Canadian Ski Marathon: Mont Royal Training Camp.

Following on what she did on the previous trip to ski on Mount Royal, Daisy Greville took the 90 bus at 0900 hours,then the metro from Atwater to Guy where she picked up the 165 at 0923 hours. She got off the bus at the stop at Côte des Neiges/Park Hill  and walked the pleasant road to the Beaver Lake Chalet. A few people were skating there. Daisy took the snow covered road (packed snow, easy to walk on with ordinary shoes) over to Maison Smith where she met A. T. Lane already having a coffee. A.T. had arrived by shanks mare.

Soon Annie Londonderry arrived. She had taken public transport, the 24 from Villa Maria Metro to the corner of Sherbrooke and Guy where she picked up the 165. Annie  had opted to take the steps into the Mountain at Côte-des-neiges/Boulevard, from which she had a pretty direct route to Maison Smith.

Very soon after Birdie Munger and Mile-a Minute Murphy arrived.

Today they did not talk of many things- mainly of the Canadian Ski Marathon. Maria wished she were going- especially because her permanent bib number is 2020. Daisy said she hopes to do two sections each day. They both agreed that they should put the team back for 2021 and compete once more for the Grey Mères trophy. Birdie said he hopes to increase last years performance by a section and A.T. Lane said he he will see how it goes- he has registered for a half- marathon, its being his first time going to the CSM. Murphy hopes to participate next year and has already given serious thought and time to training.

  

Then they set out. The conditions were very good. Daisy used new second-hand waxless skis that were a great success. The temperature was about minus one. Everyone found the skiing satisfactory. They stayed together until most of the first loop was done, and then A.T. and Murphy took the trail down to Chemin Olmstead in the direction of Parc Avenue. Birdie went to do do some skating trails and Annie and Daisy decided to do the top loop twice, ending up at Maison Smith. On leaving, they met  Murphy and a discussion on waxing ensued.

Murphy had started out cross-country skiing using waxless skis, and was only recently getting into the use of wax. Daisy has never skied on waxless skis until today. Everyone agreed that with warming winters there is a place for such skis.

it was a pleasant journey back to to Cote des Neiges and to get the  bus which did not disappoint in punctuality.

Submitted by Daisy Greville.