The most popular spot at CNC daylodge on a cold day
Waxing is simple and easywith these cold temperatures. A couple thin layers of polar wax will give awesome grip on the -15° snow.
Ken had been out for two hours already
I skied for 50 minutes at which time my toes were getting too cold. If I had used toe warmers, I could have stayed out a lot longer. Air temperature at 1 pm was -21°C, but the sun was shining. The coldest part of today’s skiing was returning to the daylodge into a headwind. I counted about 20 other skiers in the short time that I was on the trails.
Canmore Nordic Centre
Snow conditions are excellent on the man-made snow. The natural snow trails are pretty good, too, except for the occasional spot where the tracks were wind-blown. The snow in those spots is so abrasive, it can bring you to a sudden stop. It’s better to ski on the corduroy in open spots where the tracks have wind-blown snow in them.
Daily grooming and fantastic conditions have made the Canmore Nordic Centre very popular with xc skiers
We have one more day of very cold weather to endure. Thursday’s forecast is looking better with a high of -10. The Alberta Winter Games are on this weekend, so if you’re thinking of skiing at the CNC, check the CNC page for updates and trail closures.
Feedback wanted
We’re lucky to have a facility like the CNC on our doorstep but in some ways it has become a victim of its own success. Have you encountered parking problems at the Canmore Nordic Centre this winter? Weekends can sometimes present a problem trying to find a place to park. When there is an event happening such as this weekend’s Alberta Winter Games, it can be almost impossible. Would you be willing to take a shuttle bus from downtown Canmore, or from the Visitor Centre(located at the west end of Canmore’s Bow Valley trail)? What are your thoughts? Do you have any other ideas? Leave your comments below.
The Nordic Centre trails are designed in such a way that special events have a minimal impact on the recreational trails so a solution to the parking issues would enable skiers to access the facility on days when there’s no parking available.
So far I haven’t encountered any issues with parking. When I know there is an event on, I plan for an alternative location or I deviate my hours to ski later so there are less people. I am just happy to see people of all ages enjoying this world class site. I would consider riding my bike with my skis if parking becomes an issue. Shuttle buses are a good idea for some folks as well.
Yes, I’d take a shuttle from town or the visitor centre to CNC if parking was an issue. Good idea.
And your camera still functioned!
The photo of your skiis as you are heading back to Ha Ling peak is crystal clear.
Love it!
I recall the rule of thumb that the sensor thermal noise doubles with about every 7degreesC of temperature increase.
Thus, at -20C, the sensor in your camera may be about 64 times less noisy than on a +20C day. One day I should see if this makes any difference in the short exposures that are used in daytime photography.