Christmas Gifts

-Access to Cascade Valley and Upper Bankhead via the Lake Minnewanka road (file photo)-

We have a few more choices for skiing today, thanks to the recent snow and hard work of the groomers and tracksetters.

Mountain road at West Bragg Creek (file photo)

West Bragg Creek: Report from Groomer Jeff:

We’ve managed to roller pack everything except Elbow South, Telephone and Mountain View West. MVW should be done by this afternoon. Hostel  has been double track set, but base is thin in some areas. Overall conditions should be great for the next few days. Expect to see more track setting.

The volunteer groomers are dedicated. Steve Riggs encountered one of the groomer’s wives who told him “he had been out since 7 am and was planning on keeping at it until well into the evening.”

PLPP:

Some “middle” trails were groomed and/or trackset yesterday including Whiskey Jack, Pocaterra, Lynx, Amos(partial), and Wheeler. Packers was groomed but is not recommended. Check the Live Grooming Report for details.

Banff:

The Banff trail report indicates that Cascade Valley has been trackset to the very end which is 14.5K one-way. Upper Bankhead was also done.

Canmore Nordic Centre:

A late afternoon Trip Report from Charles Curtis indicates that natural snow  on Banff trail, Bow, and Meadowview were roller packed on Dec 24. Skiing is FREE on Christmas day.

Yoho, Emerald Lake:

Kicking Horse river, Emerald Lake, and the Alluvial Fan have all been trackset according to the Yoho National Park trail report. Marilyn skied on Dec 24 and reports “Tracks at Emerald are wonderful–single loop on the lake ice, double track to the back, Fan is pretty good and so is the Horse trail.”

Confederation Golf Course, report on Dec 24:

“Let the city skiing truly begin with this dump of powdery snow! Confederation Golf Course at 10am today had good coverage of asphalt and gravel paths, all currently skier set. A pleasure to ski it compared with the thin patchy coverage of the past week or so.” -Elaine B