Conditions Report: Game ON!

December 7, 2023

We are very happy to report that Quartz Creek will be groomed and open this weekend. With 60+ cms of new snow this week we have successfully started grooming operations at Quartz (only). Avalanche conditions are tricky to say the least and conservative terrain choices should be made for a number of reasons. It’s still early season conditions but it’s exponentially better than the last two weeks. The temps are dropping into the -double digits and there’s some sun in the forecast.

Instagram hype on Dec 7, 2023

Quartz Nov 27, 2023

Park View in Quartz on Nov 27

Travel

TCH-1 Highway

BIG NEWS! Highway 1 is fully open east of Golden with NO scheduled stoppages and overnight closures. It’s always good to check : Kicking Horse Canyon Calendar but the job is basically done. Next spring there will be some more work done. Huge congrats to all the hard workers up there. It’s incredible what they built.

Quartz Creek Turn Off

Construction work is now closed for the season at the Quartz Creek turn off. Things look slightly different than last year but it’s more or less the same with no delays.

Drive Safe

With all the crazy weather we’ve had this week the highway conditions took a toll. Things are very rough and slippery out there, so please tap’r cool on the roads and arrive alive.

Check DriveSafe.BC for local conditions.

ice caked to the highway through the National Parks on Dec 7

Snow & Weather

SNOW AND WEATHER

What a wild week of weather we’ve had! Every type of precipitation possible has fallen as the temps have swayed like drunk skipper’s vessel in the bearing sea. The good news is that the alpine temps held cold enough to keep (mostly) snow falling up high. All the alpine above Quartz cabin is mostly preserved and dare we say, (early season) deep. Yup it rained down low and you can expect to find some gross, refrozen chunder on the lower trail. But once you get high, things will improve.

The forecast temps are telling us the warm and wet is over (for now). The cold will likely pull moisture from the snowpack in a good way and we might even get some sun this weekend.

There’s still lots of early season hazards around so don’t loose your brain and make dumb decisions that’ll cost you an a-arm and a leg.

View of the Quartz trail on Dec 7

snow forecast near Quartz on Dec 7

KHMR snow report on Dec 7

Committing to the turn on Nov 27

Avalanche Safety

Avalanche Conditions

We’re all stoked to get out but now is really not the time to let loose. Conditions are spicy to say the least and utmost care is required in these parts right now.

Travel and Terrain Advice from Nov 27:

Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

Please watch this report from Skiing Golden.

screen shot of avalanche conditions for Quartz area on Dec 7

Grooming

A huge high five to our grooming operations crew who were absolutely ready to go when the snow came. Today we got a track pack into Quartz Cabin for the first time for W24. The crew spent a bunch of time filling in creek crossings and flattening whoops. Yes, the trail is thin in spots. But for the most part it’s pretty good. We plan on putting a full drag in on Friday evening.

The kiosk at Quartz will be open as of Friday Dec 8 morning. That means that trail fees will be in effect from this point on.