Conditions Report: Face Shots Are Back

 

Well, if you haven’t been out recently…you’ve been missing out! The face shots are back and it’s staying cool up high! It sure is feeling Spring-ish in town, but boy it’s far from finished up in the alpine. We will be continuing to groom until April 10th, so come and get your fix until then!

 

Photo: Tim Grey / Rider: Sam King / March 2022

 

Don’t forget to sign up for the Riley Suhan Invitational which is coming up fast! There are only a few spots left (for real), so register HERE. If you need more info on the race, you can find that on our website.

 

Photo: Tim Grey / Having a good time in the pow, realizing that face shots are back! / March 15, 2022

 

And last but not least, have you checked out the Adventure Smart Trip Planning Tool? We had some sledders who spent the night out a few weeks back, which is never fun. This is a great tool to help prepare you for the worst situations, which we never expect to happen… but it does! Stay safe out there.

 

 

Plan before you Play!

 

TCH-1 Highway status

The highway will be closing April 20, 2022 for a month. Until then, check the latest conditions as it relates to the Kicking Horse Canyon highway project here:

Kicking Horse Calendar


 

SNOW AND WEATHER

It’s continuing to snow a little bit here and there, but the majority of the storming is over for this week. That said, there’s lots of snow out there that hasn’t been touched yet, so go and get it! Convective flurries are a real possibility at this time of the year, so there might be more fresh than expected.

The temps are staying cool up high this week, but when the sun comes out, be ready for the warmth of Spring! It’s the best time to be out in the mountains.

Avalanche

Watch out for new windslabs at the upper elevations. Conditions may be different depending on which aspect you are on, so don’t be surprised if things change quickly. There are a variety of surfaces under the new snow, including sun crusts on the solar aspects. And be warned, it’s probably crusty and not as nice below 1800m because of how warm it’s been.

Avalanche Canada has a great amount of resources on its site. Find the link here but feel free to check out other parts of the website because there is lots to learn.

Grooming

We’ve decided to stay open until April 10th this year!  Hopefully the roads will hold up until then, but we will keep you updated on the access the our zones as much as we are able.

Check below for the Garmin grooming map for updates (scroll down to see grooming in REAL TIME).  Let us know how it is out there these days!

CLOSURES AND TENURES

A reminder that CLOSED areas are closed for a reason. There are agreements in place with GBRAP  that do NOT permit sledders in other tenure holder’s terrain while they are operating during the winter season. This includes Heli Ski tenure … If we keep seeing non compliance with this it will more than likely not be a good result for the snowmobiling community, so please be aware of where you can and cannot be. Familiarize yourself with the closures here on our website.

 

 

 

 

Trail Area Conditions Reports

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Awesome sledding these days
Grooms scheduled: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and as needed!
Fees: $25
Parking: Parking at the main highway lot.
Road: Back to normal use. No trucks on the road permitted.
Additional notes: Trucks and trailers park in the upper lot, trucks with decks park in the lot where the Sled Golden kiosk lives. Thanks!

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Awesome conditions this week
Grooms scheduled: Wednesday, Saturday, and as needed.
Fees: $25
Parking: Park at the 3.5km lot
Road: Road is in great shape!
Additional notes: Equipment hauling happening on the Dogtooth FSR as local contractors perform “right of way” (road building). There’s quite a bit of room for parking at the 3.5km, but keep it tight.  Gorman has been busy this year so be prepared for a full lot!

Silent Pass

Conditions: Silent got the most snow out of all the zones this past week...FYI
Grooms scheduled: Wednesday, Saturday and as needed
Fees: $25
Parking: Parking at the 31k
Road: Road is in great shape!
Additional notes: The road to Silent is in good shape at the moment, and don’t forget, we have a parking lot at the 31 k which is new this year. Expect active logging to be happening now, so have your radio handy!

East Quartz

Conditions: Grooming once a week currently
Grooms scheduled: Friday
Fees: $25
Parking: As per Quartz, Gorman
Road: N/A

Old Man

Conditions: Great conditions this week, especially if you're looking to do some sled assisted skiing...
Grooms scheduled: As needed
Fees: $25
Parking: At Quartz Creek main parking lot
Road: N/A

Westbench Trail

Conditions: The trail is continuous now and in good shape!
Grooms scheduled: Wednesday
Fees: $25
Parking: Gorman or Quartz
Road: N/A
Additional notes: If you’re looking for a cruise and  great views, the WBT is a great option and we are lucky to have it in such great shape right now. Thanks to the grooming staff for all their hard work getting it sorted this season!

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.

Weather & Avalanche Conditions

Sponsors

Please support our sponsors:

Our projects and operations would not be possible without the support of these organizations: