Conditions Report: Pre Season Update 2 – Deep Pockets
Conditions in Golden continue to improve and pre-season riding has been excellent. There are still a lot of hazards but overall, the coverage is quite good for November with over 1.1 meters of snow at 2200. Quartz is staging from the main parking lot now and grooming operations will start next week with some track packing. There’s some snow and sun in forecast and Avalanche.ca has started with their forecasts.
Quart Nov 21, 2024
Quartz on Nov 21
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.
Snow & Weather
SNOW AND WEATHER
Snow coverage in Golden is quite good for November. There’s 110 cms of consolidated base at 2200m in Quartz and there are some deeper pockets. There’s approximately 14cms in the forecast by Monday the 25th and temps are now consistently in the single digit negatives.
Quartz on Nov 21
Twin chutes area in Quartz approach on Nov 21, 2024
Quartz meadow Nov 21
Hollow in the short trees in Quartz Meadow on Nov 21
Snowforecast screen shot on Nov 22
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 of Purcells on Nov 22
From Avalache.ca on Nov 22 for Dogtooth Range area: “Watch for signs of instability as the recent snow settles. Choose mellow terrain while you get familiar with the snowpack, practice your rescue skills, and get your winter legs under you.”
Travel and Terrain Advice from Nov 14:
- Start with conservative terrain and watch for signs of instability.
- Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, or recent avalanches.
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
Grooming
Grooming
Grooming ops will start next week, first with some track packing at Quartz. Silent and Gorman are a couple weeks off.
Staging Areas Latest Info
Quartz Creek
Good pre-season coverage. Creeks are still open on the approach. Access is not recommended for beginners or lower-end intermediates who don’t want to cross creeks.
Parking at main lot in Quartz on Nov 21
twin chutes area in Quartz approach on Nov 21, 2024
Silent Pass
Waterfall at Silent Pass on Nov 10, 2024. No one rode it…
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.
