Update Fri Dec 19 @ 9:15 a.m.: More grooming occurred in PLPP last night, in the “middle” of the park. Check the Live Grooming Report for details. Snow is in the forecast. Thanks for all the trip reports yesterday.
Before we go down memory lane, we’re seeing some signs of hope for skiing this weekend. Grooming occurred in the south end of PLPP last night(Fire Lookout for the first time) and I expect we’ll see more before the weekend. Brad, who works at Trail Sports, gave a positive report from the nordic centre. Best of all, there’s some snow in the forecast.
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PLPP Visitor Centre
Bouquets
Does anyone remember the old days when we made trips to the mountains and discovered poor conditions? After driving for 60 – 90 minutes only to find trails with dirt, ice, or no grooming?
With all the information that’s available daily regarding trail conditions, hopefully that doesn’t happen too often anymore.
I stopped in at the PLPP Visitor Centre on Tuesday and enjoyed reminiscing with Duane about the old days, before the trail reports were on the internet, when the only trail grooming updates were a fax every Thursday. That was only ten years ago. Duane and Alberta Parks have improved the delivery and quantity of information to where we are now receiving it, in some cases, the minute grooming occurs.
Tracksetting on Hydroline in PLPP
I’d like to commend and applaud Duane for all the work he’s done to improve the system. As we all know, government bureaucracies aren’t noted for moving quickly, so I’m very appreciative for such significant progress.
Now that skiers have access to important trail and snow conditions every day, I think that thousands of frustrating trips to the mountains have been prevented. The other side of that coin is that this timely information has probably encouraged many skiers to ski when they can see that conditions are favourable.
I also like the fact that we’re hearing from the tracksetters themselves. When I first started skiing, I had no idea how those wonderful tracks were made, or who did it. I had this idea of some mythical creature showing up after dark to perform their magic and were never seen. Now we can put faces on most of them, and it’s terrific when we hear from them directly.
It is nice to hear that people appreciate the increased frequency of cross-country ski trail information but in truth there are many people that deserve kudos for the excellent ski trails and reporting.
To mention but a few, there are the passionate groomers and information staff who spend work and personal time maintaining, investigating and reporting on conditions; managers and executives with Alberta Parks that exemplify the Alberta Parks vision to inspire people to discover, value, protect and enjoy the natural word and the benefits it provides for current and future generations; members of the general public that truly care about our parks and help keep us informed and the person that deserves the most credit is Daniel, the owner and operator of the Ski Trails suite of products, who is redefining the winter trails reporting industry.
Our appreciation goes out to all of them, to you and many more Bob.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Bob, I think that credit goes to many people, including folks like Duane, all the wonderful track setters and, of course, to you for bringing this all together. Often it takes only one person to realize the potential of a project. I believe you’ve been the impetus for much of the improvement in information for and about XC in the region. Thanks!
Chip
Be careful, SkierBob, I think you’re going to get some longtime skiers waxing nostalgic about the old days, like:
– Before the CNC was renovated and the only trail even remotely novice-friendly, or even rec-skier friendly, was Banff Trail.
– Before there even was a CNC, for that matter.
– What the Ribbon Creek trail system looked like before Nakiska was built.
– Skiing on the old Sounding Lake, Rockwall or Lynx trails in PLPP.