Too much, too little: NCC says ski trails are too icy, but Canal not icy enough

Too much, too little: NCC says ski trails are too icy, but Canal not icy enough

Released Jan 06, 2024Last upgraded 15 hours ago3 minute checked out

In 2015 was the very first time in 53 years the Rideau Canal Skateway did closed. Picture by Jean Levac /Postmedia

The National Capital Commission is dealing with irregular ice conditions throughout the area this weekend. There’s insufficient ice for skating on the Rideau Canal, however excessive for snowboarding in Gatineau Park.

In Ottawa’s core, NCC employees have actually been try out various techniques to attempt to develop ice on the Canal in hopes of producing a season of skating throughout an unseasonably moderate winter season. In the hills north of the Ottawa River, the quantity of ice on cross-country ski tracks in Gatineau Park has actually required the closure of the whole network for security factors.

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The cross-country ski path network is briefly closed due to really icy conditions,” the NCC stated Friday on X, previously Twitter.”Upkeep work will resume with the next build-up of snow.

“Snow dances motivated,” the NCC included.

There may quickly be great news for the cross-country ski crowd.

Environment Canada on Saturday released a winter season weather condition travel advisory due to an over night snowstorm that seemed headed for Eastern Ontario.

The firm projection stated about 10 centimetres of snow was headed for Ottawa, in addition to the Cornwall and Kemptville locations. Approximately 15 centimetres of snow was possible in some areas, it included.

Formally, the NCC stays positive about the possibility of a skating season even after the aggravation of in 2015. The 2022-23 season marked the very first time in the 53-year history of skating on the Canal that the ice stopped working to attain the essential density.

“Preparations for the 54th season of the Rideau Canal Skateway are presently underway, with the assistance of our specialists and partners, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming season,” NCC representative Sofia Benjelloun composed in an e-mail.

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She kept in mind that “numerous methods” were being checked in collaboration with the civil engineering department from Carleton University.

The four-year collaboration, which began throughout the 2021-22 season, is developed to “determine methods to adjust our operations to the effects of environment modification,” Benjelloun composed. “Over a four-year duration, information will be gathered, and a range of pilot tasks will be checked out. The goal is to check possible techniques, such as early ice flooding, that might assist develop ice faster and guarantee an earlier start to the season. We will evaluate the information and the outcomes of our pilot jobs and stay dedicated to using what we discover moving forward.”

Skaters can benefit from excellent ice conditions on the city’s 4 totally free, outside, cooled ice surface areas: the Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall, the Centrepointe rink at Ben Franklin Place, the Lansdowne Park skating court and the covered Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink at the Canterbury Recreation Complex, 2185 Arch St.

Slated to open for complimentary skating on Jan. 13 is the outside rink at Rideau Hall. Appointments will no longer be needed, and hours are extended. Go on the internet to https://www.gg.ca/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/what-see-and-do/rideau-hall-skating-rink for information.

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Venturing on rivers, lakes and ponds in the area is not encouraged. Unlike the City of Halifax, which determines ice density on 70 bodies of water in its area, the City of Ottawa does not determine ice security. Rather,”The city asks that homeowners prevent going onto any frozen lakes or rivers as they are not kept, and ice security can not be ensured,” stated Tracey McGarry, director of complexes, aquatics and specialized services.

Associated Stories

  1. How to skate securely in the Ottawa area

  2. Issues install for Canal Skateway opening due to moderate winter season temperature levels

lsaxberg@postmedia.com

With files from Postmedia personnel

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