Conditions Report: Early Bird Gets The Firm

March 10, 2021

The seasons have turned and early spring is allowing for excellent travel. We got surprised late last week with some deeper than expected pow and the base keeps growing. Looks like a lot of sun in the forecast but the temps will hold making for awesome afternoon riding. It’s time to pay attention to highway closures but they will mostly start after sledding season.

The first extended closure (requiring motorists to use Highways 93 and 95 as an alternative route) will have a duration of approximately one month, from April 12 to May 14, 2021. Additional plans are also taking place for March. See the Traffic Management page for details. https://www.kickinghorsecanyon.ca/

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

The next week has a lot of sun in the forecast and it’s a bit like early bird gets the firm. Travel is excellent and you can just about get anywhere right now. We’ve had a great snow year and so coverage is really good. There’s not too much snow in the forecast but the sun will make up for that.

Avalanche

Things are looking mostly yellow and green these days but warmth can change everything. Be cautious what’s above you.

We’re giving out tons of cool prizes for the rest of the season to people who show us some avalanche smarts – check out our contest here: https://sledgolden.com/avalanche-safety/
This week’s winner is Mike Johnston – email us for how to collect your prizing

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

We’ve made the decision to stay open until April 12. So that’s 4 weeks left of sledding.

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: Powder, packed powder. Main area is well tracked. A good time to travel into further bowls.

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?

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Packed powder. Excellent for exploring

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 powder, 20+cms fresh on March 6.

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 27-30km is SINGLE LANE. Banks got pushed back by our grooming team on March 1. It’s more important that ever to carry a radio and call your kms. Please don’t clog up the mandatory turn around at the 30 km mark. Please keep that turn around area clear.

East Quartz

Conditions: Packed powder

Grooms scheduled: As needed

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: Packed powder

Grooms scheduled: As needed

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

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Not recommended for beginner riders.

Westbench Trail

Conditions: Groomed - not continuous!

Grooms scheduled: 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.