Snowfall and trail grooming update

I’m thrilled to get our first Groomer’s Report from Tracksetter Jeff at Kananaskis Village/Ribbon Creek/Skogan pass:

“25 cm already at Ribbon Creek parking lot today. I managed to roller pack all the Village Trails, Skogan Screamer, Hay Meadow and Troll Falls. Snowing hard when I left there tonight so I expect more snow over the grooming. This is early season yet so a few surprises lurk under the snow but it’s good to get it started..More to come as more trails get packed and groomed.”

Skiers climbing the Skogan Screamer on Nov 24, 2013

Roller packing makes me think he was doing this on a snowmobile, hence the photo. Normally my photos have Jeff in a Pisten-Bully. The Nakiska weather forecast, which is at a similar elevation to Kananaskis Village(1525  m),  is calling for an additional 31 cm, most of which is supposed to come on Friday. Hearing the words “Skogan Screamer” makes me want to get out there, but as Jeff says, if you go, be careful. The screamer is fast and could have some early-season hazards lurking about.

The new bridge over the Spray River was christened by Chuck today

Spray River/Goat Creek has been snowmobile packed by Don from Parks Canada in Banff. Intrepid trip reporter Chuck O’Callaghan did one of his shorter skis of the year today, starting at Banff Springs Hotel trailhead and skiing all the way to the Goat Creek bridge, crossing the brand new bridge over the Spray River enroute. The return trip would have been a measly 24K if he didn’t go any further than the Goat Creek bridge. Chuck’s provided some excellent photos of today’s adventure including wolf tracks.

Tracksetters Jeff and Andrew at Lake Louise(file photo)

After a very busy day packing trails in Lake Louise, Parks Canada’s Tracksetter Jeff sent this update on the day’s activities at 6:39 pm:

“Andrew and I packed and rolled MLR and the 1A ( 25 – 30 cm )…. No tracks set today. We machine packed the Lower Telemark as well. Still very rough in there…lots of hazards. See what snow accumulations we get tonight and try to get tracks set tomorrow….”

The Lake Louise forecast calls for another 20 cm, so they’ll have their job cut out for them, trying to keep up.

Yoho and Emerald Lake received a good dump of snow. This photo was Tweeted by Truffle Pigs Bistro in Field, BC

My back yard in Canmore has 12 cm, so I would expect the natural snow trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre may have enough for an initial packing, especially if we get more snow. Environment Canada predicts a further 20 – 35 cm by Friday night.

Canmore Nordic Centre weekend update

Alberta Cup has been cancelled this weekend due to the weather.  Biathlon NorAm is still scheduled to race.  Biathlon trails will be closed for the Biathlon NorAm/Calforex #1 this weekend, November 29th and 30th. There will be limited trails available for the public. On November 28, 29 and 30, the public wax room will be located in Cross Country Team Room #6 (located across the stadium from the Daylodge).

Update Nov 28 @ 11:00 a.m. I noticed there were no “Live Grooming Reports” coming from the nordic centre. Rest assured, the snowcats are hard at work, but due to the wind and drifting snow, within minutes of tracksetting a trail, it’s blown in. Until this weather settles down, the “Live Grooming” devices in the snowcats will be turned off.