Feb 9, 2017 Golden BC Snowmobile Conditions
Snowmobiling conditions in Golden BC are epic right now! A significant storm on Feb. 8, started dumping on us and it continues to drop amazing, cold-smoke powder from the sky. This storm is set to taper off on Friday Feb 10, and then once again, the skies will clear and the sun will come out. Temps later in the week are forecast to spike, so if you want to get it good, you should come right away.
Aaron Bernasconi from Mountain Motorsports tests the new 2018 Arctic Cat in some deep powder in Quartz Creek Feb 9, 2017. Photo by @sledbiglines
Aaron Bernasconi in Quartz Creek Feb 9, 2017. Photo by @sledbiglines
Finding deep pow in Quartz Creek Feb 9, 2017. Rider Aaron Bernasconi, Photo by @sledbiglines
Aaron Bernasconi in Quartz Creek on Feb 9, 2017 photo @sledbiglines
20cms overnight in Quartz on Feb 9th morning at our snow pit. There’s always more up high. Photo Mountain Motorsports
Snow Beta
We had 39cms reported at KHMR over the week but to be honest, it feels like more out there. If you get into a spot where no one has been recently you are floating through beautiful cold smoke, or calling your buddies in on the radio to come help you because you sled is burried!
Kicking Horse Resort 7 day snow total (feels like way more than 39cms in Quartz).
PLEASE READ: there is a SPECIAL PUBLIC AVALANCHE WARNING this weekend. Please acquaint yourself with what it says.
Always remember to check the avalanche conditions.
Avalanche.ca forecast for the Purcells on Feb 9, 2017
Weather
Looks like it will continue to dump through Friday and then go cold and clear for a couple days and then warm up.
Travel and Active Forest Road Safety
Trans-Canada highway conditions on Feb 9. Almost smashed in the back of this semi going really slow.
Please travel with care. Check out DriveBC for current conditions.
Logging Road Travel
There have been numerous incidents in the last couple of years between logging trucks and snowmobilers. Please read the following guidelines and watch the new video we just made.
- When entering onto an active logging road proceed with extreme caution.
- Never attempt to pass a logging truck. If it pulls over, it is most likely preparing to meet another truck.
- Every log truck has radio communication. If you do not have a radio, you are safest to follow behind a log truck and it will call your position for you.
- If using a radio, call your kilometre locations and indicate whether you are traveling ‘up’ or ‘down’ .
- Always call your location when starting out from the parking lot, starting onto a new road and at the ‘must call’ signs.
- Always yield the right-of-way to logging trucks.
- There are many wide spots along the way. Anticipate the location of the loaded truck and pull into a wide spot before you meet and wait for the truck to pass.
- When pulling over into a wide spot, park as far up as possible to leave room behind you for others.
Looking to buy a VHF radio so you can communicate properly on forest roads? Please call Alpine IT in Golden BC.
Riding Areas
Quartz Creek
Conditions: Deep powder and packed powder
Grooms scheduled: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday evenings (Fridays and Wednesdays, if needed).
Fees: Everyday ($25/rider).
Parking: Parking lot will be cleared as needed. Lots of room for enclosed trailers. Portable toilets in parking lots.
Propane and firewood have both been restocked in upper cabin. Please use conservatively.
Snowing heavy at Quartz Cabin on Feb 9, 2017. Dang that new Arctic Cat looks good too.
Frying up hot dogs on the bbq at Quartz Cabin.
Gorman Lake
Conditions: Deep powder with wind effect on some alpine slopes.
Grooms scheduled: Thursdays and Saturdays
Fees: Everyday ($25/rider).
Parking: 3.5km lower lot. There’s plenty room for enclosed trailers.
Road: Road is being regularly sanded but not graded. It’s very icey in the morning and evenings even if we sand it. We’ve had 3 trucks off the road on the Dogtooth FSR (Gorman Lake access) this year. Gorman is a steep, winding, mountain road with big exposure off the sides. By the time you realize you’re going too fast, it’s too late. The smart driver pops it in the 1st gear and lets their engine do the braking.
Silent Pass
Conditions: Deep powder. Incredible in spots.
Grooms scheduled: Thursdays (Saturdays if required)
Fees: Everyday ($25/rider).
Parking: Parking is about 100m after the McMurdo turn off at 46.5km. Try not to box anyone in. NO PARKING on the main road on weekdays please.
Road: Road is currently maintained by logging interests and there is active logging all week long. It gets plowed on Sundays. Please stay out of these guys way. We’re working on better communication from our kiosk to avoid any collisions.
Please watch our road safety video.
West Bench Trail
Conditions: Riding from Gorman to Wiseman corner is good. Wisemen Corner to Quartz is scheduled to have it’s first groom on Feb 9.
Grooms scheduled: Gorman to Wiseman was last groomed on Feb 9 with a full till.
Fees: Everyday ($25/rider) payable at Gorman trailhead (or Quartz, but access is not recommended from Quartz as of yet).
Parking: Park at Gorman parking lot. (Quartz end not recommended)
Mt. 7
Groomed on Jan 28, 2017 to the main paragliding launch. There’s a bunch of people on side by sides and quads who chewed up our flat trail. 🙁
Susan Lake
Groomed on Jan 24, 2017
Sponsors
Check out the new Dugout Bar & Grill. It is a great place to catchup with friends, watch the sports games and have a bite to eat! Don’t forget all the daily specials.
The Ramada in Golden BC, is the perfect place to stay on the highway. It features a nice pool, a workout area, video surveillance in the parking lots and many restaurants close by.
Follow us on Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenSnowmobileClub/
https://www.instagram.com/sledgolden/
PS- If you ever needed incentive to wear your tether, this is it.