The operation in preparation for winter at Le Massif de Charlevoix begins well before the first snowfall with the clearing of brush on the mountain. Teams have already got their heads in the winter even before the summer season is over. Discover the importance of the brush clearing that is currently underway on the mountain.
The importance of clearing brush
Brush clearing is an important step in the preparation of the winter season. This maintenance work on the trails ensures the best possible ground conditions for the first snowfall, whether natural or artificial.
Skier safety
Brush clearing allows us to avoid traps at the beginning of the season when there is not yet a lot of snow on the ground. The field crews then check the work done, making sure to bury the stumps and remove certain rocks if necessary.
Skiing earlier in the season
Brush clearing makes it possible to ski earlier in the season. This means that the trails require less snow to cover. Brush clearing also allows you to ski longer, because the snow received at the beginning of the season is closer to the ground and lasts longer. In short, it allows us to ensure great skiing conditions on the mountain all season long.
A machine designed by Le Massif
Almost all Le Massif trails are mowed by a war machine, designed by Le Massif teams and developed with engineers.
This machine is twice as efficient and saves teams a lot of precious time. It is a groomer with an unconventional farm style mower on the front. Instead of having knives for cutting, it has chains. This replacement increases the resistance in case of impact with rocks or with the irregular ground of the track, impact that could damage the machinery on the spot. In addition, our teams have modified the machinery for a hydraulic drive so that it can be functional with the groomer.
Clearing the largest vertical drop east of the Rockies
It's important to know that working on the trails in the summer and fall with a groomer is much more laborious than in the winter, but that's not what stops our teams, who know the Massif territory almost by heart. Some trails have significant rip-rap and bumps, due to the pronounced irregularity of some trails that seem quite smooth in winter. Clearing trails at Le Massif de Charlevoix, with the highest vertical drop east of the Rockies, is quite a challenge at times, which is why some trails must be mowed manually.
The great return of the Charlevoix's Access C
This season will mark the grand return of the Charlevoix C access. The teams spent a lot of time clearing this one by hand. Connoisseurs of this sector of the Charlevoix will discover it in a new light with the addition of islands, which will help retain the snow on the trail and thus provide a better level of snowmaking.
Clearing the undergrowth
This year, many skiers will be happy to know that our crews have spent a lot of time manually clearing the undergrowth on the mountain. This will allow skiers to ski earlier in the season and more safely.
