Conditions Report: Nov 21 – Cooler Temps Coming
The good news for Golden is that temperatures are trending cooler for the upcoming week and this should turn incoming precipitation in snow and not rain. It was hard to look out the window this past week and see what could have been epic amounts of snow come in water drops instead of flakes. But hope remains because when the clouds parted the alpine trees are white. There’s 30+ cms in the forecast over the next 6 days and hopefully this is the start of winter coming in for good.
Now is a good time to to pick up your W26 Golden Snowmobile Memberships online and maximize your value. Joining our club helps us in so many ways: it helps us with costs up front to get the grooming season going, but it also helps us apply for grants by proving how many people support snowmobiling in Golden.
Quartz Cabin on Nov 18
70cm at 2100m. Rain crust from last few days. 2cm of new snow in rain crust. 1cm thick crust.
Groomer moving into position at Quartz
parking at 3km on Nov 18 in Quartz
Early season shredding in Quartz on Nov 3
Nov 2 in Quartz
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Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
- A weakening frontal system along the BC coast and westerly flow bring stormy conditions to most coastal and interior regions on Friday and into the weekend
- The exception is the southern interior and central and southern Rockies, where a weak ridge of high pressure inhibits precipitation
There’s 32 cms in the 6 day forecast and Golden often shines when wet warm storms blow out with a cold wisp. There’s approximately 70cms in the alpine around Quartz and that snow is settling in an experiencing temperature compacting. This may not be epic for shredding in but it certainly isn’t terrible for sledding on; meaning we have a decent base forming. There are some crusts that have formed so that will need some attention when new snow load arrives.
70cm at 2100m. Rain crust from last few days. 2cm of new snow in rain crust. 1cm thick crust. No big deal
32 cms in the 6 day snow forecast near Quartz
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
Please check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
Avalanches hazard may exist where there is snow. Pack a transceiver, shovel, and probe, and factor avalanches into your trip plan. Daily avalanche forecasts will begin November 26 at 4 PM.
Screen shot of Glacier NP avalanche conditions on Nov 21
People have been posting MIN reports and there has been avalanche activity already reported.
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
The warm wet conditions in the past week have eroded the lower access. parking isn’t idea at Quartz and is around the 3km mark now. The road is muddy.
Decent early season riding in the upper alpine.
Silent Pass
logging is happening above the 45km turn off to Silent Pass’s upper parking lot this year. We’ve been told this will happen till at least late February. This means that sledders heading to Silent should be able to drive to the 46km parking lot for most of the winter.
“Hey there happy to let you guys know that we went into silent pass this weekend and broke trail up past the waterfall. Cleaned up a lot of downfall trees as there was no other way past. Probed 70 cms on the logging road and 105 cms at top of waterfall. Road in is muddy and parked at the McMurdo bridge. Made a good trail all the way in. Snow was powder will definitely setup as a great base. Lake was covered but not fully frozen so did not go past. All in all was a great day and can’t wait for the season to start” – member submitted report on Nov 10
