Month: January 2022

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Conditions update: January 12, 2022

While we can’t run buses, we know that members will be getting out on the trails themselves if they are able. Someone requested that I do a conditions update so members know where the best conditions are in a particular week. This is the first installment! I will be covering the resorts we generally visit around Barrie and Collingwood, and a couple closer to the city. This is not an exhaustive list.

Scenic Caves has the best conditions with a 30cm base. Highlands reports an 8cm base with track in, a little thin on the Back Red and Hawberry, but I expect the main trails are in great shape. Hardwood and Horseshoe have about 15cm base depths and good conditions, although they still need more snow to build up those bases. They were just able to put in a decent track this week. Wasaga is apparently open with track set and reporting good conditions, although looks like a thinner base (10cm). Closer to the city, Albion is still closed and Mono has skiable coverage, but no track. Probably decent for skating. Mansfield is open but the trails are ungroomed. You are welcome to ski on the trails if you want.

More snow overall not likely to come until next week, so conditions not likely to improve until then. Will be very cold Friday/Saturday. Be careful of those fingers and toes if you venture out Saturday am in particular.

Check back early next week for the next installment!

Before you ski, check out the conditions on the resort websites:

Hardwood

Horseshoe (tip: Horseshoe is notorious for not reporting accurately. If you want to go, check Hardwood. If Hardwood is reporting sketchy conditions, you know that Horseshoe will be worse)

Scenic Caves

Highlands

Wasaga, Arrowhead and other provincial parks

Albion Hills

Mono Nordic

Mansfield

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Long Trips Committee Update – January 5th, 2022

Mount Tremblant, February 2021 Photo by JK Graham

Due to the new restrictions that are now in force in Quebec regarding individuals from different households staying together, indoor dining and other restrictions, it is with regret that we must cancel the February mid-week trip to Mont Tremblant and the Family Day trip to Orford in the Eastern Townships.  

The Long Trips committee is monitoring the situation and are optimistic that the tide will turn and restrictions will be lifted in time for our Quebec trips in March. 

If you signed up and have paid for either of the two February trips, you will receive a full trip refund from the club.  Please be patient as the refund process takes time and can only be done by a very limited number of volunteers. 

As a gesture of good faith, if you remain a member in good standing, you will be eligible for one Front of the Line (FOTL) spot if the same destination is offered by HPSC in 2023.  This FOTL will be valid until October 1, 2023 and will apply to any overnight bus trips that the club was forced to cancel. 

Charter trips are arranged by HPSC but contracted through TICO protected tour operators.  These trips can only be cancelled by the tour operator and not by HPSC.   This would only happen in the case of a “force majeure” such as a resort closure.  At that point, credits would then be offered to members booked on that trip in line with destination policies.

Kim Wiebe

Director, Long Trips

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President’s Message – Deju Vu All Over Again!

January 5, 2022

Dear HPSC Members

To quote the famous New York Yankee Yogi Berra – “It’s deju vu all over again!” 

Last season we had to make the tough decision to cancel all daytrips and bus trips. This year, we were very optimistic that we would be able run a close to normal season – but then . . . . OMICRON!!!

The biggest difference this season, compared to last, is that the provincial government has not shut down Ontario downhill ski resorts.  This means that we can still provide lessons and run drive-up only trips beginning on January 15th (signup open this coming Saturday).  Cross-country trips are bus dependent and will only run when we start to run buses. 

To make this clear: We have NOT cancelled running buses for the rest of the season.  We will re-evaluate buses on a regular basis and will start bus trips as soon as we can. 

We understand that there has been a bit of information overload regarding the upcoming season – but we are attempting to keep members informed of changes as they happen.  As you can guess, this season has had a lot of changes requiring us to be very flexible.    

I want to wish all of you a very happy New Year!  And hope we can all soon get out on the hills and trails to enjoy the sports that we love!

Please stay safe.

Justin Graham

President, High Park Ski Club

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New Director of Communications

Communication Director Nemanja Davidovic, informed the board that due to increased work responsibilities he needed to resign as Director of Communications.  Long time member Suzanne de Grandpre was appointed by the board at our December meeting as the new Director of Communications to complete Nemanja’s term. 

I would personally like to thank Nemanja for all his work on the board and his assistance and help in transitioning Suzanne into the role.  And I look forward to working with Suzanne. 

To read more about Suzanne, see below:

“Having grown up in Alberta, I started skiing in Banff and Whistler during university. After a hiatus of a number of years, I moved to Toronto and wished to get back into skiing. I didn’t even know people skied in Ontario until I joined High Park Ski Club, of which I have been a continuous member since 1998. My time in the club has consisted of everything from day trips to overnight trips to Quebec and the US and, of course, the charter trips which I eagerly anticipate every year! I have made many friends and gained many fond skiing memories over the years. The excellent instruction I received from our amazing instructors has taken my skiing to new levels. It has also been a most gratifying experience giving back to the club as a volunteer, director, co-trip leader and bus captain. I am looking forward to continue serving the club as Communications Director.”