Last chance

Cascade Valley has been trackset for the first time this season(file photo)

If you haven’t skied in December, you’ve only got two more days. You’ll have some freshly trackset trails on which to do it, and it’s going to warm up today.

If you’re a beginner skier who just received new skis for Christmas, you may benefit from reading this article Beginner’s guide to xc ski trails in Canmore and Kananaskis. The article didn’t cover trails in Banff or Lake Louise, but we’ve had numerous posts on this blog aimed at beginners which you can access here Category: beginner Skiers. The new Rolly Road grid at Pocaterra hut looks like a great addition for novice skiers on which to get some practice.

There’s lots of bright green showing on the Live Grooming Report from yesterday’s tracksetting at West Bragg Creek.

Last night in PLPP, the middle trails were trackset. Being so cold this morning, you might want to start from the Visitor Centre and ski new tracks on Meadow, Wheeler, Amos, Lynx, and Woolley. The PLPP webcam shows the temperature to be -25°C at 9 a.m., but by the time I hit the trails, the temp is forecast to be -11.

Terrace trail near Kananaskis Village(file photo)

The Kananaskis Village trails were trackset yesterday. With some fresh snow in the mix, hopefully those thin spots on the north end of Kovach will now have better coverage.

We finally have our first tracksetting on Cascade Valley from Lake Minnewanka to the Cascade river bridge. The Banff trail report is rating it as poor/fair. From Cascade river to Stoney creek it’s single trackset and rated as fair. The trail to Upper Bankhead has been packed.

At the Canmore Nordic Centre, all the major trails including Banff, Meadowview and Bow were groomed last night.

Today is also your last chance to enter the Emerald Lake Lodge contest. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the photo entries and there are some very thoughtful comment entries. Lori mentioned that she enjoyed the videos(if you haven’t found them, scroll down on the right-hand side bar) and that Skiing in a Picture postcard was her favourite. I watched it again and am looking forward to seeing so much snow on Fox creek.

Fox creek(file photo)

If you’re considering skiing the entire south loop in PLPP, the narrow trails through the trees are skiable now. The PLPP trail report states, “Please note that following a small skiff of snow, skiers are reporting that conditions on Boulton Creek, Fox Creek and Moraine have improved, despite being groomed only.”