Chip, Ray and Peter cajoled me into getting an early start, and we were on Whiskey jack by 10:15 a.m. with the morning sun just making its appearance above the mountain tops. You’ve already heard about the great conditions from Mary’s report, but I’ll add a few details and some photos.
Starting out from Boulton creek with Chip, Peter, and Ray
The air temperature at Boulton creek was -10°C and the snow was -11, so waxing was easy. The tracksetting on WJ from Friday night is still in excellent condition with no new snow.
With Peter and Ray setting the pace, and Chip and I trying to keep up, we made it to the top in record time. It usually takes me about 35 minutes on my own but today it only took 29 minutes. We no longer call it friendly competition. Chip has a phrase for that phenomenon, when friends can motivate you to do better, I think it was social facilitation.
Magnificent scenery on Tyrwhitt
The fresh snow on Tyrwhitt hasn’t been groomed but it didn’t matter because the tracks are amazingly fast. We found ourselves at the Tyrwhitt – Elk pass – Hydroline junction in no time, and stopped in the sun for a snack. We were the first ones there today, and were greeted by the brand new tracksetting on Elk pass.
Brand new corduroy at the Elk pass – Tyrwhitt – Hydroline junction
Fox creek is still in nice shape, and Moraine is good for the most part, but the long downhill as you approach the open area by the picnic bench is a luge track. If I did it over again, I’d remove my skis and walk the 100 metres.
I heard from others that the north trails are not quite as good as what you’ll see here. They didn’t receive the snow which the south trails got.
Being finished skiing so early, I also skied 13K at Mt Shark on my way back to Canmore. Watridge Lake road was in excellent condition with cold snow and good tracks all the way to the Spray river.
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Great Horned Owl
Owl attacks cross-country skier
“Cross-country skiers and bikers usually are the victims of these things and and most of the perpetrators of these attacks is usually our very own provincial bird, the great horned owl.” Read more Owl attacks Red Deer skier twice, leaving 16 puncture wounds
I liked the doctor’s response when CBC radio host Carol Off asked him how he knew that it was exactly 16 puncture wounds.
“2 attacks with 8 talons each time”, was his reply.
There was a mating pair of Horned Owls at Confed Golf Course by 19th Street in early January when we had snow.