Conditions Report: Nov 27 – Let’s Go!
We’re happy to say it’s go time this weekend for snowmobiling in Golden! Yahoo, grooming operations have started and with a bit of luck there will be a groomed trail on Saturday morning at Quartz (more on that below). Conditions above 1800m are considered excellent early season riding as Golden received anywhere between 40-80 cms of snow in the past week. This made for near bottomless conditions and the coverage went from zero to hero in a hurry. Is now a good time to bring your kid on his 200 or your beginner significant other? Probably not. Can you get out with your crew for a rip and get around a lot of places… yup, and you should.
Quartz on Nov 24
A great moment at the end of the day in Quartz on Nov 23
Quartz on Nov 23
Area 51 bowl in Quartz on Nov 24
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.
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Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
There’s not much snow in the forecast but there is sun! Golden has received anywhere from 40-80 cms of new snow from a big storm last weekend. The temps have turned cooler too, which will help preserve what has fallen.
In the alpine above 2000m we’re probing anywhere between 120-160 cms of snow.
snow forecast screen shot on Nov 27 for near Quartz
KHMR snow report on Nov 27
Snowpit digging near Quartz on Nov 25
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
Please check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
Great news. Avalanche.ca is now reporting forecasts for the season for our area.
Rider-triggered slabs are possible at upper elevations, especially on wind affected slopes. Below treeline, early-season hazards like open creeks, rocks, and stumps remain.
Screen shot of Avalanche.ca on Nov 27
Grooming
Grooming
Grooming operations have started for the season and the first step is getting the road built on the Quartz trail. Unfortunately on Nov 26 the groomer broke down and is currently on the trail in Quartz. We’re hopeful that we will have the parts that we need to get the cat up and running and that Quartz will get groomed for Saturday morning however this result is dependent on a few things going right for us.
grooming equipment arriving in Quartz for winter 2026 season
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
Quartz has had amazing riding this week. Parking for trucks with decks has been up to the 2km marking but sledding from the parking lot is totally possible; it’s a bit thin but not the worst.
The trail in from 2km onwards is has a good amount of compacted snow. There are still open creek crossings in the Twin Chutes areas higher up in the trail. These may get filled in if we can get the groomer there.
Silent Pass
logging is happening past 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.
Have you been to Silent? Let us know how it is @sledgolden
“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
Gorman Lake
People have been venturing up Gorman. Trailers are not recommended. Parking is wherever you find the snowline. Parking is around 12-13km up.
Have you been to Gorman? Let us know how it is @sledgolden
