Pocaterra was groomed and trackset on the 16th but already had 4 cm of new snow. Mar 16, 2011
After watching the racing at the Nordic Centre yesterday, I headed for PLPP. The trail report showed most of the north end trails had been trackset over the past two days. Upon reaching Pocaterra it was, thankfully, a little colder than I expected at -2.
Pocaterra trail. Mar 16, 2011
There was 4 cm of new snow over the grooming, but one track was skied-in. Blue wax was working reasonably well; anything stickier would ice up.
Lynx trail. Mar 16, 2011
Starting at the hut, I skied a 12K loop consisting of Rolly Road, Pocaterra, Lynx, Amos, Woolley, Meadow, and Lodgepole. There was absolutely no icy track anywhere. With all the fresh snow, it was one of the rare occasions where I could actually ski down that ultra-steep hill on Lodgepole as I returned to the hut on the other side of the road.
Approaching the steep downhill on Lodgepole. Mar 16, 2011
It was snowing in PLPP when I left. It was snowing heavily on the Smith-Dorrien around the Chester Lake – Mt Engadine area. The road had been plowed and was in good winter driving condition. I imagine the Mt Shark trails have a lot of fresh snow over the recent grooming.
Hi. I’ve been meaning to comment on Shark for a while now, it doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention. I have been skiing up there once a week this winter (almost always Thursdays as the trails are generally groomed Wednesday overnight) and the trails at Shark are close to the top of my favourites.
Conditions were awesome today as there was only between a skiff and a couple cm’s fresh on last nights grooming. Watridge trail was groomed to the bridge at the Banff Park boundary (and has been most Wed nights this winter)and the competition trails were nice and fast and fun. After so much time in Peter Lougheed it is nice to put on the skates and fly down some of the most exhilarating trails around with their steep downhills, fun undulations and sharp corners. I do find them great for classic as well if you can keep the wax on.
The biggest issue on the trails this year is the tremendous amount of snow Shark has recieved. Only a handfull of times has the fresh grooming made it a full day without at least 10 cm’s or much more falling so by most weekends the skating is impassible and the classic tracks are deep skier set or gone.
However,there will be four or five more grooming days this season so I recommend Thursdays for great spring skiing at Shark, and maybe there will even be a few days without snow and people can get some good weekend skiing in up there.
Thanks again for the great site.