Conditions Report: Nov 28 – Opening Weekend
We’re very excited to announce that grooming operations have started this week in Quartz which makes this our Opening Weekend! Friday, grooming work will be happening all day in Quartz and our kiosk will be open for day passes and season pass pick up on Saturday and Sunday in Quartz. Silent Pass and Gorman will remain ungroomed for the weekend. If you want to find some powder there’s still lots around and the coverage for early season riding is quite good. The avalanche conditions are mostly moderate and the weather is reasonable with temps in the single negatives. With a bit of snow in the forecast, it seems like a good time to come on out to Golden for some early season riding.
Silent Pass Nov 28
Silent Pass Nov 28
Quartz Nov 23
Quartz Nov 23
New Silent Pass Mobile Emergency Shelter /Warming Hut
We have exciting news. We are pleased to announce that we will have a new mobile cabin at Silent Pass this year. We plan to put the cabin near the end of the groomed trail and it will serve as a great warming spot on the Silent Pass ride. This year the parking lot is forecast to be at the 17 km, which means it will be a long ride in to the riding area this year. Having our warming cabin at the end of the trail should serve as a nice break spot. Check out this instagram video for more info.
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Travel
TCH-1 Highway
Highway 1 is fully open east of Golden with NO scheduled stoppages and overnight closures. Nothing beats cursing at 100km/hr on the last 4 kms into town. The new highway shaves 10-20 mins off a trip from the east these days.
Dogtooth FSR (Gorman)
Whiskeyjack Logging will be hauling down from the 7.5km for the next 2-3 weeks, and until they’re done PWT will continue to plow up to the top parking lot. Please be aware about the increased traffic and be extra vigilant.
Looks like come January, PWT will have a logging crew and hauling from the West Main road as well so will be maintaining the Dogtooth FSR to the 3.5km lot most of the winter.
North Fork Spillimacheen FSR (Silent Pass)
A lot of forestry work is transpiring on the North Fork between 31 and 36kms. Please yield to all logging trucks and use a radio to call your kms (RR3)
Hauling logs on the ‘Main’ on Spillimacheen FSR -use RR3
Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
The big bomb cyclone dump that we had earlier in the month delivered an excellent base for us. While the snowpack is settling to about 90-100 cms the coverage is quite good and it is supportive to sledding. There is still a lot of powder in the bowls where people haven’t been playing too much. Lots of early season hazards exist so tread carefully, but this is the best early season we’ve had in a couple years for sure.
Silent Pass sign on Nov 28
Waterfall feature on Nov 28 in Silent Pass
snow-forecast screen shot on Nov 28
Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Conditions
Avalanche.ca is now creating daily forecasts. Please check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!
The MIN Reports are a user driven information network where you can get up to date information.
Avalanche.ca screen shot on Nov 28
From Avalache.ca on Nov 28 for Dogtooth Range area: “Watch for slab formation at higher elevations, where winds may redistribute recent, low-density snow into reactive slabs.”
Travel and Terrain Advice from Nov 28:
- Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
- Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn’t been affected by wind.
- Be cautious of buried obstacles, especially below treeline.
Grooming
Grooming
Grooming at Quartz has started and a solid effort is planned all day on Friday. Please watch for the cat on the trail as road building and track packing will be taking place. Silent and Gorman will remain untouched for this weekend coming up.
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
Good early season coverage. A lot of compaction in the main bowls. Powder if you search for it.
Quartz Nov 23
Silent Pass
Forestry work at the 36km on North Fork
Parking at the 45km near McMurdo bridge
Gorman Lake
Whiskeyjack Logging will be hauling down from the 7.5km for the next 2-3 weeks, and until they’re done PWT will continue to plow up to the top parking lot. Please be aware about the increased traffic and be extra vigilant.
Looks like come January, PWT will have a logging crew and hauling from the West Main road as well so will be maintaining the Dogtooth to the 3.5km lot most of the winter.
Enough said!
