As we all know the 2016 winter has been very variable, with many hours spent on Google trying to interpret the ski conditions. Finally a 2016 trail condition guide was introduced.
2016 Nordic ski trail conditions:
Excellent , read “good given the conditions.”
Bonne, read “snow covered for most of the time with a slight chance of a track.”
Passable, read “only on an ATV”
As it turned out at Orford on Saturday the conditions could be termed excellent (2016 def.) Around the chalet it was hard packed and icy, as was No1, however most of the club members found the 2016 definition to be appropriate with everyone finding something to satisfy their needs however weird that may be. More about that later.
As usual the Saturday evening was a most enjoyable social event, starting with a wine and snacks at Arthur and Ghyslaine’s condo then dinner in the hotel.
Saturday night it snowed about 10-15cm, and the temperature rose to near zero. What to do? A few opted to go skating at Magog, assuming the lake would be ploughed for skating. Other went back to Orford where the conditions were excellent (2016 def.) Tracking was in progress although the new soft snow caused a few problems and ski skating was tough. Others with a wary eye on the storm warnings for Sunday evening decided that the weekend was a success already and would venture home.
Now for the The Orford Oscars or should I say Razzies.
There are two nominations in the documentary class for the longest time to drive to Orford without traffic restraints.
Friday Feb 26 NDG to Orford starring Monique I.
A summary of life in NDG in winter. Hours spent getting her car up an icy drive only to be blocked by neighbor’s cars, then having to abandon the journey until after rush hour. End result late arrival at Orford.
Saturday Feb 27 Montreal to Orford , a delightful drive in fine conditions, starring Helene C and Cheryl W
A story of friends enjoying time together, that is until they passed the Duty Free store and approached the US border. Who screwed it up, no one is telling.
I will let the reader choose the winner of the Razzie.
The next award is for adventure, or weird things people do., starring Nancy A
This epic story is about a lone skier at the far end of the parc who had urge to cross a frozen creek to reach a trail. It’s the kind of urge one gets all the time. After testing the ice the skier starts to cross then woosh, she is up to her nether 
regions in fast flowing water. Quick as a flash she jumps out of the creek, skis an all, a little damp. After ringing out her socks, and failing to reach a Uber taxi, the only alternative was to reach a refuge before her clothes froze solid. At the second attempt she came across a refuge with a lit stove where she could dry out. After an hour and nearly setting her clothes on fire she was able to set off back to the parking lot. Is that not weird or what.
Finally a special mention to the weekend organizer Arthur G, without his comprehensive emails the weekend would not have happened. Ta Arthur.