Conditions Report: What a Storm!

January 14, 2021

Almost half metre of snow fell in the past week in Golden with the majority of it coming on Tuesday night. The precip came in warm and of course this always affects grooming operations and avalanche conditions. Looks like the sun is coming out to play for the rest of the week.

COVID Protocol:

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

Approximately 3 feet of snow fell Tuesday night, with temps spiking during the storm. Most of the zones got a full and deep reset. The lower elevations and parking lots may have seen some rain but for the most part, all our trails added white and a lot of it. There’s not a lot of snow in the forecast but the sun should make an appearance.

Avalanche

Avalanche concerns skyrocket when it storms and things are warm. Now is the time to be conservative. Please check https://www.avalanche.ca/ for all updated avalanche forecasts and check out the MIN reports for our areas.

Are you new to the backcountry?

Check out Avy Savvy, a newly launched program designed to be a precursor to the Avalanche Canada Training program.

Grooming

Warm temps typically mean the trails get whooped quicker. Big precipitation means we often have avalanche restrictions with our equipment so not every trail will get groomed all the way. We will be working in all our areas in the next week to flatten the trails as best we can. Things should be moving smooth by the weekend.

Trail Area Conditions Reports

Quartz Creek

Conditions: Deep.

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun.

Fees: $25

Parking: Cleared 30cm+ in the parking lot on Wednesday morning! Trucks with trailers should park in the upper lots. Trucks without trailers should park anywhere else, please!

Road: Groomed from parking lot.

Additional notes: Pretty deep this week.

Gorman Lake

Conditions: Starting to feel confident in snow depths.

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Fri, Sun.

Fees: $25

Parking: Park at lower lot 3.5km

Road: Road has been good shape but recent storm may have iced things up.

Additional notes: A lot of active log hauling this week. 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. There’s still a lot of lurking rocks up in Gorman and especially in Holt. Tread carefully. Sketchy avalanche conditions on steeper slopes.

Silent Pass

Conditions: Deep.

Grooms scheduled: Wed, Sat

Fees: $25

Parking: We will put an extra effort in to maintaining the turn around at the 30km this week; there’s a lot of snow to push back. Please DO NOT park at the 27. Please park ON THE ROAD (not in the turn around) at the 30 km. Please keep the turn around free at the 30km so that trucks with trailers can turn around.

Road: The loggers working west of the 27 km point have asked us to please NOT park at the 27km. Reminder, give loggers the right of way. Call your KMs on your VHF radio! Channel RR-3

Additional notes: Still easy to find fresh.

East Quartz

Conditions: Probably deep.

Grooms scheduled: Fri

Fees: Same for Quartz.

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: This should be the first week of regular Friday grooms into E Quartz. Watch for overhead danger.

Old Man

Conditions: Likely deep!

Grooms scheduled: Thur

Fees: $25

Parking: At Quartz Creek parking (see above)

Road: n/a

Additional notes: Trail is punched in and got its first groom. Let us know what you find if you head up that way.

Westbench Trail

Conditions: Quartz to Wiseman corner is pretty bumpy.

Grooms scheduled: Gorman to Active logging area Thurs or Friday. Quartz to Oldman, completed on Monday.

Fees: $25

Parking: Park at Gorman or Quartz

Road: n/a

Additional notes: WBT is not a continuous trail this year due to logging operations. You can ride from Gorman to just before Wiseman Corner. You can ride from Quartz to Oldman. 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.