Conditions Report: Brrr-aap!💨
Temps sure have been cold this week, but it’s looking to warm up early in the New Year! With the cold and short days we are having, it’s a good idea to take a few extra precautions before heading out. Throw in some extra warm layers, a headlamp in your pack, survival extras such as an emergency blanket and some warm foods (uhhhh, muff pot anyone?). Hypothermia is a real possibility at the moment. Our SeaCabin at Gorman and the Quartz Cabin are ready & waiting to help take a bite out of the cold, especially in an emergency!
Photo: Colin Puskas
Plan before you Play!
Plan before you play!
With another COVID variant on our doorstep, be sure to check the latest advisories for Covid 19 for both BC and Alberta:
AB: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx
TCH-1 Highway status
Check the latest conditions as it relates to the Kicking Horse Canyon highway project here:
SNOW AND WEATHER
It’s been cold and it will continue to be cold for a few more days. Stay warm out there. The storms are going to be fairly minimal for the next few days, but the views will be great! The wind will be picking up on the weekend as well.
Quartz Creek Cam #1
Avalanche
The biggest ting to keep in mind right now is that ANY accident may have greater potential for issues due to the cold temps. Remember that as you plan your trips this week!
The recent snow we received has settled quite a bit and has been blown around by the wind. The wind has created pockets of wind slab on all aspects. Watch out for areas where the persistent slab may be more shallow including steep or rocky areas where the snowpack may be thin.
Show proof of your AST training any day this winter and get $5 off your day pass.
Make sure to check https://www.avalanche.ca/ for an up to date avalanche forecast EACH DAY and check out the MIN reports.
Grooming
Grooming has been intermittent due to cold we’ve been experiencing! We are working towards outfitting each cat with a heater so that we don’t have these issues in the future, but it’s crazy how much it costs to maintain those machines! It’s high on the priority list, so stay tuned. We should be back to our regular grooming operations this weekend. Our groomers are tracked in real time, and can be accessed by everyone. To check it out, scroll down to see the grooming map.
Insurance and Registration
A reminder that it’s important to have your licence plate AFFIXED to your sled. This is an important piece that seems to get missed sometimes. Conservation officers may be out checking for DOT approved helmets as well.
Pack it in, Pack it out!
Please take your garbage with you when you leave Quartz Cabin. We do not have full time staff to clean up after people, so do your part to keep our public spaces clean for everyone!
Trail Area Conditions Reports
Quartz Creek
Gorman Lake
Silent Pass
East Quartz
Old Man
Westbench Trail
Not fully rideable for beginner sledders. There are a few tricky sections (some open water) close to the Old Man area.
If you are heading out on the trail, expect for it to not be continuous the whole way!
Grooming Map
The map below is linked to the safety InReaches we have in our groomers and we have been able to make the tracks public. How to use the map:
- Press on the + next to the groomer/zone you want the latest information for.
- Once the line is visible, press on the line to see the date & time the groomer was last in action.
This map only shows the most recent groom. You can inquire at any of our trailheads for additional grooming information, including number of riders since the last groom.
