Conditions were excellent on Lake O’Hara fire road today. Cold snow, clean, firm tracks, no post-holes in the middle, vivid blue skies, and lots of big smiles. The highlight of the day, however, was meeting Chuck and Jeannette as they were on their way back. I made them both stop as they were on screaming fast downhills 🙂
Great conditions on Lake O’Hara fire road
The air temperature at 12:30 pm was -2°C, and the snow temperature was -4. The midday sun was beating down on the snow at the trailhead and I wasn’t sure if VR45(-2/-8) would work, but it performed fine and I never touched it for the remainder of the day. The snow was a lot colder on the last couple kilometres as I neared the lake.
This raven was hanging around the picnic tables
Coming back was a lot of fun on the good snow, and even faster than last week. The tracks were fast but not icy. When Chuck sees my top speed, he’ll probably tell me my GPS is inaccurate 🙂
The trail was busy with skiers and a large school group skiing into the hut, and another group skiing out.
I stopped and had a look at the Great Divide trail and it looked to be in great shape with good tracks and cold snow.
It was the perfect day for photos, so I’ll let them tell the story. Also, check Chuck’s Trip Report to see some neat photos from around the lake including the frozen waterfall.
1A- Lake Ohara return feb 23rd
Skied from 1A to Ohara return yesterday. Spectacular – Very good tracks still. Very windy at noon. But tracks weren’t filled in, trail solid.
Thought it looked a bit too sunny and glazed at start and that it might warm up more so used VR50 over 45. First mistake. Grip felt iffy but skiable. At Ohara start I applied more 50 -2nd mistake.
After first long uphill, covered with 45, and then again partway up. Finally perfect!
Easy to get fooled by the Banff Canmore temps. It’s still winter up there!
Fast down -38 minutes- but not icy.