Le Massif
| Le Massif | |
|---|---|
| File:LeMassif-logo1.png | |
 | |
| Location | Quebec, Canada |
| Nearest major city | Quebec City, 70 km (43 miles) |
| Vertical | 770 m (2,527 ft) |
| Top elevation | 806 m (2,645 ft) |
| Base elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Skiable area | 354 acres (143 ha) |
| Trails | 45 total 24% Easy 36% Intermediate 28% Difficult 12% Extremely difficult |
| Longest run | 4.8 km (2.98 miles) |
| Lift system | 5 total 3 detachable quads 2 surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 8,700 skiers/hr |
| Snowfall | 650 cm (230 in, 19 feet) |
| Snowmaking | 51% |
| Night skiing | no |
| Website | Le Massif |
Le Massif is a ski mountain just northeast of Quebec City, Canada, overlooking the St. Lawrence river.
Description
Le Massif ski area is located in Petite-Rivière-Saint François, Charlevoix, Québec, Canada, a 75 minutes drive from Quebec City. It has the highest vertical in Eastern Canada.
Apart from a big vertical drop and lots of snow, Le Massif's main claim to fame is that the area is accessible both from the top and from the base. There are three peaks, two of which are currently developed.
Le Massif gets a lot of snow, and keeps it, as it also gets little rain for an eastern ski area. The natural snowpack (in the trails) can exceed eight feet at the summit on a typical winter. However, the base is at sea level and can lose its snow quickly once April rolls in.
La Charlevoix, the steepest trail, is home of the only alpine training center east of the Rockies for Canada's athletes. This trail, with a steepest pitch of 64%, is considered by many to be one of the top three most difficult women’s downhill trails in the world.
History
Skiing at Le Massif started at the end of the 1970's, with snowmobiles towing groups of skiers from the main road at the top and a van serving as the lift. In the early 1980's, commercial operations started with la Socitété de développement du Massif. In 1983-1984 school buses are used to drive skiers from the base to the top after each run. In 1992-1993 two lifts are installed : a quad high speed chair and a double chair.
2001 was a year of significant change for Le Massif. A new road was built from route 138 to the top of the mountain. The distance between Quebec City and Le Massif summit was then reduced to 70km instead of the 95km 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 meters to create La Charlevoix, an FIS standard downhill trail mapped by alpine course designer (and champion) Bernhard Russi. With La Charlevoix, Le Massif is now able to receive the elite of alpine skiing.
Daniel Gauthier, cofounder of le Cirque du Soleil, bought le Massif in 2002. Daniel Gauthier is no longer a co-owner of le 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, become the spokesman of Le Massif.
Development
Still a true skiing mecca, but facing increasing crowds, le Massif is about to undertake 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 180 M$ in new investments, in addition to the 50 M$ already spent (Canadian dollars) and comprises three parts:
- La Ferme (The Farm): Hotel, services and activities in Baie-Saint-Paul, on the site of a burned-out farm.
- La Base (The Base): Services, lodging and activities at the base of Le Massif, West of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint François.
- Les Crêtes (The Ridges): Services, lodging and activities at the summit of Le Massif.