Conditions Report: Spring is Cool

March 4, 2021

March has rolled in like a frolicking lion, who likes to shred! The pow tap continues to trickle and supply the the low hanging fruit with fun resets (twice this week). The plucking has been juicy and the time for sunscreen has arrived.

There’s sun and then a bit more snow in the forecast. Temps will spike on Thursday and then cool again for the weekend. When it’s warm the trails turn in to mashed potatoes in a heart beat but grooming operations will do their best to keep up. Oh yeah, we’ve got a CONTEST with lots of cool prizes. Keep reading to find out more…

COVID Protocol:

Nonessential travel is not recommend at this time for both BC and AB.

Please wear your mask and observe social distancing while purchasing tickets or waiting in line. We need and appreciate your cooperation on this front.

The latest orders, restrictions and advisories for Covid 19 are here for both BC and Alberta:

BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

AB: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

The club has posted our COVID protocols here

Please advise yourself and abide by all provincial public health advisories. Sled Golden has a strong contingent of local members and participants and we are focusing on serving them during this time.

Snow and Weather

KHMR reports 21 cms over the last week fell, but it felt like way more than that in the sled zones. We might actually see a full day of sun on Thursday and the temps will spike but it looks like the prevailing weather trend is still for cooler air. There’s approximately 15-20 cms in the forecast.

Avalanche

There’s a lot of snow hanging on the slopes right now and the warmth might just be the thing that makes it ready to come down. Use caution.

We’re giving out tons of cool prizes for the rest of the season to people who show us some avalanche smarts – check out our contest here: https://sledgolden.com/avalanche-safety/

Show proof of your AST training any day this winter at get $5 off your day pass.

Please check https://www.avalanche.ca/ for all updated avalanche forecasts and check out the MIN reports for our areas.

Grooming

Warm temps and a lot of snow make for quick whoops on the trails. The groomers will be firing on all injectors this week to keep the trails as smooth as possible. Colder temps should help keep things flat as possible.

We have our groomer tracking public for your consumption. Please see the section below the Trail Area Conditions Reports.

Sledding in Closures and National Parks

Unfortunately, there’s been some sledders tearing up Golden Alpine Holidays ski touring lodges terrain as of late. SledGolden is a member of GBRAP in which we have agreements in place to not sled in this terrain while the company is operating. This operation is important to the local economy and we ask that you do not sled in this terrain until April 15.

National Park Wardens will be increasing their patrols of boundaries in our areas, particularly in Quartz. In some areas, there has been excellent compliance, in other areas there’s been blatant disregard for the park boundary. Fines for using a motorized vehicle in the National Parks can be as high as $25,000. It’s also a black eye for the club to see sledders in the park, so please, just stay out. Park Wardens put another set of several signs along the borders so it’s going to be pretty hard to plead ignorance.

If you’ve got questions about what is a closed area and what is not, check out our overview map at www.sledgolden.com/zones .

Trail Area Conditions Reports

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Powder. A nice reset over the week. Snow is really playful.

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Fri, Sat (if needed), Sun

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Trucks with decks park west of the kiosk, trailers use two lots on the east side.

Road: There's some crazy big frost whoops on the highway near Quartz - might want to slow down if you have a trailer.

Additional notes: Quartz has been really busy on Saturdays and people have had to park across the highway which is pretty sketchy. Maybe consider going to Gorman or Silent instead on Saturday? CO’s were checking registrations on Wednesday.

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Powder. Some great snow. Gorman is filling in nicely. Lower trees were amazing on March 2.

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Sat.

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Both parking lots at 3.5 plowed.

Road: Road has been in good shape.

Additional notes: A lot of active log hauling in Gorman. The kiosk attendant can call up the road for you if you don’t have a radio. RR 27 is the channel. Please yield to logging trucks. The Sea-Cabin will NOT be pulled in to Gorman this winter due to the limited size and our COVID regulations. We’ll have it back in action next winter!

Silent Pass

Conditions: Deep

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Sat

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Please park ON THE ROAD (not in the turn around) at the 30 km, leave enough room for others to turn around.

Road: Call your KMs on your VHF radio! Channel RR-3.

Additional notes: The road in from the 27-30km is SINGLE LANE. Banks got pushed back by our grooming team on March 1. It’s more important that ever to carry a radio and call your kms. Please don’t clog up the mandatory turn around at the 30 km mark. Please keep that turn around area clear.

East Quartz

Conditions: Deep, wind scoured ridges

Grooms scheduled: Fri

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Watch for overhead danger.

Old Man

Conditions: Unreported - but likely deep and wind scoured up high

Grooms scheduled: Thur

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Groomed to the end of the trail. Not recommended for beginner riders.

Westbench Trail

Conditions: Groomed - not continuous!

Grooms scheduled: Sunday (as needed)

Fees: $25, $5 discount if you can prove AST training

Parking: Park at Gorman or Quartz

Road: n/a

Additional notes: WBT is not a continuous trail this year due to logging operations. Closed at Cirque Creek from Gorman. Closed at Oldman turnoff from Quartz. For both sides, it’s a there-and-back trail. If you ride through the plowed road sections you could get up to a $2500 fine as sledding on plowed roads is illegal.

Grooming Map

The map below is linked to the safety InReaches we have in our groomers and we have been able to make the tracks public. How to use the map:

Press on the + next to the groomer/zone you want the latest information for.
Once the line is visible, press on the line to see the date & time the groomer was last in action.

This map only shows the most recent groom. You can inquire at any of our trailheads for additional grooming information, including number of riders since the last groom.