At the north end of the Pipestone trail system, from km6 to km8, I love the ambience and remoteness of the area, yet I can cruise along a trackset trail through this beautiful territory. Today was especially wonderful with the superb conditions and occasional misty clouds of snow falling from the trees.
I’m happy to report the rumours of grooming ending at Lake Louise on Mar 31 weren’t true. Parks Canada will continue to groom for a while longer.
Before hitting the Pipestone trails I stopped at the Visitor Centre and asked them about grooming and they said it will continue with no firm end date. Chuck’s report also confirms it.
The conditions on Pipestone today were magnificent. Yesterday’s tracksetting had about 3 cm of new snow on top but it was well skied-in by the time I started at 12:45 pm. The new snow made the fast downhills very easy to enjoy under full control.
The temperature was -6°C, the sky was overcast and it was trying to snow. Pipestone under a sunny sky is beautiful, but at this time of year, I’m grateful for clouds. I skied the #20 Pipestone trail counter-clockwise.
My last four ski trips have all been a level above excellent.
One of the remarkable features of this winter has been the lack of “defensive” skiing, a term coined by Ray Perrott. I can recall skiing on hardpack once(but it was fun!), but never on icy conditions this year. Nobody has even mentioned “boiler plate.”
As I write this at 6:30 pm, it’s snowing in Canmore with a temperature of -7. The coming week has snow and sub-zero temps in the forecast every day. Tired of winning yet?
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Indeed a level above excellent was (is!) this nordic season. Enjoyed a dad & daughter Easter ski to west Bragg Cr this morning b4 we embark on a hunt for ….tulips. Looking fwd to safe spring skiing upon our return -gardening in Alberta will have to wait. https://photos.app.goo.gl/9dJSAg7CU482JSwD3