, 2023. Ensure you and your roommate book your seats at the same time. Enter your roommate’s name in the Additional Information field on the registration form.
2. You or your roommate must then call the Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown (1-800-265-8550)  or go to https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.67015.html?groupId=M21NI9V4 to reserve your room. If you are booking a room for two people online, click on the Edit button (top right), then set the number of adults to 2, then click on the Update button, then scroll down and click on the Submit button. On the next screen, enter the required information, including your credit card details, then click on the Make Reservation button. If you book your room by phone then let the hotel staff know you are with the Toronto Bruce Trail Club; this will ensure you get the group discount. The hotel will only accept one reservation per room.

Thirty-five rooms  have been reserved for our group. Please book your seat on the coach and your hotel room at the same time. If you wish to share a room but do not have a roommate, please do not book your seat until you have found a roommate. If you need help finding a roommate, contact Martina.

Peninsula out & back (km17.9-25)

Hosting Club: Beaver Valley

Location (Google Maps): Meet at parking at km25 on Boundary Rd (Jones Bluff Side Trail)
ED 31 Map 36

Hike Leader(s): Kristina Rettie Click here to contact the hike leader.

Pace: Brisk
Terrain: Some rocky footing, Some steep sections, Strenuous
Length of Hike: 14.2

Description

In this out and back hike we will park at km25 and hike southbound to Malcolm Bluff Lookout and then re-trace our steps back to our cars.

Please bring water and snacks. Icers may still needed. Check the weather that day and please dress accordingly.

Car Hike: Wilder Forest Uxbridge

Hosting Club: Toronto

Location (Google Maps): 2499 Brock Road, Uxbridge, ON there is a free parking when you enter the road off brock road beside Horse training facility

Hike Leader(s): Mohammad Aghamiri Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate
Terrain: Variable
Distance: 14-17KM

Description

We will explore Wilder forest and  the beautiful scenery of Uxbridge forests.

McCluskey's Rock

Hosting Club: Blue Mountains
Category: Register in person the morning of hike.
Location (Google Maps): Hike meets in the parking lot behind Tim Hortons on First St. in Collingwood.

Hike Leader(s): Annette Sandberg Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium – 3 to 4 km/hr
Terrain: Moderate – Some hills and/or some poor footing
Distance: 8 km

Description

We will park on Sideroad 7B at km 43.5 in the Beaver Valley section. The in/out hike proceeds north on the white blazed trail which winds along the top of the escarpment before descending through a crack to the bottom. We then climb to the top again before descending once more to km 39.3. We get to enjoy it all over again as we retrace our steps back to the cars. Bring a snack or lunch and water.

Iroquoia Odyssey #6 - Burlington to Kilbride

Hosting Club: Dufferin Hi-Land
Category: General Hike
Location (Google Maps): Parking lot behind Kilbride Public School in Kilbride. North end of Panton Street. Northwestern end of the Kilbride Side Trail near km 96.8 BTC map 10.

Hike Leader(s): Stuart Law Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Medium
Terrain: Moderate, Slippery and Steep Sections, Slippery Sections Likely
Distance: 17 kms

Description

Join us on the sixth of seven shuttle hikes to complete the Iroquoia Section.  We will climb Mount Nemo, cross the Bronte Creek valley, learn why Bronte Creek is called Bronte Creek, learn about an explosion that could be heard for miles around, then head into Halton gem, Kilbride.  Some road walking.  Hiking boots, icers and poles essential.  Please dress in layers for the weather.  Mitts a good idea.  Please bring a smile, warm drink, water, a snack and a lunch.  Please meet at 8:45 am to be ready to shuttle at 9 am.  Please bring a garbage bag and footwear to change into for the shuttle after the hike (it might be muddy).