| We’ve had some great trips to member favourites like Mont Tremblant, Sun Peaks, Banff, Holiday Valley and Panorama plus great experiences in Japan, Club Med Peisey Vallandry, Red Mountain, Winter Park and Ottawa. We’ll be heading back to Banff, Sun Peaks and Tremblant again along with SilverStar, Quebec City, Killington and Club Med for skiing at Le Massif before the end of this season. Your trip leader sends out post-trip surveys to gather your feedback on how you liked the hotel, destination and ways to improve future trips to those destinations. Most importantly, we want your input on trips that you would seriously consider signing up for with HPSC trips in the next couple of seasons. |
Long Trips
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| Can you believe that we are halfway through our season already! While the winter has been mild in the city, some of our long trip destinations have had so much snow that there have been travel disruptions. Thanks to your trip leaders for managing these situations with members’ best interests at heart. When a flight is cancelled within 24 hours of departure, the trip leader must stand in line and advise the airline to rebook the group so that they can travel together, and then advise the bus company and hotel. A large group may be split and sent on different flights. In the rare event that this happens, and you are already at the airport, please be patient and stay with the group until the trip leader updates you on the new flight. If you are booked on an upcoming HPSC, think SNOW and hope you have a wonderful time! If you are not on a trip, cancellations do occur for various reasons. Please watch for news on the website, SnoBiz and Facebook. Please be sure to respond quickly if you are on the waitlist and are contacted by the trip leader to fill a spot. |
Trip Report: Red Mountain
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| Your intrepid SnoBiz editor traded Blue Mountain for Red this past week and what a week it was! We arrived to a winter wonderland of extensive and varied terrain all the way from groomers to steep and deep tree skiing. Some of the group took advantage of an optional side trip to Whitewater in nearby Nelson as well as experiencing epic powder cat skiing in the surrounding mountains. Ski-in, ski-out accommodation was at the gorgeous 4-star Josie Hotel, with perks such as ski valets and saunas. Red Mountain was truly a bucket list trip! Suzanne de Grandpré HPSC Communications Director |
Important Tips for Roommates
If possible, HPSC trip leaders aways try to match you with someone who is in your age group, ski level, early riser, or nighthawk. On some trips, this is not possible if there are only a few singles to be matched. However, respectful communication and common courtesy will ensure that both parties have a great week, and may even form a long and lasting friendship.
Here are a few tips to help you:
- Recommended quiet hours and lights out for a ski trip would be between 10 pm and 7am. You and your roommate can mutually agree to extend these hours and of course on travel days, they may have to change. This means no lights or sounds from mobile devices or computers. If you need to use these, please go to the lobby or find another spot in the hotel so that you do not disturb your roommate.
- Beds/Storage – agree on which bed you take. Allocate separate and equal areas within the room to keep your bags stored, and split the closets and drawers evenly.
- Temperature – leave the standard settings unless you and your roommate agree to a change.
- Towels – allocate the standard towels provided in the room evenly. If you need more, order more for yourself, but use only your assigned towels. Agree on where you will each hang them.
Note that if you have been identified as a loud snorer, require a CPAP or white noise machine, you need to sign up for a single room, or sign up with a roommate who knows about these.
Last call for long trips…
Registration for Killington closes on Feb 1. Quebec City March break closes on Feb 9.
March 10-15 – stay 5 nights in Old Quebec City and Ski at Ski Mont St. Anne, Le Massif, Stoneham OR Cross-Country and Snowshoe, hot breakfast daily.
March 17-22 – stay 5 nights at the Killington Grand Hotel in either a suite (with cooking facilities) or hotel room. Enjoy the wonderful hot tubs with a view of the mountain and walking distance to the hill. Discount provided for Ikon pass holders.
Sign Up for these trips before Registration closes!!
Questions?
You may find the answer to your questions under the FAQ section under both the Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding and the Cross-Country and Snowshoeing tabs on the website. As we are a volunteer run club, this is often the fastest way to find out answers to your questions, such as bus pick-up locations and departure times and the deadlines to register and cancel for day trips.
New members can also reach out to their assigned Club Ambassadors for assistance but remember that they are also volunteers. Please allow time for refunds as they are also handled by volunteers.
The website also provides email addresses for specific areas. Please send cancellation requests to cancellations@hpsc.ca, not to info@hpsc.ca as this is only a general information email.
We have faced many challenges this year with a late start to the season and unpredictable weather issues. Always check the Day Trips Status page on the website for up-to-date information regarding day trips and any last minute changes such as the addition of a second bus.
Spend Spring Break in Quebec City!
A few spots are still available for both downhill and cross-country skiers on the Quebec City trip! March 10-15 – 5 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Manoir Victoria, in heart of Old Quebec City, close to great dining and shopping! Enjoy magnificent Downhill OR XC/snowshoeing at renowned Quebec areas!
Downhill: Mont Ste Anne – 2 days, Stoneham – 1 day, Le Massif – 1 day
Cross-Country/Snowshoe: Mont Ste Anne – 2 days, Camp Mercier – 1 day, Sentier de Caps – 1 day
For a full description of the above trip and to sign up, go to the website. Book your spot before they are all gone!
Killington: The Beast of the East!
This place is huge! Massive acreage and a great vertical means you will have loads of territory to explore. Great glades and steeps for the hot shots and long cruisers for the more relaxed members amongst us. As if that isn’t enough, your ticket also lets you ski at Pico Mountain (shuttle bus will take you there).
Our lodging is right next to the base of the mountain…no need to worry about getting up early to catch a bus. Sleep in if you want, or knock off early if you’re spent.
They have had a good amount of snow recently. We still have some spaces available, so register now before they are gone!
Ski Beautiful Quebec with either our Quebec City based trip or Club Med Charlevoix!
Both trips feature Skiing, Dining and Exploring!
March 10-15 – Stay in Old Quebec City and Ski at Ski Mont St. Anne, Le Massif, Stoneham OR Cross-Country and Snowshoe
March 24-28 – Stay 4 nights at the luxurious new Club Med in Charlevoix with lifts and all meals, drinks, beverages included. Skiing is at Le Massif and you will enjoy guided skiing with the Club Med guides. The fifth night is spent with a stay in old Quebec City, where you can enjoy marvelous Quebec City dining. The dinner is not included in Quebec City but you can wander the town with your new ski buddies and choose from the many options available.
March 17-22 – Killington, Vermont – A few spots still available to stay at the Killington Grand with its wonderful outdoor hot tubs with a view of the mountain and walking distance to the lifts.
Sign up for these trips before Registration closes!!
Join cross-country skiers on long trips
There are a couple options for fun overnight ski trips for cross-country participants.
Our cross-country only February long weekend trip is headed to Ottawa and there are still spots left! Ski in beautiful Gatineau Park, participate in the loppett if you want to torture yourself, and skate on the canal! Still spots left.
There are cross-country skiers going on the Quebec City trip on March break. There aren’t many of us, so you may not have groups to ski with (just to manage expectations), but you won’t be getting dropped off and picked up alone! We are skiing at three beautiful trail systems, and you get to hang out in Quebec City in the evening. Best of both worlds! Still spots available.