Conditions Report: Dec 5 – Pushing Gorman
Sled conditions in Golden remain consistent with many riders exploring on the early season snow. Quartz is now open 7 days a week and we are pushing into Gorman this week. There’s approx 15 cm of snow in the forecast and some sun as well. Avalanche conditions have been quite manageable but are set to spike on Saturday as the new snow falls. There’s news about logging near the Quartz creek parking lot so keep reading to hear the latest.
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
New Silent Pass Mobile Emergency Shelter /Warming Hut
We have exciting news. We are pleased to announce that we will have a new mobile cabin at Silent Pass this year. We plan to put the cabin near the end of the groomed trail and it will serve as a great warming spot on the Silent Pass ride. This year the parking lot is forecast to be at the 17 km, which means it will be a long ride in to the riding area this year. Having our warming cabin at the end of the trail should serve as a nice break spot. Check out this instagram video for more info.
View this post on Instagram
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
The big bomb cyclone dump that we had earlier in the month delivered an excellent base for us. While the snowpack is settling to about 90-100 cms the coverage is quite good and it is supportive to sledding. There is still a lot of powder in the bowls where people haven’t been playing too much. Lots of early season hazards exist so tread carefully, but this is the best early season we’ve had in a couple years for sure.
Looks like 15-20 cms if forecast in our mountains, with the majority coming on Saturday. Temps will warm up during the storm and then look like they will cool down again after.
Silent Pass on Dec 3, 2024
Silent Pass sign on Nov 28
Waterfall feature on Nov 28 in Silent Pass
Snow forecast screen shot on Dec 5
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
Please check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
screen shot of avalanche.ca on Dec 5
From Avalache.ca on Dec 5 for Dogtooth Range area: “Lingering wind slabs may be reactive in leeward terrain features at higher elevations.
If the inversion is strong, avoid snow that is becoming moist as it could produce a small avalanche.”
Travel and Terrain Advice from Dec 5:
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
Avalanche in Silent on Dec 3
Read the MIN report from an Avalanche in Silent Pass 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.
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 this weekend (Friday or Saturday). We’re not certain how this will go but can update on our social channels. The first step is to get the road built properly.
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.
road building in Quartz on Nov 27, 2024
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.
Quartz Nov 23
Silent Pass
Silent is in pretty good shape. The waterfall feature is mostly in with a few bumps in it from previous stucks. The area has seen some traffic but there’s still some left.
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.
