Le Massif

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Le Massif de Charlevoix
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Slopes overlooking the St. Lawrence River
Slopes overlooking the St. Lawrence River
Location Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec, Canada
Nearest city Quebec City: 70 km (43 mi)
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Vertical 770 m (2,526 ft)
Top elevation 806 m (2,644 ft)
Base elevation   36 m (118 ft)
Skiable area 406.3 acres (164.4 ha)
Runs 52 total
Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg - 15% Easy
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg - 30% Intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg - 20% Difficult
Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg - 35% Expert
Longest run 5.1 km (3.2 mi)
Lift system 6 total
1 high-speed gondola
3 detachable quads
1 platter-type
1 novice conveyor
Lift capacity 11,200 skiers/hr
Terrain parks 1
Snowfall 645 cm (250 in)
Snowmaking 70% - 174.6 acres (70 ha)
Night skiing Nah
Website lemassif.com
LeMassif de Charlevoix is located in Canada
LeMassif de Charlevoix
Le
Massif de Charlevoix
location of Le Massif in Canada
LeMassif de Charlevoix is located in Quebec
LeMassif de Charlevoix
Le
Massif de Charlevoix
location of Le Massif in Quebec

Le Massif de Charlevoix is a ski area in Québec, Canada, northeast of Quebec City and directly overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

Description

Le Massif de Charlevoix ski area is located in Petite-Rivière-Saint François, Charlevoix, Québec, a 50-minute drive from Quebec City. Its vertical drop is 770 m (2,526 ft), the highest in Eastern Canada and east of the Rockies.[1] It is one of the few ski areas that is accessible from both the base and summit.

Skiing season usually lasts from early December to late April. Le Massif de Charlevoix's has an above average annual snowfall compared to other ski areas in Eastern Canada with a five year average of 645 cm (250 in).[2] While the snow pack at the summit can exceed 240 cm (90 in) in a typical winter, the base is near sea level and can quickly begin to melt by April.

La Charlevoix, the steepest trail with a pitch of 64%, is home to the only alpine training center east of the Rockies for Canada's athletes[citation needed].

The resort stretches from the top of the escarpment (actually a half-graben) to the bottom where the Saint Lawrence River flows past.

File:LeMassifOverhead.jpg
Le Massif ski resort taken from overhead

History

Skiing at Le Massif de Charlevoix started at the end of the 1970s, with snowmobiles towing groups of skiers from the main road at the top and a van serving as the lift. In the early 1980s, commercial operations started with la Société de développement du Massif. Starting in 1983-1984, school buses were used to drive skiers from the base to the top after each run. In the summer of 1992, two chairlifts were installed: a high-speed quad and a fixed-grip double.

2001 was a year of significant change for Le Massif de Charlevoix. A new road was built from Route 138 to the top of the mountain. The distance between Quebec City and Le Massif de Charlevoix summit was then reduced to 70 km (43 mi) instead of the 95 km (60 mi) previously needed to reach the base via the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. At the same time, The Cap Maillard was raised by 35 m (115 ft) to create La Charlevoix, an FIS standard downhill trail mapped by alpine course designer (and champion) Bernhard Russi. It hosted the speed events of the 2006 Junior World Championships, with technical events at Mont-Sainte-Anne. However, La Charlevoix was deemed unsuitable for hosting an Olympic downhill men’s event hurting Quebec City's chances at hosting a Winter Olympics.[3]

Daniel Gauthier, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, bought Le Massif de Charlevoix in 2002. Daniel Gauthier is no longer a co-owner of Cirque du Soleil and has used part of the proceeds of the sale of his participation in that venture to purchase Le Massif.

In 2005, Jean-Luc Brassard, the 1994 Olympic Champion in freestyle mogul skiing, became a spokesman for Le Massif de Charlevoix.

In 2009, after a record snowfall of 915 cm (360 in), Le Massif de Charlevoix added 26 acres (11 ha) of backcountry skiing on Mount A Liguori.

Beginning in September 2011, a new tourist train service from Quebec City began operation, making a stop in the winter at Le Massif de Charlevoix.[4]

Development

Le Massif de Charlevoix is about to undertake[when?] a major development known as Territoire Le Massif. This will open up the third peak to skiing, but mostly transform the mountain and surrounding area into a distinctive four-seasons resort, while respecting environmental values.

The project has a budget of about C$180 million in new investments, in addition to the $50 million already spent and comprises three parts:

  • La Ferme (The Farm): Hotel, services and activities in Baie-Saint-Paul, on the site of a burned-out farm. Opening in June, 2012, it was awarded first prize in the Hotel and Service Retail Category of the Retail and Leisure Interior awards in March, 2013.[5]
  • La Base (The Base): Services, lodging and activities at the base of Le Massif de Charlevoix, West of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint François.
  • Les Crêtes (The Ridges): Services, lodging and activities at the summit of Le Massif de Charlevoix.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ It’s looking downhill for Quebec’s Olympic bid
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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