Yoho Valley road with Cathedral mountain in the distance
This trail was not groomed last winter, so it was nice to get back early this season and get reacquainted. Tracksetting occurred yesterday, and the tracks were firm and fast today.
Marilyn and Bruce on Yoho Valley road
This trail reminds me a bit of Moraine Lake road, except with dazzling scenery and something new and eye-catching around every curve in the road. Today it held the added surprises of seeing Marilyn, Bruce, and Helen.
Marilyn is the Kicking Horse Ski Club volunteer who does the trail reports which are posted on this blog.
Nice to see Helen Read on Yoho Valley road today
It’s 5K to the end of the tracksetting with a net elevation gain of 95 metres. You could continue beyond the tracksetting on snowmobile packing and skier-set tracks, up the switchbacks and further on to Takkakaw Falls. This trail is often referred to as the “Takkakaw Falls road.” If you go beyond the tracksetting, be aware there’s avalanche risk.
Yoho Valley road
The trailhead is about 2K this side of Field and the area at the trailhead is known as the Monarch campground.
The initial 500 metres only has one track because one side of the road was plowed as far as the Cathedral Mountain Chalets.
Spectacular scenery all along the Yoho Valley road
The air temperature at 2 pm was -8°C and the snow was -6. I used VR45(-2/-8) but it was a bit grabby so I think VR40(-4/-12) would have been better.
More tracksetting in Yoho
The Alluvial Fan and the Horse trail at Emerald Lake have been trackset. Helen reported good conditions but still a bit on the soft side. The Tally-Ho trail from the Field Info Centre to the Natural Bridge has also been trackset. The Kicking Horse River trail was trackset a few days ago.
Grooming in Yoho and Emerald Lake is done by the Kicking Horse Ski Club with the help of volunteers. If you enjoy skiing there, consider making a donation to the club. If you want to stay at Emerald Lake Lodge (Sun – Thurs) for the low price of $119 per night, buy a membership in the KHSC for $40.
