Conditions Report: Happy Easter
Easter weekend is here and it’s still a great time to go sledding in Golden. There’s a lot of snow coverage, there will be some new snow and bunch of sun this extended weekend. Grooming operations will be still going strong and avalanche danger ratings are moderate.
Pow on March 23 near Quartz
Quartz ridge top on March 25
Checking out the view in Quartz on March 25
Wheelie in fresh on March 13
Riley Suhan Race 2024!
And in other big news the Riley Suhan Invitation Race is ON! Mark April 6 on your calendars and sign up soon if you want to guarantee a spot!
****Accommodations: The Ramada in Golden is offering a rate of $109+taxes / night on Friday April 5 and Saturday April 6. Call the Ramada to book before March 22 to get this rate. Just say you’re coming to the Riley Suhan Backcountry Race and they’ll hook you up.***
Travel
TCH-1 Highway
BIG NEWS! Highway 1 is fully open east of Golden with NO scheduled stoppages and overnight closures: Kicking Horse Canyon Calendar
Warning! – Just east of Quartz the frost heaves are worse than ever this year. Slow down if you’re hauling weight…
CALL YOUR KMS! Please note there is a lot of industrial traffic on the Dogtooth FSR this year. Grab a radio and call up on RR27
Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
We’ve had 15-20 cms in the past week and there’s 26cms in the 6 day forecast (if you believe snow-forecast.com). Coverage is quite good and there’s only one step up left at Quartz cabin, which is our unofficial measurement of yearly snowfalls. Sometimes there’s a couple steps down to the cabin deck so this year seems to be just a little below normal but still pretty good.
Quartz on March 15
snowforecast near Quartz on March 29
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
screenshot of Avalanche.ca on March 29
Check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
From Avalache.ca on March 20: “Convex terrain features with a shallow or thin-to-thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger persistent slab avalanches.”
Travel and Terrain Advice from March 20:
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Conditions may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn’t formed a slab.
Grooming
Grooming
Grooming ops are working in all 3 areas this week.
FRESH groomer in Quartz on March 6
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
Silent Pass
Road is getting gooey.
