Conditions Report: Deep with More Coming

February 24, 2021

Snowmobiling conditions in Golden BC remain excellent and there’s more snow on the way. Temperatures have fluctuated and winds have played a factor in the alpine but overall it’s pretty good out there. All systems are go on the grooming side and the parking lots have been cleared. The Silent Pass road is getting narrow and radios are more important than ever. Keep reading to find out more.

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

We’ve seen a significant amount of snow (50+ cms) in the last week. This came over the course of 48 hours early in the week as it power dumped white gold. The storm however, came in with some strong alpine winds and you can see the results in the upper snowpack. As usual this winter, the best snow is below treeline where it can feel bottomless if you go where no one has been. There’s approx 20 cms in the forecast and the temps are turning a bit cooler again. This should preserve the snow and trails.

Avalanche

There’s a lot of new snow out there and as we mentioned above, the winds came in strong. There’s also more snow in the forecast with even stronger winds. Considering how much snow we received, there wasn’t a ton of movement in the snowpack, but that can change at any moment. It’s always good to be cautious.

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

Warm temps and a lot of snow make for quick whoops on the trails. The groomers will be firing on all injectors this week to keep the trails as smooth as possible. Colder temps should help keep things flat as possible.

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

Sledding in Closures and National Parks

Unfortunately, there’s been some sledders tearing up Golden Alpine Holidays ski touring lodges terrain as of late. SledGolden is a member of GBRAP in which we have agreements in place to not sled in this terrain while the company is operating. This operation is important to the local economy and we ask that you do not sled in this terrain until April 15.

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.

If you’ve got questions about what is a closed area and what is not, check out our overview map at www.sledgolden.com/zones .

Trail Area Conditions Reports

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Deep

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 has been really busy on Saturdays and people have had to park across the highway which is pretty sketchy. Maybe consider going to Gorman or Silent instead on Saturday? We’ve been seeing a few patrols from Parks Canada wardens lately and some tickets handed out for people riding in the park. Just a reminder that it’s your responsibility to know where you are and to stay out of closed areas.

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Deep, wind scoured up high

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: Deep

Grooms scheduled: Wed, 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 road in from the 17-30km is getting narrow. It’s more important that ever to carry a radio and call your kms. In many places, not being able to pass each other is a real thing. Please don’t clog up the mandatory turn around at the 30 km mark. Please keep that turn around area clear.

East Quartz

Conditions: Deep, wind scoured ridges

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 - but likely deep and wind scoured up high

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.

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.