Conditions Report: Brrrrrr-aaap!

February 11, 2021

Cold and clear has been the theme as of late as a ridge of Arctic air sits over most of Interior BC. The weekend will show moderate improvement on warming temps and the sun should stay out. The grooming crew has been working hard and the trails are in excellent shape. Traffic in most zones has been low and it seems like a good time to explore. The snow is squeaky up high but amazing where it hasn’t been touched. The views and light have been outstanding.

We also want to give a huge shout out to all the local businesses that have supported the club this year. Without your support, we would not be able to operate to this level at this time.

COVID Protocol:

Nonessential travel is not recommend at this time for both BC and AB.

Please wear your mask and observe social distancing while purchasing tickets or waiting in line. We need and appreciate your cooperation on this front.

The latest orders, restrictions and advisories for Covid 19 are here for both BC and Alberta:

BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

AB: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

The club has posted our COVID protocols here

Please advise yourself and abide by all provincial public health advisories. Sled Golden has a strong contingent of local members and participants and we are focusing on serving them during this time.

Snow and Weather

15-20cms has fallen in the last week. The new snow came in with high winds and made for good pockets of accumulations as well as scouring the ridges. The snow has settled now but if you find some where no one has been it is nicely preserved. Temps will remain in the double digit negatives so make sure you pack another balaclava. There’s not a lot of snow in the forecast.

Avalanche

Cold has kept the snowpack light.

Show proof of your AST training any day this winter at get $5 off your day pass.

Please check https://www.avalanche.ca/ for all updated avalanche forecasts and check out the MIN reports for our areas.

Grooming

The trails are in excellent shape.

We have our groomer tracking public for your consumption. Please see the section below the Trail Area Conditions Reports.

National Parks and Other Closed Areas

National Park Wardens will be increasing their patrols of boundaries in our areas, particularly in Quartz. In some areas, there has been excellent compliance, in other areas there’s been blatant disregard for the park boundary. Fines for using a motorized vehicle in the National Parks can be as high as $25,000. It’s also a black eye for the club to see sledders in the park, so please, just stay out. Park Wardens put another set of several signs along the borders so it’s going to be pretty hard to plead ignorance.

Trail Area Conditions Reports

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Packed

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Fri, Sat (if needed), Sun

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Trucks with decks park west of the kiosk, trailers use two lots on the east side.

Road: There's some crazy big frost whoops on the highway near Quartz - might want to slow down if you have a trailer.

Additional notes: Quartz Creek has been filling up on Saturdays, lately. We shouldn’t have to say this but don’t park on the highway. The RCMP have been handing out tickets and towing vehicles. If the parking lot is full, try Gorman.

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Packed

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Sat.

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Both parking lots at 3.5 plowed.

Road: Road has been in good shape.

Additional notes: A lot of active log hauling in Gorman. The kiosk attendant can call up the road for you if you don’t have a radio. RR 27 is the channel. Please yield to logging trucks. The Sea-Cabin will NOT be pulled in to Gorman this winter due to the limited size and our COVID regulations. We’ll have it back in action next winter!

Silent Pass

Conditions: Packed

Grooms scheduled: Thur, Sat

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Please park ON THE ROAD (not in the turn around) at the 30 km, leave enough room for others to turn around.

Road: Call your KMs on your VHF radio! Channel RR-3.

Additional notes: The parking at Silent has been a gong show. We are going to get some no parking signs made up so people don’t clog up the mandatory turn around at the 30 km mark. Please keep that turn around area clear.

East Quartz

Conditions: Unreported

Grooms scheduled: Fri

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Watch for overhead danger.

Old Man

Conditions: Unreported

Grooms scheduled: Thur

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Groomed to the end of the trail. Not recommended for beginner riders – been seeing some tricky situations in there.

Westbench Trail

Conditions: Groomed - not continuous!

Grooms scheduled: Sunday (as needed)

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Park at Gorman or Quartz

Road: n/a

Additional notes: WBT is not a continuous trail this year due to logging operations. Closed at Cirque Creek from Gorman. Closed at Oldman turnoff from Quartz. For both sides, it’s a there-and-back trail. If you ride through the plowed road sections you could get up to a $2500 fine as sledding on plowed roads is illegal.

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.