NEWSLETTER

For those rare and mysterious individuals who somehow resist the irresistible charm of Otway’s newsletters—packed with thrilling updates, enticing offers, and all the latest happenings—fear not! You can still redeem yourself. Click here to catch up on current and past editions. We won’t even judge you (much).

.

PLANNING AHEAD

There are no old skiers at Otway. None. Not a single one. However, we do have a few who have enthusiastically redefined the limits of “youthful vigor” (some might say stretched those limits like an overused ski boot liner). If you’re thinking ahead to the day when your enthusiasm for skiing remains boundless, but your balance and joints politely disagree, check out what one particularly stubborn lifelong skier did to keep gliding. Click here—because planning ahead is way cooler than just face-planting into the future.

.

GROOMING

Ever wondered how ski grooming works? Some folks assume our snowcats just zoom around the trails playing tag, or, on the narrower routes, a thrilling game of hide and seek. And yes, on the steeper sections, there may be some sideways surfing involved (purely for entertainment purposes, of course). When things get dull, the operators occasionally engage in synchronized stadium laps to see if one snowcat can outwit, outplay, and outrun the other. But alas, this is merely a snow-fueled fairy cat-tale.

If you actually want to understand the real logic behind grooming—where, when, and why it happens—click here while your second cup of coffee is brewing. Bonus tip: If you’re one of those mesmerized souls who obsessively watch the trail map change colors, click on the blinking snowcat icon. That will show you the speed:

2–5 km/h: Slow and steady, battling nasty ice
8–10 km/h: The dream—10 cm of fresh, dry powder on a solid base
14–18 km/h: Skidoo + Ginzoo magic when early-season snow is deep enough to groom but not quite enough for the full snowcat treatment

Basically, grooming is part science, part strategy, and part extreme sport.

.

LENGTHY SNOW REPORT

If you think this Snow Scribe can get a bit long-winded in the Grooming Reports (gasp!), then you might get a kick out of Lucy Welsh’s 1,264-word snow report for Sugarbush Resort (Vermont), dated March 1, 2025. It was, shall we say, thorough. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay published for long. Let’s hope she still has a job.

.

If you prefer near-local literary value over snow grooming rants, check out this article from Morice Mountain, where the writer waxes poetic about the deeply personal joy of Nordic skiing. Some people really know how to write. Click here and be inspired.

ABC	Distance	Last Groomed
Cabin Trail	1.79km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM
Creek Trail	1.26km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM
Home Trail	3.1km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM
Jackpine Trail	3km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM
Powerline Trail	0.58km
Ridge Trail	3.42km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM
Skate Trail	2.09km	Feb 15, 10:36 AM

Nordic Pulse

USA

Canada

France

Italy

Austria

New Zealand

Fort à la Corne Trails

Company

Sign Up

Community