I’ve come to expect a lot of multi-users on the initial section of Goat creek. Today, all the snowshoers turned around at 3.8K, at which time a nice set of tracks presented themselves.
The first 3.8K on Goat creek looks like this
The tracks were non-existent for much of the first 3.8K, but the skiing was pleasant enough. There’s fresh snow on the trail with inconsistent depths. At the Goat Creek trailhead and for most of the first 7K, about 3 – 4 cm of fresh snow was on the trail, but it became quite deep on Spray river west at 14K with 8 cm. As I approached Banff, the final kilometre on Spray river west only had about 2 cm.
At 3.8K on Goat creek, the tracks were now in good shape
The temperature when I left my house in Canmore at 1:55 pm was -13°C, but a few minutes later, at the Goat creek trailhead, it was -8 with no wind and a clear blue sky. I could feel it getting considerably colder after the Spray bridge at 9K, and the Spray west trailhead at the end was -13. The snow temperature was -11, and VR30(-10/-30) did a good job.
Dead man’s curve at 7K. It was easy descending to the Goat creek bridge with all the fresh snow.
My mantracker skills told me that three or four skiers had been down the trail, so I had a reasonably nice skied-in track. The new snow made all the steep downhills slower and safer. The final turn to the Spray river bridge at 9K has a lot of unseen ridges under the fresh snow. It’s always fun trying to remain upright there. It’s now in a state which takes me back to my stock car racing days, with a high-banked turn.
Excellent conditions on Goat creek at 8K and a couple minutes of sun
The wolves were out in full force last night, and left a lot of tracks for about 1K along the trail from 12 -13K.
Although the fresh snow slows me down, I appreciate having the pristine conditions with no tree debris, just beautiful white, cold snow.
The final 5.5K into Banff had seen a lot of skiers today. The trail also had a lot of new snow.
After the junction where Spray east meets west(about 13.5K), the trail had seen a lot of action today. The 8 cm of fresh snow would have made it a lot of work for the skaters. Most skiers were finished for the day, and I only saw two others(and a couple snowshoers) the entire day.
Don’t be under the misconception that Goat creek/Spray river is downhill all the way. In the first 7k, you’ll lose 180m of net elevation. From the Goat creek bridge to Banff you’ll lose a further 100 metres. Over the entire 19K to Banff, however, you’ll still have a total ascent of 240 metres, so there is considerable climbing.
The wolves came out of the forest and travelled for 1K on Spray river west
The Bill Milne trail, Wedge, Ribbon creek, and some of the Kananaskis village trails were trackset this afternoon and evening.
Make sure you view the incredible photos on Steve Riggs’ Trip report from West Bragg creek. After reading about Telephone trail from Alf and now Steve, it makes me want to check it out. West Bragg should be crawling with people this weekend considering all the fresh snow and the new grooming. Check the Groomer’s Reports for tonight’s update from Groomer Jeff H.
Thanks for this update, I skied to Banff Saturday morning, and it was my first time on Goat Creek. It’s a great trail I know i’ll be back.
Now we know why you like going fast!
(T’was the Stock Car Racing days of ’96)
I was a lot more adept at negotiating the high-banked turns in my race car than I am on skis!