The Kichi Sibi Winter Trail is just full of wildlife, occasionally the wild things reveal themselves.

It was rough out on the trail, but for some it was just another day of getting outside and enjoying the outdoors . Lisa, a regular, celebrated her birthday today.

Current trail conditions. Still hanging in there. Classic tracks holding their shape well.

Thursday Plan: grooming put on hold due to warm temps. Trail remains in great shape. Enjoy it while it is good.

Wednesday Plan: we are going to wait until the snow stops before processing it. In the meantime, conditions remain excellent. Don’t wait for us!

January 6th, 2026. Snow gauge is reading just under 30cms. This is undisturbed snow in the bush that is out of the wind. (Gauge Courtesy of Larry Wong)

Trail in great shape. Recent snow made all the difference. Classic tracks everywhere. See green for what got groomed. 10/10

Tuesday Plan: groom! Snow accumulation is nothing crazy, just lovely. We will likely have things under control by lunch.

The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects have recognized the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail with the 2025 Community Service Award. How cool is that! Nice to get this recognition from a national organization of professionals. We are on to a good thing.

Monday Plan: grooming postponed as we wait for the new delivery of snow.

Ice conditions at Champlain Park are spectacular! Great work Rink volunteers.

Done. Snow too hard to reset classic tracks but centre lane got scratched up and fluffed as best as we could.

Sunday Plan: fluff up the centre lane with this.

Want to learn more about the snow bears? The @ottawacitizen.com can explain it all. ottawacitizen.com/news/snow-be...

Pro tip on how best to skate ski on an urban winter pathway. Interview with Clara Hegan.

Saturday Plan: after two consecutive days of heavy grooming, we have worked the snow as much as we can and so grooming is not needed today. The fresh snow over night only compliments the existing snow structure. Enjoy.

This is the Scott Street Connector trail. It brings skiing closer to where people live. It is just a small ribbon of green space that could be so much more, and serving 4 seasons of the year. Keep this in mind as we plan the future of Tunneys Pasture.

Done for the day. Things are in great shape. See map for what got touched. Enjoy.

Now accepting Xmas trees. Drop off at Remic Rapids parking lot ONLY. Please remove all tinsel and other foreign objects. (But don’t rush it! Enjoy your tree as long as you can.)

Friday Plan: finish off what we missed yesterday and get in some proper classic tracks, if we can. (That ice is just below the surface so it could be difficult, but we will try)

Done for the day. On the road to recovery! Lots more to do tomorrow but the trails are not the icy mess they once were. See green for what got groomed.

Things have taken a turn for the better. We are back at it.

Trail Update: we remain to suffer the consequences of the freezing rain that came this past Sunday. Even if we had large industrial snow grooming equipment to blend up ice it wouldn’t help due to limited quantities of snow we have to work with. Grooming postponed until further notice.

This weather is not all bad. Da Bears are Back!

Just for the record, here is the amount of undisturbed snow in the bush. It is reading only 20cm. (Snow gauge courtesy of user Larry Wong)

Scoops moved to Champlain Bridge. Code = 2561

Sunday Plan: after a big effort yesterday, trails are in great shape and grooming unnecessary. We also have freezing rain in the forecast. I would give current trail conditions a score of 8/10.

Done for the day. Significant time and fuel was invested in ‘planning down’ wind drifts of days gone by. Worth the effort because the trail was busy and appreciated by many, judging by all the smiles.

Saturday Plan: #myOttawa woke up to more fresh snow today. Pitter Patter, Let’s Get At ‘Er

Current trail conditions. We are going to retire for the day. More work to be done but we always need to strike a balance between fuel consumption and servicing the user.

Boxing Day grooming resumes. It could potent be slow going due to potential snow drifts we may encounter along the way from yesterday’s wind.

Done for today. 2nd shift was spent on extras and fiddly bits like walking pathways and secondary routes.

Xmas Morning Progress Report: going well, lots of good conditions to be had. More to do but lots of good stuff out there.

Make no doubt about it, we got ourselves a white Christmas! (Grooming to resume shortly)

Warning: lots of glare ice hiding underneath snow. Less of a factor for skiers/snowshoers but certainly a risk for walkers and bikers.

Wednesday Plan: grooming resumes

Attention last minute shoppers! Fresh Air Experience Ottawa

Thank you OWL Rafting Madawaska Kanu Centre for your contribution to Urban Winter Pathways in the Ottawa Gatineau Region by funding our snow grooming reporting software called Nordic Pulse. Together we make our city..... a skiers city!!!!

Ever wondered what competitive cross country skiing is like? This weekend is your chance to see the ‘pointy end’ of the sport up at Nakkertok Nordic Centre who will be hosting the Candy Cane Cup. For event details: zone4.ca/event/2025/3...

Glide wax for cross country skis explained - the easy method.

Our 7th day of consecutive snow grooming! What a run!!! On behalf of the grooming team, support volunteers, shovel elves and our BoD; it is a pleasure and a privilege to serve our community. (See map for what got groomed today. With the incoming warm weather, we are going to take a break)

Tuesday Plan: all good things come to and end. Likely the last day of grooming until further notice.

Done for the day. Finally got some classic tracks set to Pimisi LRT. Centre lane got renovated with our planer making it nice for skate and fat biking.

Scott Street Connector or SSC got groomed today. Not exactly @nakkertokracing grooming quality but we cut and flatten the snow banks and made them flat; certainly way better than having to walk to the main trail

Monday Plan: after a busy weekend and a bout of warm later in the week, we are going to keep grooming.

Done for the day. Like to acknowledge @osgoodeapts as a returning sponsor. With the many properties that they manage that are located adjacent to the trail, they are all about supporting community projects that make our city a better place to live.

Season Opener for @ncc_ccn Remic Rapids. (Gosh…don’t believe my eyes when I look at what day of the year it is on my calendar)

Lots of great grooming to be had. Put your phone down and get out there.

Sunday plan: grooming resumes this morning.

We give up! Every time we want to go groom, another snow squall hits. Not a bad problem to have. Oh well, time to go skiing and start fresh in the morning.