Conditions Report: Dec 12 – Boost of Snow
Sled conditions in Golden got a nice boost last weekend with a more than expected dump of snow. Approx 30-40 cms put a reset over the peaks and added to the base. This week there’s 15cms in the forecast right now and temps remain reasonable in the low single negatives. Avalanche conditions are expected to be considerable on Saturday with the new snow. Grooming continues in Quartz and Gorman is getting pushed as we write this after last week’s avalanche danger put a hold on operations.
Powder sledding on Dec 9 in Quartz
finding fun in Quartz on Dec 9
Silent Pass Dec 3, 2024
Silent Pass back bowls Dec 3, 2024
Quartz Parking Lot info
Please beware of the upcoming Selkirk Mountain – Quartz Creek Rest Area Clearing & Brushing Project located on Highway 1 and Quartz Creek FSR. Kenpesq’t Construction has been contracted by the Ministry of Transportation and Transit to carry out this work, which is scheduled to begin on December 13th, 2024, and is expected to be completed by December 20th, 2024 (weather permitting).
Project Details:
- Project Start Date: December 13th, 2024
- Project End Date: December 20th, 2024
- Work Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM Monday to Friday
- Affected Areas: Selkirk Mountain – Quartz Creek Rest Area
- Traffic Impact: Expect traffic delays and intermittent road closures during the project, which may cause disruptions to travel along Highway 1.
- Golden Snowmobile Club Impact: Restricted access for snowmobile staging during active tree clearing operations.
- Estimated Duration of Delays/Closures: Intermittent traffic delays up to 20 minutes in duration.
SledGolden will be updating our website and social media channels in terms of how this project will affect our operations. At the very least, the truck parking lot near the kiosk will be closed during this time.
Quartz parking lot logging information
Travel
TCH-1 Highway
Highway 1 is fully open east of Golden with NO scheduled stoppages and overnight closures. Nothing beats cursing at 100km/hr on the last 4 kms into town. The new highway shaves 10-20 mins off a trip from the east these days.
Dogtooth FSR (Gorman)
Whiskeyjack Logging will be hauling down from the 7.5km for the next 2-3 weeks, and until they’re done PWT will continue to plow up to the top parking lot. Please be aware about the increased traffic and be extra vigilant.
Looks like come January, PWT will have a logging crew and hauling from the West Main road as well so will be maintaining the Dogtooth FSR to the 3.5km lot most of the winter.
North Fork Spillimacheen FSR (Silent Pass)
A lot of forestry work is transpiring on the North Fork between 31 and 36kms. Please yield to all logging trucks and use a radio to call your kms (RR3)
Hauling logs on the ‘Main’ on Spillimacheen FSR -use RR3
Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
Golden woke up to 30-40 cms on snow on Saturday Dec 7 and this made for some great sledding over the past week. There is approx 15 cms in the forecast with high clouds. The temperatures are mostly normal for this time of year and it looks like there’s no nasty cold snaps on the way. Snow depth is about 80 cms at Quartz Cabin snow plot @1934m but there’s at least 150-170 around 2200m.
Quartz Dec 9
Silent Pass on Dec 3, 2024
Snow-forecast near Quartz on Dec 12
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
Please check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
screen shot of avalanche.ca on Dec 12
From Avalache.ca on Dec 12 for Dogtooth Range area: “As the upper snowpack continues to settle, cohesive slabs may form. In areas where these slabs overlie a weak layer, they may be easily triggered by riders.”
Travel and Terrain Advice from Dec 12:
-
- Keep your guard up as storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.
- Cautiously approach steep slopes that are open or sparsely treed.
- Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for remote triggering and large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avalanche debris in Quartz on Dec 9. Avalanche likely kicked off on Dec 8
Avalanche in Silent on Dec 3
Grooming
Grooming
Grooming at Quartz are in full swing and applied as necessary. There are still some thin spots but the trail to the cabin is mostly great.
Fresh trail in the cabin on Dec 9
All 3 kiosks will be open this weekend. You can pick up your passes and if the trail has been groomed then we will be charging for day passes.
The grooming ops crew have plans to push into Gorman today, Dec 12. Last week’s excursion into Gorman was delayed due to avalanche dangers.
Silent grooming is dependent on the Gorman mobile cabin being installed, which takes 2 cats and the road properly built into Gorman. We are attempting to start this process this weekend and once the cabin gets placed in Gorman then we can move the Silent cat down to its trail head.
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
Good early season coverage. A lot of compaction in the main bowls. Powder if you search for it.
Please make yourself aware of the logging that will be occurring in the Quartz parking lot (posted above) this month.
Main parking lot was cleared of snow on Dec 8
Silent Pass
We’re not sure how the latest snow affected the Silent Road or the parking lot.
Forestry work at the 36km on North Fork
Silent Parking at the 45km McMurdo bridge
Gorman Lake
Whiskeyjack Logging will be hauling down from the 7.5km for the next 2-3 weeks, and until they’re done PWT will continue to plow up to the top parking lot. Please be aware about the increased traffic and be extra vigilant.
Looks like come January, PWT will have a logging crew and hauling from the West Main road as well so will be maintaining the Dogtooth to the 3.5km lot most of the winter.
