-It was nice to see so many skiers enjoying themselves today-
When we finished skiing around 3 pm, Boulton Creek parking lot was crowded with more vehicles than I’ve ever seen before. Chip and I started out around 11:30 when there was still room to park, but we had to take an icy spot.
Tyrwhitt
The air temperature was minus 7°C, and the snow was minus 9. The new tracks on Whiskey Jack were very hard with a small amount of compressed snow over the previous icy base. We waxed with VR45(-2/-8) and after all was said and done, I think it was the best compromise for grip today.
Up high, the snow in the tracks was a little deeper, more uniform and colder, and VR40(-4/-12) would have worked. I used base binder and my skis retained the wax very well on the abrasive snow.
Chatting with passing skiers on Tyrwhitt while we were stopped for a snack
Whiskey Jack with the new tracksetting was in fine shape for climbing. The only place I had to do any significant herring-boning was on the very steep part. Even then I was able to stride part of it. At the top, it was nice to see a lot of skiers coming and going from three different directions, like in the old days when we had good snow in February.
Linda and Kelli arriving at the Pocaterra – Whiskey Jack junction
Our original intention was to head down Pocaterra, but we took a detour to the Tyrwhitt meadows which were spectacular on such a glorious day. Tyrwhitt has not been trackset since we received the latest snowfall, so there’s a lot of fresh snow on the trail, but the tracks were still in nice condition.
Pocaterra near the Lynx junction(Previous to the floods, this part of the trail was Lynx)
In the second meadow we stopped in a sunny spot with magnificent views for a snack and saw a lot of skiers going by. We’ve waited a long time for a weekend with such good conditions.
We resumed our original plan and took the fast trip down Pocaterra which had new tracks all the way to Lynx. I talked with a few skiers who started at the hut today, and the initial 4K from the hut is skiable but not great. Lots of ice underneath the new snow.
Lynx, Amos, and Wheeler took us back to Boulton Creek.
This blog set a record for unique visits in a single day with 6955 yesterday. That’s the fifth time we’ve broken the record this winter, but I can’t imagine this latest record will ever be broken.
Bob – can you explain base binder. Do you iron it on before you go out, or can you cork it in at the trailhead and then cork in your chosen wax?
You could cork it in at the trailhead, but I believe it’s more effective if you iron it in, which is what I do. Remember to clean your iron with citrus solvent if you’re also using it for glide wax.
Finally our paths have crossed shame on me for not realising and thanking you for this awesome resource, in future I’ll look out for both skierbob and skihere toques!
Thanks, Bob, to you and your readers for all of the info about snow/grooming conditions and recommendations on where the best skiing was to be had. We’re just home after a week of fun at PLPP, Lake Louise and the CNC. We were initially worried about the low snow levels, but managed to have 8 days of pretty awesome skiing! I think that Elk Pass is one of the most beautiful trails I’ve ever skied.
We’re now back in balmy Vancouver, where the local loppet has been cancelled due to lack of snow. 🙁 We’ll be jealously following your blog from afar!
The Pisten Bully was heading up Elk Pass trail about 5:00pm, so I expect that Elk Pass/Blueberry Hill/Tyrwhitt, etc should be in perfect shape on Monday!