Conditions Report: Snow and Cold Incoming

January 4, 2024

Let’s get straight to the good news; there’s snow in the forecast! Approx 22cm of the good stuff is due before Tuesday with the majority of it coming on the weekend. While our snowpack is still in early-season conditions, what we have got is playing pretty nice; the facts are that there’s still fresh out there if you hunt for it. The alpine remains considerable for avalanche danger and the temps are turning cooler. Grooming is in full effect and the trails are in good shape. Keep reading for more info:

Even after Christmas vacation we found fresh snow on Jan 4 in Quartz main bowl!

Fresh snow on Jan 4 in Quartz main bowl!

Jan 4 in Quartz main bowl!

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

Drive Safe

Do us a solid and arrive alive. Check DriveSafe.BC for local conditions.

CALL YOUR KMS!

There’s a bunch of logging traffic on both the Dogtooth FSR (Gorman) and North Spilli FSR (Silent). It’s your responsibility to yield to the bigger vehicles and a very good idea to let them know where you are.

Logging trucks going both ways at Gorman on Dec 11

Snow & Weather

SNOW AND WEATHER

There’s approximately 22cms of snow in the forecast and the long term looks promising too. Temps are getting in to the negative mid teens by the weekend so it might be good to grab an extra layer.

KHMR reported 1cms in the past week and 223cm YTD.

screen shot of snow forecast near Quartz on Jan 4

Avalanche Safety

Avalanche Conditions

Check Avalanche.ca everyday you ride!

From Avalache.ca on Jan 4: Uncertainty about buried weak layers warrants conservative terrain choices.

Travel and Terrain Advice from Dec 28:

Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rock outcroppings and steep convex terrain where triggering is most likely.
Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices at this time.

screen shot of Avalanche.ca on Dec 4

Grooming

All 3 trailhead staging areas of Quartz Creek, Gorman Lake and Silent Pass are in working order. There are extra grooms planned through the holiday break.

Cat at Quartz with a skiff on it on Jan 4.

Carrying in gas for the cabin generator in Quartz on Jan 4

Staging Areas Latest Info

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Good early-season conditions. Still fresh spots even after Christmas traffic

Grooms scheduled: As needed

Fees: $30/sled

Parking: main parking lot. Trailers in upper east lots - sleds on trucks in lower west

Additional notes: Quartz Creek trail is receiving regular grooming. Cabin has wood stocked.

Silent Pass

Conditions: Good early-season conditions. Still fresh spots even after Christmas traffic

Grooms scheduled: As needed.

Fees: $30/sled

Parking: 47Km on McMurdo road

Road: Logging activity past the 47 km turn off. Use a radio to call you kms.

Additional notes: Waterfall feature (the final access spot to the main area) has been reported as being in rough shape. It may not be a great spot for beginners right now.