Tracksetters Alex and Jeff at Ribbon Creek
Update Dec 30 @ 10:35 a.m: “Bill Milne and Wedge Connector groomed and widened this AM. Still be aware of a few trees reaching into the trail here and there, as well as some tree debris. Otherwise excellent conditions.”
Update Dec 30 @ 8:10 a.m: Bill Milne and Wedge Connector trails are being groomed this morning!
Dec 29 West Bragg Creek update from Groomer Bill:
“Iron Springs, Elbow and Moose North were track set today. Skate lanes are reno’d daily. We will be resetting more track daily to get ready for New Years Day Bliss!”
Canmore Nordic Centre has done the usual grooming on the man-made snow.
If you’re considering skiing today, be sure to read the trip reports from readers who have first-hand knowledge of the trail conditions.
Bill Milne trail on Dec 24.
I’m very grateful for the detailed trip reports. For example, I had my heart set on skiing Goat Creek now that it has been trackset, but after reading how it has been damaged by hikers and especially fat bikers, I’ve decided to go somewhere else.
We’ve had these comments about Goat Creek:
“The bad news is that there is lots of damage from boots and fat bikes where they have broken through the packed crust. The result is “bomb craters” in the packed area outside of the track and deep ruts from fat bikes. If you catch a tip in one of these you’re going down. ” – DonC
“I did struggle a bit with snow plowing on the hills due to deep ruts up the middle from a fat biker.” – Newbie Jenn
“The hills that required snow plowing were a bit challenging with snow bike ruts in the skating lane.” – Skier Doug
Similar comments about the Bill Milne trail. It appears that humans are making it hazardous for dogs:
“I did Bill Milne with my dog today. The tracks are in good condition but the deep holes in the middle are very dangerous for a dog as he kept tripping in them. Would not recommend skijoring there until it gets groomed again.” – Sabine
Tracksetter Alex on the Bill Milne trail. Photo from Feb 2018
Hold the phone! RhondaW has observed new grooming this morning on the Bill Milne trail. Thanks, Tracksetter Alex, for getting up at 4 a.m. to do this. Wonderful news!
This report from Helen Yuen sounds appealing:
“We skied Baker Creek to Protection Mountain Campground & Baker Creek to Morant’s Curve & were delighted to find the trail now nicely track-set & freshly done. What a joy to traverse out & back in peace & tranquility.”
Redearth Creek in Banff was trackset on the 27th. We haven’t had any reports on whether it has been trackset all the way to the Shadow Lake junction or just to the 7K campground.
According to Martine, Cascade Valley is in great shape.
If you’re thinking of skiing in PLPP, be sure to read the comments on the Live Grooming Report.
For cross-country skiers in Medicine Hat, the trails in Cypress Hills are being groomed this morning. Check the Live Grooming Report for details. I skied in Cypress Hills a few weeks ago and wrote four updates about the trails.
“The bad news is that there is lots of damage from boots and fat bikes where they have broken through the packed crust. The result is “bomb craters” in the packed area outside of the track and deep ruts from fat bikes. If you catch a tip in one of these you’re going down. ” – DonC
“I did struggle a bit with snow plowing on the hills due to deep ruts up the middle from a fat biker.” – Newbie Jenn
“The hills that required snow plowing were a bit challenging with snow bike ruts in the skating lane.” – Skier Doug
Multi-use sounds all well and good in theory, but when conditions are not deeply and firmly packed- not so much. In softer conditions, one thoughtless hiker or biker can ruin skiers enjoyment of a freshly groomed trail, and even create a hazard to skier safety. Catching a tip in a bike rut or hiker posthole on a fast downhill is often no laughing matter. I don’t know if education is the answer- as someone said about common sense, or the lack thereof- “you know people”. I really think that on groomed xc trails that are narrower, faster, and with more challenging downhills- “skiers only” is the only workable solution. The best thing would be to convert others to the joy of skiing. 🙂