Maintaining good health doesn’t have to be overwhelming or costly. I’d love to share a guest article with your site that provides straightforward, budget-friendly health and fitness tips that can easily fit into even the busiest of schedules.
The article will focus on realistic strategies for staying active and eating well, making it an ideal resource for readers looking to prioritize their well-being without added stress.
Would you be interested in reviewing it for publication? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks a lot,
Julia Merrill of Befriendyourdoc.org
“A doctor who cannot take a good history and a patient who cannot give one are in danger of giving and receiving bad treatment.” – Paul Dudley White
P.S. By the way, tell me your suggestion if you’d like me to write about a subject of your choosing! You can also simply inform me if you don’t want to hear from me again.
You really should write a book Bob —a treasure trove of stories here and a wealth of nordic knowledge of your empire in your head. A curated & artistic bound volume in this day of fleeting digital captures would be appreciated by many.
What a beautiful little Springer Tessa was, I have a
Springer as well. Her name is Mollie Mayhem never
Taken her skiing but she has been on lots of hikes.
The anti-demcoratic UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax was pushed by special interest groups that obtain funding from the government. For these groups to support the UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax looks like a major conflict of interest to me. The tax is being used for lining Conservative Party supporters pockets while keeping the less wealthy out of the region. This is exactly what the Kananskis entrance tax supporters want as the population increases along with trail use. This is a typical economic barrier put up to keep the less wealthy out. It sure is not a part of the Alberta Advantage. The Kananaskis is no longer a region to be used universally by all people which is disgusting and a form of dicrimination.
Lots of the money for the Kananaskis tax is being wasted on unnecessary new expensive signs, advertising on big bill boards, hiring more people to check for passes, wasting money on broad band internet service, wasting money on new snow cats and so much more. This is not what economic conservationism looks like. This is what elite government waste looks like.
Extraction of resource revenues in the Kananaskis region should have been utilized to direct funds to keep the Kananaskis universally free for all to enjoy, not just the more wealthy. Revenues from Nakiska Ski Area, the golf course and other businesses should also have been directed to keep the Kananaskis universally free for all rather than have those revenues go into the Provincial government’s general revenues.
The UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax was poorly thought out and shoved down our throats in a highly undemocratic way. This is not what democracy looks like. It is what authoritarianism looks like- China dictatorship style.
To those involved in the decisions on where to use last winter’s parking funds – well done!!! We will all benefit from these improvements.
Question: will the UPC government seek input from Nordiq and other x-c ski clubs for their input as to where the 2021-22 K-country improvement funds will be spent. I certainly hope so…
Again, thank you for your input, expertise and accountability.
Hi Bob
Thanks for the excellent update on this important topic. I was excited to see that you recently registered on the SkierRoger website where we’re all eager to read your trip reports.
By the way, if you would like me to add a special category for any blog comments you may have, just let me know. We all really value your insight.
Hopefully some of that is going back to pay for grooming in Bragg Creek. The blurb about the fee says that it is covering ski trail grooming, but Bragg Creek Trails sounded a bit doubtful last time I read anything.
Happy ‘retirement’ Bob. Hope you regain some sense of solitude and serenity on the trails again and may your next chapter be refreshing and bring you contentment.
—Yours in skiing, grooming and storytelling, JeremyN
It’s unfortunate that trip reporting on the new blog requires registration, login, password, email. These are barriers to participation in a system of user based information sharing.
Bob – not sure if this is the right forum but I’m sure I’m not the only one to wonder what set Roger apart from the other offers to continue your legacy?
Btw – I’m looking forward to Rogers site and am happy to see it’s been a relatively smooth transition and so many shared resources. Clearly you had a solid combined effort over a few months to make this happen, for which we are all grateful.
Many thanks for supplying skiers & snowshoers with great information on grooming in our park areas. I’ve used your site for many years as my ‘go to’ before heading out.. Very grateful for all the hours you’ve put into this site – will miss seeing it but glad to see SkierRoger will continue. You’ve set up a great legacy…again thank you.
Bob,
The best part of your site was your personality and the enthusiasm you injected(, plus the spirited debates on track setting, fat bikers, dogs and skate skiers). We are forever indebted to you for adding a whole new dimension to the best winter sport ever. Nothing beats a Skier Bob meeting on the trails. Thank you .!!
Bob,
Thank you for helping to promote the ski trails in Cypress Hills. Hope to see you out here next winter.
Roger, thank you for continuing the great work that Bob has carried out.
Bob, thank you so much for your years of dedication to your blog! You have made such a huge difference for all of us who love to ski! I hope you continue to enjoy the trails, and will post on Roger’s blog.
Welcome, Roger! Your new blog is looking wonderful! Thank you for taking up the reins. I’m sure it will be a great success!
Bob, your comments and posts have been very welcome. We hate to see you go but welcome Rodger. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and taking over a huge job Roger.
Thanks Roger for giving us an option.
I like the fact that one has to register to either Post or Comment.
THANK YOU BOB for all your work through the years, and managing my social media exposure!
The CTV CFCN poll that was conducted is statistically unscientific and should not even be considered anywhere near scientifically accurate. As a person who spent too much time studying statistics, I understand that every poll on CTV is not scientific as the polls can be pushed by people with an agenda and it is not a random poll which is required for good statistical science.
The polls may somewhat represent the views of the CFCN TV viewers only at best, but still not likely. The poll could have been pushed by UCP party members or supporters as far as we know.
The best poll on such a political question would be to allow the legalization of the right of people to vote on government bills. If the people had the choice, they likely would reject park tax fees which are a regressive tax. Regressive taxes are taxes that harm the less wealthy more than the wealthy and are based on a proportion of income. If a poor person earns $7000 dollars per year and has to pay the same $90 park entrance fee as a millionaire, it is a higher proportion of the poor persons income going to the tax as compared to the millionaire.
Here is the math:
$7000 poor income divided by $90 park fee tax equals 1.3% of total income.
$1,000,000 wealthy income divided by $90 park fee tax equals .009% of total income.
As one can see the millionaire is not affected much by the park fee whereas the poor person pays a large proportion of income to access the park.
The scientifically poor CTV CFCN poll results are also affected by income levels. Poor people can not afford a cable connection to watch CFCN CTV TV or even an internet connection so they would be unable to participate in the poll which skews the poll results even further in favor of wealthier people.
Most polling these days is junk as pollers can not access people in a random manner as easily or economically as in the past by land line telephone. The only other method to get random statistical surveys is to directly randomly poll people which is time consuming and expensive. All other polling methods do not give a scientifically accurate picture, as we have seen during recent elections.
Taking this opportunity to say thanks Bob for creating the blog and supporting this amazing community. My husband and I have visited the Rockies to ski every year or two for many years now, travelling from Ottawa. First few years, our visits were tacked on to an annual work trip to Calgary, and gradually extended over the years. I was one of the (probably now thousands of) smiling skiers that you have snapped a photo of, for me coming down Lake O’Hara Road on classic skis. Now we are retired and hoping to visit for longer. It is a fall tradition for us to start checking out your blog, especially in years we have planned a trip. You have brought joy and the chance to see the mountains to many who are not fortunate enough to live as close to them as most of your readers and contributors do. We would love to share our little corner of nordic ski heaven, the Gatineau Park, with you if you ever head out Ottawa way. Best of luck in your future plans!
There is nothing worse than an undemocratic dictatorial oligarchy government for the people or park users. If we lived in a real democracy where people make the decisions, it is highly likely that the people would reject Conservative oligarchy government user fees for parks.
The wealthy have gotten 30% richer during the COVID-19 crisis while most other people have lost wealth. It is only logical to make the wealthy pay more rather than the poor or the lower middle class. There are numerous ways to do this including raising license plate fees for luxury or gas guzzling vehicles. It would not bother some rich skier to pay $1000 dollars per year for a license plate for their BMW. The government should put in a luxury provincial sales tax if it needs money- with the consult of the people democratically. Or the government should raise oil royalties to Lougheed era rates. That would bring in billions of dollars of revenue for the oil you are a shareholder owner of. Our parks need to remain universal like our health care system so all people can have the opportunity to access them without being financially penalized.
Putting user fees on one park will spread to all others in the future if the oligarchy dictatorial political system remains. We the people own the park lands and we should have a democratic say in reguards to fees.
The intention of the UCP (United Charging Party) Government in charging park fees is to keep poor people out of the park so the trails are not so crowded for their wealthy supporters and to derive more funds to subsidize the unethical foreign controlled oil industry that I once shamefully worked for. The oil industry needs to pay its own way and the hundreds of billions of dollars in oil industry subsidies need to stop. The oil industry needs to clean up its own immoral unethical mess.
The $90 restricted Kananaskis park fee is much higher than the National Park fee which enables one to access many parks across the country. How Conservatively stupid is that?
We must get rid of the old school undemocratic Jason Kenney as Premier who has never stepped onto a cross country or hiking trail. This Ontarian is not a true Albertan and he does not understand Alberta’s lands or the people. He is a corporatist tax grabber that does not have the intelligence to raise non tax funds for the benefit of Albertans. He is making life hellish for the poor and for medial workers. Soon the poor will not be able to travel out of the cities or towns as they will have no place left to go to afford other than the prairies.
Corrupt people support corrupt anti democratic oligarchy political parties that reign over the people in a dictatorial undemocratic way. It is time to break the chains of political oligarchy oppression and make Alberta a real democracy to build a better province the way the people want it. Give people the legalized right to vote on Government bills along with citizen initiated legislation. This is what real democracy looks like and it will likely keep park fees at zero.
Hi Bob et al. Regarding …” I’m surprised nobody asked Ken Hewitt about the slush fund of about $80,000 which was collected over-and-above what was required to pay the government. ”
Well… I don’t expect that there will be any problem finding worthwhile projects to spend the money on. With the Conservation Pass now announced, and grooming confirmed for the future, the 4 person committee has now scheduled its first meeting for next week to review a draft set of selection criteria. I’ll report back here afterwards.
For those of you who didn’t listen to the press conference there are a few points that stood out. Calling it a conservation pass with an intent to minimize the amount of cars heading into Kananaskis. Nixon was very clear that starting June 1 people should car pool more ( Covid won’t be an issue by then.
I am very skeptical at the direct impact this will have on trails especially grooming. The 200k raised this winter really only went to offset an already reduced grooming budget. There are future costs coming up that are significantly more than that amount.
Did anyone see the story on Global News where a guy with three vehicles was complaining that he’d have to buy passes for each one? Some people have no sense of shame. (In reality, he’ll only have to buy two passes, but I think there should be a special rule for people with three vehicles; pay triple).
You have been a beacon of joy, hope and humour to millions of diverse people from around the world who share the common obsession for xc skiing. I thank you from the bottom of my sticky wax box for your constancy and unflappable enthusiasm you gave to us all, your readers. You will be missed. Every day.
People should read the press release or watch the video before commenting, or better yet go to https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx. The pass covers ski trail grooming, and that two vehicles can be registered on one pass. There is also provision for “low income” Albertans. The pass will operate much like the ParkPlus system in Calgary. The pass does NOT cover the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The cost to ski in PLPP has gone from $0 in 2019/20 to $90 in 2021/22. But corporations in Alberta during the same period are paying much less tax… Thanks UCP!
If “winter trail grooming in Kananaskis will be supported by the new pass” means that the grooming at the CNC is going to be covered by this fee, this will actually be a significant cost saving verses the fee charged in previous years
I find it extremely ironic for this government to be touting “environmental concerns” when they would gladly sell off most of the mountains in this province to investors who would just leave their pollution behind.
Of course, we knew this was coming and I wouldn’t mind so much if the revenues weren’t being handled by an incompetent government. What I would like to know is if they are re-instating the visitor centers as well as re-instating the cross country ski grooming (I’d like proof of this please). I’m sure these fees will help to pay off the money they gave away to industry that ended up fleeing Alberta and leaving taxpayers with the bag.
I don’t trust this government one bit. I’m still trying to see how they are improving the lives of Albertans. They have no clue what they are doing.
Coming from Quebec where fees are the norm we have been so blessed up to date
With the state of garbage lately in K country and the disgusting mess people leave I’m all for it. I feel so bad for parks staff and what they have to deal with
I wish it would be feasible to have people pass a how to dispose of garbage test (lol) before they come to our beautiful asset that we Albertans have.
I wonder how much the success of the grooming fee this winter set the stage for this?
I suppose that if it does lead to hiring of more conservation officers and parks staff than we will see some benefit. Time will tell.
Good point Jon – I don’t like the idea that I can’t transfer the pass to another vehicle. To me, this supports the idea that this is more of a cash grab, rather than about improving services and enforcement. To be a bit cheeky, if I ride my bicycle, does that mean I can go for free? 🙂
Not much to add, but huge appreciation for all that you have given us 🙂
We don’t know how we will manage without you, you will be sorely missed!
Thank you for everything, and congratulations on a remarkable record!
Wishing you many more years of great skiing 🙂
So, does this mean I will have to pay $15 a day pass, plus $10 for cross country skiing, or $90 annual fee, plus $50 annual fee for skiing? For a government that brags about lowering taxes they sure do love user fees.
Congratulations on all your numbers, summarized today, Bob. While I have only come across you on the trails, once to my recollection, I have visited your site often and daily in the last quite long while. Your input to many skiers as they try to figure out where to go has been immeasurable. I for one will miss reading your blogs, seeing your trip and snow reports, and looking at the many photos you and others have posted.
Hopefully we will cross paths in the future and maybe share a couple of words along the way. Many of our seniors club skiers have benefitted from your website.
Thank you for all you have done over the years and all the best to you.
Hi Dylan
It is very noble of you to try and take this on, maintaining a xcountry ski trail is very rewarding but can also be a lot of work. Calgary is not known for consistent or a lot of snow plus it is prone to chinooks . Shag and Confed are two areas that can give you lots of info on the trials and tribulations of keeping a ski trail going in the city.
As far as what you need the basics would be a decent skidoo with a minimum 503 cc low geared , forward and reverse. Some kind of roller at least 60” , a manual style track setter like an old Bachler or a newer YTS Ginzu or Todd Tech. In a park you will need volunteer snow shovelers and snow fence to catch the blown snow. A few well placed signs and you are more or less good to go.
Feel free to contact me directly trailguy58@live.ca if you want some specifics and costs for equipment. I just retired after 40 years of ski grooming and like you I am setting up some local trails in my soon to be new home.
Hey Dylan, have you tried tried contacting the folks at Foothills Nordic Ski Club? They take care of Confederation Golf Course and Fort Calgary. I’m sure they would have lots of advice for you.
With all due respect to the Shirelles, the slower version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” recorded by co-writer Carole King in 1971 (and featuring James Taylor and Joni Mitchell on backup) is the superior one which definitively captures the spirit of the lyrics.
That would be great to have that trail groomed. A great place for families and people who just want to put some km’s on and beginners as well. Great wide open trail with amazing views.
I expect that a large percentage of new XC skiers (or those that returned after many years) will continue to develop their skills and interest… However for a fair percentage (~WAG ~20-40%) they’ll be of the “been there done that” mind set, or feel it’s too much work, or give up without giving it a fair attempt sadly. So… this next winter and the following I’m hoping for some great deals on lightly used decent equipment!!
– Same could be said for any of the Covid-mania goods such as cycling gear, camping goods, and sadly enough pets.
That all said, the increased awareness of our amazing outdoor facilities will hopefully generate increased development, maintenance, and funding for these terrific assets. That might include government funding, funding drives, and even sponsorships. I suspect government funding will be increasingly curtailed due to the excess and continued unrestrained federal spending problems.
For clarity, there’s still an avalanche hazard on that and other slopes. It is NOT now safe for the rest of the winter to go to Moraine Lake for anyone who doesn’t have the appropriate avalanche safety and assessment equipment and training.
Lionel was one of the engineers who surveyed the lakes for Calgary Power. 1930’s. Remnants of their camp remain on the little peninsula opposite Upper lake boat launch. My Valley – the Kananaskis, Ruth Oltman, p. 53.
It would be wonderful to have another beginner trail but …
There’s no way to know if this year’s sudden covid-related boom in outdoor activity will persist. Parking pass revenues could take a big hit post-pandemic, as early as next winter. Keeping some surplus funds as a reserve would be wise.
Some will argue that surplus revenues should be used to reduce the cost of parking passes.
Hwy 40 is plenty wide but any loop off of the highway would presumably need to exploit existing trails which it seems are just too narrow for multi-use.
If Lionel is resurrected, I would be one of the first to ski it, though.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Bob for all you have done for the X-country community over the years. Enjoy retirement and look forward to continue seeing on the trails.
Hard to believe this is the end. It will be very strange not seeing your updates. Thank you for facilitating such a vibrant community of people sharing their ski experiences so others can follow. Wishing you the best in whatever comes next.
Great to meet you on the trail today Bob! Such a beautiful day and amazing conditions. Thanks for the photos! Hope the end of your ski day was as great as the start!
To Alf’s comment: “seems like reactivating Lionel as a ski trail should be a no brainer” — I’m not an expert in this stuff, but I don’t think it is quite as straightforward as we might all like it to be.
1) Grooming 8km of trail even once a week is a significant addition in terms of labour. It isn’t just one pass with the PB 100 – it would likely be four (or five to return). What other grooming would we be prepared to give up for this?
2) My understanding is that some years ago one of the grooming machines broke through the ice on Sounding Lake with a major rescue operation necessary to save it – and this is the reason it is no longer groomed for skiing.
3) Providing for parking at the gate (washrooms too) would be a pretty significant incremental cost – and moving the gate could also be expensive.
Not arguing against the idea — just trying to add a sort of reality check here.
I think Alf has a great idea for the beginners. That trail allows for a great introduction to x country skiing along with the space for skate skiers. If it were to be track set and packed it would add to the already great trails. I would suggest that along with the aforementioned it would also add to a round trip if the lower Pocaterra to the hut were to be remade. That would allow for two return routes from the Lynx intersection – one for beginners and one for intermediate to advanced skiers.
Pipestone Blue up and Green Merlin/Drummond/Hector down. Yesterday’s hikers did not help the first stretch of blue but they turned off onto Drummond and then encountered deep post-holing by the pond and went back the way they came. Quite windy by Pipestone Pond so sheltered in the trees for lunch. Snow temp -4 at 12:30 with varying 5-8 cms in tracks of new snow. No worms as seen at CNC Wednesday or snow fleas-just clean cold snow. Saw one other couple and their dog. Merlin was a delight as always. No freezing up on blue 0 to -6 or clumping either. Supposed to be more snow tonight so check skilouise in am. Ma Sid tempted us to explore the meadows on MLR further but very happy with today’s choice.
Fairview at LL was a wonderful gift today ( April 9).
Skier track set in approximately 10 cms of fresh dry snow
By 2:00 it was starting to soften but I don’t expect it get to warm so tomorrow should also be great.
A younger Alf in the day may well have awarded Sara with the “light gear touring award of the year” for this trip. I too followed along the great description, map in hand. Bravo Sara.
Good advice but nicely done Sara! An adventure survived always makes for a story that gets better with each telling. A great way to cap off the season and lead into scheming the next.
Sara M: so glad to meet you via this blog and how deserving you are to be featured after that ultra marathon of an obstacle course. I had to get out my old Banff Gem Trek map to check out your ski. So many of us have truly enjoyed your Trip (with a capital T) reports this season. Thank you for bringing such enthusiastic adventures forth and for taking such a terrific selfie!! No wonder you were smiling to make it that far. I’d happily have risked my car’s suspension to pick you up at Goat Creek had I known of this Spring Skiing Adventure. As Chuck said, an awesome description complete with poignant photos. The one of your feet on the snow is a winner as is your beautiful selfie.
Oh man, Steve Riggs/aka-bigsteve has been out there since the dawn of the internets –dispensing enthralling trip reports, words of wisdom and encouragement plus veiled hints of secret stashes on various platforms.
Long ago upon discovering that internet ski forums and blogs were a thing I took the plunge and began posting my first tentative TRs on a now long lost backcountry skiers’ forum. Steve’s positive response to those posts inspired me to continue taking photos and composing descriptions of various ski-related triumphs and failures.
Thanks Bob for all the photos, I just met a handful of reporters over the years but recognize some faces from brief encounters. I was hoping to see a photo of MAAD, but he’s or she’s like the « Arlésienne » as we say ion French.
Good to put faces to the names of regular posters from over the years. Looks like it was Steve Riggs I was chatting with at Patterson/Elk junction Saturday evening.
Started on Whiskey Jack on Saturday morn on pure ice but on Tyrwhitt the lurching began from shade to sun. Saw Moose & Wolverine tracks. We were warned about the huge spruce across Elk Pass Trail on the descent so no speed record this time.
10mins from arriving at the top of Blueberry as I was herringboning, the toe bar on my ski boots completely detached from my boot. My brother & I tried using tape & paracord to rig up the toe bar to the boot but no success. My brother had to leave but I continued to the top, stayed for an hour in the sun & light wind. A helicopter flew by below me & looks like a brief touch down at Rawson then it went to the Rawson parking lot…perhaps a rescue? I hiked back (on the side of the tracks) with my skis on my pack to Elk Pass parking lot. I’m lucky my gear failure didn’t happen off tracksetting on a longer trip. Saw a Boreal Chickadee & Steller’s Jay along the way. I was very appreciative to hitch a ride (with masks on) back to my vehicle at Boulton campground with a friendly couple I met up on Blueberry.
The top of Blueberry was great compared to the previous Sunday when I skied from 4:30pm-8:45pm to Blueberry Hill breaking trail in up to 25cms of snow over tracksetting during the big storm. On the drive, the visibility was the worst I’ve ever had in all these years doing adventures & couldn’t see a thing on Hwy40 north of Nakiska turn off so I made it to Lorette Ponds lot & hung out for an hour until the snow eased up & I continued on. I was kind of looking forward to spending the night out there. 3.5 hour total (including stop @ Lorette) to get back to Calgary.
This larger than you blog (not an easy feat) was an expertly curated and entertaining read over the past 10+ years. I’ll miss contributing, reading and scheming by it …but will still hear the mountains calling regardless. See ya out there Bob!
it’s about time the Govmint widens & pave this P.O.S. road (the new parking pass program could cover the cost) so us heavy hittin x country back country snow beaters can rip out there in our big chevy escalades (1 person per vehicle please) and ski the be-jeepers outa those mountains and still get back home for happy hour and start posting ad nauseam of our exploits oh yeah !!
I feel the track setting and trail grooming was very much “my monies worth”. Thank you to all the folks who organized the “pass” system and to all the volunteers that manned the parking lots etc.
Our seniors group/club did not get out as we normally would if our bus trips were still running. However, many of us have been driving out in our own cars and have enjoyed a wonderful season that is still going on as I write this on April 2.
Also thank you to Bob Truman “Skier Bob” for all his time over the years! Your website has been invaluable and I am sure that all the skiers thank you very much.
It has been a good year and hopefully we will have many more as x-country skiing has expanded at an exponential rate.
A huge thank you to Bob, Ken, and all the volunteers. Signage for the parking pass grooming program was prominently posted at the cash registers at Norseman ski shop. Quite a few customers asked about it, and we did our best to explain and promote the concept. Personally, I encouraged folks to contact their MLA and other politicians about the grooming and parks in general.
That is just perfect and so fitting. Put it somewhere you can look at it from anywhere in your favourite room!
Although, like many of us who have followed this blog, I think it’s quite possible your favourite room has distant rock walls and an unlimited ceiling of February Rocky Mountain Blue.
OK, so this might be sacrilegious, but as one of the volunteers for Nordique, I find myself wondering just how useful it was, really, to have volunteers out in the parking lots. It seemed that in PLPP anyway, about 70% of skiers had their passes when they arrived. That is, they had been convinced already that buying the pass was a good idea. Since more money was raised than needed, perhaps the money from this 70%, who bought without volunteer encouragement, was sufficient. Sure, being a volunteer was pleasant enough, but I wonder how much it really contributed. Maybe next year it would be interesting to try advertising only, and see what the result is. Signs could be put at the entrances to the parking lots stating something to the effect of: Trail grooming is done due to voluntary contributions of users. Please buy a pass at:……….
Pretty amazing result from Nordiq AB, Ken Hewitt and all the behind the scenes folks who helped to put it together.
Thanks to all of you!
My wife’s and I were part of the 162 volunteers who worked shifts at PLPP. We enjoyed talking to the skiers. We asked them where they were going, what wax they were using.
One can only hope going forward, that keeping Albertans mentally and physically healthy is a priority recognized by our Politicians. Reinstating the grooming program should be one of their top priorities.
Tom snow (south section) from station flats was still skiable early this morning before the crowds, especially north of the R3/bobcat junction. Unfortunately I wasn’t on skis. But the Bragg creek touring should be back in fine form if snow shows up there sun/mon.
Bob, quoted from above:
I’m a big believer in the motto “When one door closes, another one opens” so we’ll see what’s behind that door when the time comes.
Oh no, please don’t let it be fatbiking! Not that there’s anything wrong with that 🙂
It’s unfortunate we missed you today Bob! We spotted some of the crew you were chatting with going through west elk pass while we lounged at the fork ‘n meadow log. Good times.
West Bragg Creek
5-8 cm of new snow at WBC, with a morning low of -13C. It’s warming up quickly under a sunny sky.
Many of the sun exposed ski trails were down to bare ground and puddles yesterday. So, Mountain Road, Moose Loop, Moose Connector, Mountain View, Iron Springs, etc are not a good idea.
The main core Crystal Line trails still had a pretty good base of hard, icy snow, with only small bare patches. Set tracks were still present on the shady side of those trails. I’d recommend rock skis. It is forecast to get above 0C by late morning, so the snow will soften and compact by afternoon.
The parking lot has been cleared.
We had a late start at CNC today. Conditions were slushy at the start but by 1:00 pm or so, it started snowing heavily! The storm lasted for about half an hour and left about 2 cm of much needed snow. The snow was very grabby.
Huge appreciation to all the tracksetters and groomers. Great job. In addition, we would like thank the many unknown faces who ploughed the roads and parking lots, so that we could get to all that wonderful tracksetting!
A sad day in the Skier Bob universe when grooming is over for the season at Bragg Creek and Ribbon Creek. Here’s hoping for a few more weeks at Lake Louise, PLPP and Mt. Shark, we’re not ready for winter to be over yet! Many thanks to all the groomers, it’s been a great year!
Thanks to everyone at BCT! While it wasn’t a season for the record books like 19-20, we still enjoyed plenty of fine skiing at Bragg. And like Mike W- I’m not giving up yet. My closing day there last year was April 6, with good skiing in dry new snow over firm old grooming. In terms of preserving the base, this week’s forecast isn’t looking too promising, though.
Thanks to the WBC grooming team for all the work this winter! My last ski there last winter was April 8. I’m figuring there’s going to be at least one more big dump and I’m hoping be back for at least one more ski this spring, with or without grooming!
I would assume that they would need more grooming equipment to take on more trails. They haven’t been able to keep up the trails they currently have after snow falls. When I last skied out there the trails we picked were is very rough shape, despite the groomers working long hours.
I love the idea of resurrection of “Lionel” but I can’t see it possibly going South of the “Back Door” due to Avalanche risks. Parking lot at the winter gate would be a nice addition and definitely need to bring back the trail connecting Pocaterra to “Lionel” which would allow for a loop.
Does anyone know why Lionel was decommissioned in the first place? What about the other decommissioned trails such as Sounding Lake, Rockwall, Canyon and Lakeside? I’m only 30 and never skied on any of those before decommissioning but my parents did and they have an old map from 1983.
I agree that the Hwy 40 groomed trail with an enlarged parking area on the existing pavement would make an excellent addition to the PLPP ski trail system. Another idea worth looking into would be to reintroduce the old alignment of the Pocaterra Trail from Pocaterra Hut to the Lynx junction. The trails were already there so a rebuild of the old bridges would allow for yet another beginner route (that we used to have) rather than the at best intermediate route when the trails were raised out of the valley. Yes the area flooded but how often? It would be interesting to find out an estimated cost for a project such as this.
The bottom line is that the monies left over from grooming should ONLY go back into the various areas where Kenney and Nixon made us pay for parking.
I like the idea of resurrecting Lionel. Earlier this year I skied from Boulton up Packers, out the Back Door, and on towards Highwood Pass. The section south of Back Door is very scenic and would make for an excellent xc trail as well. Being less protected by trees, the road does get more wind and drifting snow, though.
Great idea Alf!
Carl- looking at the satellite image, there appears to be nothing of concern regarding avalanche hazard up to at least the “back door”.
Cindy- I think the wildlife aspect of the closure applies more to the Highwood valley south of the pass, where open slopes and much less of a snowpack provide important overwintering terrain.
I think before a decision is made there should be an assessment on how it may impact the wildlife which is the primary reason for the road closure I believe.
I love this idea, but when I posted an enthusiastic note about doing this on Dec 19 2020 someone replied that they thought that Lionel had been decommissioned because it crosses an avalanche path.
That rang a bell for me, but I can’t think where that might be between the gate and the back door.
According to my 1980’s map, Lionel did not go all the way to the gate, but branched off from the old Pocaterra near the Rolly Road and Come Along junctions. It was marked as .8 km intermediate and 7.2 km easy.
An excellent idea. A loop connection would be good, allowing return from pocaterra to Hwy 40 parking. Not sure how feasible that would be given height gain/terrain. Same with extended grooming further south, allowing easier access to other terrain, but not essential (kinda like extending beyond MLR grooming to moraine lake). But also quite open and exposed to the elements. Worth a “pilot project” test regardless. Lots of cars were parked there the other day using the road.
The Nordiq Alberta ski pass program has been a huge success. It has provided us with exceptional ski grooming plus the bonus of extra funds that could enhance skiing opportunities for next year.
The value of those surplus funds are not enough to purchase much equipment or to build much new trail.
So, my suggestion is to make better use of what we already have. Decades ago, Highway #40 was groomed for skiing from the winter gate to the Pocaterra “Back Door”… it was known as the Lionel trail.
Given the popularity of the Moraine Lake Road, grooming Highway #40 should be a no-brainer.
Ideally, the winter gate would be moved south by a few hundred metres to provide a paved parking lot. Add some portable toilets and a portable trailhead kiosk, and you’ve got a functional trailhead.
I would suggest that the highway could be groomed for multiple uses. Classic track setting would create an ideal “easy” trail. And it would create an obvious loop with Pocaterra trail.
A wide skate lane would provide an opportunity for skate skiers. A separate groomed lane could be created for fat-bikes, hikers, snowshoers, skijoerers, winter hikers, etc.
That is a small infrastructure cost, no additional grooming equipment… but more grooming staff time… and it would produce a tremendous addition to the PLPP trail network
Life is so much better when you love dogs!! We have a Wheaten and a Golden (both high energy breeds) and nothing makes me happier than to see them flat out exhausted after a long distance ski. I have had dogs all my life and the only drawback to having a dog is, of course, losing them. Wonderful to read a “pawsitive” story on dogs and skiing.
That is such a great story! Thanks for sharing! My husband and I rediscovered skiing this season. And it was my 9 year olds first time on skis. We started out for a couple of times at WBC and the pups on the trail kept us happy, even on the days we struggled. Last weekend my daughter decided she wanted to try to ski 20k, so we headed to the great divide. And the dog sled teams zipped back and forth all day. We didn’t notice any chance of tiring out on my daughter’s end. But those pups sure gave us great joy to see how happy they were! Thanks for sharing! And can’t wait to see more pups on the trail!
FOUND!
Rio was found tonight on sugar momma and has made it home.
A huge thank you to the community for all the support, it was great to see so many out looking.
Pipestone grooming was sketchy as the hard pack prevented the tracks to be formed to depth. The downhill areas were almost solid ice with some rocks coming through. The trails overall were still 70 % avg
30% below. More snow needed 6-12” to rehabilitate the trail. Safety will become an issue bc soon.
Morning
I would like the money to go towards obtaining the Fortress lease. That way the area could be managed more in line with the spirit of the surrounding area rather than what is planned.
B
Small update, she was seen late afternoon heading up Snowy Owl from Boundary towards West Bragg. She is very scared and bolted as soon as she saw the people. Search was called off for the night, will resume tomorrow morning.
How many did not purchase a pass? How many skiers are there for each season pass? My guess would be 1.5 skiers per season pass, and 20% of skiers did not purchase a pass so that would mean there are about 12,087 skiers.
Hey Bob….I might be able to help out a bit. Here is a breakdown from the combined season and day passes:
Calgary 6030
Canmore 649
Okotoks 133
Cochrane 274
Edmonton 183
Banff 27
Red Deer 64
Foothills 33
Other 207
Some error margin here — because these numbers include as separate counts those people who purchased more than one pass.
I now live in Bonnyville and I purchased a Kananaskis season pass, which I have used 2 times so far and intend to use 2 more times by the end of the season.
Either your question is too broadly stated, or else Bonnyville is part of the greater Calgary area and SkierBob empire!
In any case, you should come here and try the excellent trails of the Lakeland region and enjoy some night skiing lit by polar auroras! https://www.facebook.com/groups/366435621213177/permalink/460679701788768/
While I like Skier Dougs’ idea of using “excess” funds to revitalize the Sawmill trails, I think that ship has sailed. The money should be held to cover any deficits in future seasons, or used to expand expand the frequency of grooming. Or- the grooming period at either end of the season, should weather and snow conditions be favourable.
I think the success of the pass program- despite some naysayers who don’t accept that xc skiers should pay a small fee for the special services that we desire- bodes well for the future of groomed xc skiing in Kananaskis.
Kudos to those who made it happen!
First, thank you to Nordiq Alberta and all the volunteers! My main concern is to keep this funding and tracksetting permanently. There is a good possibility that volunteers will tire, and numbers of skiers (pass purchasers) will slowly decrease as Covid 19 becomes an unpleasant memory. Surplus should definitely allow equipment upgrades, I would hope even a used machine would last more than 3 years, so a purchase seems reasonable. Allowing for expected drop in numbers, I would favor a somewhat higher Season Pass, leave Day Pass the ame, as we want to encourage occasional skiers, and regular skiers are probably getting a very good deal already.
The Nordiq Alberta program was certainly a success. Despite this, the government has yet to make any commitment for grooming next winter and beyond. Nordiq Alberta will hold in trust the sizeable surplus they are collecting, “pending further spending decisions regarding the use of the excess funds to support future investments in cross country ski trail grooming. … only to be spent, dispersed or utilized on the prior mutual agreement of both the Society and the Province.” See page 14 of the Alberta Parks – Nordiq Alberta Cooperating Agreement – https://drive.google.com/file/d/152HMMbAR6HUrctwcppQ5Q3O67OB0UbFg/view.
Since the government hasn’t committed to grooming next winter, I wonder why the program wasn’t set up to terminate as soon as its funding goal was reached, rather than accumulating a surplus with no predefined plan on how to use it?
I’m all for any surplus going to whatever is needed to keep the grooming going. However, I wonder if we need to adjust our expectations. Assuming the operations cost of grooming is $200,000, and that the expensive equipment needs to be replaced from time to time (5 years?) at $200,000 a pop (need to save $40,000/yr). Funds raised this year around $280,000 would appear to cover both operations and a fund for equipment replacement. But it doesn’t look like there would be much leftover for any expansion of the program. I don’t know how reliable the funding will be and I think we should keep our minds open to the possibilities of less trail grooming, less frequent grooming, using less sophisticated equipment, etc. to have a sustainable budget.
I hope that there is going to be some kind survey done after the season is over to get everyone’s view on this. Personally I would support a higher fee if that could be put towards more equipment so that the trails could get groomed on a more timely basis after each snowfall. After a fall last week the PLPP crew were able to groom 18km of trails, while at the same time (I think) the Bragg Creek crew were able to do over 70km. For the skate ski trails especially, it is important to get to them as fast as possible after each fall. Balanced against this is a wish to keep the fee as low as possible so that we don’t price people out of our great sport.
I support the money going forward to ensure the sustainability of the XC ski grooming in Kananaskis next year and beyond. The voluntary pay system this year has allowed those with less financial means to still access the superb trails in this area and this is important that access for all is maintained. Although it would be lovely if the government took over paying for this again, I’m OK with contributing a small amount each year for superb skiing, and am so heartened that the fundraising goal was met!
Use surplus funds for future XC grooming services or equipment needed. Funds must be used towards XC trails. That is specifically why I bought a pass and made a donation. Kananaskis trails are key to early and late season skiing. Thank you for the great work on the trails so far, and to all the volunteers!
I’m sorry to be the only dissenter here and honestly I love you Bob and all of the work that you’ve done for the cross country skiing community, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why we are volunteering to pay for a piece of equipment that the government of Alberta should be buying. They buy equipment (or hire contractors) for other facility maintenance, why should cross country ski trails be any different? I was livid that we handed them their operational funds on a silver platter without so much as a discussion amongst Albertans as to whether this is a public good or a user good and now we are proposing to buy equipment for them as well? Some options for the extra money from me:
1) put it towards programs that encourage newcomers to try cross country skiing – maybe hire some coaches, schedule some dates, rent some equipment
2) put it towards people who want to enrol their kids into cross country ski programs but who might struggle based on their income to do this
3) put it towards training, coaching and equipment for young people to develop their cross country ski skills and athletic development
4) put it towards volunteers who are willing to obtain various coaching levels who would volunteer a set amount of time to encourage cross country skiing within families of all income levels
5) pay for those who would struggle to afford parking fees (but lets hope we don’t have to repeat this again)
6) put it towards public engagement and lobbying the government so that ONE user group DOES NOT have to pay for trail maintenance in Kananaskis
If we absolutely had to have a user pay system, then I would propose that we have a Park entrance fee to Kananaskis (by car not by person) that is set at a lower rate (because there’s a broader base of payers) making it more affordable for each individual. This would still encourage car pooling (charge by car not by person).
Honestly, I hope we don’t assume that the “pay for cross country grooming via parking fees” program is going to happen again, now that there’s time to facilitate discussion amongst Albertans and even within the cross country ski community as to whether this should be a public or user pay system.
I feel like I’m the lone wolf in this perspective. If our current government wasn’t so incompetent in managing the province’s affairs, I might feel a bit differently but on this one I really feel we completely threw ourselves into their trap setting a dangerous precedent and I’m surprised no one else is as upset by this as I am. CPAWS Alberta managed a great “Defend Parks” campaign and groups have also gained traction on the coal issues. I think Nordiq Alberta, while having their heart in the right place fell right into the UCP trap.
Bravo, and hearty thanks to the volunteers and to Nordiq Alberta. What a welcome success story. For the excess, ensure good equipment and consider off-loading some of the volunteer duties to a paid position.
I would not mind seeing some funds used to better signage at the Ruthie / Skogan junction to clearly state that Skogan pass trails (and offshoots) are skiers only. An alternative would be to encourage snowshoers / walkers to buy a season pass (i.e. not limited to xcountry skiers) to raise funds to build a specific trail to go to Hummingbird Plume Lookout …and to avoid ruining Sunburst and High Level trails
With the extra money, the future of grooming in Kananaskis can be even better than it was before the government’s announcement. People are obviously willing to pay a reasonable amount to have groomed trails, and I bet they are willing to pay a little more than the paltry $50 to have more grooming(the snowcat could easily be operating a daily double shift in PLPP), and possibly open up some new trails. In retrospect, the government has done us a huge favour by “ending grooming” in Kananaskis. We’ve removed the threat of the government taking this away from us.
A further benefit to skiers paying for groomed trails is that it will give us some clout when it comes to keeping the hikers off the groomed trails.
Invest towards future gear so that grooming can be continued and even trackset fresh more frequently if not needing to share equipment between different regions
I tried skiing Cascade valley yesterday and found it icy in the morning and soft an hour or so later. I think my wax was too hard ( it was a really tough day of sliding all day) , so have ordered some purple and red wax. Is my ski season done for the year? Are there any other waxes that I need for these conditions? I’d love to keep skiing as long as possible!
Way to persevere Mike. That’s 20km more than I’ve done continuously so can attest that the last lap must’ve been a grind. There is a decade old 100km ski tradition that happens every New Years(ish) in PLPP -double round the works including blueberry that you’d be well fitted for! Hope to cross paths one day 😉
Mike W must be training for the longest race, 220 km above the Arctic Circle, in Sweden, https://www.nordenskioldsloppet.se/en/
last year the best times were just below 12hrs
It is nice to know I still inspire people. I just wish it was with Making Alberta A (Real) Democracy rather than night skiing!
My secret is out on how to make mileage on skis! Ski at night fast with the headlamp so the Panthers and Griz don’t get you and get that rush effect of the trees going by real fast in the periphery vision.
Skiing at night allows you to go full throttle on the hills cause you know no one else is on the trail- unless they are skiing without a headlamp turned on. It does happen once in a Blue Moon. Be careful skiing on the Blue Moons.
It is always strange coming back to an empty parking lot. I never get over that feeling- where did everyone go?
I probably did, to be honest the $50 felt more like a donation, so it is quite difficult to answer the specific question. I’m very appreciative of all the efforts that Ken and all the volunteers put in to make this work.
I hope that we might be able to build on the success of the program next year and perhaps increase the amount of grooming. The PLPP crew seem to be challenged to keep up with new snowfalls (I have no doubt that they are doing their best with the staff and equipment available) and wonder if more money (higher fee or more sales) might be able to help. Perhaps a survey will be done at the end of the season to get everyone’s view.
The fact that we have to pay for K-Country grooming while Cypress Hills PP is done for free does slightly irk me.
If there had been no grooming, better to get some LT gear and break your own trail (not that you would have always had to), vs. going snowshoeing. At least the down would still be fun, fast and efficient.
For me, it’s been “waxless ski” weather all winter! I purchased a pair of Rossignol RSkin skis on clearance from Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise in April last year. They’re a relatively high-end pair, just below the X-Ium race line of skis, similar to the Rossignol Delta Course waxable skis I already had. I’ve been using the RSkins exclusively if the forecast high is above -3C or so, especially if a sunny day is forecast. But I’ve also used them in temperatures as low as -20C. I’ve skied a couple of times with one RSkin and one waxable for a head-to-head comparison in -20C and -8C, and was unable to detect any difference in either grip or glide. If anything, the RSkins were marginally better. The big difference is that with the RSkins, I don’t have to spend time scraping off old grip wax and carefully applying and corking in 4 or so thin layers of new wax in a pyramid pattern to get optimal performance. And I never have to reapply grip wax during the day, or get caught out by a wrong prediction on what wax to use. Nor do I have to worry about snow fleas and tree needles and other debris getting embedded in the grip wax. This winter seems to be particularly bad for wind and tree debris.
The RSkins are not maintenance-free however. They need to be occasionally cleaned and waterproofed. And of course both the RSkins and waxables have to be glide wax. The skin strips slowly wear out, and need to be replaced eventually at a cost of about $50, which I figure is about the same as the amount I would have spent on Swix VR grip waxes during that time period. So far, after 400km on the RSkins, there’s no noticeable skin wear.
Over 5,3 million people is a lot of skiers for Skier Bob to count!
I blame much of the increase numbers of skiers skiing the eastern slopes on Skier Bob and his great website that people from around the world look at. Without this website, there is less talk about XC skiing in Alberta. The more talk the more people that get interested. There is no doubt COVID helped increase numbers this year, but those new skiers got a lot of information from Skier Bob as to where to ski and crash head first into their ski tips. New skiers with ski tips imbedded in fore heads have Skier Bob to thank if they viewed his website.
I felt like I got my moneys worth. I am a COVID cross country skier. I have spent the last many years spending weekends at the ski hill and chose nordic skiing this year to avoid the crowds at the hill. I am undecided whether or not I will purchase a pass next year. I wonder how many more there are like me and if passes will cover the cost of grooming next winter.
I am extremely appreciative of the grooming. I was extremely disappointed in the government’s decision to cut funding to ski grooming. When I moved to Alberta in the 90’s it was something I was really impressed about Alberta, and as a student at the time, I appreciated the free skiing. While $50 for a year of skiing is no big deal to me now, I regret that it needs to be paid. I felt it was something that made Alberta special.
My final consideration when I reflect on the program to groom is how many volunteer hours is needed to collect funds, administer the website and patrol parking lots. I would argue that we were better off before. Having said all of this, I would take this over no grooming at all.
Kudos to all the volunteers that made this possible this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my winter!
I would pay more for groomed trails – love the variety. Done a ton of skiing at PLPP this season – some at Kananaskis and WBC too as well at CNC and local YYC trails, however PLPP is my fav hands down. $50 per car is a BARGAIN!!!!
Haven’t got my money’s worth, but I don’t care. BC residents pay pretty much everywhere to ski AND have a PST. So those that complain (Martin & Jip), you need to realize what you have. Kinda like the GST, before it came, there was a hidden tax on a lot of things, especially imports. Out of sight out of mind….
$50 is good value. I have used my Pass over 30 times. Hoping to hit 40. In the fall, I thought I’d have to take up snowshoeing. Instead I’ve skied more than ever. Thank you to all who saved the season.
A resounding YES!!! PLPP is one of our favourite places to ski and the grooming and track-setting were stellar, as always. We even got in a few more skis than usual on Bill Milne. A big thanks to the groomers, and to Ken Hewitt for all his time and effort. Even volunteering was fun!
Definitely worth the $50/season/car. We are so far at 12 visits (mostly PLPP) this season – not bad for weekend warriors. We ski elsewhere (CNC, WBC, LL) but Kananaskis is a bit special – scenery is beautiful and it always feels so quiet once on the trails.
Thanks to the awesome groomers and parking volunteers for making this possible.
Yes absolutely worth it. Thanks to the hard work of Nordiq Alberta and the many volunteers we were able to keep these pristine, beautiful areas groomed and trackset for fantastic skiing. Worth every penny.
Hi:
Although I didn’t get out to PLPP as much as I would have liked to (does one ever?), I consider it money well spent, having skied there for the last ~25 years.
With kind regards,
Herb
P.S. I had a fantastic trip yesterday, Fairview/Lac Annette/Moraine Lake Road/Tramline. I took the trail back to the road from the first bridge along the creek. Who woulda knew!
I’ll be the voice of dissent, no I haven’t purchased a pass and have not skied PLPP, Kananaskis or Mt Shark this season, I do commend Nordic for their efforts but I’m in total disagreement with the arrangement which is grossly unfair and ridiculous turning citizens into tax collectors. Thank goodness for WBC who will continue to receive my support
The pass is very inexpensive and I am very grateful that Nordiq Alberta stepped up to make the grooming happen, especially this year of fewer options for travel and indoor recreation! I would pay even more for more consistent and frequent grooming but yes the pass was definitely worth it.
I’ll say. The pass is peanuts for skiing on some of the best trails in North America. I have a hard time imagining more interesting and scenic trails than those at PLPP and Ribbon Creek.
With probably 6 weeks still left in the Kananaskis grooming season- we are already at under $6 per skier day- and that’s with buying a pass for each of our 2 vehicles. That’s quite the bargain!
Definitely worth my money. In December and January when conditions in WBC were marginal at best, I did most of my skiing in Kananaskis Village / Skogan pass (10+ times) and PLPP (15+ times) and without grooming I would have been miserable and « forced » to go farther. This month I skied mostly in WBC and next week will return to Kananaskis / PLPP.
Your “farewell tour” — it’s still hard to imagine. The Empire without the Emperor front and centre. Glad to see you’re out there meeting lots of friends and fans. I’ve barely gotten out in the last two or three years, but doing a little better this year, so hoping to meet you. Having been a follower since the earliest days of SkiHere, I’m definitely going to miss your blog. But cant thank you enough for how much you’ve done for xc skiers and xc skiing.
I’ll be able to tell people I met the Emperor when he had no clothes! Long ago and not far away … in the showers after the Lake Louise to Banff loppet 🙂
Very best wishes, Bob. Thank you! See you out there.
My biggest disappointment about not having a real Lake Louise Banff Loppet is not getting to cheer on Janice (and everybody else) at the Baker Creek crossing. Next year I will be there with my shovel.
Thank you Bob for creating this huge family of like minded skiers and outdoors enthusiasts. Your big tent included many like me who are out of province, yet you made me feel most welcome.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, which I am glad to hear will still include skiing.
Thank you Bob for your blog! Your blog and information has helped me and my friends immensely when it comes to deciding where to go skiing. Many places we’ve never even thought or heard of. Your information has been well informative and, on some occasions, humourous :-). Best of luck to you. You will be missed.
We use the trip and grooming reports every time we head out for a ski. When we first started seven years ago, this site was recommended by many people, and we have since passed it on to many new skiers.
Thank you so much for keeping the blog going, it has been fantastic. Happy retirement!
Wendy and Rob
In addition to other comments, attributes of a “ski community” information sharing web site (if that’s the goal, hopefully):
– A public, open and inclusive platform, no membership login or exclusivity
– Not a for profit business or overly explicit advertising or product based platform
If you use the search bar on this site and look for ‘track width’ you will find:
Track width
A frequent question: What is the maximum width of ski that can be used in the tracks made by tracksetting equipment:
This is a reply to the question by Tracksetter Jeff(Ribbon Creek):
“The bottom of most track pans is 70 mm The sidewalls flare out to 140 mm at the top of the track. If you were skiing on 65mm skis there will be times when you will get a bit of drag from the sidewalls Also understand that unless you get the first tracks in a fresh trackset the sidewalls are subject to scraping from all the other skiers who went before you.
If you are looking for performance in the track I’d go with the 59. If you are out for a nice easy ski and want good support for the hills the 65 should be fine.”
Having a daily featured post is one of the things that brings me to your site every single day. Then, I go to trip reports. Like many others, I also use SkierBob as the primary link to weather stations and forecasts, webcams and grooming reports. I could save them all as “favourites” in my browser, but it is way easier to just go directly to this site.
Hi!
Hope this is appropriate… I would like to thank you, Bob, from the bottom of my skis for all you’ve done to keep us inspired and informed over the years.
You probably don’t remember me but a few years back, I took your photo celebrating your 1000th kilometer (that season). It was at the top of the big hill at the beginning of Elk Pass with the splendid view of Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes down below.
Wishing you many, many more kilometers, Bob!
Hélène
My priorities for a new blog:
Trip reports are #1 90% of my time is spent on Skier Bob is on trip reports. Details like snow conditions (track conditions, skate -ability, dirt on the tracks , wax used, temperature. Parking etc.
Ability to add pics VS a link to a photo storage page.
After a while, I get to recognize the writer and trust their reports for accurate beta.
Grooming updates are great as well.
Keeping it current is probably the most important.
Having a FAQ page for those questions that seem to get asked everyday on any Facebook page.
Re: Helping people out at Bragg Creek: I am not by any means a regular there so you can stop reading right now, but from all the posts I see about Bragg Creek and all those who are passionate about the place, would it be worth while to initiate a “SNOW HOST” kind of concept as works very well at Canmore Nordic Centre? The program basically runs only on weekends, or perhaps also during Race Events, but those involved and trained “can” snow host, wearing their identifying vest, any day of the week.
Part of the deterrent of my wanting to explore the trails at Bragg Creek more, is the entire area has such an overwhelming abundance of trails and perhaps the hikers/snow-shoers could be more efficiently managed by designating more trails JUST for them. Recently while in PLPP, I was impressed how many trails are now totally designated to walkers/snow-shoers/fat bikers. There is a big map available at the Discovery Centre “PLPP Winter Trails”, showing Elkwood Loop, Marsh Loop, Lower Lake, Canyon, Penstock, Tall Water, Frozen Toad and Torpor Loop (and likely some shorter distance ones). Yes, there have always been issues with people heading to Elk Lakes Cabin but for the most part, PLPP has done a great job of providing this many snowshoe trails. All of these are marked on this map, and alot of excellent general information also included on the back.
Thought Mike W’s and Herbert’s comments were very well said.
Bob, with respect to shaming the walkers, I’d start with shaming the skate skier who sliced up the trackset. He/she did way more damage than the walkers (one couple was still figuring out where to go, and the other couple had just started). And the skier couldn’t claim ignorance as to what the purpose of the trackset was.
To be more precise for the Red Earth Creek fireroad past km 7, with respect to the highest avalanche hazard potential and based on ancestral slide path off Copper Mountain, the section of the ski trail from km 8.2 and 8.7 is the most obvious. When the ski trail gets very close to the creek, past the Lost Horse Creek campground, you are entering that 500 meters section.
Lucky, especially when getting pushed into lake water!!!! Another report from guides yesterday accessing saddleback and surprise pass at lake Louise. Conditions rapidly changed while they were travelling so they pulled the pin and headed back, only to see their up track had been hit by avalanches. It’s quite possible that some of the avalanche paths near cross country trails will run also (or hiking trails or other areas without fences or signage), increasing risk to potentially unaware cross country skiers, snowshoers and hikers. It’s that kind of time right now, and maybe another week or more of heightened risk. Avalanche terrain exposure maps are available to the public. It’s the users responsibility to inform themselves, always.
To be clear, the avalanche path in question is not off the headwall at the end of the lake, but rather about half way along the lake at the base of a huge avalanche path, as seen in pictures number 5 & 6 in this photo link from March 2019: https://1drv.ms/a/s!AgTx5EOCG7eSihUV_yzr6hFjrwpR
This avalanche regularly breaks the lake ice on impact and should never be approached. Any pictures taken should be with a long zoom lens like mine!
I posted the original incident report to Avalanche Canada. Thanks for reposting here and increasing the visibility of this incident.
I believe that Parks Canada needs better signage on this trail to indicate where the avalanche terrane begins and what that means. Currently there is a small sign, posted on a tree, that says something along the lines of “ski touring beyond this point”. This language is not clear to non-skiers (heck it’s not that clear to skiers) which are the majority of trail users these days. There are clear warnings at the trailhead but they are lost in the clutter of maps etc.
Thanks the update Bob, regarding the Boom lake avalanche incident, I have seen over the last months a few posts on Hike Alberta of folks wanted the « perfect Instagram shot » of themselves near the frozen waterfall below the avalanche path. Even from their photos you could see right away they were putting themselves in danger and many comments were like « stunning photo » lets go there!
Shaganappi: Was there yesterday, about 15h00. Classic, loop starting w/ “expert” of to right from parking lot. Mixed conditions, first hill was fine w/ decent snow as was field on other side, then hit slush on back side of that field, crossing the creek the snow was soft but still a lot of it, coming up toward the condos conditions deteriorated quickly, snow turned to slush w/ icy patches, that was pretty much the “top” part of the loop. Lot of bare patches, but easily avoidable. Tracks were largely non existent.
On the flip side, the place was quatro gatos empty as they say way down south.
Snow preservation is the right call.
I finally made it to the SkierBob front page photo! Small correction on the photo credit: The photo was provided by me, but not taken by me. I don’t know who took the photo.
Another thing I’ve been trying to sort out this week is my wax. How should the ideal wax feel? Especially for trails with lots of ups and downs. I was doing pretty well sorting out wax for the flats. And now that I’m adding in elevation, sometimes it feels too sticky or not sticky enough for the uphilks. Thanks again!!!
Hi! Thanks again for this wonderful portion of the site! I’ve been out enjoying great skiing this week. But I’ve also developed quite this blisters on my heels, and On the bottom of my second toe. Any suggestions?
Does anyone know the current condition of Sandy McNabb? I looked at the interactive map and it says some trails were track set about 5 days ago. I went out there 4 weeks back and there was nothing… no tracks no trails, everything was pulverized by people walking on them. I used to ski there as a kid and would love to take my kids out there but don’t want to get out there and be disappointed again 🙁
Hello,how are you. My wife and daughter and I live in the Okotoks area and are beginners to novice skiers. We are looking for a nice user friendly course relatively close to Calgary. As well we will need to find equipment to rent. We are planning just a day trip,so we’d need to rent for just the day. Can you direct me to the best way to go about this? Thank you
We were at Confed late afternoon Thursday (11th) and saw the Valentine’s sentiment on the hill. Glad it lasted and hope whoever it was intended for saw it!
Thanks so much to the Ribbon Creek groomers for grooming a detour around the ice floe so quickly! We didn’t ski it today but saw it as we drove past and several folks were out on it. BTW the temp. at Evan Thomas/Wedge Connector/Bill Milne was around -10C early afternoon and more people out than yesterday.
Historically, Telephone loop (along with many of the trails in WB) was designed specifically as a ski trail by Don Gardener in the late 1970’s. It was not groomed consistently until a few years ago when the GBCTA took over responsibility for it from Parks.
The east half of it has been deemed multi use which has led to heavy amounts of foot and bike traffic.
Maintaining this as a groomed ski trail is proving to be impractical, and we see it as being possibly delegated to a primitive ski trail. Our efforts to provide a quality experience for tracked skiing are better suited to areas that are restricted to skiing only.
In an effort to be all things to all users, the original intent of this trail has been lost.
The thought occurs: If it is a multi-use trail then why set ski tracks? Or think for even one second that non-skiers should stay off our precious ski tracks? I think the non-skiers should be free to enjoy a trail without having to tiptoe around ski tracks. Guess I won’t make any new ski friends with this remark.
A couple possibilities would include:
1. Nordic Alberta’s website (would require modifications to have SkierBob functionality)
2. Creating a subreddit on Reddit for Alberta xc skiing
3. Discord
Well done Skier Bob. Thank you for all of the wonderful ski updates and the service you provided for us all. You’ve served the community well and I wish you all the best!
-Karena
Dear Skier Bob,
Although our paths probably have crossed when the Regina ski club made it’s annual 4 day trip to Canmore area I don’t think we’ve actually met. We would often pick your brain/blog for the best skiing options for us flatlanders and your prompt replies always sent us in the right direction. I believe one year you told us not to do Goat Creek unless we we’re planning on doing it with a luge. It’s another “end of an era” but it’s totally understandable. On behalf of the Regina Ski Club thank you so much for countless hours you’ve spent to make this a better world. ?
I know I’m late to the game, but better late than never! Skier Bob, you’re a regular part of my winter routine. Every week I check out your posts to find out where to ski and have explored so much more of the Rockies because of you. Thank you so much for all you’ve done to advance XC skiing for all Albertans!
Lake Windermere WHITEWAY (Advertised as The World’s Longest Skating Rink): Friday Feb 12th Started at Kinsmen Beach in temps around -20 and warmed to -15 (blasting bright sun: where were the Eskimo Slit Goggles?) After skiing all loops and to far end of lake, we reached our desired goal of 31 kms. Supper at FUZE was wonderful, especially to sit down warm and cosy inside. Almost needed “extracting” out of the car at 9pm, but Mission Accomplished for our Virtual Birkie on two opposing teams.
I have a friend in Norway, in Sandvika near Oslo, who ski often, here is their map of ski trails and info on grooming/tracking near Oslo. https://www.skiforeningen.no/utimarka/turplanlegger?fbclid=IwAR3daIsrAYI5MFju_IJUiqTOxjCp0Wu0eRemeHN_cZUCezFnOi6XXwNqfyk
On their web site of the ski association https://www.skiforeningen.no/magasinetmarka/aret-som-gikk/
I am reading:
“A total of 16,265 kilometers of ski trails were prepared in 2020. Compared to 43,585 kilometers the year before(2019), it is understood that it was a demanding winter. In some terrain trails, there was not enough snow to prepare at all.”
Info might be of interest to our groomers and others,
anyway, thanks for your contribution over the last 13 years,
Andrew
Hello! My family is new to Calgary and my 9 year old daughter is new to skiing. We’ve been loving WBC and working up through the trails. Moose loop was beautiful on Sunday, if a little slow. Technically the trail was perfect for my daughter, and she is excited to go again, but the length was at her upper limit. Any suggestions for the next set of trails for us that would have nice mountain or trees or any nature scenery views? We are willing to drive a couple of hours. Thank you! Happy skiing! And happy Chinese New Year!
I have loved your blog and will miss it immensely! Thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put into it over the past years. I met you once on Goat Creek and it was a real highlight!
Could a trail in the Empire be renamed the SkierBob Classic or the Bob Truman Trail!?
Bob,
Thanks SO SO much for bringing together the Nordic community through your website.
I still hope to meet you on the trail someday.
Best wishes to you,
Anne
Hi Bob,
I concur with your comments regarding the utmost importance of trip reports, on a personal note, the groomers reports are equally important as they provide first hand information and usually before the « official » website.
Regarding the grooming as Skitrails.info seems to only work for Kananaskis Village greater area trails, I have noticed that WBC uses Nordic Pulse to provide a similar colour coded map. What do you think to « push » this option to other ski areas?
I’m still having a hard time accepting the new reality that this blog will not be available next season.
If someone is going to design a new blog, a few suggestions come to mind:
1) Anyone wanting to post should be required to create an account including a unique UserName linked to their email. This would eliminate the confusion when two people use the same name, knowingly or unknowingly!
2) The ‘Search’ function should be allowed to work on contributed Trip Reports. At the moment the ‘Search’ function only works on the Home Page. The Administrator(s) can’t be expected to ski everywhere! Year’s ago our reports did go directly to the Home Page, but that became unmanageable. Users often want to check out the recent reports for a particular trail (or by a particular reporter), so this would facilitate their search.
I’m so sad!! Checking in on your website has been a part of almost every winter day for many years – that being said I realize this is a tremendous amount of work and those are hours you could be out on the trails. Thank you so very very much Bob! Your dedication to sharing good information has been so valuable to a huge community. Thanks for so many years of great service!!
Thank you Bob for creating this wonderful resource for the x-country skiing community! Your site has been the go to place for current trail conditions and everything else x-country skiing for myself and many others for the last 13 years. I’m sure I’ll bump into you on the trails in the future. Until then wishing you all the best!
Thanks, Jeff. I always enjoyed skiing your tracksetting. Skogan Pass, my favorite, has the most elevation of any trails I ski. And Bill Milne – well, its the flattest. So you covered both ends of the spectrum. Enjoy your retirement , and thank you..
Thank you Bob! The positive, welcoming style of your updates has done much more than just inform us about conditions and entertain us with stories. It has created a community of cross country skiers. It has embraced and celebrated all the different ways that we enjoy skiing. Many of us check SkierBob every day, often several times. There was always something new on the site- a new post, fresh trip reports, grooming reports and it was the hub that linked us to more details about weather, grooming reports, etc. But, to accomplish that, you had to be working on the website every single day. What a huge commitment!
I’m hopeful that your remarkable example will inspire some others to pick up the torch to ensure that something similar will continue on. I expect it may require a team effort.
Thanks for all that you have done to bring us together! See you on the trails!
Thanks so much Bob for all you have done. I read your blog and the trip reports nearly every day during the x-c ski season. What you created has had value beyond belief. Congratulations
We really can’t add many more accolades Bob. You have a huge loyal fan club, and they have stated it quite eloquently and we echo their sentiments.
There is nothing but respect and admiration for all your hard work. You give up a lot of your own ski time to help others out, always with a big smile on your face. (And a happy greeting for the canine)
Thankyou !!
On behalf of myself, and my humans Chris & Peter, thanks so much for all you’ve done for the XC community, especially where pupsters on trails are concerned – it’s been great to have access for doggies clarified. I know my humans check your page regularly before deciding where we will ski – this input will be sorely missed! Hope to see you on the trails soon!
the “end “
So many great comments from all your followers , friends and admirers!
You deserve them all and more- You covered the basics 10 times over, Always relevant ,interesting ,helpful and sometimes funny!
I don’t know how you had time to ski!
And all work on getting PeterLPP Back And successful
It won’t be the same.
Sad to hear, but you must need a rest
!
hope we will Cross paths in the future
Jeff – Thanks for the many years of great tracksetting! When the weather is very cold, Skogan Pass is my favourite trail. The extreme cold greatly improves grip on the ascent and reduces the need to snowplow on the descent. Very little of the trail is flat or low angle descent where you’d notice the impaired glide. Having enough layers to survive the wind chill on the descent is challenging though!
Enjoy your retirement in Quebec. I’m sure Alex has been well-trained to carry on the great work the two of you (and others?) have been doing.
Merci Jeff pour ton travail assidu à tracer les pistes pendant toutes ces années. Grâce à toi et ton expertise, on a pu pratiquer un sport de glisse dans des conditions excellentes. Bon retour au Québec et fais-nous savoir qu’elles seront les pistes que tu y traceras!
Hello Jeff, I had the pleasure to meet you a few years ago and I remember you telling me all about pre-Nakiska trails that you had groomed. Just for my sake, on YouTube there is 2015 video of the Skogan pass grooming, was it you?
Skogan pass and shootouts are my favourite place for a good workout and many thanks for the prefect grooming.
Bonne retraite au Quebec et un grand merci pour toutes ces années!
Cordialement.
Wow, everyone is retiring this winter. What a shame, we’ll miss Jeff’s tracks. Hopefully someone will take over and this isn’t an excuse for the government to end grooming at Ribbon Creek?
It’s good to hear that your knowledge and skills will continue to benefit skiers. And bikers too, I’m guessing. Sounds like Alberta’s loss is Quebec’s gain! Thanks for going above and beyond, Jeff.
Owning a place in Lac Des Arcs (purchased in ’93) made this whole area at Ribbon Creek “my” Nordic Centre. Those many deep snowfalls made Ribbon Creek such a joy to ski. It was and still is a Winter Wonderland. Just last Friday we skied up Coal Mine in perfect conditions; I guess in hindsight, it was in your honour although Alex, your well trained successor, might have groomed it. After Kovach’s loop we skied down from the Hotel (is that trail really called Bill Milne Paved Trail as my Gaia would suggest?) back down to the car, a wonderful pot pourri. It would be awesome if you would list the Top Ten Beefs from an EXPERT Groomer’s perspective before you leave us. Thank you Jeff for your years of service to our deeply loved Kananaskis Country.
Thank you, Jeff, for your years of dedication! Your retirement is well-deserved! You will surely be missed. All the best to you in your future adventures!
Thanks for all your hard work on the trails, Jeff. I skied on your tracksetting in the 1980’s . How lucky we all were — and are — to have teams like yours. Best wishes for your move to Quebec!
What a week of announcements for the x-country community. Another loss it feels but a very deserved retirement for Jeff. Hopefully he is able to pass on his skills before he leaves!
Thank you Jeff for hours of blissful trails we enjoyed because of you. We have been skiing here since the mid 90’s so we owe a lot of memorable skiing days to you!
What a fantastic story of the early days of Jeff the Groomer. His early grooming career occurred at a time when the Alberta economy was hurting from very high interest rates, the American oil pull out in protest of the National Energy Program and oil as low as $12 per barrel, about 4 times lower than todays rate of $58.27/ WTI per barrel. This was an age that people in Calgary were selling homes for $1 because the economy was so brutal. Yet the Alberta Government had some intelligence to expand cross country skiing at the time to benefit the health of Albertans and to expand our tourism industry which would help the government books in the longer run. The Progressive Conservative government of the day had so much more tourism vision back in the 1980’s as compared to recent years with the elimination of new open pit coal mines in the mountains, expansion of parks and xc ski trails.
It would be great to expand the story on Jeff and get more details. I wonder how much input he had on expanding the xc ski trails to make way for the first Piston Bully. It must have been a glorious day to step into such modern technology. He could have been stuck in a Tucker Cat instead!
To hear that the first Piston Bulley used in the Eastern Slopes of Alberta, which was bought way back in the last century, is still in use today in the glorious Eastern Alberta Cypress Hills is fabulous That is another clear example of why it is better for the government to buy good equipment rather than leasing it. The savings are superior this way and it reduces the cost for xc tracksetting and grooming which is something we all want to see.
Too bad Jeff is heading to Quebec to retire. Lucky Quebec that will benefit from Alberta’s brain drain. Jeff’s experience would be valuable for the next new Alberta Government after the 2023 election in order to upgrade the Alberta XC ski tourism industry here for the next 7 generations.
Thank you Jeff – wish you all the best in the move!! The trails are always such a dream to glide on. Ribbon creek is where we discovered our love for XC skiing !
All the best to Jeff, wishing him a long and happy retirement. Many thanks for a great job on the trails, I am fortunate enough to have been able to enjoy them these last few years.
Like everyone else who has commented, thank you for your tireless efforts promoting and advocating for cross-country skiing in southern Alberta and eastern BC! May you enjoy whatever you have planned next.
A coupe of years ago we relocated to B.C.’s Lower Mainland for work. I knew one thing I would truly miss was cross-country skiing in K-Country and WBC. I was right: I’ve been on my skis three times since moving here (and the skiing isn’t the same). I ski vicariously through this blog. =)
Skiing on your tracks in Kananaskis has been pure pleasure! I’m so glad my toddlers got to enjoy your trails on your last season with us too! Your retirement plans sound perfect. Best wishes to you, your wife, and those lucky Quebecois skiers! 🙂
Thank you Skierbob! For all your work putting together timely info and also your generosity in sharing it. Your blog is positive and upbeat, filled with great photos, current conditions, etc. Everyone who submits trip reports has been so willing to give info and tips to help us all have a better experience… Your website has so much helpful info/tips – webcams, weather, maps, competitions, gear, etc. We may not have known about the grooming kerfuffle with the gov but your website rallied us all and hopefully the user pay passes will have made a difference to keeping the tracksetting going. Enjoy your skiing next winter but know that you will be missed a lot.
Thank you Bob for all you and your blog has done for the X-C ski community over the years. Also thank you for bringing together a group of great, thoughtful, kind and generous individuals through the blog. Everyone needs to retire at sometime and you have decided it is your time, so go for it. See you on the trails!
Bob you truly paved the way and kept us up to speed on where to go for incredible skiing. Thank you for taking the time to do this! I fondly remember the Lake Louise to Banff relay we did together with the others. Will hopefully see you on the trails!
Thank you for providing such an amazing platform for the xc ski community!! When we moved back to Canada last year our friends told us that we had to follow SkierBob to get the best info about xc skiing…it completely exceeded our expectations. We follow all of your posts & website to help us plan all of our xc ski days. You are going to be sorrily missed and have left a legacy that will live on forever!! Good luck to you and Happy Trails!!!
RIP (retire in peace) SkierBob! It’s been a fantastic journey, for you and many many others. What you have created will endure in more ways than just the technical cogs of a web site. It really is a wonderful inclusive community. Thank you so much for that. Retire with pride. We all look forward to a post covid retirement party when it’s ok to hug again. Maybe one last raffle/contest is in order though: It’s time to pass on the SkiHere toque (literally and figuratively) and don a trip reporter hat. Happy care free skiing Bob and see you on the trail, or better yet, at a relaxing comfortable couch. (-:
Bob, thanks for all that you have done for the Calgary and area cross country ski community. You will be missed! Best of luck for your future endeavours.
Yes, me too. Will miss you Bob. I check your site every day before I go to sleep and as soon as I wake up. Plus some days even more often. I probably would not have to do it, since I ski with Helen often and I think she is on your web every hour. But I do not blame you, I also am trying to limit my time on the computer and the contrary is happening right now. Maybe you will still change your mind when the next winter comes. Enjoy this one.
The first question I always ask a fellow cross country skier, “Do you follow Skierbob”. The answer is always “Yes”! This site provides so much information and inspiration. It is the first (and pretty much only) site I check on before we head to the trails. Your blog posts,Bob; trip reports; answers to questions, trails conditions; your site is such a huge part of our winter. You will be greatly missed!! Thank you for all you have done for this ski community.
I secretly hoped that somehow, miraculously, this site will go on forever; can’t imagine heading off to the mountains without looking for info here first. Thank you, Mr. Truman, for your great service to the community.
Well, they say that “all good things must come to an end” 🙁
It’s just that “WE” – the XC Skiers of the EMPIRE aren’t ready to say farewell to what has felt like home base for so many of us for so long. “SkierBob.ca” has become every skier’s BFF 😉
BOB: Thanks for your dedication & the many hours you devoted to your exceptional website – a true labour of love! So grateful to you for sharing it with us for these many years!
Best wishes to you as you “retire” to the freedom of the many happy trails ahead!
Cheers to you!
Bob, you deserve our thanks! I recall when we first started to xc ski, how frustrating it was to glean a little information from the websites, and then just how relieved we were to find your humble “home page”. Kudos for what you’ve accomplished here! Grateful that your webpage doesn’t demand to turn us into a product.
Thank you Bob for all the work you did over the years.
For years you have been our #1 resource to decide where we would ski.
I also love how positive you were and always stayed away from criticizing anyone or anything.
Whoever is thinking to take over will have BIG shoes to fill.
Thank you, thank you and looking forward to meeting on the trails for many more years.
Sophie & Andrew
Bob… you’ve built a wonderful following thanks to your ongoing passion, engagement, and willingness to tackle/facilitate many challenging issues. You’ve given voice to the average person (comments, reports, etc), enabled and solicited engagement and participation from many, and even though this is a very simplistic blog/forum it is true to it’s cause and maximizes utility. You’ve managed to help keep much of the cr@p off this site (ie: poor comments, trolls, bad advertising, “selling out”, etc…).
Between you, and the many contributors, you’ve helped so so many of us find anticipation, joy, and share our crazy/gleeful moments on ye ‘ole misery sticks.
Hopefully you will entertain many out on the trails as we encounter you. Hopefully you have some swag you can find a way to offload (hint: fundraiser for ski-related services).
Hopefully you will consider some form of “hand-off” and/or continuation in whatever form this site and you would support?
Thank you for the few times you referenced any of my posts. Thank you for some of the personal notes over the years too. Thank you.
As you ski off to the end of the tracks… be proud man. Be proud.
Thank you.
(dangit… dunno how this became a long drawn-out note)…
Tears are running down my face. What will we do without you Bob??? You leave a lasting legacy and the XC community was very fortunate to have you for as long as we did. Thanks for everything!!! Happy Trails 🙂
All of my friends and I say (when deciding anything relating to xc skiing) “but what does it say on SkierBob?”. You will be missed greatly. THANK YOU so much for everything that you have done, and the way you have done it – such grace and positivity – what a great spokesperson for xc skiing.
Bob, what will we do without you! You’ve become a legend in the xc ski community. Thank you so much for your years of dedication to providing us with so much information about our favourite sport! I certainly hope you never lose your passion for skiing – maybe you can get out even more now! We’ll be looking forward to seeing your trip reports in whatever new blog rises from the ashes! Happy ski trails, Bob!
Thanks a lot Bob for the commitment on your website over the years, in being the common thread of the skiing community in the Calgary and Rocky Mountain areas. Whether it was for track-set, flat-pack, knee-deep trail breaking or powder turns, there was always a good snow all-you-can-climb’nglide buffet on the website. It will be a tough task to replicate the same standards and wealth of info we could find before and after any ski adventures. Hopefully, there will be a unique place for all the regular contributors to share their stories and all of us to gain valuable information.
I enjoyed reading all accounts daily, especially those from Helen, Alf, Chuck, MaSid, MAAD, Mike W. et al. Knowing where all those contributors will post their reports starting this fall, to get accurate info on trail and snow conditions as well as photo galleries, would be great to fuel up on each other outings. Ski safe.
Bob, Empires come and go, but not many, if any, depart at the height of their powers. Skierbob has been an invaluable resource to me over the past many years. Many thanks for your significant contribution to our winter pleasure.
Devasting news – just devasting! We are mourning the loss of this exceptional website.
We actually get “all the news we need” on the Skierbob report!
What will we do every evening and early morning without checking out who went where, and what they found?
We luckily discovered this site about 8 years ago and what a blessing it was. We learned so much and were incredibly inspired by so many of your Trip Reporter’s exploits. What an incredible crew of reporters.
Great job Bob – you are star and we can’t thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication to the sport. Your website is REALLY going to be missed in our household.
Enjoy your new schedule and we look forward to seeing you the Skierbob Special in PLPP.
3 Cheers to you – JR & Karen
You are a LEGEND. Thank you for the years of information, insight and communication. I hope someone can fill the BIG shoes you leave behind so we can continue this awesome community of active peeps sharing knowledge and trail tips.
Wow! You’ve been my go-to website to figure out where to go skiing for the last decade!
I will miss this structure (as opposed to the FB structure), but understand the need to step-back at times.
Thanks for everything you’ve done for the community.
Bob,
I can’t imagine a ski season without you and your BLog Bob. 🙁 . But I completely understand your decision. I was just saying to a friend on the weekend it must be so much work for you to maintain this blog as well as you do. I can’t remember how many years ago I started tuning in but it was many.
Thank you so much for all you’ve done for the x country ski community and for announcing this now instead of end of the season. Other bloggers may take on this challenge but it’ll never be the same or as great as yours.
Thanks Bob for your great contribution over the years.
YOU WILL BE MISSED.!!!!!
I, and some friends were some of the first groups (from Edmonton and Vancouver) greeting you on Pocatera 15 or so years ago, and followed you on this blog ever since.
Your notes, friendly banter and pix lightened up the day:-). Now that the Long Loop (cca 30km) from WWL is too much of a challenge for me , I do my skiing in Edmonton and view this blog to reminisce!! Alas, with warmer winters the XC tracks are rather unreliable here. So I went to the dark side, to down-hill skiing at Snow Valley, Edmonton. They groom every night, so ice is not a problem.
Thanks again, good health and all the best, Emry
Thanks Bob for all the years of providing a great platform for trail information. This has been a big part of our trip planning. While Skierbob blog may ski into the sunset, hope to see you on the trails. Warm hearted thank you.
Thanks for everything that you do for cross country skiing Bob, we are very grateful for the vast amount of information you provided, and for the community you have fostered with your website. It will always be the SkierBob Empire, best wishes!
Thanks for all your hard work over the years, I don’t know how to manage without this site. I hope someone else can take it over, or start a similar one.
Thanks Bob, for all the effort you’ve put into this website over the years. I find that just posting a trip report with photos is a lot of work, let alone what you have to do on a daily basis. Hopefully you’ll have more time now to go skiing! Just post your phone number at the top of your home page so we can all phone you to find out where to ski! <>
Similar to MAAD’s idea, perhaps a XC ski shop or a ski club would be interested in setting up a similar website. That way, the work could be split between several people.
Absolutely new to cross country. Have never tried and really want to try. I am a single mother and have a very athletic and coordinated 9 yr old and was hoping there was a place I could get a quick lesson or an intro lesson for half of a day ( a couple of hours ) in the Canmore area
You are Skierbob, professional, star quality, ski royalty extraordinaire. You started your own blog, Skierbob Banana Republic in 2008 because you found your passion for skiing. It was a great idea as you wanted to provide all the information that you became interested in, in one location.This information took a tremendous amount of time to accumulate as well as providing a one-stop blog to obtain all the answers for others who enjoyed this sport as well, and wanted this same knowledge and could find it all in one place. I am sure it took you a lot of time to contact all of your support people, experts, government contacts, groomers, and of course introduce yourself to each of them to explain your idea and concept of your blog.
By reading your blog today, I can see why many people read it as they all can see the amount of time and effort you put into it. I can also see it has been a time consuming passion of yours. Not only did you get the support from others, you compiled excessive amounts of material from individual sites to provide complete and necessary information to aficionados like yourself who are looking for similar information also for enthusiastic beginners. You answer so many questions daily on your blog and while some of the questions don’t appear to pertain directly to this sport, you still faithfully supply what information you can. I am amazed at how you find some of the information sometimes to help others. So may enthusiasts want to know: the weather today, tomorrow and the amounts of snowfall, the condition of the snow, and even potential storms, when the trails were last groomed, the condition of the trails, any trail hazards, or hidden curves and training or speed hills. Besides all that people want to know wax treatments for the skis in any weather, parking availability or restrictions. On top of all of this you took the lead in compiling more information and contacting everyone to help push the voluntary purchase of parking passes, to support the continued upkeep of the ski trails. So once everyone reads these facts, you further entice them to go skiing right now by showing all those gorgeous pictures taken by your friends and of course your own. As one person stated on your blog, this is a gold mine!
This blog isn’t all hard work for you though there is a lot to do. You must get off the ski couch and ski around yourself, talk to numerous people, say hello to all the beautiful dogs (you talk to them all). You talk to as many people as you can, you are friendly and concerned, asking everyone how they are and if they have any issues. It is all about your ambassadorship for skiing and treating everyone as part of your skiing family, Skierbob Banana Republic X-Country Skiing.
No wonder you are known as a celebrity on the slopes Skierbob! You blog is a one-stop dynamite place where you have provided your own attachments and insight into the contribution from others. This sight is a part of you, the humour, the honesty, it is your heart. It’s a joy for all of us to read and take advantage of your knowledge and facts. Thank you for all of your dedication.
Rats. Thanks a lot for all the work you’ve put into this site over the years. Thanks to you and the people you’ve brought into your world, I’ve discovered new places to ski, learned a lot about the sport, and have found a community I’m happy to be part of. I’m convinced that a big reason there are so many people on the trails this year is due to the access to information you’ve been providing.
Thanks again, and hopefully I’ll finally run into you on the trails one day!
As the novice XC Skier 7 years ago, Bob, your blog was the first source I found which inspirited and informatized my wife and myself searching for joys of freezing winters. Thank you very much for over-years efforts running the blog. Wish you all the best.
Bob you have made a measurable and considerable impact on our xc skiing community. Thank you so much for your dedication and enthusiasm for this wonderful sport. Wishing you a happy “retirement” and now more time for getting out on those trails you love. All the very best!
Thanks for everything you’ve done. I promise to do my part to keep things going in the Facebook group (apparently we have 6000 members!)
Starting a new blog isn’t in my future but I hope somebody is inspired to do so.
You’ll be missed. I’ve visited your site nearly daily over the past several years.
It’s clear this website has been a labour of love for you over the years, Bob. We cross country skiers have benefited significantly from your commitment and dedication to providing this forum to share information and encouraging a sense of community for all us. Thank you! and Happy Trails!
I’m sorry to hear this as your site has been a real source of inspiration for me! When I moved to Calgary from my home country of Sweden I found your site pretty fast and it has helped me feel more at home here, it has inspired many trips with my family. Thanks for all the work with keeping it such a current and relevant site. I will miss it!
Hi Bob
I’m sad to hear that you’re intending to end your website this season. It’s an amazing site. I wish I had known it in 2008. I’ve recommended it to many skiers.
I understand that it’s a lot of work to keep it up.
I’m sure you will be out on your skis on the trails you love.
Take care and keep skiing!
Will miss you Bob! Thanks for an amazing blog – we read it all the time and will continue to look back on all the wealth of information you have provided to the cross-country skiing community! Thanks for keeping the site on.
Hope you can enjoy your skiing even more now!
Thanks so much for your dedication and hard work, Bob. The terrific information in your blogg has been a great help to our small cross-country ski group. We will miss you!
Your blog will be sorely missed! There’s such a community feel to it- skiers sharing photos, trail updates, photos of wildlife or dogs encountered, etc.
I hope there is someone out there willing to continue with a blog as many folks prefer an emailed blog to using Facebook, although it’s great to have both.
Thank you and happy trails.
Bob, you have done a fabulous job in conveying a worth of info to hundreds of enthusiastic Skiers. I am blind and your blogs really helped me to choose where I could to and safely ski. Truly, we will miss you. Thanks indeed. I hope someone else takes over to administer your site or starts another one. May God bless you.
Shabu..
We’ve really appreciated this site for a wealth of reasons. You have created a community and injected us all with tremendous spirit for the winter season. We will all miss you. Does one have to have a FB account to access the FB site? We do not have a FB account. Please someone think about picking up the mantle. I nominate Helen. But I know there are several others that get out daily.
There is not a day in winter when I don’t read all the updates / trip reports to plan my next outing……the blog will be sorely missed and for sure you would deserve a proper send off at the end of the ski season from all the readers / trip reporters! Would you consider letting a group of aficionados take over the blog and continue your “oeuvre” or are you more inclined to just close the blog?
In any case many many thanks for the time and energy you dedicated to the ski community and being such a great ambassador to this sport.
Cordialement,
I just got back into XC skiing before Christmas and your site as recommended by a long time follower of yours (thanks Rhonda) was instrumental in getting me the information needed to facilitate a fast and informative launch! Thank you so much, Bob!
Wow, this blog will sure be missed! I’ve only started cross country skiing this year but I appreciate all the work you (and others) have put in over the years. Also, meeting you on the trail and having my photo make it onto the blog was a special memory from this year – yes, I sent it to my parents because I think it’s a big deal! I’ve really enjoyed visiting skierbob.ca and I’ll be sad to not check this site every morning next winter. Thank you again!!!
Is there a more useful, comprehensive and appreciated xc ski blog in the Universe than the skierbob universe? I think not. Entertaining and helpful, principled and ethical. Thank you, Bob.
Thank you so much for your enormous volunteer contribution to the XC skiing community. Your site contains so much valuable information. You will be missed, I hope to thank you in person soon.
Thanks so much Bob! My husband and I have Loved your blog and have viewed it for years as we love x-country skiing and find your blog to be so informative!
you will be sorely missed!
Its a very sad day to hear this news Bob, thank you for all you’ve done for our skiing community, I’m personally very appreciative of the tremendous energy you’ve put into Skier Bob, awesome, awesome job
Wow you will be sorely missed! This blog has been such a benefit to all of us who love cross country skiing… hope to meet you on the trail someday and thank you in person.
If you’re looking for somewhere to ski without the extreme cold, I suggest Mars. The latest weather (Feb 4) from the Curiosity Rover is sunny with a high of -6C! You don’t have to worry about wind chill because of Mars’ minimal atmosphere. Because Mars has only a third of Earth’s gravity, getting up hills will be a breeze (without the breeze). Great views everywhere! (Unfortunately Mars is a bit too far from Earth to spot MaSid’s East Elk Pass wind wall.)
I recommend skin skis with a Teflon base. As an extra bonus, a Parking Pass is not required. Safety Tip – Get back before dark; the overnight low is -74C. – https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/. Hey Bob, how about adding this link to your Weather menu?
The population of the Calgary/Southern Alberta region has tripled since the 1980’s.
Except for the creation of the Canmore Nordic Centre and the addition of new trails by West Bragg Creek volunteers, the actual amount of XC ski trails in Kananaskis Country has decreased. There has been no comprehensive plan in the past 30 years to address the increased demand for outdoor recreation that results from this regional population increase. Successive governments since Don Getty and Ralph Klein have cut funding for trails. The NDP did create the Castle Parks and invested in trail and infrastructure upgrades in Kananaskis.
The UCP governments helpful plan is to have Australian companies remove mountain tops and sell the coal for nothing to China… and to turn the rest of the public lands over to OHV users.
Peter Lougheed would be ashamed of the lack of leadership and vision.
In PLPP we also lost part of Boulton Creek due to the flood. This were subsequently replaced, though I preferred the original. Sunshine used to groom and trackset trails up in the village on a regular basis and even had a nordic lift pass that allowed a ride up the gondola and one ride up either Strawberry or WaWa. There was one loop above WaWa, a loop in the meadows beyond Strawberry and a loop below the village. I don’t know what the total km was. Last time I was at Sunshine it looked like the loop below the village was groomed for skating, though without a season pass you’d have to pay the full lift price to get up there.
This morning I observed a couple of ice flows starting along Mountain View West in WBC. I suspect there may be a few others lurking and slowly growing.
Before your time Bob pre 1988 Ribbon Creek had almost 68 km of groomed trails. The trails around the Nakiska ski area like Stump Meadow, Timber Trail an extended Coal Mine and Ruthie’s were some of the best ski trails in Kananaskis.
Hello – I have had a number of hip surgeries and walk with a cane, however I have been able to do some limited skiing on nordic trails. As part as my rehabilitation I would like to get back on x-country skis. I need flat trails as even the slightest incline can throw off my balance. I did ok at the East Village Loop in Calgary and I have read that the Wedge Connector may be good for me in Kananaskis. If anyone has any other thoughts on where to find very flat tracks for me to practice and get my confidence up — please share!!
It’s good to know that there’s more detailed information on the grooming in PLPP. What puzzles me is that Amos, Wheeler, and Woolley were last groomed on Jan. 17, while Braille, Lodgepole, and Sinclair have been groomed 3 times since then (Jan. 19, Jan. 26, and Feb. 2). Blueberry, Elk Pass, and Patterson were last groomed on Jan. 20. I thought that there might be more of a regular rotation in the trail grooming, as in past years.
Great way-back referencing! I’ve got the revised ed. in my library aside David Rees’ xc compendium and Savage’s Ski Alberta. Question: what of these old gems? Whitehorn Loops; Sundance & Sunshine nordic trails; Johnson Lake Loops; Chester/Sawmill & Kananaskis Golf Course networks —some easy light touring trails that a new generation of skiers can explore.
Thank you Helen, Doug and Roy- I appreciate the information and look forward to checking out those sites– and those trails eventually. Enjoy the bounty of snow you are getting!
Kevin
Kevin: I am partial to Yoho area and they have a smaller hotel in Field, BC called Truffled Pigs which I believe has 12 rooms and is complete with a very funky restaurant. Prices were very reasonable and a month ago hubby and I stayed there and were offered a discount for being members of Kicking Horse Ski Club ($50/yr). Trails available at that end and within 12 kms are: Lake O’Hara Fire Road (11 kms up one way), O’Hara end of Great Divide which one can ski to Lk Louise (11 kms.), Yoho Valley Road (5 kms or more if avalanche danger LOW), Tally Ho (right from Field Info Centre) takes you to The Connector (7 kms) which then takes you all way to Emerald Lk., and at Natural Bridge can ski Kicking Horse Fire Rd (7 kms). and scenic winner of all: Alluvial Fan at end of Emerald Lk. (8 kms starting at parking lot of Emerald Lk). Only problem is after a BIG storm, sometimes Trans Canada can be temporarily closed for avalanche control. They also have a CANSI level xc ski instructor who lives in Field, who is active in http://www.KHSC.ca above.
I trust every one in The Domain is hoping for some early sunbeams tomorrow morning so Balzac Billie’s prognostication will be for 6 more weeks of “Let Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow.
Peter Lougheed was the only quasi decent Premier in my life time who expanded Alberta owned oil and gas infrastructure to generate non tax revenues. Back in his day as Premier oil royalties were at least 43% higher which enabled Albertans to have so many more government services with less oil production. Today, with oil prices higher than the Lougheed days, most of the royalty reduced public oil wealth is being funneled to supporters of the Conservatives rather than the owners of the resource- you. This is one of the reasons why there is a reduction in the quantity and quality of ski trails in Alberta today as compared to the last century.
If we lived in a real democracy where you are given the legalized right to vote on government bills as well as having citizen-initiated legislation, you can bet Albertans would utilize their resource assets in a superior way to the neo conservatives and we would have an expansion of our parks not a decrease. That is why we need to Make Alberta A Democracy- for the betterment of Alberta and our future. Ski trails not pipelines to no where.
And now, thanks to our latest version of politicians, we have parking fees at trailheads, a closed Barrier Lake Information Centre, etc. Time does not always improve matters.
Wow, so different from the current crop of Alberta politicians, who do not give a hoot about the environment unless they can make money from it. Can you imagine the Jason Kenney Provincial Park? I can’t!
I met Bill Milne in a professional capacity in his later years when he sat as a member on the Calgary Planning Commission. I didn’t know at the time his involvement in the protection and creation of kananaskis. It would have been fantastic to thank him personally and directly for the immense value it has provided.
Agree with all you wrote Skierbob-trails were in fantastic condition ( even enough snow at the underpass near Lake Louise to ski through) and sunny blue skies made for the perfect temperature. And after all these years of following your blog I finally saw you on the trail. You passed me about 2km from my finish at Castle Junction and asked if I was doing the loppet and wished me luck. Wished I had stopped to chat but I was stunned by the celebrity siting and bonking from low sugar. Highlight of the ski!
Hello. I’m looking for trails that are the next step up from “Beginner Trails 101 – The easy trails for raw beginners”. I’m comfortable on the intermediate trails at West Bragg Creek and I’m looking for somewhere else to ski for a change of scenery, ideally not too far from Calgary. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you! Rachel
What a beautiful day! Thanks for helping us with waxing Tennessee’s skis 🙂 As beginners we are really loving the sport, the warm community, and this site. Thanks for all you do, Bob.
-Nathan
Skied Ribbon Creek 10:30-12:30. Still good track-set with some fresh snow lightly falling as I started & bit heavier towards the end. It must be wet snow as I really had to scrape off snow packed on bottom of boots when I finished. I skied Kovach-Aspen-Kovach-Terrace.
Took a break at the picnic table Kovach/Aspen & had to scrape snow build up off my waxless skis, otherwise it was fine.
Please buy a pass to support tracksetting so it’s continued next year!
Mt Shark: there was more snow overnight and all morning/early aft. Some icing around the lunch/early aft period, then better when it cooled off again. Enough travel to pack it all down for good tracks tomorrow. Didn’t notice any overhanging branches along green loop at all.
Can you connect West and East Elk Pass or is EEP just an out and back?
I’ve skied WEP to both couches there and climbed back up the power line.
I’ve also connected WEP to Blueberry.
Trying to picture this new area I haven’t explored yet.
Anybody got a map of the whole area, couches and routes all labeled?
Couch H2.0 is where it’s at in good weather. A bit cooler than west elk pass normally, unless a pure west wind. East elk better protected from west wind than west elk. East elk exposed more to south wind, hence the large wind wall. Best done when completely clear for the long view to the south. Unfortunately there was cloud down that way today, obscuring the far off peaks.
Hello, I am an advanced skier, however due to a head injury I am very limited as to what o can ski for now. My limit is about 8km on a good day, but usually only 4 or 5 km. Elevation is difficult, can handle only about 100m. I am from Jasper and will be visiting the Banff area for 3 weeks. Can anyone recommend some dog-friendly trails that fall within my limitations. Thank you so much for your help.
Skier bob! You’ve made my parents Doug and Sandy famous! They have been published on the renowned skier bob website. Thank you for the great content and giving them their internet fame.
Hey there! Just wondering if you think Cascade Valley is a viable option for someone who has only ever cross-country skied Mt Shark/Watridge Lake and Castle Lookout to Baker Creek. Endurance is not an issue, but general technique/confidence with going uphill and downhill still needs some work 🙂
I’m going to head out for my first time tomorrow and try the “Great Divide/old 1a” trail. I was planning to stop at the Lake Louise visitor centre to pickup some winter trail brochures so that I have my own copies to keep in my pack. It looks like the visitor centre is closed tho.
Would anyone know where else I can pickup copies of the brochure maps?
The Cuthead cabin saga looks very tempting but also a bit daunting for an old timer, I just need to convince a friend of mine to accompany me! Thanks for sharing this adventure SaraM , Chuck , Mike W and MAAD
I remember a post from Chuck (correct me if I am wrong) from a couple of years ago of an extraordinary trip of 80k to where bisons have been released, this would set the bar higher….
Just wanted to note that the final part of the track I set to the cabin differs from Chuck’s description. Instead of heading north at the 23.6km junction and then cutting through the forest to reach the cabin, I turned left towards Flint’s Park and then took the trail the branches off to the right at Cuthead Creek to the cabin. So if someone wants to do a little more trail-breaking, Chuck’s route from the junction is still available!
I checked the alberta parks online library, no sign of these brochures yet. Good grief, you’d think if they were in money saving mode that’d be the first place they put them.
Re Chuck’s “single track right of way”: I thought that if there was space for two tracks that the “right hand rule” still applied. Skiers often get out of the track anyway on the downhill sections to better perform a snowplow or to obtain a wider stance for stability.
I love reading your posts and often get excited about trying many of these trails, which are new to me. What I would really enjoy is if you would let us “out of towners” know where these locations are. Just a thought.
Bob- your wish is my command! A couch picture: https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix2021/i-LpQbXGr/A
After clearing the fresh snow and stomping the area a bit, we enjoyed the panoramic view and lunch in the sun. Thanks, MaSid!
We passed by again later on the blue loop (pipestone#20) at around 3- the couch was still catching the rays. I will add that the sometimes challenging hills on the blue loop were in possibly the best shape that I can remember for skiing downhill, while leashed to an eager retriever.
Thanks, Steve. I’ve added the photo to my update. -Bob
It is more than frustrating. It is dangerous. On December 30, I was going downhill on Trappers heading to Sundog and the tip of my ski got caught on a “pothole” like the one on the first picture. I hit the ground so hard, I developed a hematoma on my right lower leg (not just a bruise). Still swollen and sore.
It is an unwelcome surprise to see the potholes and deposits left by horse riders on the set tracks at West Bragg. In my innocence I thought that the horse crowd was somehow more aware and considerate of other users than the usual targets of XC skiers’ frustration, rutting bikers and trampling hikers. I will never look at a horse train at WBC the same way again. Most disappointing.
I am an intermediate skier new to kananaskis area thinking of do a loop starting from Ribbon creek parking lot along ribbon creek, link, and kovach back to parking lot. Just wondering whether there is any really big hill/tight area along the route. Thx
Hi everyone, can anyone describe for me the beginner-friendliness of the trails that are marked as Green from the Pipestone area (Hector, Drummond, Merlin?) This is my first season but I’ve been out a lot and had some instruction, I can manage long gradual hills or steeper short ones but I would prefer to avoid longer, steeper hills or hills with turns.
Had a number of close calls when yesterday when coming down steep hills and almost running into dogs. I know they are allowed to be off leash. But if they are really playful and friendly this can be super scary for those who are not confident skiers. I know it is great to let them run and they look so happy. Please just be mindful to call them back, especially before slopes.
Hi, brand new skier here. I’m wondering what the proper etiquette is when the trail is only a single set track? Who is “supposed” to get off the track to allow a faster skier to pass, or another example would be when one is coming down a hill in the tracks while someone is coming up.
Any feedback regarder proper ski etiquette in general is also welcome 🙂
Thanks so much for this! It’s also a great list for pregnant ladies like myself 🙂 Up to now I’ve been using Confed golf course, which is another great start for beginners!
Thank you thank you thank you for the info to beginners. I really want to experience skiing in the . mountains, but have been Uber reluctant to head out and end up on a track beyond my limited ability. This blog was sooooo timely. Thanks!
Hello skiers
One thing I would like added to the recommendations is where to park (for example north side of lot) and where to start the trail (example -once you park on the north side, the trail starts on the far east side of the parking lot). I was a beginner fairly recently and would stand looking stupid in the parking lot until someone helped me out.
Thanks for this website as it is very helpful to all skiers.
I hope this guide includes “things not to do”, like that first bit from the Goat Creek parking lot on the Canmore side down the hill to the start of the trail! I went down it Saturday, and the same couple of rocks were there from when I did it ~3 years ago, the path was just as narrow right beside the [running] creek. and it is still all around sketchy! I’ve skied all my life, and was again amazed I didn’t mangle and/or soak myself before even getting started!
Happy trails,
H.
This coverage reminds me of a quote I heard recently upon meeting Kevin & Leslie on the Goat Creek trail. Leslie said “When I retire, I want to become a SkierBob reporter”.
Well, I don’t know if I should pass on this photographing secret just yet, but I just say “Wanna SMILE for Skier Bob!”. It works, at least until they realize that I am not Skier Bob!
Thank you for the positive comments on the Redearth trail. It’s really nice to see people out enjoying the park and this trail in particular. I am currently responsible for the grooming which has been done up to this point, and am pleased to see that people are enjoying the most recent work done on the trail. Let’s hope the snow continues so we may keep the trail in good shape for all users. Thank you to anyone who has provided feedback, both good and bad, please continue to offer your comments, but try not to be too harsh 😉
Even walking on the flat part in middle beside tracks on ups and downs is dangerous for skiers as shoe imprints make holes that cause crashes as skiers ski down hills. So many hikers now and walking by twos and threes beside each other rather than single file on the outside edge of tracks. Definitely need better signage for ski only trails and tickets. But if it’s not government groomed trails who is going to give out tickets?
Do hikers need some of their own hiker only groomed hard packed trails? Some snowshoers also seem to like groomed hard packed trails as well (maybe easier for the less strenuous working
snowshoers?) This way they can all get on board with helping chip in on parking passes to keep trails groomed and trails accessible!
Thank you for posting about this important conversation Bob. These are unprecedented times for new people heading outdoors. Sandy Mcnabb has always had some crossover, where people would walk on the ski trails, but nothing close to what I’ve seen this year. I think having clear signage at all trail entrances is important, but also maybe using social media to spread the message? People new to outdoor winter activity are going to need to hear this message more than once. I think if we are kind, and if possible add a bit of humor, it might make the message more palatable. Try not to let the few ‘entitled’ folks wreck our attitude for the many many who just haven’t thought about it and don’t realize.
If any groomers read this message, I have a question. Is it technically possible, to create a hardened trail (like the trackset area) but just flat, and off of the ski track? I’m not sure if I’ve described that well…. Like one of the previous posters noted, the hardened ski track area is very enticing. I’m trying to think of future solutions moving forward, and I don’t have the knowledge base for how ‘grooming’ works. I just know I love how the trails turn out at the end of it, and can see how inexperience hikers are drawn to them.
We skied Hummingbird Plume today. Someone had driven a 4×4 for about 700m along the Skogan Pass trail just as it heads North from Mount Allen Drive (Nakiska Road). Now if that doesn’t mess up a trail. My wife fell on part of the ruts left behind. Wish there was a big enough sign or stick!
In some cases signage is indeed ambiguous. For instance yesterday when I skied the entire network south of Ribbon Creek I noticed that it often depends on where you enter the trail. In one case one junction indicated skier only and the very next junction (coming the opposite way) was signed “share the trail”. Even if the signage is clear as is the case for some WBC trails (the yellow ones, not those blue skier signs that Tanya mentioned) or most trails at PLPP it does not seem to matter to some entitled users. I find that WBC is particularly bad, perhaps because of the sheer number of users. I think that parks need to enforce the rules and ticket people. If it becomes expensive to walk on groomed trails, people will stop doing it. You almost never see dogs on cross country trails in PPLP because when that rule changed it was enforced.
I feel like some signs just aren’t clear enough. For example, some of the WBC signs say that they are for skiing, but they don’t say that you can’t hike on them. The signs tell a hiker that he may encounter skiers on this trail and that he should share the trail. The signs need to be more similar to the ones at Kananaskis Village where they actually say “no hiking.”
And then I’m still seeing the “share the trail” sign on trails I know are supposed to be for skiers. Wedge Connector for example. No good reason to walk that trail. We shouldn’t be sharing the trail.
I noticed some new signage the other day on Great Divide. There was the added element of the dogsled track! I thought that the signs looked nice and were quite effective, and I hope that people will check them out.
I find the signage at Bragg Creek to be very effective. As you can see in the photo Bob posted (man skiing with lovely Golden Retriever), you cannot miss or misinterpret the signs. We also ski at Sandy McNabb. Their signage for both multiuse and off leash areas for dogs (I have whined about this before) is terrible. I try to always approach people kindly as I can see why there is confusion. Although, when I see the same people repeatedly each time I go skiing walking on the skier tracks, well, my practically perfect manners go to hell in a hand basket! Back to the main issue. I do feel the areas that suffer the worst damage are areas where signage is lacking, or open to interpretation, or, for some reason, easily ignored. All signs should be universal so that no matter where you ski, they are the same color, same wording, same meaning, and same dollar fine amount (money often changes people’s perspective) for breaking the rules.
From my experience walkers are the main issue, as they don’t snowshoe I believe groomed trails are very inviting to go for a walk…In PLPP there are no shared trails (from what I know), hence less risks to get it wrong. In Ribbon Creek the permanent signs / summer map just show trails name / distance and unless you look at the small paper winter map that is below the main map, you will not know what is allowed / not allowed. The winter map from Alberta Parks (https://albertaparks.ca/media/6496176/kananaskis-ribbon-creek-winter-map.pdf) is also confusing with just different shade of blue to differentiate xcountry only trails from shared trails. I could not find winter trail map for Skogan pass area, are all trails (Sunburst, skogan loop, etc.) shared or not? Personally, I believe a big sign on the trail and at junction (whatever the colour) stating xcountry ski only would be best.
Crystal-clear signage first so that no one can pretend they didn’t know. Then enforcement for the ones who pretend it doesn’t apply to them. If they can fine me $1,000 for having a couple of friends over in my own house… okay, let’s not go there.
maybe Bob won’t move this post to the delete bin so here goes; “sign sign everywhere a sign blocking out the scenery breaking my mind”; thanks to the Five Man Electrical Band for this song “Signs” circa 1968. OMG do i ever wanna see more signs cluttering the landscape.
I’m finding almost every trail in West Bragg Creek gets trashed despite the ski only signs. I always ask people to kindly not walk on the track set. Some people seem to purposefully walk on the tracks despite having 3’ of flat track beside it. Do people feel they are that entitled that they won’t read signs?
I was wondering if that was you, Bob. I just caught a glimpse of you as I was coming off the bridge. I was paying more attention to getting lined up for that tricky little hill that goes down into the campground. Just curious, what were you using for wax? With the varying temperatures along the trail, I found I had to re-wax a couple times and never really found the perfect combination.
I applied two layers of VR45(-2/-8) and covered it with two layers of VR40(-4/-12). -Bob
I think people forget how much time, resources, people and relationship building it takes to effectively lobby the government. Especially true with this government who doesn’t want to listen and just marches forward.
Those who feel lobbying the government is the best method are often unwilling to take up and lead the fight. Sure, most people will sign a petition or put up a lawn sign, but are less willing to put in all the work behind the scenes that makes lobbying effective.
There is still time…you have a year until next XC season to start lobbying the government to reverse this decision. You will also have a plethora of data collected by Nordiq about use. Are you willing to lead the charge?
I fear that if a group like Nordiq didn’t step up, then there would be no track set trails this year in these areas.
I don’t think this means they made a choice for user pay for all Albertans I’m every situation, they simply stepped up to the plate when no one else was willing.
I will happily display my pass and volunteer to support groups that are willing to work and provide activity options for all Albertans.
The government had better not cancel grooming for these trails; they are a huge asset to Calgary and the cost, especially with the paid parking program, is minimal even if it doesn’t quite reach 210000.
As I see it, buying and displaying a pass is a way to help these trails survive: it is giving credit to Nordiq Alberta for working hard to save the trails, rather than to the government for being jerks. Besides, 50 bucks a season for some of the best trails in North America is pennies. It’s less than a tank of gas. Compare it to other ski trail pass costs!
Hi Bob. We didn’t cross paths again because … after we met on Wedge, upon reaching E-T parking lot, I came to my senses and simply backtracked to ski that outer loop clockwise not CCW for the second lap – got the same miles logged in but avoided doffing skis and walking the E-T parking lot twice. Nice tailwind to Ribbon. Strava said 26.8 km. See you next time.
I know it’s not possible to have these pristine ski conditions without Kananaskis grooming but to imply that we wouldn’t have grooming in Kananaskis without a user pay system is a stretch. The government threatened and the nordic community caved to the threats and set a precedent on behalf of all Albertans. I still think we could have lobbied the government in other ways to pressure them to maintain the grooming in Kananaskis. Now that the precedent has been set, I fear there will be no end to user fees going forward.
Our government is inept (as clearly seen in their covid response / leadership, plan to de-list parks and protected areas, opening up the eastern slopes for coal extraction, undermining our health care workers at a time of crisis, giving away billions of dollars to corporations with nothing in return…and the list goes on). I’m grateful to be skiing on nicely groomed tracks but I think we let the government off the hook way to easily.
I do appreciate the grooming efforts of staff as well as the volunteers that come out for various events, etc. Thank you very much for this!
I do not appreciate that we’ve gone down a dark rabbit hole without proper engagement, thought and discussion of all Albertans on the matter.
BTW – I bought my parking pass but I will not display it. I don’t need to give this government any more support for their poor decisions.
There isn’t a skijoring club specifically, but there are a few groups on Facebook for all dog-powered sports – check out Kicksled Calgary or AB Mush for Fun. They occasionally hold events, including races and learn to mush clinics.
As for trails, anything dog friendly has worked for me. I love Bragg but also find it more difficult because of the the prevalence of off-leash dogs – mine always wants to say hi so my quick release gets a lot of use, hah.
I skied Glenmore Reservoir tonight. There is no formal track setting I am aware of. The tracks which have been layed down are by skies. Many on east west part are wind filled. The ones parralel to North Glenmore Park are deeper. The same can be said to those by Heritage Park H. The crossing tracks are filling in with snow. I have not expored by the sailing club or the south side yet.
I was running 40 Mile Creek this summer and noticed some Parks Canada nordic styled signs. What an area that would be to ski!! Carrot Creek as well, so many gems in there. I also can’t imagine how wonderful Middle Spray River would be if it was still properly maintained. Might need to invest in some LT skis next season…
Dean – technically the Glenmore Reservoir is Closed from Nov 1 thru April 30, however I don’t think I’ve seen any enforcement except when people are being really dumb. Be cautious – the reservoir water levels can change resulting in ice well above the level of the water, or resulting in slush on top of the ice. If I were to ski on the reservoir I’d stick close to shore and preferably along the east shore near Glenmore Landing. Be aware of where the river flows in at the west end, between the canoe club and Heritage Park and by the causeway as all those areas have unpredictable ice
Yes! That is what I was thinking. I realize the unprecedented interest has led to strain on the current trails and parking, but what if this enlightenment of the masses leads to a bigger voice for this wonderful activity and MORE trails get funded, and better parking solutions are found, and all the other great things mentioned in the above post!
Skier Bob asked what the future of XC skiing will be like. Lets look at ski sales to predict it.
Well if the lack of choice for ski equipment continues at the many shops I have visited in the last couple of years, skiing may not occur for a lot of people. I have not been able to buy a decent durable reasonable priced pair of ski poles for years. My size does not seem to be available by the time I can make it to ski shops after harvest without paying more for the poles than my skis. The Rossignol poles I bought 3 years ago were junk as the thin straps broke and the tips fell off. I feel like I am living in the old Soviet Union Dictatorship (I wonder if they were short of XC ski poles?). I am on my” back up back up pair” of poles and the tips are nearly worn to the baskets. I can only ski soft trails as a result. I will likely not be able to ski hard spring snow with these poles. I will likely have to resort to being stuck in COVID downhill ski line ups at Lake Louise in late winter rather than cruising on my XC boards.
I won’t get into how I can’t buy the super narrow high camber metal edge waxable skis I used to be able to buy years ago. UGHHH!
On Kijiji there are a lot of people looking for XC equipment- the most I have ever seen. People can primarily only buy old junk from way back in the last century. I really don’t think bamboo poles will last more than 5 minutes for me before splintering and leaving dangerous debris on a ski trail for someone to crash into and get all slivered up!
If ski shops can’t supply equipment demand, a lot of people may never get into the sport or leave it. Some of the local shops are just too small to store gear so I can understand that they run out quickly. But bigger shops have no excuse to run out of equipment selection by the 3rd week of November. They are missing sales and profits as a result. If a “want a be beginner” xc skier can’t buy gear as late as January 31, then they may never get into skiing nor advance and buy better gear as they get better at skiing. This is a potential huge future profit loss to the ski shop industry and ski equipment manufacturing industry. Then such “want a be skiers” won’t introduce 2 friends to skiing and those people won’t introduce 2 friends to skiing and so on and so on. The is what XC opportunity ski equipment sales losses look like not only today but in the future.
The ski shop and ski manufacturing industry really needs to understand the marketing concept of “Just In Time” supply chains, like other industries do. Imagine if a car parts store only brought in parts the way the ski shops do. You would not be able to get an air filter after the first few weeks of November.
A lack of XC ski equipment supply also means fewer than the maximum possible amount of new skiers entering the sport. This has negative economic spin off effects on the local economy as well. Just imagine if there were not enough cars for sale on the market or enough gasoline or electricity to supply cars on the road. Similar negative economic spin off effects would occur.
Lets hope the ski shops in the future better match equipment demand with supply for the benefit of all skiers, their profits and more. If they don’t Amazon may and that will kill a lot of ski shops along with parts of the local shop economy.
Colder temps in Bragg creek (wishful thinking); proper tax base funding for grooming given the demand and benefits (or a tax/health credit for user fees); expanded trails and grooming; winter roadside camping options with weather protected cooking facilities; more skis available and snowshoers/walkers embracing this efficient way to travel in winter; a new generation of younger skiers so demand/grooming continues; more seating options in good places; better connections between trails for more continuous ski options; more rapid or strategic parking lot plowing after large snow events, and; Bob finds an apprentice with equal talent.
Happy New Year Bob. I reported on Emerald Lake on the 29th, and on the first half of the Kicking Horse trail – both good with soft silky snow in groomed tracks. I’m happy to report that today there was no sign of doggie damage in the tracks on the Yoho Valley Road as reported by Wally yesterday, must have got skied and snowed over. Snowing lightly all day today and if the forecast comes true, all of these reports will rapidly get outdated!
Thanks, Chris. Now that you mention it I did read your report. My memory is failing me. Bob
Skied Yoho Valley Road on Dec 30th. It was snowing lightly so the tracks were getting a bit soft, but still in pretty good shape. Lots of fat skiers go up that route but they were staying clear of the set tracks. Unfortunately, near the end of our return we met a couple who were letting their exuberant labradoodle jump all over the tracks. He said he was “trying” to keep the dog out of the tracks, but his efforts seemed feeble at best.
Glad you had fun on South Iron Springs/Elbow. Boomer Groomer Jeff set those tracks as people kept asking and we thought it best not to wait any longer for AEP to get back from holidays.
That photo by Jeremy is just fantastic. Inspiring, and a pretty good Christmas post card with its perfectly placed “ornament”. And my favourite place to ski on a sunny day of course. Happy new year Bob et al! See you on the trails or at a couch. (-:
Ok,
Thank you gentlemen very much for speedy responses.
…much appreciated!
Good to know they are not altering the glide performance of the more popular and common type binding. I really like my 3 pin setup but I guess I will have to tolerate the lack of glide efficiency. It did seem to bother hubby more than me. Thank you to Track setter Jeff ,,,I am also curious if a different machine was used on the Bill Maline vs the Wedge pond to the Evan Thomas stretch. I just didnt feel nearly as much drag on the binding on the Wedge trail!
Also Bob, I was trying to find a link you previously provided by a lady speaking on waxing techniques. Looks like my old skis are a hickory base. Just used a liquid glide rub on wax and was pleasantly surprised they had any glide at all lol Guess I need a kick wax on the center areas now.
Bob…love the last name,,, my Father and Brother are both Truman’s!!! Cheers to 2021
To Lots of snow !!
Hi Skier Bob!
Thank you so much for your amazing web site and wealth of information. Truly a wonderful resource and I love your spirit of enthusiasm.
Hubby and I are not seasoned xc skiers, to say the least, but are enjoying these wonderful conditions and workout, usually after a 1/2 day on the down hill at NAKISKA.
We have bought, second hand, ole school 3 pin bindings skies and have very comfy, warm 3 pin boots which were bought new.
Our issue… yesterday, on the Bill Malign, we were experiencing quite a bit of drag with the wider binding but noticed a nice difference coming back, as drag was less due to them already broken through the side walls and do they damage the track for the more common style binding?
Can groomer machines not accommodate these style bindings !??
Margaret, I’ve passed your question along to Tracksetter Jeff. -Bob
I’ve been skiing at night by headlight or moonlight and it’s been fantastic, both Elk Pass and Skogans recently! Although I’ve been THE ONLY PERSON out there in the empty parking lot. lol. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s been lonely by today’s standards, peaceful for sure.
Hey Bob, so good to run into you in the parking lot! You arrived at prime time, it was pretty chilly out there early morning. I was looking forward to a lovely ski after volunteering in Boulton Creek parking lot, but unfortunately was suffering from a bad night sleep, combined with a stupid fall the day before. Such a disappointment to not take advantage of those wonderful conditions! Wasn’t that cloud amazing?
Thanks for your website AND thanks to Nordiq Alberta!!
You’re never going to get a better deal than $50 a season for these exceptional trails. My kids pay more than half that for one day of skiing in B.C.
I skied the lookout loop as a side trip on the way back from Skogan Pass today, and encountered 3 more avid subscribers to “Postholer Quarterly” magazine. In all honesty- the divots were annoying to see, but didn’t really affect the skiing for me. I did have to remind the one young woman to “please stay out of the set tracks”- I think it was just a momentary lapse on her part, as the track setting remained in good shape on descending Sunburst. High Level is still pristine. https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix2021/i-5n73QtV/A
Where is hayfields trail please. Love reading about it but can’t find directions. Desperate to find an off leash ski for our pup,
Many many thanks – and a very happy new year!!
We skied Wedge Connector today, my son and I. It is his … second time on Xcountry skis, and this trail was perfect. Loved to get into the mtns and have an accessible trail to ski.
My understanding was that the fire lookout (gazebo) was built by the POWs who were “incarcerated” at the Barrier Lake POW camp, which was where the UofC Field Station is located.
Hello Bob,
there seems to be a new temp reading at Wunderground.com
it’s located about ~200 m south of William Watson Lodge, and ~200 m west of Kananaskis Lakes Trail at a private home on Lake Shore Dr. https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/kananaskis-improvement-district/IKANAN3
however, the coordinates shown on the above link are wrong by 18km, there is only one house over there and it should be 50.6603, -115.1252, elev. 1674 m is likely OK
hope this area gets re-trackset tonight .what a mess ! ! be nice if parks puts up some newer educational signs for the walkers and starts an enforcement campaign in this area ,now that we have to personally pay to have tracks set.
According to Gillean Daffern, the name was given in the 70s by Don Gardner, who designed the original Ribbon Creek trails (as well as the original PLPP and West Bragg trails). The building on top isn’t a gazebo, it’s a fire lookout that was staffed by POWs during World War II when the summit was open following the huge fires of 1936.
Does anyone know what trails dogs are permitted on in ribbon creek/kananaskis area?
I have seen the post regarding the misprint in the brochure, however on the site it states no dogs allowed.
In the brochure it says no dogs allowed on groomed trails, does this mean trackset trails but multi use ones would be ok?
Thanks!
Thanks for the shout out, Bob! I am flattered! I hope more readers listen to your “Death Bridge” warning ??. What would we do without this blog!
“Live To Ski Another Day” sounds like a James Bond film title. I hope they include an action sequences with Daniel Craig as Skier Bob!
There are no death bridges if one skis under control. If a skier requires metal edge skis to prevent a ski or die accident, they should get a pair to maintain control and know how to use them.
The Goat Creek trail requires the control of a Mountain Goat most of the time, particularly at the confounded bridge. A bridge too far- if you hit it hard and have to get back home- up hill.
Skied at Nipika Mountain Resort on Christmas Day, amazing conditions for classic or skate skiing. Beautiful trails and views made it for a lovely ski. Fantastic place for anyone looking for a dog friendly place to ski with a furry friend! Just Fantastic
Skied Banff to Goat Creek return today. Came across a couple who broke a binding in a collision with the 7km bridge and opted to post hole the 11-12 km to Banff including at least an hour in the dark. Heed Bob’s warning on the steep downhill followed by sharp turn on to the bridge!
Hi Bob!
It was so nice to finally run into you on the trails yesterday! What a beautiful X-mas ski! Thanks for the lovely photo and writing this blog! Hopefully I will run into you again on another ski trail in the “Empire”!
Meeting you was the start of a fabulous day on Goat Creek! -Bob
Great to finally meet you Skier Bob. Woogie is a celebrity snow dog now. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to his head. Thanks for maintaining this awesome site. It’s always great to know if trail conditions are naughty or nice before heading out. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the pic of me at the bridge. I wondered if that was you when you were taking pictures! Would have loved to give thanks in person for all the great information!
Skied Cascade Fire Road to the bridge first thing this morning and it was in great shape! It has been double track set at until the bridge and single track set beyond the bridge. Not sure when the grooming happened but it was recently after the last snow fall. We saw lots of wolf paw prints and we are pretty sure they were not too far: we saw fresh scat and urine markings on our way back up from the bridge that weren’t not there as we descended to the bridge a mere 15-20 minutes prior!
Merry Christmas Bob to you and all your contributors. As a former skier now an arm-chair one I really appreciate and enjoy your Blog. So many people I know read and learn from it. Many thanks and I’m sure you will all continue on with a great season. Cheers!
I think this post was totally directed at me, new to skiing and have been reading so many old posts and gathering as much info as I can hold. Loved the waxing post by the new mom, I’ve slowly purchased my equipment and everything involved to wax my own. I’ve looked at many other sites but absolutely nothing comes close to this site so special thanks to Bob and everyone involved here. Thanks, happy holidays, and happy skiing to all.
Hi:
That’s a lovely shot of Debbie.
My sister and I skied Silver Springs golf course this aft. It was glorious. Might as well ski in town when you can!
Merry Christmas,
Herb
A big thank you to the track setting team…you’re cross country skiers’ snow angels thank you! thank you! thank you!
Thank you to Nordiq Alberta for keeping track setting in our parks, hopefully this will be successfully supported so it continues!??
Oh! Forgot to ask – is it possible to ski the loop? We have enjoyed skiing Evan-Thomas – Wedge Connector – Bill Milne loop in the past, relying on some bridges along the way.
Merry Christmas Bob – and Merry Christmas to all the volunteers, tracksetters, groomers and others who are making it possible to enjoy our amazing ski trails!!
Kudos and many thanks to all those who have been out track setting the trails throughout the season – you do great work so that we can have a great time out there!
Fyi, I just called Strathmore golf course (“pro desk” still open). Day passes of $5, or annual pass of $50 required (ie. not by donation), and dogs must be on leash and off the groomed tracks. Looks like WBC is still the only area with some off-leash xc skiing. :-/
There is a lack of xc skiing “riches” in Banff to date. There is no ski access to the Ink Pots this year. Brewster Creek, Healy Creek and Redearth have yet to be trackset. Hopefully that will occur today, but I will not bet on that with my skiing life.
I will likely investigate Brewster Creek tomorrow and ski pack the short cut trail, if my legs can tolerate doing so.
FYI that the CNC trail report indicates that Grassi Lakes and Hwy 742 above Canmore are closed due to avalanche risk. Apparently avi control is scheduled to start tomorrow Dec 23 at 10 am… Always fun to watch the slides that are intentionally triggered!
My wife tore her ACL downhill skiing last winter. We want to start cross country skiing. Could you suggest a flat area that would be good for her to start on
New Environment Canada iPhone App!
The new EnvCanada weather app for the iphone is excellent. V1.5 is much improved. Saved locations, radar, highway alerts and more
The other day I skied West Elk Pass past the couch, past a second snowfort, and on to the hydroline in BC. The logging operations I heard earlier in the year have expanded now, and there is a fresh clearcut right beside the powerline. The road underneath the powerline has been plowed out. I returned the way I came rather than skiing up the powerline to Elk Pass as I had planned. In all, going to Elk Lakes Cabin via Elk Pass and the powerline would be a muddy, noisy and ugly mess. Something to consider if anyone has booked the cabin over the holidays.
Bob,
I missed you on the trail today, and as you describe the snow/tracks were good, albeit a bit sticky.
I encountered a skater at the Elk Pass / Patterson junction, and was disappointed (but not surprised) that he had been crossing both tracks all the way up from the Hydroline junction. I guess it is inevitable that folks will skate on these narrow trails, but perhaps it is time for a gentle reminder of both etiquette and places where skating is appropriate.
Was thinking about Bob’s comment about use of a “butt bag” equating w/ not having emergency supplies. I just got a new BB and here’s what i fit in: wax of the day & mini cork/scrapper combo (which i’ll ditch when i get my skin skis), 2 energy gel packs & cliff bar (blood sugar emergency), car key, micro 1st aid kit w/ lighter & duct tape, & emergency refective blanket thingie. Cell phone now goes on arm band thingie, figure this way i’ll stop missing great photos because it’s in the BB and i don’t want hassle of fishing it out. Lashed on to my BB is a windshell. When i no longer need the cork & wax i’ll probably sub in a pair of over mitts, maybe a hand warming pad. And of course, there’s a 600 ml insulated bottle that has luke warm water. And….wait for it….Bob’s your uncle.
Re. Pocaterra Hut: hate to be a spoil sport, but Pocaterra Hut should not remain open at all, unless they choose to leave the indoor bathrooms available. Even Lake Louise Ski Hill is not allowing backpackers to eat indoors. As per most recent guidelines:
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 8
All indoor and outdoor social gatherings – public and private – are prohibited
Pocaterra also had superb track setting from Whiskey Jack junction down to Packers. North of Packers, it was roller packed/groomed but not track set, as was Lynx, Amos and Wheeler. Very good conditions on all of those.
Did you stop by pocaterra hut bob, still open? Another Hellenic moment: “the hallway”. Enjoyed the storey of the passing of the speed demon , J-F. Supports the notion of the right glide wax, and/or shoulder surgery.
Snowmobile single track-set trails through the trees are such a treat — an increasingly rare feature in an era embracing the development of safe, multi-use, big machine grooming. Both means ARE great, and I hope both can coexist. Some other faves are Telemark, Upper Macabee Loop, Hostel & Telephone Loops, and the ‘Hiking Trail’ in the Allison-Chinook Wonderlands ….
Did you manage to check snow depth over the ice on the river? I’m guessing not enough yet, but worth a visit given the trail conditions for some initial compacting.
I skinned up the ski out to Goats Eye and skied alpine from there…no line ups on any chair I took…we must have arrived in the parking lot just as everyone else was getting there
Thanks for the videos! I’ve been ironing in green as a base kick wax for a long time, but never thought to give the zone a light sanding after cleaning to improve adhesion. Learn something new every day!
My observation is that many skiers could benefit from improving their grip wax application, based on the number I see herringboning up every uphill.
Dasha and cooperative 2 month old Tim, thank you both so much for creating these videos. I love your “Home Hardware” scraper approach. I use one of my old irons but always wondered how soon after using the wax solvent (I use Bio Citron KUU) I could apply my Kick wax. I generally prefer to leave an hour or so in between. And because I hate to go fast, my technique at Glide waxing has been almost non-existent. I love these videos you donated to Skier Bob’s site and will watch them again. Your pitch to SkiGo just tells me I need to learn to “trust it more”.
Skier Bob, I will try to put some humor into the reports but when you have had as many concussions as I have had which have destroyed the humor cells, that could be a pretty tall order especially after an 8 to 10 hour ski or so. The old worn out brain just has enough cells in it to make me stand up on skis.
PS
Anyone skiing up Healy Creek, keep an eye out for a potential crashed skier off the trail that I may have missed skiing at night! Not likely you will find one but just in case.
We skied Elk Pass on Friday to avoid crowds so I’m surprised that it wasn’t busy on Saturday. I guess they were all out on Hwy 68. We were near Sibbald on our annual family xmas tree hunt and picnic, which we do in the area every December. Crazily busy- far more so than usual. I heard that Hwy 66 was the same with hordes of people taking advantage of the weather.
As for MAD’s reports- I enjoy them, they offer useful information, and if someone can’t handle the political spin- just don’t read them. As was brought home to us last spring- politics does affect xc skiing.
I don’t know about those nocturnal adventures though- I’ve skied WBC under headlight or moonlight and it is a wonderful experience, but those are very familiar, relatively easy groomed trails. Descending Healy after dark- no thanks!
Ah sorry I read your comment too quckly. Agreed it’s great for aging joints and chronic injuries and I’d use it in a pinch for an acute injury if I had no acetominophen.
Thanks for clarifying.
Interesting as I was coming down whiskey jack alone this afternoon and was thinking I should get a pair of metal edge touring skis for situations like this. Also I do have an inreach but didn’t bring it with me as I tend to have it for backcountry trips, but that also crossed my mind. It was a great day and the trails are holding up but more snow is required.
You do not need metal edges (this accident proved that). You need focus, determination and sheer fuc… sorry, and braking. Lots of braking. Lower your speed to safe value every time when going downhill first time of the day in every potentially dangerous location, try it first. It’s never the same it was yesterday.
Edges may not help in some situations and make you dangerously overconfident (hello mr. democracy) but low speed always works.
As MaSid says Vitamin I, along with a first aide kit.
We carry that and down jackets, extra gloves and mitts, toque, buff, Warmup pants or wind pants. when out of Cell phone range (K Country ),I carry an InReach and a VHF radio.
Most of this sits all season long in my pack.
Hi Bob:
Have enjoyed your site for years. Good work
I’m the skier referred to in that post, waiting for surgery in Foothills to repair a fractured ankle.
My group was well prepared and did a fabulous job. I’m proud of them all. I was kept cosy until the toboggan arrived.
I’m an experienced skier with quality gear, including metal edges. This was a moment of inattention on a hill that I usually do easily, icy or not.
Just thought you might want to know.
While I would usually prefer to be on my regular light and fast xc ski setup- also having a pair of metal edged light touring skis for those conditions can be invaluable. Even better is pairing those metal edged skis with the more supportive NNN-BC boot and binding, if you can afford to run two systems. A bonus is that this sets you up for off the groomed trail exploration as well.
And- ditto to Peter’s comments about being prepared- it sounds like this group was.
I really urge people to ski on safer, better controllable, metal edge cross country (xc) skis and know how to use those metal edges on the snow. As an advanced xc skier, that is all I ski on although with my ability level I could ski on faster plastic skis. Being an expert downhill skier, I just hate the feeling of unsafe plastic ski edges. Metal edges allow for more safe hardcore ski fun.
As I do not wish to have hundreds of dollars in skiing assets sitting around doing nothing for most of the year, I find metal edge xc skis to be the best all around alternative if you just want one pair of good xc skis. Metal edges allow you to carve up the icy slopes at a superior level as compared to dangerous plastic edged skis that can not carve into hard or icy snow.
If you want a faster pair of metal edge xc skis, buy the most narrow pair available with a high camber, like the Madshus Fjelltech M44 skis available at Norseman or Life Sport. If you can find even more narrow metal edge xc skis, buy them for the speed and let the Skier Bob nation know where you got them from.
With metal edge skis I do not have to worry about what kind of snow conditions exist on the ski trails if I happened to forget to check out the ski conditions on Skier Bob. That is a big bonus which allows for overall better and safer skiing days.
Metal edge skis allow me to travel at any speed I wish. If I want to go 100 kilometers per hour down a hill in a tuck position, I will knowing I can stop quickly with metal edge skis, pretty much similar to my downhill skis. On groomed trails or hard smooth spring snow conditions, I can also cut turns similar to slalom downhill skiers.
Also metal edge skis extend your ski season. When people pack in the XC skiing in spring because of hard spring snow conditions, metal edge skiers can keep on skiing with safety. This is the time of year when metal edges really shine. Just look for smooth hard spring snow conditions, which are often best off trails in the higher country.
If you are not a good XC skier, it is a good idea to take lessons on how to become a better skier. Also, you can take your cross country skis to downhill ski hills to practice turns, snowplowing and stopping. You will need safety straps on your skis to meet the ski hill standards for run away skis though. Good ski shops can help you with that.
It would be a good idea for a section on this website to promote XC ski lessons to encourage more safety on the slopes. There seems to be a few too many accidents occurring out there as the above story suggests.
Ski or die (- an old hard core extreme skier saying- if you crash then their is potential for death from smashing your head into a rock or tree or getting taken out by an avalanche).
Keep your ski bases on the snow and your ski tips up.
Ouch! (((Shudder))). Another useful item to have is some anti inflammatories, not so much help for severe injuries of course, but can get you home safely sometimes. Good value for weight.
On Tuesday my wife and I skied Elk Pass and she skied out Trywhitt and Whiskey Jack. Conditions were rather icy and the trail could use more snow and some grooming. Earlier in the day we meet a group of older skiers (like us) on the trail. Later in the day my wife encountered the same group with one skier having fallen on one of the steeper downhills of Whiskey Jack and having suffered what appears to be a severe break of one of his legs. The trail was very icy and fast. The group had moved the skier off the trail, had him wrapped in a space blanket and one member was sent off to summon the SAR team as there was no cell phone coverage in the area. We met the SAR team heading off with Ski-doos at the Boulton Parking area about an hour after the incident. The lesson here is that conditions are quite icy and accidents can happen at any time. The group seemed well equipped with warm clothing and some safety gear. They did not have a way of communicating and as I was coming down a shorter route from the pass, I was carrying the InReach, so I could not help. But would have this been faster that someone did by skiing out and driving to find the Rangers. I often see skiers who have nothing more than a little bum bag with a water bottle and Powerbar and no extra clothing or safety gear. Luckily it was not to cold on Tuesday, but having to wait an hour or several hours for rescue could be very uncomfortable or dangerous. Carry some extra clothing, some safety gear and a way of communicating such as an InReach or a Spot if possible. PS, when my wife asked if they needed any more help, the skier asked her for Whisky, which she could not provide at the time.
Adams, Jeff. “Tourists vs. Nature: Five-Year Plan Must Serve Two Masters”. Calgary Herald. 29 May 1994. B6.
“As for closing the 1A Highway west of Lake Louise, the new five-year plan says the summer-only road is so rough it will soon be dangerous for the average 500 motorists a day who use it each June, July and August.”
So it sounds like the road was open in the summers up until the mid-90s. I clearly remember driving the road as a kid in the 80s (well, I wasn’t driving: my dad was). If memory serves me correctly there was a gas station where the current parking lot is now.
I think it was 1999. I’m pretty sure that it was still open to traffic in early 90s.
I have worked at the Chateau for a few years, and remember taking this shortcut a number of times.
There was a popular tourist attraction at the Continental Divide. A creek that forks, with one side draining east to Hudson Bay, and the other side draining west to the Pacific Ocean.
Lint collected from a dryer lint filter is an excellent fire starter with twigs. I always take off the (lithium) batteries of my headlamp, in case it gets turned off while in my pack; it happened to me twice! Carry bear mace in winter ski season until early January and starting mid-March. A spare tuque is good on long trips, especially for long and warm spring ski days, in case of an unplanned overnight.
Besides trying to bring cookies for the various locations of groomers, I am a bit of a “Candy-holic” so as soon as I see those Dark Chocolate BRANDY BEANS on the shelves before Christmas, they are in my pack!
After an incident where someone was injured and lay on the snow for a while and getting extremely cold before being airlifted out I always carry space blankets. Better than hypothermia from laying in the cold snow. Besides the items everyone has suggested I also have a whistle. We always ski on weekdays when there weren’t many people around, may be different this year. I will include duct tape in my pack from now on.
Reading the list of risks laid out by MaSid, it got me thinking ”outside the trails”. Considering that cross-country and light touring skiing will be far more popular this winter, in part due to the pandemic, it might be appropriate to have a string of suggestions about equipment to bring along for safety purpose. I am thinking more for those less experienced and beginners. The lack of snow at WBC will bring a flood of Calgary skiers into PLPP, where conditions have been stellar for 5-6 weeks. A couple years ago on this site, many of us with lots of ski experience provided useful suggestions as such. If those prevent some unfortunate situation on the trail with proper planning for less experienced, far away from a parking lot, that would be good. Maybe add a section in the Resources tab. My two cents worth.
Not skiing related but another neat outdoor option if it gets cold enough is the planned Ice River Skating Trail
New for 2020: North Glenmore Ice Trail Pilot
Coming soon: a new Ice Trail pilot project is launching at North Glenmore park in late 2020.
This ice trail is a free and fun destination for Calgarians during colder months, and another way we’re helping to keep Calgarians safer as they stay connected this winter.
You’ll be able to skate over 730 metres of connected track, through North Glenmore park, with an attached skating rink located in the centre. Benches, picnic sites and portable washrooms are available on site. This pilot is part of The City’s ongoing commitment to delivering value for Calgarians’ investment, creating exceptional experiences in public green spaces, and further activating parks during winter months.
The ice trail and skating rink will be open from 11 AM – 10 PM daily.
The North Glenmore Ice Trail is expected to open towards the end of December 2020.
There are a few risks in the west elk pass meadows for those venturing off track with narrow skis:
1. falling over due to soft snow/track, blown in track or an unintentional deep pole plant, and can be hard to get up in the ungroomed stuff
2. getting lost if enough fresh new snow and no visible track to follow, can also sometimes be an abundance of tracks wandering about with no apparent destination at some times of year. Having some knowledge of the landscape and navigation skills is key in those times. If in doubt, just reverse course. But probably good travel conditions for the next few weeks until the above average snowfall arrives (unless it gets too warm).
3. sun burn: it can get intense back there some times, especially at the couch if hanging out for a while (particularly the non-covid version of other years as it’s a big parabolic reflector that generates solar heat)
4. addiction: its gorgeous throughout the meadows when the weather is nice, and if you brought a foamy to sit on at the couch, you might just stay too long and develop meadow narcolepsy (see #1 above).
As an addendum to Bob’s Tyrwhitt report, both Elk Pass and Pocaterra parking lots had about 30 cars each – and approx 50% had parking passes – which is about what you’d expect for this early in the new “parking season”. Only 3 or 4 cars in Boulton. Staff at Visitor Centre (aka Discovery Centre) were busy prepping to open tomorrow.
SkierBob! We must have just missed you this morning! We met 2 friendly skiers along Tyrwhitt who said they had parked at the back door and were one of the last cars to get a spot. Have always wanted to meet you on the trails! Perhaps we did see you in passing somewhere along the way…..we had a great ski, glad to hear you did too!
After a week where it is CLEAR that we should actually be having much more strict rules than the UCP government has decided upon, and not having a province wide mask by-law yet, please be diligent.
Please for 2-3 weeks even be more careful about car pooling. If you listened to CBC last week, a gentleman said he was cautious for 8 months, only to let his guard down ONCE, carpooling with an Asyptomatic friend… unknowingly.
Given we now get to PAY $$ to XC and PAY$$ for track setting, the last thing we need to do is PAY with our mutual health!
Hope everyone who follows SKIER BOB stays healthy and well for the duration of the ski season.
Merry Christmas is coming!
Tyrwhitt
Some rough or uneven surfaces remain but generally in good condition. Groomed only for the first 1 km south from Lookout Junction.
Groomed: Nov 27 Track Set: Nov 27
I learned of cases in Canmore starting by 4 people carpooling from Calgary to Canmore. One fellow who was asymptomatic spread it to 1 of the others. The other 2 in the car stayed negative. I don’t have details re: masks, distance in car, etc…but I find people get caught up in the details to justify their own risk tolerance, and lose sight of the big picture that we are in unprecedented times requiring really tough decisions, and sacrifices by all of us on a variety of fronts.
The “2 friend rule” is interesting. If you live alone, you are allowed to not go crazy through lack of social interaction. Not sure that applies to driving together as a none household unless it’s the only two you ever interact with, as if they were a household, and no interaction with anyone else. Solo days aren’t so bad, but I won’t stop skiing.
BTW – The town of Banff has declared a state of local emergency and the Banff, Lake Louise area has the second highest rate of infection in the province. Please stay away!
The idea is to limit your exposure to other people as much as possible. The virus doesn’t care about climate change or politics and will take every opportunity to spread, regardless of what the rules say. I always ask myself if what I’m about to do will increase my risk of exposure, not “will I get a fine if I get caught”? Like I said, the virus doesn’t care.
I think the intention of the restrictions are that your Bubble or Cohort are the same two people if you live alone. So not one for skiing then another one for restaurants, etc. I realize it is not that environmentally friendly more safest to have so many people driving, but this is one of the sacrifices we must make or stay over to reduce your times on the road.
The intent of the restrictions is to minimize unnecessary indoor gatherings. If you are not in the same household, taking more than one vehicle is going to be safer, and possibly more enjoyable as you won’t have to wear a mask. As others have said, this is only for three weeks and if we all try and stick to the intention behind the restrictions they might work and be lifted at the end of that period. Trying to bend or stretch them will almost certainly mean that we are faced with more restrictions. In the spring we lost access to the Parks, and obviously we don’t want that again.
The restrictions are currently only for three weeks – winter in the Canadian Rockies lasts months! Please stay home if you cannot adhere to the restrictions, and please don’t try to ‘stretch’ or ‘bend’ the new regulations to suit your immediate desires. The snow will be here all winter.
I believe the cohort/bubble rule has changed with these new restrictions. As of November 24, 2020, close contact must only be with members of the same household. Indoor social gatherings – even among members of the same cohort – are not allowed. It would be logical that” indoor social gatherings” would apply to vehicles as well. Check out Alberta.ca for the newest update on restrictions.
I have 1 friend (other than my husband) who I will share a Vehicle with and thankfully she is my ski buddy. If we stick to the cohort /bubble rule I think we’re fine.
Seems like a good question but we can still travel by public transit, taxi and aircraft, without limits on seating, provided all occupants are masked up. Maybe the same holds here?
Hey there, I’m trying to find a up to date trail report for Calgary so I know where I can ski & can’t seem to find anything. Your help is greatly appreciated.
A potential “resource” article suggestion bob: some kind of waxing primer for beginners, understanding the different types, varieties, do’s and don’ts, fluorocarbons, synthetics, and acronyms (brand naming etc: VR vs “special extra”). When is best to use fishs scales, skins, or wax. I’ve always used fish scales for cross country gear, being daunted by it and not wanting to bother (and never really cared about maximum speed or distance). I have used wax on my AT gear but have only had real success with polar wax temps. Anything warmer seems to be more art than science. There may be many new users looking for a similar overview and additional resources.
I had never skied the Upper Lake – Elk Pass connector before, so today I parked at Upper Lake and started from there. I skied through Elk Pass meadows to the hydroline going into BC, where I could hear noise from heavy machinery. It sounded like a logging operation is going on just on the other side of the hydroline. Something to be aware of for those skiing through to Elk Lakes cabin.
Based on the above, we can see that grooming is expensive, especially to achieve the high quality Pisten Bully grooming. On Friday, we skied with a group of friends on the marvellous fresh grooming on the Elk Pass and Blueberry trails. Everyone had a great time and most certainly enjoyed the grooming.
PLPP is the closest location to Calgary with a reliable snow pack for a long ski season.
In the past years, there was no charge for this grooming at PLPP and this year there is a very modest charge for parking. There is no reason why the users should not cover the grooming costs.
Many users would be happy to pay for more frequent grooming with examples such as at the Golden Nordic Club (Adult $12/day 35 km of trails), the Sovereign Lake club (at Vernon Adult $19/day 50 km of trails), Canmore Nordic Centre (Adult $15/day 65 km of trails) and others. Note that Golden grooms about half of the trails daily and Sovereign grooms all of the trails daily.
At PLPP we have witnessed MANY happy skiers so far this year. This large group of skiers should be able to fund more regular grooming of more trails daily at PLPP, especially this winter of high demand for ski trails.
Thanks to the groomers, Nordiq Canada and the volunteers who helped to retain grooming at PLPP. We are indeed fortunate to have these trails groomed this winter.
Also a shout out to the excellent work done by the volunteers at West Bragg! They are also seeking a bit more funding for their proposed new smaller Pisten Bully equivalent (Sno Rabbit). We should all help with their funding as well.
Several facts: 1) A small portion of PLPP contains the only high quality classic ski grooming (Pisten Bully) in South Western Alberta.
2) There are very small signs at the start of the trails in PLPP stating that skating is not allowed since it damages the classic track. The tracks are too close together to provide room for skating.
3) Many people are not aware that skating is not allowed in PLPP, but will copy other people that skate, since it is of low probability that they have read the small signs.
4) One person skated over much of the groomed classic track up Whiskey Jack.
5) One person was skating on Tyrwhitt. There were no groomed classic tracks on Tyrwhitt.
6) Yes, I was irritated.
Note that the only trails currently available in this area for skating are at Lake Louise (MLR and GDT) and Frozen Thunder.
Appreciate the informative article.If a trail is packed and not track set eg Tyrwhitt this weekend , what is the etiquette regarding skating ?
I found it difficult in places to maintain glide & was switching between classic diagonal and skating . A gentleman stopped to tell me it was extremely rude to skate on a classic trail . I don’t see the issue on an uncrowded trail with no set tracks to damage but willing to consider other viewpoints
Hi Bob, we skied down Packers on Saturday not realizing the condition it was in, happy to report we survived! But yes, it was very dicey. It was a veritable roller coaster. Great day nonetheless!
Easiest way to look at grooming is to think of it like making a snowball. What is required when the snow is cold and dry? What happens if you make a snowball when the snow is wet and it freezes?
The answers to these questions is the basic principle of all grooming.
I concur with Mike W. This article is most useful and should make a lot of people think about the crew and all they do for us ( I know it certainly made me appreciate even more what is done for us). This article is good for both new comers to our sport but as well to people like myself who have been using the area for many, many, years. Thank you Bob.
I would also like to pass on a huge thank you to all the folks who sent in emails etc. to the government. Without the pressure we put on Jason Nixon and others and without Nordiq Alberta the wonderful service described here would not have happened.
Bob, you mention “There’s been lots of concern about there being no Live Grooming Reports. Nobody seems to know anything except for the fact that it’s not functioning.” Does anyone presently know any further? As a retired IT professional, is there anything that I can help with in that regard to investigate?
Thanks to Skier Bob for the Upper Lake parking tip. We were the first vehicle in the Upper Lake lot at about 9:40 this morning. When we finished at 1:30, the Elk Pass parking lot was completely full, including vehicles parked on the side of the short access road into lot. Upper Lake had probably 15 or 16 vehicles and my buddy commented that the massive Upper Lake lot is a much better option than the crowded Elk Pass lot. We also enjoyed having that nice little 0.9 km connector stretch to casually ski after coming down to the Elk Pass lot.
A month ahead of normal schedule, including travel in the meadows! Happy days. As I have no cross country gear currently, unlikely to be any couches on pipestone or Fairview this year. So couch HQ is it, for now. Bring a foamy to sit on.
I rode down the Kicking Horse Trail this summer and was blocked well before the Ottertail river by an ever growing number of large fallen trees. Much thanks (and maybe even a KHSC donation) must be given to the maintenance crew in getting this trail (and all the Yoho trails) in tip-top shape!
I only discovered these “hidden” gems last year around the time of the loppet -also a hidden gem of an event. And, COVID notwithstanding, really hope to see it go ahead. Well worth the trip, even from Edmonton (and we have snow!)
Thank you for your wonderful reports and dedication to the nordic skiing community! I reluctantly bought my parking pass today…not because I believe we should be paying the UCP government twice for this but because I didn’t want the hassle of explaining to volunteers how I feel this shouldn’t be a user pay facility (we already have one in Canmore). People should know that the pass is actually $54 because of the “processing” fee on Zone4.
I encourage everyone to write to Jason Nixon requesting that the live grooming be re-instated. I’m not sure why it’s “no longer functioning” which sounds pretty final to me.
You can submit your feedback using the offical contact form https://www.alberta.ca/contact.cfm#forms
Anyways, I think I’ve made my point known so now it’s time to try and put all this behind me on the trails. 🙂 I’ll try to be less grumpy in the future (but this government is making it very difficult)
Happy skiing!
Cindy, the Live Grooming Reports were operated by a private individual who seems to have disappeared. There was no government involvement. -Bob
As for the Cooperating Agreement itself, it isn’t available to the public, including on Alberta’s “Open Government” website. This was confirmed with a phone call to the Alberta Environment and Parks FOIP Office. I looked into making a FOIP request. It costs $25 just to file the request, at which point a FOIP representative will give you an estimate on the fee to process the request. The government should have released the Agreement to the public to begin with. If I’m going to donate money to the government, whether or not it’s through an intermediate organization, I want to know exactly what’s going to happen to my money. Withholding this information is counter-productive to public trust and buy-in.
I bought my pass this morning and am good to go, but its still a bit unclear to me how the funding is going to work? I presume my payment will go to Nordiq Alberta, but will they then transfer all or some of the payments they receive to Parks or general revenue or even some other account? If the amount of funds raised exceeds or falls short of the cost of grooming what then.
Maybe this has been explained in detail somewhere and I’ve missed it, so if there is a link to that information I’d appreciate it.
Hi there
Snowshoeing with a dog off-leash – where is that available, and do you report those kind of updates in your website (which is a very useful site; kudos!)
Tickets are being handed out if you park on the road at the Back door. Over 40 cars were ticketed on Sunday November 15 from the CO people. Not a pleasant thing to come back to.
I think your question has been answered but the vehicles were encroaching the driving lane. I’m not sure if it would be possible to park completely on the shoulder. The advice the CO was giving was to seek out another trail when the parking lot is full.
I was at PLPP today via backdoor. When we returned to our car there were conservation officers putting tickets on the cars parked on the road. Might be worth warning people.
Trip report Fire look out/pocaterra/tywhitt
Not sure how you submit these. Been planning on a back door trip for a couple of weeks, knowing it can be good early season. Don’t think about checking site this early in season. We were third vehicle to arrive at fire look out parking lot. Arrived to a fresh dusting of 10cm of light and fluffy snow. Only 1 set of touring tracks heading up to Elk Pass was before us. Temperatures and wind were perfect for the 7.5km climb. We saw no one on the way up to the Elk Pass arch. Skier track was solid and the glide up was fantastic with the new BC skin skis picked up this summer.
Way back was significantly different. Lots of people out enjoying the fresh snow, and everyone happy to be out of the city. 51 cars parked in the lot and on the road when we left. Busy for Nov! But nice to see so many people out enjoying the trails we almost lost. Hopefully they all purchased a pass for what promises to be an amazing season in PLPP!
Loved that photo of the skiers observing a moment of silence at 11am on Nov 11 that I posted it on my book face page. It gives credit to Chuck and Bob. Thanks.
Rhonda
Nice one Steve, great photos. That’s a brave sheep, hunting season and all? Or maybe he knows he’s not legal yet.
So far Kananaskis remote weather stations aren’t showing that much new snow (highwood and mud lake). So maybe Bragg is lucking out. Assuming if enough they will roller pack it to help prepare the next base. At least temps will be cool.
What is with the UCP discrimination against cross country skiers?
Mountain bikers in the Provincial Parks are not charged fees for riding on trails, particularly those nice paved ones! Cars are not charged fees for driving in the parks. People putting garbage into garbage cans are not charged a fee. People using toilets are not charged fees so why is Premier Jason Kenney charging cross country skiers fees to park? This is a Keystone XL pipeline money grab by a Premier who is discriminatory .
Unfortunately due to Covid we will be seeing a LOT more trail users out there… of all types: Walkers, classic skiers, s’shoers, skate skiers, fat bikers and skinnier-tired-fat bikers. Since so many of them are relatively new to their respective sports and perhaps don’t crossover much, they will require patience and education. Many will end up on some of the wrong trails, some by accident and others by ignorance. Education starts at the shops they buy gear from, from trailhead signs, from other infrastructure users, and from being open to conversations and education. So I would ask the question of how can we include the local shops in the educating process? So if we go looking for conflict it’s pretty easy to find it, whereas if we go looking to share and educate you will most often find friendly reception.
My grinds with fat bikers is only with those who run down track sets which is exceedingly rare, those that do not stay to the side of the trail on blind downhill corners and those that bike illegally on trails closed to bikers.
Other than that, they are ok on limited trails as bikes do far less environmental damage on snow covered trails as compared to dirt trails- ie ruts from bikes that lead to more erosion and debris entering fish bearing streams and rut erosion harm to trails which make hiking more difficult and increase trail maintenance costs.
Technically, Parks Canada should limit the speed of biking in the parks, like the City of Calgary does, on the bike trails to a maximum of 20 kph for safety purposes. The bikers are more of a hazard to hikers on certain hiking trails with blind downhill corners than skiers as they can move much quicker on solid ground than typical winter snow. Speed can be used in court cases involving accidents to help determine negligence or fault.
If Parks Canada does not have a biker responsibility code, it better move it’s butt and develop one for legal liability purposes. Parks Canada could be held legally responsible in the event of an accident on its trails which it controls and permits bikes to be utilized. We don’t need Parks Canada wasting more money on court cases than it already does because the Superintendent or Minister of Environment is too ignorant or lazy to develop a biker responsibility code for within Park boundaries.
As a hiker who has been highly injured in a crash by a bike going to fast downhill around a blind corner, I believe a biker responsibility code would be an excellent idea as it would simplify any court cases involving such accidents and educate people to be more careful riding. Making court cases simple also means less lawyer costs for the injured or crash victims which is greatly needed to keep money in the pockets of the injured.
If you ever do get hit by a biker, take pictures immediately for evidence purposes.
Keep on biking and skiing as safe as possible to keep the fun for all out there.
Where is the Great Divide parking lot? Are you referring to the one on north side of the highway? If so, do you then cross both the highway and the railroad tracks to get to the ski trail?
A few years ago, when switching to studded bike tires, all the local shop had were 2.2, which was much narrower than the 2.8 stock tires. Because I had already switched our SUV to narrower winter tires and noticed a significant improvement, I decided to give the narrower bike tires a try as I normally bike on plowed roads. (Plus the price of studded fat tires is eye watering). However, you do end up biking on seasonally closed roads after large snowfalls that have not yet been plowed, or ones that are still not too deep such as the dog loop at the end of the golf course road in Banff. It became apparent that I was able to keep a straighter line, and proceed through unpacked snow better than fat bikes due to the narrower tires that do not push a wall of snow up in front of a fatter tire that pushes back. Fat bikes do require a packed surface because they can only sink so much before they cannot be controlled and require a huge amount of effort to push the wall of snow. That’s why you see them favoring ski trails – up to a point. You’ve probably seen signs of this: evidence presented by spaghetti tracks that they tried for awhile biking on a groomed trail and gave up and turned back (as I did last year early season on the Great Divide Trail when all there was were 2 tire tracks from a truck). I get the impression that someone that’s new to the concept of Fat Bikes does not fully appreciate their limitations, and discover that they are largely also limited to plowed roads, or packed ski trails. Hence it is likely that packed trails will see an increase in this type of use every year, with the bikers being forced to find some sort of packed surface to ride on. And if there are no other alternatives, the track, or the skate lane, may be the only options for the determined biker (or snowshoes).
Managed to swing by elk pass parking lot on Saturday. Only a few inches on the ground at the trailhead, barely covering gravel. Snow amounts at highwood dissipate rapidly below the elevation of the pass. The snow that fell has also settled very quickly in that area.
I also had a very pleasant chat with that young fellow and certainly echo Charles’ comments. One important detail I would add is that his fat bike was not affecting that firm surface in any way at all. Zero damage to the skating track.
If you are poor do not worry about buying a parking pass and just keep on xc skiing like usual. Don’t let Premier Kenney ruin your winter again.
Kenney’s election slogan was oddly “strong and free” yet he is eliminating what is free. Be strong and keep skiing for free if you don’t have the bucks to pay for parking in our parks.
Be sure to vote out the United Corruption Party, also known as the UCP, at the next general election and support a skier friendly party.
Nice to see parking lot fee payments will be voluntary as they should be. Poor people can continue to ski for free if they can not afford Kenney Parking Lot Fees in our Parks.
Once Joe Biden eliminates the Keystone XL Pipeline, Kenney can stop building the pipeline to no where and shift tax dollars back to our Parks where there are better returns on investment for our tax dollars rather than wasting them on subsidizing American oil companies with cheap ass discounted below market value environmentally unethical heavy Alberta bitumen.
If the unintelligent Conservatives would have been less American influenced and built value added oil refineries in Alberta decades ago, rather than foolishly exporting our raw crude oil then the discussion of Parking lot Payments in Alberta Parks would not be an issue today.
Viva live poor XC skiers in Alberta Parks free of costs. Keep on skiing and keep your ski tips up!
Theme is all the trails are in Kananaskis and were in danger of not being groomed and trackset this season. With the work spearheaded by Nordiq Alberta, we will once again be able to enjoy these trails on groomed/tracked conditions at bargain rates.
Congratulations, Jan. I’m glad to see someone figured this out. -Bob
So far looks like this next system is coming in wet to start. Raining in Banff and Louise and not turning to snow until morning. Blast! Saw some pictures from ramblers up at picklejar lakes and three lakes valley last few days. Still pretty snowy in places, but gaps in between depending on wind and sun exposure.
$50 for a pass is an amazing deal, given the range of trails and quality of grooming you enjoy. I’m pretty sure anyone who doesn’t live in your area realizes what a gem and privilege you’ve had for so many years and at no cost to users. I’ll buy a pass gladly. I live in BC and visit every year for a week of skiing and this is a true bargain.
Mike W, Jim, Bob et al. Know that your comments and questions are being read and considered. But there are legal and ethical issues here , and FOIP legislation of course. I am only a volunteer here, like many others, and certainly not at liberty to release documents without approval. Please be patient.
Goals are always a better way to motivate people.
If we are looking for 200k how about we have a counter on the Nordiq website?
I mean technically there are 7k members of that club alone…
In a perfect world, where everyone is buying a pass, what would happen to excess $ raised above and beyond the cost of grooming? Does it all go back to Alberta Parks (government) or does Nordiq and maybe other ski clubs benefit from monies raised?
Piggy backing a little on “Friends” post. What trails work best for pulling a chariot ski pulk? My wife and I are intermediate skiers, our daughter is 10 months and our son who is 3 has already been skiing since he was a year and a half, but when the little man needs a break we are hauling about 60lbs plus the sled. Thoughts? Just wondering what you and the community think.
How does this affect people who use the nearby snowshoe trails? Will a pass be required? Just wanting to clarify so I know what I need before I head out.
If I’m not mistaken, Kyle and crew perform the ski trail grooming and trail maintenance in Sandy McNabb AND the south Elbow trail from Fullerton day use parking lot. So, technically speaking, parking for xcskiing there for that trail may? warrant a pass too …ABParks and GBCTA should clarify this, or better yet, just implement same for their agreement area. Happy Skiing!
First of all, thanks to Ken Hewitt, Nordiq Alberta, Bob, and everyone else who contributed to this effort. If the Kananaskis trails were outside Alberta Parks and groomed by a non-government organization similar to West Bragg, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend $50 for a pass. But I’m uneasy about doing so for Kananaskis, because I’m then implicitly supporting the government’s decision that the best way to save $200,000 is by eliminate grooming, rather than cutting back on other expenses like its Energy War Room and Corporate Tax Cuts. The War Room is a complete waste of money. It makes sense to spend money to create jobs, but why spend billions of dollars in corporate tax cuts hoping that a fraction of it trickles down into job creation? A program that rewards corporations specifically based on the jobs they create makes more sense. Rather than contributing $50 to Kananaskis, I’m considering increasing my West Bragg donations by $50 instead. I’d appreciate any thoughts others have on this issue. Specifically, how can I contribute to Kananaskis Grooming without implicitly condoning the government’s actions? On a related note, what happens if the money raised by Nordiq Alberta exceeds the grooming costs? I certainly hope it doesn’t go into the government general coffers!
I am thrilled and thankful for the hard work of putting this proposal together! We are more than willing to pay for the grooming. We go regularly to Sovereign lake. Due to the worry about our own access to tracks near home, we have 2 X 2 week stays booked there. We could consider cancelling the interprovincial travel now. A question: is there any plan, or consideration for more frequent grooming? Sovereign Lake charges much more, but has Daily grooming. We would support higher fees IF it meant more grooming.
Great perspective in comparing other provinces (they also have a PST/HST) $50 is indeed a bargain! Count me in. I am relieved that a reasonable solution was found. Thank you to all the people that put in the effort.
However, on the political side of things, please note that the Alberta government is planning to close 20 parks and remove 164 from the Alberta Parks system. A total of 175 parks could lose protection and Albertans could lose access.
It really is only reasonable to expect the people who use the XC ski trails to pay for the excellent service provided by the hard working caretakers of the trails. I feel it was not something that XC skiers could have felt would last forever to have so much hard work and cost borne by the general taxpayers for a treat enjoyed by a small fraction of the population.
Lets pay up and be grateful for the ability to cohabit with nature on beautiful trails, enjoy the whiskeyjacks, stare with unadulterated one at the views and see people we know travelling on these peaceful pathways of snow.
I look forward to paying for the trail makers, and hope that the experiment works and that we can go on enjoying “paying to ski” as we should.
Great initiative! Looking forward to enjoying the great trails this winter. Thanks for your work on this project – Nordiq Alberta, Ken and your team and Skier Bob.
Thanks to Bob and Ken Hewitt and Nordiq Alberta. I was skiing at WBC last Sunday – what a crowd! Folks were just glad to get outside and enjoy our wonderful backyard.
Looking forward to Pocaterra!
Great news! Thanks to everyone who was instrumental in making this happen, especially Nordiq Alberta! And thanks Bob for promoting our great sport. Now let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
This is excellent news. Bought and printed the pass already. Special thanks to Ken Hewitt for all his hard work in putting this program together. Looking forward to another visit to Masid’s couch! YIPPEE!
BRAVO NORDIQ ALBERTA, Skier Bob and all 4600 emails and letter-writers sent in and T-Y to government officials who read and responded to them (Ministers Jason Nixon, Miranda Rosin and other elected officials). I read about this on Bob’s awesome website on 2:45 pm, and had my Parking Pass via efficient Zone 4 purchased at 3:17. We can celebrate this great news and hope Zone 4 gets overwhelmed with eager responders. Now let’s bring on the next big dump and colder temperatures.
* Online purchases require payment of supplementary credit card processing charges – approximately $2-$3 per transaction. Processing charges do not apply for cash payments at retailers.
First good news we’ve had in a long time. Next stop, season pass. And I’m so excited to find another volunteer opportunity – shall be putting my name in immediately as a parking lot volunteer.
Thanks so much, Bob, for the work you do.
And thank you Nordiq Alberta.
Well done, all.
Can’t wait to see you ut on the trails, and let’s hope for a fantastic xc ski season!!
Thanks, Bob for keeping us informed. You are so on top of anything that has to do with XC-Skiing. I know I am stating the obvious, but I want you to know that you are super appreciated.
I’m so disappointed that people in the cross country ski community capitulated so quickly and easily and fell right in the current government’s trap to privatize and offload their responsibility onto the backs of Albertans.
I will bite my tongue before I say something I regret about the useless penny-pinching mavens in government who thought that cutting this program was a great idea.
For backcountry users on a multi day trip to BNP or Assiniboine that do not have an annual pass, the best solution would be to purchase 2 day passes, one for the day in, and one for the day out?
That’s great – from the sidelines it appears that people put serious effort into making this happen. We don’t use the trails, but we certainly understand the importance of them, and did write to our MLA who sits at the cabinet table.
As someone who buys both a national park pass and a ski area pass, plus day tickets when we go to other resorts, a user-pay system seems extremely fair to me. Our province is fighting for its economic life and if we want recreation areas to exist, we may have to pony up. It is unfortunately present day reality.
Fantastic,
I feel we pay enough taxes this should be available regardless but obviously this was cut from Provincial services so…awesome work getting a solution figured.
Got Mine Already!
I am not sure if this is a done deal or not and i dont want to discourage anyone but this looks like a very expensive groomer toy. There are many, many winters in wbc where the snow is thin at best and a machine this size will be of no use. Better to get more light weight equipment and train more people to use it. I am very happy to make my donation but I do not think this is the right direction.
Kananaskis trails
I think I got most of them but I did have to guess a few
#1 Terrace
#2 Whiskey Jack
#3 Elk Pass
#4 Tyrwhitt
#5 Mount Shark
#6 Hay Meadows
#7 Ribbon Creek
#8 Lynx
#9 Skogan Pass
#10 Pocaterra
#11 Packers
#12 Lynx
Good job. 10 out of 12 correct. #1 and #12 are incorrect. #8 is actually “Link” but you have the right idea. -Bob
My understanding from talking to staff at WBC is that the new machine effectively allows all of the necessary snow work for the local conditions and excellent track setting in one pass, vs multiple passes doing multiple stages given the limitations of the current machine relative to the snow conditions. This saves much time and labour as well as maintenance hours on the machine and the product is better for the conditions that have to be dealt with and the amount of use the trails get. Sounds like a wise choice, especially with 65+ km’s of trail. I’m sure boomer or Alf could add more if need be for people to understand the need. I always thought the track setting was great and never realized it could be better, or faster. Thanks for educating me on what it takes to make it great for our use and enjoyment.
My wife is pregnant and is a beginner skier who just learned to snow plow. We are planning a day to ski in early December. Do you have any flat ski area you would suggest? We live in Calgary. It would be nice if the dog could come too. Thanks for all your services with the ski community.
We were out on Sunday too – on AT skis to test out new boots.
The classic track on Moraine looked good, but the skate area had been thrashed by walkers and fat bike treads. Would be nice if they can either designate a section for them (nor why you’d want to walk that road in the winter anyway…) or at least strongly discourage walking/fat biking. It had decimated all the grooming work – and it’s one of the few places with a great skate track. And in places, I think the tire ruts hadn’t quite been flattened out.
As to the gate- that would be that gate after the parking areas, and that’s always shut all winter long. Doesn’t interfere with the normal parking. It sounds like parking on Lake Louise Drive is not permitted — not safe. Getting out of the parking area on Sunday was scary given how people were parked every which way. Get there early or park elsewhere, but don’t make it a gong show for people to get in and out!
Three of us from the Seniors Outdoor Club were out Tuesday morning. Snow was soft but skiable with either softer than violet wax or my fish scale skis worked very well! Started at 9:00 and off trail at 11:30. A good morning for a short ski on East Crystal and Sundog and back.
Found on MLR today – gloves and thermos in one location and vest in another. Gloves and vest are at the LL Visitor Centre but I had no room for the thermos it’s still up there.
With respect to the Live Grooming Reports, I’m wondering if the company that provides the service has gone out of business. The security certificate for their website https://skitrails.info/ expired 2 months ago and their home page doesn’t even display their map. I tried phoning them, but the call gets forwarded to another number with a generic “no one can take your call right now” voice mail prompt. Perhaps someone from West Bragg or the Nordic Centre can clarify what the situation is?
You have created an incredible resource Bob! I have followed you for years. Anytime I meet someone new who xcountry skis my first question is -where do they love to ski? My second question is always-do you follow SkierBob?
Thanks for all the work that goes into this-very much appreciated!
Jenn
Thanks, Jenn! I’m glad I could facilitate creating this awesome XC skiing community. -Bob
Contribute to the WBCTA campaign to raise $25K to finance a Snow Rabbit (aka BabyPiston Bully). Given the 1000+ people there today, this should be a short campaign.
Ah yes, the neighbor in the white house… I too have felt his wrath. Maybe he should take up woodworking or some such.
Thanks for the update. My golf clubs are still in the car, in anticipation of this weeks’ heat wave. Pathetic, eh?
We did Moraine Lake Road today. It was crawling with various ski teams, including two male national team members, who I had a nice chin wag with. I am always in awe of these people, and their willingness to (delight to?) push themselves to the wall over and over again.
My Nordic comrades…
Fantastic day at the Spring Creek Trails in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
-12 and sunny. Skier packed. Great to see so many friends out so early!
I’m looking to hire an instructor to teach my friend and I how to skate ski. We’re hoping for a few lessons in Calgary. Any suggestions on who to reach out to?
I discovered my love of cross country skiing in Kananaskis. Going to Mount shark area and skiing with my friends and our dogs on a sunny winter afternoon is my little slice of heaven. I remember going there for the first time and thinking… all of this for free!? It’s the greatest gift we can give Albertans and visitors to Alberta – groomed access to this winter wonderland for free. It’s such a low cost way to get people outdoors in the winter. It’s a gift to our health and wellness, and should be prioritized at times like these.
Hi Bob,
“The final sentence on the notice doesn’t make sense to me. “The Moraine Lake road traffic gate will remain closed during the seasonal winter road closure.” I hope that’s a mistake.”
That just means that the Moraine Lake road will continue to be closed to vehicle traffic for the remainder of the winter season (after the improved gate is installed), as usual.
Apparently (from a friend’s post) there were vehicle ruts on Moraine Lake road Friday from lodge staff trying to drive in. Hopefully those will fill in quickly.
Thanks for the great early season grooming!! Thursdays conditions were great compared to Tuesday especially on Mountain Road leaving the parking area which was a miraculous improvement.
PLPP is my favourite place to ski. We skied there for years when the kids were small. They still talk about the echo where grandma did a face plant one Christmas. Now they choose to ski there with me, and come home to Calgary for the specific purpose to ski there with me. I’ve also skied there many times on my own, either for the pure enjoyment or to decompress from life. It’s a spectacularly beautiful place with fantastic trails and grooming. Winter would not be the same without it.
I like the variety, accessibility and long season of sking in Kanananaskis: Ribbon Creek, Peter Lougheed and Mt Shark.
Ribbon Creek has three different areas: the trails close to the village with lots of loops possible, the calorie burning trails towards Skogan Pass and the scenic Bill Milne and Watridge Lake area. Ribbon Creek is close to Calgary for a quick spin around some trails or to spend a day at a more leisurely pace.
Peter Lougheed is amazing with plenty of rolling loops on the valley trails with access via Pocaterra, Visitors Centre, Boulton, William Watson Lodge and Elkwood. The tour over Elk Pass and Trywhitt is an all time favorite with endless possibilities to start, end and do side trips such as Blueberry Hill and Lookout. Also don’t forget the trails on the other side of the road that are great to do on their own or in combination with the valley trails: Lodgepole, Braille, Meadow and Sinclair. I first discovered the newly developed trails in Peter Lougheed in the mid to late 1970s and have been back many times every year since. I have many fond memories of bringing the kids out for Jackrabbit lessons here, many a short and long tours, helping out with the Cookie race and more recently skiing out of William Watson Lodge.
Mt Shark has the long season and lots of variety in the easy to hard loops plus it gives great access to day trips into Bryant Creek hut and the upper Spray. Again fond memories watching my kids race and helping out at Sharkfest where the final races of the year were once held.
These areas are a treasure for all to enjoy and continued grooming and track setting whether it be free or for a fee is something the Alberta Government needs to maintain for the health and well being of thousands of people to enjoy both now and well into the future.
Wow! Thats awesome.
Trails are still listed as multi-use this early in the season aren’t they?
Just prepping for the inevitable discussion on what trails we are reserving for skiing and what trails we can fat bike and snowshoe on…
Any thoughts from the grooming staff on how they would like to see the trails shared?
I grew up learning to ski here at the age of 7 and I still love skiing here many times a year. I love the variety of trails that are all available for free, with such a wide range of terrain and always neatly trackset. Everyone on the trails is so kind and polite, and the views always make for a magical day. It truly would make our province less to lose this wonderful space.
Kananaskis provides fantastic skiing for everyone, every ability and every ambition, from family picnic adventures at Nakiska to elite athlete at PLPP all set in incredible scenery and amazing snow. Its the winter jewel of Alberta and would be a crime to Canadians and our tourist industry for it to disappear.
Yesterday (Oct 20), near the end of my Telephone Loop circuit at West Bragg Creek, I walked down the steep hill on Moose Connector because of debris on the snow surface, along with a possibility of rocks hidden just under the snow surface. To my horror, another skier blasted down the hill at top speed, but fortunately came to no harm. (Perhaps he had previously climbed up the hill and was able to determine that there were no serious hazards.)
In any case, contacting a rock on XC skis at even a striding speed usually results in a head-first fall. At speed, it could cause serious injury, especially since I’ve yet to see a XC skier wearing a helmet! Take extra care when conditions are marginal, even for XC skiing.
I like that I have an amazing outdoor hobby for myself and my family (my 5 and 3 year old included) to keep us active in the winter and enjoy our amazing landscape!!! Also I love the feeling of working hard up to fly all the way down!!
The cross-country ski trails in Kananaski are world-class and are a big part of what has drawn my husband and I back to the region from Ontario most years since we started visiting on nordic ski trips in 2011. The trails are amazingly well-maintained, the mountain vistas are wonderful, and everyone is so friendly. There are lots of funding models that the Alberta government could follow to keep this wonderful system in operation for local Albertan skiers and the many folks who keep returning to visit this Western Canadian gem. We were skiing at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in March on the last day of our trip and were shocked to hear the Alberta government announce the plan to stop grooming in Kananaskis as we drove back to Calgary to fly home. This year especially underlines the need to get outside and to be active to stay healthy. We wholeheartedly support Bob and this whole group of people who are passionate about skiing and the importance of maintaining access to these spaces.
My favorite place to go to get away from it all in the winter. Stunning scenery, amazing conditions, peace and quiet. A much needed escape. Well worth the drive.
Cross country skiing in Kananaskis is special because there is no commercial privatized feel to it – it just feels like you are taking yourself, family, and friends to wilderness that is so close and convenient to Calgary /such an unique attraction that can be shared by all, young or old, poor or rich. I always want my out of town/province/country family and friends to experience it. We built very strong family bonds and memories on the groomed trails!
Having groomed trails has been so important. There were many years when I did not have the money for other winter pursuits and it was so vital for my peace of mind to be able to get out in nature to and recharge from a taxing routine. It is a absolutely essential for our mental and physical wellbeing.
Honestly, xc skiing in Kananaskis is the only way to get through our long Alberta winters. I love that you can drive one hour from Calgary and leave the stress behind.
It truly is mountain therapy.
I am soooooooo hopeful that something can happen to arrange the grooming on the trails, and am more than willing to pay for using it!
I have spent the last 3 years getting my whole family into cross-country skiing. Now my wife and 4 kids ranging from 13 down to 4 love it. When we are in the mountains we are at peace. Kananaskis is our favourite place. In the summer we rock climb and backpack and in the winter we ski. I would be heart broken not to be able to ski the wonderful kananaskis trails. Without these trails there will be six very sad skiers.
If government officials want a compelling reason to keep grooming PPLP trails, healthcare costs is one. I rarely use the healthcare system, hardly ever need to go to the doctor. Skiing in PPLP is great for physical and mental health! I’m convinced that getting out and skiing there weekly makes me healthier and thereby saves the government money.
The beauty of the area and the thrill of outdoor activities.
Creating family memories
Free FAMILY Fun and FITNESS
The chance to discover the beautiful province of Alberta in all its splendour.
World class trails with excellent grooming and amazing scenery. Ideal for both beginners and experienced skiers. A great winter outing, whether you ski fast or slow, for an hour or the whole day, with friends, family or alone.
The groomed xc trail network in Kananaskis should be treasured for generations to come rather than being consigned to the memory banks as something we sacrificed in 2020 – to allegedly save a few bucks. It’s beyond belief we are even talking about this during a pandemic – given so much else has been taken away from us.
As for memories, there are many over last twenty years living here, and many more for my wife who learned to ski here with her Dad. One specific thing sticks out from last winter – that was being soundly beaten down Whiskey Jack by my laughing 10-year old as we made our way back to the parking lot at dusk after an epic family ski over Elk Pass, on the same day as she and her 7 year old sister did their first Cookie Race. The end to grooming was announced the next day…..
Any idea as to expected grooming frequency at Morraine Lake Road or Great Divide? Do you think there will be further grooming this week before the weekend?
Every time I ski at Kananaskis I think of 2 things:
How wonderful that I can make use of my tax dollars by skiing on these amazing trails!
Why would I ever want to go anywhere else to take a XC ski vacation when a short drive from Calgary I can ski on some of the best trails in the world?
It would be a shame to lose the grooming on these trails. Most of us would be prepared to pay a reasonable user fee to keep them. During covid, people need every opportunity to get outside to exercise where transmission is minimized. There was a huge explosion in biking due to covid – maybe the same will happen to XC skiing. How bad would it be if the best location was no longer maintained?
I skied Great Divide on saturday, prior to the roller-packing; and was very surprised that I think I was the only one who did. Got there at noon, and there were no other tracks, other than a couple of non-fat bikers who made it all of 5m past the gate before giving up and walking their bikes back to Lake Louise Road.
Snow depths were about 15cm to 25cm, of fairly moist snow, with a bit of a slushy/icy layer at the bottom where the latent heat of the ground was still keeping things wet.
Had to break trail all the way out (on skinny track skis), and then came back following my own tracks with mixed results.
Outbound the snow was deep enough that even on the hill down to the arch / picnic tables I had to stride down (not even double-pole-able)
On the return trip, there were a few places where my own weight had packed things down to the slush layer, and a fair bit of time I was still compressing soft snow. I never broke through to bare ground though.
Overall, still phenomenal conditions for mid-october. I suspect that the roller-packing might have squished things all the way down to the slush layer, but if the week stays cold and we can get another storm or two, it should form a very nice base for the rest of the season.
What I love about skiing in Kananaskis is the great variety of trails for various skill levels and the phenomenal views. I visit Kananaskis Village, Peter Lougheed, and Mount Shark trails each season, though I am definitely a repeat visitor at the latter two. PLPP and Mount Shark are my favourites: Mount Shark for the fun hilly trails and Peter Lougheed for the trails up to and around Elk Pass… it is so beautiful and such a fun way to get outside during the long cold winter!
Often I stop in the village for food or a drink after skiing, and, if there is an occasion for it, enjoy an overnight stay along with my xc skiing!
Having groomed trails in Kananaskis is a wonderful benefit to the many skiers in the Calgary region and beyond. More than ever we need options for people to stay physically active, fit and healthy.
Given the current situation with Covid-19, we need groomed trails more than ever. This year I have never seen so many people using the trials in Kananaskis and Banff. Please continue grooming the trails.
We truly need as many ways to keep healthy and stay positive this winter, especially this winter. K-country ski trails are incredible. Please, please , please continue this grooming program.
That’s fabulous, but Cypress Hills is not in Kananaskis.
Let me explain it to you. The fact that Alberta Parks has made the decision to continue grooming in one of their jurisdictions, bodes well for the Kananaskis situation. -Bob
For me, groomed ski trails in Kananaskis are irreplaceable. The setting, the amount and quality of snow for cross country skiing are unsurpassed. It is a magical experience.
As a family we ski Mount Shark, Peter Lougheed and Ribbon Creek. Kananaskis provides a healthy outdoor sport, relatively close to home, affordable for families. Track set trails are much easier for beginner skiers and for children who are learning to ski, are necessary for training, and are an integral part of cross country skiing.
I love the easy climb at Ribbon Creek with a beautiful view at the end. It is so quiet and when the tracks are set, I get lost in the flow of motion and stride. Surfing back to the parking lot, I take in the sound of wind, birdsong and the creek. I soak in the sights of the forest. Such a beautiful drive to enjoy with a couple of friends. We visit the village after for a beverage. It is a wonderful day trip.
Please give the government some encouragement by emailing your MLA. Now is the time to let them know how important skiing in our parks is for the well-being and mental health of Albertans.
Skiing in the Kananaskis forest is the best! Your body gets a great work out, your soul gets to soar with the mountain peaks and your imagination takes you bsck to this place until the next time you are there.
The vehicular bridges over Lost Horse Creek and Redearth Creek were removed about 40 years ago. Our crew sure had fun replacing them with the hiker/horse bridges. They and others still standing in the Banff backcountry have stood the test of time.
Does anyone have any info on the New Iron Creek Bridge in Alf’s photo? I’m especially interested in what it cost and how it was built and funded.
My local ski trails in Muskeg Creek Park in Athabasca has (had) 3 bridges all of which were severely damaged in flooding last spring to the extent that only one is now usable. The local municipality has gotten what I think are some ridiculous quotes for replacement; $500 000 per bridge and $65 000 per bridge for engineering fees alone. Our club doesn’t have that kind of money and the municipality isn’t offering anything. These bridges are crucial to our trails but they just need to cross a small creek. Bridges about the size of the New Iron Creek Bridge should be about right.
Blueberry hill! The grooming is always pristine and the effort is always worth the view at the end. And then the descent tests all the muscles again. It’s always a magical winter wonderland
I love taking my classes out to PLPP to learn to cross country. I love sharing in the kids successes when they hit the open spots on Wheeler for the first time spotting the mountains rimming Upper Kan Lake.
I love booking LowerLakes group with my classes in the winter and having the remoteness, and the true winter wilderness experience for them.
I love the silence that comes from skiing in Kananaskis. When there’s a fresh snow it absorbs any sound and it’s the purest form of nature. I love that I can go to Peter Lougheed or Mt Shark and ski a little ways back in the trails and see no one for hours or see families out being active an healthy together.
I’m with you on Tyrwhitt, Bob. As weird as it sounds, when the track on a certain slightly curvy downhill section heading south (?) to the hydroline is a bit icy, one can hip-steer (I just made that up) through it. It’s exhilarating; try it! Just swivel your hips to keep them square to the tracks, and your skis will obey themselves. As I said, sounds weird.
Fox Creek and Moraine sure are purdy, especially when there’s a fresh dump.
There’s a short stretch along the Kananaskis River I just discovered last year (Sinclair?) that was a nice surprise too. Done now.
I’m looking forward to getting on the skinny skis again!
I rediscovered cross country skiing in PLPP in 2013, and it was a game-changer to my well-being. I went from being depressed in winter to loving it. From couch-potato to a fit, active person. PLPP gave me a place to escape life’s stresses and replenish my spirit. I then put my kids on skis, and it became our place of choice to enjoy time outdoors together. It would be such a personal loss if this resource were lost to us.
I can think of ten reasons at least why I love PLPP:
1. The groomed trails are accessible to everyone, young and old, beginner or advanced.
2. It’s BEAUTIFUL there.
3. PLPP retains its snow long after many other parts of Kananaskis are ruined by Chinooks.
4. It’s not too far from Calgary.
5. The trails are designed to take you places – you’re not stuck accumulating kilometers by skiing in circles.
6. The trails are busy enough that I feel safe there, even when I ski alone.
7. Speaking to safety again, the groomers keep the trails in great shape, and this adds a layer of safety.
8. The trails are not so busy that it feels crowded (except during the Cookie Race :)).
9. Every skier that I meet on the trails is always smiling.
10. I often meet people visiting from outside the province or Canada who tell me what a gem we have here.
I’d add a further shout-out to the visitor center and warming hut, but due to Covd-19, they are unfortunately closed. It would be such a shame if they were closed permanently though. I love that there are always lots of people of all ages in the Centre, enjoying a hot chocolate and admiring the view – it’s a happy sort of place in winter.
Would I be willing to pay for all of this? You bet. It would be such a tragedy to lose this incredible resource for our well-being.
this area is beautiful and used and loved by many every year. it s cruciall that everybody spends as much time as possible out doors this winter due to covid. this area MUST be groomed for x country this winter.
As a newbie to the sport last season I bought my own equipment literally the day before the announcement that the province was going to stop grooming the Kananaskis trails! Talk about gutted!! I was so excited that I would finally be able to head out to K country whenever I wanted, be it for the day, or just a couple of hours to practice what I learnt in my lesson and just enjoy our beautiful backyard. So important for our mental and physical health at any age but even more so as we try to cope with the new ‘normal’
Peter Lougheed is a winter wonderland with beautiful scenery of snow covered trees, mountains and perfect ski conditions. The amount of snow this area gets allows for some of the earliest season skiing as well as well into spring. The diverse terrain allows for so many abilities and our kids are now starting to enjoy the trails we’ve loved for years. This is our primary ski area for so many reasons and are obviously loved by so many!!
Our Winnipeg-based cross country ski club has organized an annual trip to Alberta during the first week of March for over 30 years. 20 to 40 of us stay in Canmore for a week, and ski every day. Typically, we ski at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and/or Ribbon Creek on 3 of those days. It’s something we look forward to every year. We hope the club doesn’t have to consider an alternative trip this year if there’s no ski trail grooming in Kananaskis.
I love the trails in K Country, especially the PLPP trails – the combination of fabulous scenery, groomed trails with a backcountry feel to them that actually cover distance and reach destinations like hills, passes and viewpoints, a long winter season and easy access on good roads close to the city just can’t be beat anywhere. It would be a major loss not just to Alberta but to the entire western North American mountain system if these trails are gone (it certainly wouldn’t help to “improve the quality of life for Albertans” to eliminate them). If I’m going to live in a climate with long, snowy winters I want to take advantage of it!
Kananaskis – my favourite place to ski! The breath-taking beauty, many kilometers of trails, the peacefulness, and the impeccable grooming and tracksetting by experienced Alberta Parks employees always make for a great day. Since we live in Alberta, where the winters are long and cold, the best way to really ‘live’ in winter is to embrace your inner snowman/snowwoman and get out into the wilds! We are winter people! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
I learned to ski in PLPP, and its been my favorite ski area ever since. There is a wonderful variety of trails for both beginners and advanced skiers, and often long trail sections between junctions. Blueberry Hill is mesmerizing after a big snowfall. Even when the parking lots are full, the trails don’t feel crowded. The other ski areas in Kananaskis – the Village trails and Mt. Shark, are also exhilarating. I love the wildness and tranquility of skiing in all these areas, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of a day on the trails. I’m looking forward to another winter season there.
Easy drive from Calgary to some exceptional skiing terrain. Whether a beginner or a veteran skier there is lots to choose. The scenery is outstanding, the people you meet are wonderful and the occasional tracks or sighting of wildlife is exciting. This place is a treasure that should be enjoyed year round.
X-country skiing is our family’s favourite recreational activity, and it is also our children’s main competitive sport. Kananaskis Country is a gem for all mountain activities and especially x-country skiing. We love all 3 main areas of Kananaskis Country for x-country skiing. Mt. Shark for it’s consistent snow and classic and skate trails, Ribbon Creek for it’s proximity to Calgary and Peter Lougheed for it’s great variety of classic trails. Also the Pocaterra Lodge at Peter Lougheed provincial park makes it possible to ski in the mountains with young children. Losing the trail maintenance at these areas would be a great loss to us and other Albertans. We love the fun, the affordability, wildness and tranquility of cross-country skiing.
Cross country skiing is how my family gets outside together over the winter. We can’t afford downhill skiing so cross country helps us to stay active and look forward to winter rather than sit around and complain about the cold. Kananaskis is our go to place to ski. When the kids were especially young, we would always ski in the Ribbon Creek area close to the lodge so that we could warm the kids up. We arranged regular lessons with Kananaskis Outfitters along with some other like minded families. Now, we are part of the Foothills Nordic Club and I , at the age of 40, participated for the very first time in a loppet (the Cookie Race at Pocaterra). Cross country skiing is our lifelong sport and will help my husband and I stay fit and active into our old age. The trails in kananaskis are world class (told to me by a Canadian Olympic team member who has skied all over the world) and should be maintained for generations to come. The cost of grooming is a drop in the bucket compared to the overall provincial budget, but the rewards are long lasting and significant! I hope that not only I, but my kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this amazing sport in such a beautiful locale. Thanks for reading.
I love to spend a day out in the mountains with my family. We love winter activities but we are not die hard backcountry enthusiasts (nor prepared).
Groomed trails allows us to enjoy the #1 reason we even live in Calgary, which is the mountain trails that make us feel connected to nature and connected to each other. I moved to Calgary 20 years ago. I met my husband in the mountain parks, and we have been bringing our kids to the mountains since they were born. Skiing lifts my moods, keeps my body healthy, and my family off video games too.
There is so much negativity in 2020, and we are all facing challenges of a different flavour, surely cross country ski maintenance is a small price to pay for such massive rewards. I don’t know if the healthcare system can manage the physical and mental repercussions, either.
When x-c skiing in K-country I love the fresh air and scenery – great views atop Blueberry Hill and Lookout. It is an exhilarating way to get your exercise and stay fit. We need those trails groomed.
Xc skiing in Kananaskis is something I look forward to every year. The peacefulness & magical beauty of the snow glistening on the trails, makes my heart sing.
This is an Albertan pastime that needs to be cherished & looked after. It is an activity that is affordable, that brings out people of all walks of life & results in happy, healthy Albertans. Let’s not lose sight on the forward thinking of Peter Lougheed & his legacy that he left Albertans to enjoy nature & the many activities associated with it. Please continue to groom & track set our trails for years to come.
Cross country skiing is my favourite activity, and I would be devastated if the trails were no longer groomed. It’s also an activity that improves both physical and mental health, and saves a fortune on health care costs. It’s very short sighted to think that stopping the grooming will save money.
Have been enjoying these wonderful Kananaskis trails with my friends and children for 20 years. Just started bringing my grandchildren. Such a fun and healthy activity, mentally and physically. Can’t imagine not having access to these groomed trails.
I have made over 18 years of memories skiing in Kananaskis (since I first moved to Calgary!). What I love most is sharing all those memories with my children (ages 7 & 10) and creating new memories XC skiing together. We ski in Kananaskis so much every year and reflect on how lucky we are to have access to such amazing XC skiing so close to home.
Kananaskis has the best selection of trails for all abilities. Flat trails like Bill Milne, Meadow, Woolley and Amos plus trails with elevation, like Kovach, Elk Pass, Tyrwitt and Blueberry. Many other areas have limited low elevation trails for new XC skiers. Not the case with Kananaskis. Multiple parking lots means lots of entry points for skiers to keep distance and enjoy the trails. Groomed trails in Kananaskis are low avalanche risk. Keeping these trails groomed for skiers means inexperienced skiers won’t go exploring for terrain unknowingly in more high-risk areas.
My kids have enjoyed these trails every year of their lives, from being pulled in a pulk, to getting to put on their own skis and explore on their own steam. It is an affordable way to keep us active as a family and having fun all winter long. We love these trails.
Awesome place to xc ski, and for families on a budget it is ideal for exercise, Vit D, and family time. Keeping Kananaskis xc trails groomed and user friendly, especially for less experienced folks, should be a no brainer. Only the small minded UCP types who think the $ is everything would disagree.
Our absolute favourite family activity! We are so fortunate to have access to such beautiful wilderness, practically in our backyard. The kids are a bit older now, and we can really enjoy some wonderful family adventures on the multitude of track set trails…everyone has so much fun that no one thinks of it as exercise! Time in the mountains, and on these trails, has had amazing benefits for our family – both physically and mentally. I can’t imagine an Alberta winter without cross country skiing!!
We love cross country skiing as a family. It’s an affordable sport that keeps us moving all winter. There’s much excitement in my house when we head out for the first few trips of the season.
We climb to fire lookouts on our skis and have a blast skiing down, we ski into backcountry lakes, and we get out for big tours where we get to enjoy the fresh air, frosty trees, snow covered bridges, and beautiful mountains towering over us.
We like downhill skiing too but there’s something more relaxed and natural about xc skiing. Less people, less crowded, no having to show up at an exact time for first lifts, and no packed day lodges.
This is the year we need xc skiing!! So many families are struggling financially and can’t afford expensive sports like downhill skiing. Xc skiing is perfect for physical distancing too and there are no high touch points. Just people spread out throughout the woods outside with space for kilometres in all directions. For mental health alone so many people need this sport this winter!
Cross Country Skiing in Kananaskis provides thousands with enjoyment and enhances their mental and physical health. Groomed trails and available warming facilities dramatically increase the safety for all and make cross country skiing accessible to a broader spectrum of the population. I would propose we transition to an all Kananaskis annual pass for teams, individuals and families that covers the Nordic Centre, Mount Shark, Ribbon Creek, and Peter Loughheed Provincial Park.
XC Skiing allows people to get out and enjoy the benefits of nature. It reenergized the soul. The second part is allowing people to get exercise to stay or become healthy so that they can deal with the stresses of every day life. Allowing users to pay to cover the costs is a far better answer than just stopping the grooming process.
When I get on my skis, put them in the track and set off, I forget that I am on my skis. I feel quiet, peace and the mountains all around me. XC skiing in Kananaskis is where I find my mental and physical health, and what helps me get through the 6 months of winter ever year. One of the main reasons I have chosen to live in Alberta is the amazing recreation opportunities we have here – xc skiing is a big part of this.
I discovered the joy of cross country skiing in my early 20’s as a complement to the running and cycling I did and haven’t looked back in the 30 years that have ensued. For me the trails in PLPP are a true treasure that offer diversity, beauty, connection with nature and with like minded people while being active. The benefits of physical activity and social connectedness are well documented, as are the benefits of unplugging and being in nature. In addition, facilities like William Watson Lodge and adjacent trails foster access for persons with disabilities and mobility challenges.
With a winter of covid restrictions ahead – xc skiing in PLPP is a beacon of hope that will enable many to stay mentally well.
For years I’ve thought that when I pass on, I would love to donate a bench to the park, or picnic table so people can pause to drink in the beauty, feel the gratitude and rest a bit with a thermos of tea, as I have done so many times.
I’m grateful that both my teens know skiing – and hope we can share more outings like our ski to Blueberry Hill on Family Day 2019….
Here’s hoping….
We live pretty far away from nice, groomed ski trails, so we come up to Kananaskis area at least twice in the winter and stay in hotels, pay for food at restaurants etc, contributing to the local economy of Canmore and Kananaskis. Without these groomed runs, which are world-class, soothing to the soul, and a solace to surviving long, cold winters, we will be taking our winter vacations elsewhere. We do not like skiing at the Nordic Centre, it is too busy, trails are limited, and does not offer the same attraction that the Kananaskis trails do.
I know the mental and physical benefits of xc skiing. As I age and fight to keep healthy and out of old age homes, xc skiing during the long winters become so very important. I dont have the strength or skill for breaking my own trail. Having Kananaskis allows me a place close to Calgary, an affordable outing that gives me joy! I’d be lost without it. During COVID it is the one healthy thing I can do with friends and stay safe! Physical, social, mental health and benefits- this in turn helps all residence of Alberta.
Having PLPP and Kananaskis Village machine groomed for xc skiing isn’t just necessary for enjoyment but also required for safety. People will venture there regardless. The user evidence in Kananaskis this summer is proof that this winter will mimic. Not everyone that skis needs or can be in close quarters at the nordic centre as they cannot handle that kind of user pressure nor is that location in any way the same sort of experience. People should have the opportunity to safely recreate and have unanimously declared support for a user pay system to that end. Options exist that can be implemented facilitating safe trail use, supporting a diversity of entry/exit points whilst observing safe distancing protocol. Albertans: elected officials working with bureaucracy and citizens, must find an equitable solution to continue this in-demand service.
The health and well being of the society depends on the health and wellness of its individual. The ski trails in Kananaskis are treasured asset to the people of Alberta. The varied terrain, stunning beauty, well groomed trails are great for all skiers!
The XC skiing trails in Kananaskis are world-class, up there with the best in the world. There is no better way to get a dose of nature therapy, proven to positively improve one’s mental health. What an amazing area for peacefulness, beautiful scenery, disconnecting from media (social, TV, etc). Add in the fitness benefits and this is a region that is vital to protect and maintain. The maintenance and trail grooming pays for itself many times over – keeping the population that utilizes it healthy physically and mentally, decreasing utilization of the healthcare system.
As a senior, hoping to stay healthy, I enjoy the quiet glide of my skis on the snow. Fear of falling on the icy streets and breaking bones or getting a head injury in the winter curtails my ability to walk in the city in the colder months. Breathing the clean fresh air, feeling the wind in my face, getting covered in snow by a snow bomb from the evergreen trees and just the freedom of being outdoors are some of the joys of cross country skiing.
With the pandemic, I feel there will be a much increased demand on the ski trails this winter as new converts to the sport hit the trails in search of healthy ways to get entertainment and exercise.
It is an affordable sport for families, that benefits all ages. My parents introduced their seven children to cross country skiing back in the 1970s, and all of us children have introduced the sport to our children in turn. Dad and Mom would stay in Kananaskis every winter (coming from the Edmonton area), and go skiing with their grandkids. Lots of fun family memories have been made this way. Dad skied into his 80s, which shows what great exercise it is for seniors. When my kids were younger, I would take them out almost every weekend to ski in Kananaskis because of the superb trail system. Now that they are adults, they go on their own with their friends. It is such a gem in the provincial park system, and draws tourists to the Kananaskis area.
Alberta Parks are our treasured recreation spaces that provide escape and reprieve from the stresses of life. Skiing on groomed trails is truly the ultimate winter outdoor activity, for mind, body and soul. They are one of the key features that drew me out west from Ontario as a young adult looking for richer outdoor rec experiences!
The feeling of cool wind on my face, the challenge of each different trail and the bringing together of unique people. Who wouldn’t want to spend time in a place that brings so much positive energy to everyone. I hope to get out more this winter, and I will do as much as I can to make sure that is a possibility. 🙂 There is nothing better than the freedom of a glide…!
In Kananaskis I love to ski
Afterwards enjoying my cookies and tea
Great for the heart great for the soul
Ski a short way or reach a new goal
Scenery is exquisite, beauty to behold
Variety of trails so incredible it never gets old
Trails up and down with views everchanging
Skiing big loops in Kananaskis is amazing
Striding and gliding and feeling so free
Kananaskis is a sacred place for you and for me
Skiing in the PLPP is hard to beat: the beautiful scenery, the varied terrain, and space enough to find solitude even on the weekends. My all-time favourite is the Whiskeyjack-Tyrwhitt-Elk Pass-Fox Creek loop.
The quiet solace of being outside amidst mountains, trees and other like minded people. The beauty of the outdoors, the heart rate surge, and the post ski invigorating feeling. We are so lucky to live near the mountains and should take advantage of exploring them and appreciating them. Thanks for all you do Skier Bob to bring the community together.
Cross-country skiing is what I do in the winter to get outside and exercise and that’s critical to my mental health and I know this is true for so many others. This winter is going to be tough on all of our meant health with COVID. Having groomed trails and access to an affordable outdoor winter sport such as cross-country skiing seems like a no-brainer when it comes to efficient ways to use government funds.
Kananaskis is my favourite place to cross-country ski. The groomers do a professional job that I have not experienced elsewhere. Skiing is essential to my well-being in winter. I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and being able to get out into beauty and solitude and move my body vigorously on safe trails is the activity that gets me through the winter.
Cross country skiing is such a peaceful, healthy, and active way to enjoy the winter, great for all ages and many abilities, especially when groomed. The equipment can be reasonably affordable and makes for a great way to enjoy the mountains with family, friends, and on your own. We are so lucky to live in a place with the opportunity to enjoy such a diverse set of trails and activities in our area, and I hope it stays that way!
Skiing to Elk Pass from the parking lot via Fox Creek, Elk Pass trail and then on Tyrwitt and Pocaterra trails is a healthy, visual treat. Hopefully Pocaterra Hut and the Information Centre will be open to allow for warming up before continuing on your ski day. Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Village area trails are also in the same category. With any luck we will be able to continue skiing in what has become one of the best cross country ski areas in Canada!
Skiing in Kananaskis, particularly around PLPP is my favourite winter activity! It is beautiful and it is great for exercise and for mental health. I love that so many of the trails are family friendly! With so many families who are experiencing financial stress due to the pandemic, it is great that we have so many amazing trails and a lodge to bring picnic lunches to. This will help families get out, stay active and help their mental well-being. Please don’t take this away!
Skiing in Kananaskis Country is the best part of living in Calgary, and without it I would probably want to move away. The beautifully groomed trails provide excellent exercise in a safe setting, which is particularly important for seniors and families.
There is often good snow, especially in PLPP, and the variety of trails is fantastic. There is something for everyone!
I truly feel alive when cross-country skiing, and hope to be able to continue for many years.
Ribbon Creek and Mt Shark are two of my most favourite places to ski and some of the few that are accessible for Skijoring. The cessation of grooming will limit my skiing to very infrequent instead of the multiple time’s a week that I normally ski. I am hoping that a change in decision comes about so that we will still have a cross country season at these 2 amazing areas! Yet I understand it costs money to do, so why wasn’t a user pass system evaluated? I don’t downhill ski anymore for physical reasons but when I did i knew that it meant paying for a pass, whether it be daily or seasonal. I was always surprised that we didn’t have to do similar for cross country skiing. It makes sense to me that it would go a long way towards operational costs.
Last year, for my first ever time on the Bill Milne trails, I really appreciated the excellent track setting that made gliding along in the crisp air and glorious sunshine a truly wonderful experience.
Last year, and over the years I have also skied on and appreciated the amazing network of groomed trails in the Kananaskis: Ribbon Creek, Elk Pass, Pocaterra etc.
Cross country skiing has been an important part of my winter fitness program and I hope to continue that in the coming years.
Skiing in Kananaskis has given winter purpose for me. It is the most beautiful area and has a variety of terrain for all levels. I learned on these trails when the W. Bragg Creek system was too difficult for me. Now that I’m more skillful, it remains my favourite destination due to the scenery and the services provided by the visitor centre.
Skiing in Kananaskis is my favorite winter activity and it gets me through the long winter season. It’s good for mental and physical health! It is an activity that my family and I can do together and we go almost every weekend because we look forward to it so much.
Kananaskis is my favorite place to ski because it is close to Calgary, but once you get on the trails you hardly see another soul. It’s so vast, beautiful, wild and has good snow.
The trails at PLPP have provided these senior ladies with a wonderful and safe place to ski. We love the scenery, the quiet and the variety of trails that provide a constant challenge but are well within our abilities. Having these facilities within an easily driveable distance from home makes our weekly trip there something we all look forward to.
Fresh air
Reliable snow
Quality trails
Family friendly
Varied terrain
Proximity to Calgary
Natural beauty
Sport for life
Clear mind
Physical fitness
Rosy cheeks
Hot chocolate
Gliding downhill
Frozen fingers
Frosty eyelashes
Struggling uphill
My children laughing
Skiing in PLPP feels like home and happiness. The beauty and fun brings our family together every time we go out. We have two boys who are in their pre-teens. When we hit the trails, their tech goes off and within a km or two, they open up and we ski and chat. I have yet to find a family activity that brings them out of their shell the way xc skiing in PLPP does. It’s one of my most favourite places and activities in the winter.
I love everything about skiing at PLPP! The beauty everywhere I look, the sense of achievement and health when I get to the top of Whisky Jack or Blueberry Hill, the visitor’s centre and Pocaterra hut for a warm and quiet place to get myself ready, and if course the reliably great trails. I’ve skied there on many occasions and I’ve never had a bad time! (Except for one time when it was very sticky snow and I brought the wrong skis…)
Skiing in PLPP is always one of the highlights of the winter. My 6 year old daughter joined an XC ski club that held lessons out in Kananaskis. This program has been put in jeopardy. The governments decision is so short short sighted and frustrating. The XC ski network in Kananasksis is important for many people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
I love these trails, especially starting from Pocaterra or Elkwood, a little warm up before heading towards more daunting hills, but I could go for several hours, with so much variety
I love skiing in K Country! Its beautiful, close to Calgary, fantastic exercise and easy to access. My mother skied these trails, I grew up skiing these trails and now my kids ski these trails. They are gems and we can’t let them go.
Skiing Kananaskis is good for the body, mind and spirit. No other place in the world could be as beautiful as K-Country for x-county skiing. It is one of the best things about living in Alberta! This year we need it now more than ever.
I’ve never skied Kananaskis, but in fact I am seriously considering moving to Calgary so that I can. The potential for challenging but accessible cross-country skiing is a huge priority in my decision making.
Kananaskis is our favourite cross country spot. It has a perfect balance of up and downs and several openings that let you see the beautiful mountains.
My son likes when we stop at the new gas station after on our way back home for some snacks.
We cross country ski every Sunday. It’s a great family activity.
PLPP whats the word for track setting ? I cannot get anything from parks ;and i tried to phone k counrty office but I just got the phone run around have you being able to get any info ?
Last year Mount Shark parking lot was always full. I wrote my MLA and received a “form” email back. Very disappointing. With COVID and financial burdens cross country skiing remains one of the cheaper options for many. And I agree there is a danger of people going off and not knowing where the trail is, heck even I could get turned around in PLPP. LOL and I’ve been skiing there for years. I’m wondering if Kananaskis search and rescue could make an argument with the government? I’m too old to break trail anymore so I do hope we get grooming back. Fingers crossed.
The snowfall we received last night in Canmore (15-20 cm wet snow) should provide a good base for the Canmore Nordic Centre. Colder weather and more snow is in the forecast for the week-end. When I was up there this afternoon, snow for Frozen Thunder was being trucked onto the trails at the West end near the biathlon stadium.
A great point by Jamie. Will be interesting to see how the increased demand experienced this summer translates to winter. Although anecdotal info, the above is very useful. Documenting what happens this winter, regardless of grooming outcome, also probably useful. I’ll be adapting my reports to include such if experiencing different participation levels on the trails, groomed or otherwise. One thing I noticed this summer, that is a testament to the number of new users, was the number of people I ran into (at least one every time I was out) who were quite off with their navigation, starting in the wrong spot/parking lot or taking the wrong turn and generally not knowing where they were but keen on going to some specific spot. Definately more than prior years. Hopefully that will not result in issues this winter with lost people, but Kananaskis public safety will be busy is my guess, especially if no grooming (more chances of wandering off route or just following some skier set track). Maybe a lot of the anticipated savings will be taken up with rescue resources. So regardless of any immediate decisions this season, let’s keep at it for future seasons and safety.
If that’s the case, then fee revenue should cover cost of grooming, all other things being equal, e.g., availability of machinery, etc. Suggest contacting Nordic Alberta and getting involved.
If the effort to preserve trail grooming in Kananaskis is successful I certainly hope it will not be limited to PLPP. This summer and fall’s huge spike in trail use would suggest that grooming at Ribbon Creek and Mt. Shark – in addition to PLPP – will be vital to meeting demand.
More than any previous year, access to abundant, reliable and safe winter trails will be essential to the health and well being of Albertans.
A note on bears: seems to be a bumper berry crop this year with many bears in the area still actively feeding down in valley bottoms and open areas. Just got back from a week of camping and saw 4 bears over that time (none of which were in the back country), including a big fat healthy one that walked right by my hammock one eve without making a sound! Two weeks ago managed to spot 8 different grizzlies beside the road just on the drive to the trail head (two moms each with 3 cubs). More than usual, but good to see a healthy thriving population. With the fall crunchiness, you can at least hear them in the bush when moving around if paying attention. Be on the lookout, especially if biking open trails as they don’t necessarily associate the sound of a bike with humans and may even be curious about the odd noise.
Hi Bob
Did you see any other cyclists on the trail? I’m thinking of doing the same trail you did and solo. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few others but not more. I enjoy solo rides and skis.
Thx
Rhonda W
Rode this section over the summer on my way from Canmore to Sparwood. So beautiful up there. We didn’t see a bear, but lots of “evidence” of bears. Thanks for sharing Bob!
Thank you for your advocacy! On an interesting note, after camping in Kananaskis last weekend I received an Alberta Parks survey which was different than in the past. One of the questions related to ‘ranking’ activities that I enjoy in the area, which would influence my decision to re-visit. Nordic Skiing was one of the options…pleasant surprise.
Thanks for filling us in on the hayfield bob.
I can report that it was snowy and below zero on the trails today in the Kananaskis lakes area down to about 6500 ft. 3-4″ at 8000 ft. The uppermost
golden larches exposed to wind got blasted with the wind events of the last week. Still some needles on the trees in protected areas below that, but not quite as prime.
I sent an email to my MLA Jeremy Nixon and to the Environment/Parks Minister back in March, in reply (four months later) I got a boilerplate message from my MLA about improving the efficiency of the Parks system, with no specific comments about tracksetting.
After the announcement from Nordiq Alberta I followed up and asked if they were considering the proposal from them or Fortess.
Here’s the reply:
Minister Nixon has received your email and requested that I respond on his behalf. Thank you for your patience in awaiting a response.
I recognize the significant value of cross country ski trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Kananaskis Country to many recreationalists such as yourself. I acknowledge that they offer a unique skiing experience. Alberta Parks has received many proposals and submissions about our parks system and alternative options are being considered for the services that were reduced.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns and thoughtful remarks.
Kieran Maxwell | Issues Advisor, Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office
Parks Operations Division | Alberta Environment and Parks
What would be the penalty / fine for those parking without a purchased pass? A volunteer group would have no authority to issue fines and collect. Would they just leave a note asking them to pay next time?
Not everybody who uses the parking lots are part of the ski community and would have no knowledge of a pass required.
Thanks to Nordiq for taking the positive step of putting together this proposal as a possible solution.
All members of our household are in favour of user fees in some form or other in this instance.
What would be the cost to enforce this and pay for the administration / technology required? That on top of the money needed for operations. I’m surprised people are so quick to offer to pay but won’t hold the government accountable for giving away millions to corporations…
I encourage everyone here to write a letter to their MLA about this. A good template can be found at https://mailchi.mp/.www.kananaskisgrooming.ca/nordiqalberta.
In writing mine, I found the 2017 Alberta Recreation Survey at https://bit.ly/3lZGnaI. It finds that 9% of Albertans participate in XC skiing, same as the percentage playing ice hockey, so around 400,000 people. As an analogy, imagine what would happen if you closed half the hockey rinks in Alberta and made people play hockey on gravel parking lots.
I recognize that there are issues in charging a fee for groomed XC trails, but it is the only hope for a long-term solution for tracksetting that is not subject to the whims of politicians.
This campaign is getting lots of volunteers and attention. Consider donating to get a lawn sign, using the template to write to your MLA or even joining as a volunteer. We need every body when can help!! https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/defend-albertas-parks/
I am in favor of user fees. If one can afford the cost of a vehicle to travel to PLPP or other far flung areas then a nominal fee to cover the cost of grooming the trails is completely justified. I have paid to XC ski in many areas in BC and even in Washington State, so implementing a similar system here shouldn’t be difficult to instate by the government and be supported by those that enjoy the trails
User fees for parks creates a barrier to the park. I’m all in favour of a trail fee for skiing but people should be able to hike or sight see for free. This country is for all of us, not just those can afford it.
Our taxes (both business and personal) should buy us something.
Totally agree with you Gaétan , I am living Calgary and from Beauport Qc and right one there we pay roughly 20$ a day for nice cross country center , you are welcome back but yes if all we pay a cheap pass we can maintain a grooming !
Very valid point about revenues. I’d like to also caution people on jumping to the “I’d have no problem paying for use of the trails”. There are many Albertans right now and even during boom times who do not have a lot of money and I’m concerned that a demographic who may be more well off (do we have stats on who uses the trails, who would like to use the trails) will speak on behalf of all Albertans. Especially those who would want to cross country ski but cannot find the means to do so. So I’m not in favour of putting user fees on every single activity that occurs. I’m more in favour of 1) diversifying our economy and truly building resilience to the boom and bust of resource base industries 2) implementing a prov sales tax (let those who like to buy a lot of stuff, which has a direct impact on the sustainability of the planet pay proportionately and 3) perhaps implement a small entrance fee to provincial parks / recreation areas that gives enough choice (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, annual rates)
Unfortunately, “the questionnaire on user fees is part of an online survey for campers who book campsites on reserve.Albertaparks.ca.“ — Hopefully they open up the questionnaire more generally to Albertans.
Hi, Ken,
I’ve sent 2 letters to my MLA, 1 letter to Miranda Rosin, 2 to Jaosn Nixon and to Premier Kenney. The only response I’ve received is a form letter from Miranda Rosin telling me that economic times are tough and everything has to take a hit.
Interesting comments here … but most of them are irrelevant. At this point, the Alberta government is not even entertaining proposals for new funding sources, new groomers or ideas. How many of you that have commented here have actually written to your local MLA?
All over the province there are people eyeing their particular favorite government program and crying “Oh no, don’t cut me!” What’s a poor debt ridden government to do?
I think under the circumstances the more realistic path (ski trail?) is to find some more creative solution than whining “don’t cut me” to the government. Some solution that doesn’t cost the government money (or even makes some).
Hi, everyone – I received the following update from Nordiq Alberta in my email today. Does anyone have an idea of what this means? It seems to imply perhaps that the Fortress proposal was rejected, and that the GOA is not planning on holding any discussions about user fees etc. Does any one have any information about this? It is all concerning to me.
This is the email I received:
August 20th Update
It has recently been brought to Nordiq Alberta’s attention that as things stand currently, the complete cancellation of grooming within Kananaskis Country is going forward as planned. Additional concerns for cross country skiers relate to the potential of additional operating budgets for next fiscal year. Sustained economic impacts due to COVID-19 continue to put pressure on public funds including Alberta Parks which involves areas such as Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. This reality is saddening as more places we love to ski run the risk of ceasing operations.
It is now more important than ever for us to make our voices heard and broaden the message to our constituents that these funding cuts affect many Albertans who access these trails. We urge you to continue contacting your MLAs and ask them to advocate for a reconsideration on these budget cuts. It is also vital that we share this campaign widely within your network in order to maximize the response from all constituencies across the province. United we have the ability to affect change with our Government to ensure that access to winter trail networks remains possible in our beautiful province.
Nordiq Alberta is committed to communicating any and all changes to grooming as we become aware of them. We also recognize that there is more work to be done and are working to expand our network of contacts to ensure our voices reach a larger audience.
Thank you all for your support thus far, without the help of each and every one of you these conversations would not continue to occur.
I’m a bit skeptical. The Fortress “operators” have for years been promising a new resort, but all that’s materialized so far is some Hollywood blockbusters, a few car commercials, and some bottled water using their snow-making water allotment. Oh yeah and some cat-sking too, on windblasted slopes. Meanwhile backcountry skiers like myself are shut out from this publicly owned area. So, will they really come through and groom these trails for us? Or will they sell off access rights to some movie producer and put up gates to keep out the public?
I like it! I have no problem with paying a user fee. It hadn’t occurred to me that Fortress Mtn could be an operator but it makes perfect sense. Of course it should be a contract up for review every few years. Maybe RCR (Nakiska) could also be interested. Maybe Alberta Parks should put out a request for proposals ASAP.
Who The Hell Were These So Called Kananaskis Stake Holders? Corrupt Conservatives with lots of money?
I would be shocked if any cross country ski shop was in favor of eliminating free cross country skiing, because they would be shooting themselves in the foot with greatly reduced sales. Conservatives charging fees for cross country skiing will reduce the amount of cross country skiers in Alberta. Reducing the amount of skiers will put some shops out of business while many ski trails will lose skier visit- (all things being equal other than the increased cost of skiing). Any Conservative idiot who thinks otherwise does not understand economics. The Conservatives are harming jobs in the Alberta cross country ski industry with their cut and slash policies.
We the people are the stake holders in Kananaskis as the Park belongs to the people not greedy corporate profiteers. We the people should decide how our parks operate, not corrupt Conservatives.
There should be a referendum on Park fees in Alberta as that is what real democracy looks like. We can’t let the anti-democratic Conservatives dictate how our Parks will be shaped or formed for play grounds of the predominantly rich.
The Conservatives never had an election mandate to cut cross country skiing in our Parks. It was not an election promise and to cut out or charge for skiing without a mandate is politically corrupt. Conservatives just want to charge park user fees so they can subsidize another stupid raw oil pipeline to the USA so they can sell below market value oil to the Trumped up Americans to generate wealth in the USA and for there supporters who hold shares in American refineries. The Alberta Conservatives are highly American influenced and are destroying the Alberta Advantage with their piss poor economic policies that reduce the wealth of Alberta for the benefit of the American controlled oil industry. It is time to crush this government and the American influence in Alberta politics.
If some moron Conservative wants to charge me for using cross country ski trails which I utilize to access the back country because they are in my way, they will have to pry the money out of my dead hands first.
If we lived in a real democracy, Albertans as a whole would determine if Albertans will pay fees in parks, not corrupt anti-democratic American influenced Conservatives.
Support the Legalization of Real Democracy where you are given a right to vote on government bills and introduce citizen-initiated legislation. This is how our skiing will be maintained at no cost for all no matter your income level. Real legalized democracy is what the real Alberta Advantage really looks like. The Advantage of People in control, not a corrupt government.
Make way for real democracy and continued free skiing.
I believe user pay is not the way to go for the cross country ski trails in Alberta.
The people who advocate for user pay likely are amongst the privileged. It is important to make sure that recreation opportunities such as these are available to all Albertans, not just the elite who can afford to pay.
Instead of user-pay, I advocate that the parks system claws back the privatization of Kananaskis country campgrounds, and then use that Revenue stream to pay for winter operations and enhance summer operations.
I have been told that other parks in Alberta have taken back the privatization of their campgrounds and turn use that revenue stream to pay for their winter operations.
The parks decision to stop grooming in Kananaskis country on the Nordic ski trails was hasty, ill-advised, and not thought out, very likely a similar case to the last time this decision was made when the manager actually lost their job over it.
This decision to stop grooming of the Nordic ski trails in Kananaskis country has happened before, and that decision was reversed eventually after a lot of public outcry.
Word on the ground is that parks and the Alberta Government and The Minister’s office don’t want to hear any more about this, that means the public pressure has been annoying which is good.
It is very important to keep up the public pressure especially to the MLA to Bounce Town more and to The Minister’s office as well as to other Ministries wish this effects such as tourism.
Research needs to be done through foil tape and other means, of the actual numbers of visitors in the winter to Canada asked his country for Nordic skiing.
It is my understanding there actually are not any demographic statistics of the above-mentioned aspects which if my information is accurate, that is a grave error of judgment on behalf of parks and the tourism Ministry of Alberta.
Hi bob, can you do a little story about those hayfield trails, where they are, how to get there, any trail map links, who grooms them etc. For if and when other facilities are unavailable next season. Always nice to check out a new location regardless.
Interesting and positive development, something will surely result. The fee based concept has made me curios about a scenario such as this: Let’s imagine that some backcountry skiers are heading into Mt Assiniboine or Bryant Creek shelter, and starting from the Mt Shark trailhead on AT skis. Would they be subject to the fee system? Conversely, would the fee system perhaps be a deterrent to people walking in the tracks and leaving post-holes? How would it affect the fat biker’s? (Personally, as an AT skier, I’d be more than happy to pay a fee even it it was just to facilitate the first part of my backcountry trip, and even happier to pay double if it discouraged the latter two groups).
Does anybody know if people are associating to, privately, groom on PLPP? It could be in form of a concession or similar (similar to West Bragg Creek)? Thanks
Oh wow! Was out on a portion of bobcat trail also yesterday. No sighting, but maybe it saw me? Surprised enough to run into Alf on return, let alone a cougar! Thankfully the family with small child jumping about in mud puddles on Fullerton didn’t make it that far.
Nice AT Skiing pictures. Now that the Parks are opening, have things changed with respect to messaging with respect to possible calls for first responders from the Visitor Safety teams, or is it still unclear at the moment?
Maybe some spring skiing options from high parking lots close to divide with AT gear, especially if BNP opens. Timing might make for some busy places in Kananaskis as the melt slowly peels open the dryer options. Significant potential for roll backs depending on use and users.
Hi Bob, yes, such great news! If you go to the actual provincial website, it states May 1 for vehicle access to parks. It also states that “no washrooms or garbage pickup will be available within provincial parks at this time. These services will be available as soon as Alberta Environment and Parks brings staff back.” With hope, people will behave responsibly and leave no trace. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70217037B8E9C-C319-32CC-240D33487895E4F7
Thanks, Kinga. I’ve updated my story with the link you provided. -Bob
Right you are Sid! I’ve been out on the bike quite a bit lately, mostly on city pathways in the NW, which are far busier than normal. Funny (actually, not!) how the powers that be think that squeezing city dwellers into tighter spaces is a better strategy, than having at least a proportion of them spread out in our so-called public lands.
On a positive note- two sure signs of spring yesterday: I rode comfortably in shorts, and spotted my first crocus of the year on a sunny Bowmont park hillside. https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix19-20/i-TgDc7cD/A
“You are one with your skis and nature. This is something that develops not only the body but the soul as well, and it has a deeper meaning for a people than most of us perceive.”
Nice one bob. Seems like a goood place so looking forward to more details next season (only 7 months away!). Enjoyed the outdoor council reference, especially the immunity and exercise link. Gotta keep moving to combat uncooperative joints.
This is a great post to see Bob. I’m extremely grateful for the work the groomers do at all hours of the day to keep the tracks in great condition. They all deserve a BIG THANK YOU!!
As one of the groomers out in WBC I would like to thank all you skiers,snowshoers, fatbikers and snow sport affectionados for your support and enthusiasm. Without all your smiles, waves, hugs (pre covid) and occasional cookies we wouldn’t be able to do this. It’s pleasure to groom those trails and see all the use we got and all the fun we can bring. It was our best year ever and it shows what we can do. Hopefully we can continue to groom the trails and bring enjoyment to thousands of snow folk.
I am away at work and I missed the end of the season but I’ll be back next year to do it all again!!
Groomer Bill
Thanks for the site Bob it’s much appreciated in the community. What a great season, looking forward to some biking now we can’t ski. Nice shots Steve!
Yes, despite the early closing, it was one of the best. Certainly at WBC, which we skied so often that we rarely went anywhere else to xc ski. Piper the retriever would agree!
With all the great skiing close to home- we didn’t do as much local backcountry either- I’m missing those longer alpine and glacier tours that usually get done in March and April. We were lucky though, to get in two weeks of amazing skiing at the Campbell Icefield Chalet, NW of Golden B.C. Our usual mid-February trip, with a group of friends (which included several other SkiHere! reporters), had an unbeatable combination of skiing and weather: https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Campbell-Icefield-February-2020/
Is there something about “all vehicular access to provincial parks is prohibited” that’s confusing? You realize these precautions are in place FOR YOU, older people? This attitude of the rules not applying to you is pretty selfish and disappointing. If everyone disregarded the rules it would be mayhem…totally irresponsible.
Was in the area same day, skiing back to the car along fox creek (between Patterson and north hydroline junction) on the right of the downhill ski track (on AT gear) as the tracks were a little tight together. I was struck by size of the banks having skied right beside them, only inches away and being careful not to hit a blob. A bit droopy, overhanging and with icicles given the large snow pack and the heat of spring. The tops of the banks were at shoulder and head height. I don’t recall experiencing that amount of snow before, or just never noticed it on a spring day with track skis.
Bob or for anyone who has answers! 2 questions for you, when you headed out for the last ski, did you check the grooming report? I was at Pocceterra because some trails around were the latest to be groomed in PLPP. I left Calgary around 1pm and checked the grooming report but nothing popped as groomed on the 26 or 27. I wish I had done blueberry instead but still nice to get out since it’s all closed. 2. What wax did you use? I did a poor mans purple wax (some blue and some red) but it wasn’t gripping all that well and then it would clump up after every herringbone.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed the excerpt below, found at the bottom of the final live grooming update from PLPP:
“While the first few months of 2020 have challenged Alberta’s Cross-Country Skiing Community, we appreciate your continued support and hope to see you out on the trails again in the future.
Please practice social distancing and stay safe everyone. If you have any thoughts or photographs to share, we will happily receive them at the following email address: kananaskistrails@gov.ab.ca“
Worth letting them know how much we appreciate the grooming.
Bob, apologies if I’ve missed it elsewhere but has anyone organized a petition of support and/or plan to privately fund track setting next year? I would happily donate to such a cause. This resource is too valuable to lose! Thanks, Shawn
Writing to the Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon, and your MLA, is about all that can be done right now. -Bob
Hi:
That’s a lovely photo of Briony and Lyen. I don’t know them from Adam, but wow.
WKR,
Herb
P.S. My last ski (last Sunday) was the Moose Loop/Mountain Road/Crystal Line West and East (East was a beeatch, being tired and with slippery skis) loop. Still a Grand Day Out, mind you.
The Crag & Canyon article with the suggestion that visitors “may access front country, backcountry and accessible green spaces, but are responsible for their own safety” sounds enticing, but really requires clarification directly from Parks Canada. Otherwise we skiers are left in the grey zone as what we’re still allowed to do.
Hi Bob. Love your blog and thank you for being such a central and objective voice for the outdoor community. Why do you say possibly forever??? I’m kicking myself for not getting out more this past glorious winter and if this pandemic teaches us anything it will be not to take what we have for granted. I had just found a pair of waxless skis for my husband and was so looking forward to getting out today. But of course we don’t own a helicopter and can’t get to the trails. I’m hoping we can convince our government the importance of connecting with the outdoors. I know economically it will be a challenge but one silver lining from all of this will be the recognition of importance of connecting with nature…and the ability to get people out in a way that is affordable. Hope all is well.
1 and 2 are on Whiskey Jack
4 is looking down Pocaterra from the Pocaterra-Whisky Jack junction
5 is at the North Lookout/Pocaterra/Tyrwhitt junction
6 is looking back down Pocaterra from said junction
7 is just entering the meadows on Tyrwhitt
8 is looking back to the entrance to the meadows on Tyrwhitt
9 is my favourite picnic table near the end of Tyrwhitt
10 is Elk Pass looking towards Mt Tyrwhitt
11, 13 and 14 are Elk Pass along Fox Creek
12 is the start of Blueberry Hill with a nice view of Mt Fox
15 is Boulton Creek?
The south end PLPP trails are my favourite ski trails and I’m really sad to see them go. There’s something indescribably magical about those secluded snow-covered subalpine forests. I always have the sense when I’m skiing there that it can’t quite be real.
All correct. I thought the Boulton Creek photo might be a tough one. Since there’s only one left, #16 is Moraine at the Whiskey Jack junction. -Bob
People have a tendency to express their restricted sense of agency in different ways.
Now, more than ever, the benefits of exercise are incredibly important, including mental health.
Thankfully, this has not gone unrecognized by some policymakers. In the UK, where enforcement of social distancing is now being strictly enforced by the police. The recognition of the importance of exercise and ‘getting out’ is reflected in the policy that allows people to go out for exercise once a day, even in dense urban areas.
It seems that the motivation for the subsequent policy closing provincial and national parks is not to prevent solitary x-country skiers, but instead to get ahead of the peak season that sees thousands of people hanging out in the recreation areas near large parking lots and the risks that that traffic creates for communities such Canmore . It’s understandable, but unfortunate that this has had the side effect of removing a very low risk option for personal exercise and introspection.
Whether we choose to come out the other side of this as a society of responsible individuals who look out for one another a little more, or a society of tin pot tyrants, is up to us.
So, Chuck, ignore the detractors. You were doing nothing wrong and risking the health of nobody.
Jeremy – you comments are completely misplaced and you are playing into media sensationalism. Please get off your high horse. We are all following AHS guidelines and will continue to do that. There are a few bad apples out there like any cross section of a population. Rules and laws need to be enforced, but don’t paint everyone with that brush. I was out in PLPP last weekend and the vast majority of the people I saw were genuinely out for exercise, spending time with immediate family and following the social distancing guidelines. Unfortunately as these closures continue we confine people into smaller and smaller areas.
In a time like this exercise is critical. Mental health and the perpetuation of fear are real problems.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with individuals getting out and getting exercise in a responsible manner while following AHS guidelines, no one should be shamed for this.
Taiwan, South Korea, etc. are great examples of what can be done with a little common sense and some basic protocols. (BTW – both these countries have significantly denser populations than Canada)
Contrary to what you may believe it’s not necessary to lock yourself in your basement…
Chuck thanks for the inspirational trips reports and photos all season. You do a great job of getting off the beaten path to show us places further into the backcountry. Good to see you are still getting out as this activity doesn’t pose a risk to anyone.
Potential unintended Kananaskis consequences: 1) carpooling drop offs when people were driving solo before; 2) people going for a “drive” and if they can’t pull into gated parking lots to turn around, u-turns on roadways, random roadside stopping, etc., like peak summer tourism in banff kind of mayhem; 3) people driving further to ski with no place to stay overnight and driving home tired in the dark; 4) parking overload on adjacent roadways/neighbourhoods (and a stay out of my hood/park response, fish creek for example); 5) concentration of people in municipal parks; 6) people living/working in parks accessing trails and getting slammed for it; 7) more police/CO/peace officer resources necessary to manage the above.
I was listening to Jason Nixon at his news conference and he stated that the trails are still open just the access point facilities and parking areas are closed. He said you could still access the trails if you have someone drop you off near the trailhead. Did anyone else hear this?
Good question, Tom. I believe there’s some truth to this. I talked to the head groomer from Canmore and she said the CNC trails are still open but you would have to walk or, as you said, get someone to drop you off at the nearest point that’s accessible. I don’t know where Hwy #40 will be closed, if at all. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. -Bob
Sigh- was at PLPP yesterday. It was beautiful and we saw only 6 other people the entire time. This keeps me sane, it’s perfectly safe when used responsibly. Any chance you can suggest any xc trails that might still be accessible without prov. park road access? Here’s hoping.
Great to see you out there tonight Bob! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your ski. Conditions were spectacular, if that’s our last ski for the season we have gone out on a beauty! Grateful for what we have been able to enjoy this season and am looking forward to the next with optimism.
These photos bring back fond memories as I sit at home in 14 day mandatory isolation after returning from out of the country. I was so fortunate to be able to ski on those winter wonderland trails. Those images will stay with me for a long time!
Many thanks for sharing Bob.
I’m with you on this, Bob. Kudos to those who have posted their opposing views here without resorting to the near hysteria and shaming that I have seen on some social media. Jeremy’s post in Trip Reports is especially thoughtful.
Yesterday at WBC, we parked well away from others, saw about 10 skiers out on the trails, everyone was careful to keep their distance. Only stop coming and going was for fuel on the way home- self serve with gloves on, sanitized before and after, at a nearly deserted co-op gas station. Being pretty much retired now- we have the luxury of going out in off-peak times, and will not be using the popular trailheads during busier periods.
By contrast- we walked the dog for a hour and a half in Bowmont Park this morning, encountering at least 40 others, but here too, everyone was keeping to at least the prescribed distancing.
Since you are quoting Dr. Hinshaw, she also recommended against travel to the provincial parks, or travel at all. We may be safe from the virus on the trails, but if anything happens to someone, on the trail, or on the road, we are adding stress the health care system. I had a close call on the road just last week, merging off of Three Sisters Drive on a quiet day – really got me thinking.
This is a link to her message on Monday, March 23. Go to 8:40. Take care, everyone!
Agreed fully Bob. Dr. Hinshaw exudes competence and I’m prepared to follow all her recommendations.
I was at CNC both Saturday and Sunday– conditions were superb and I saw zero social distancing violations even though the parking lots were about 80% full.
No need to even stop anywhere else in town. No need to touch anything. Riding in the car by yourself or with housemates is very close to full home isolation except you’re not going crazy.
Going to buy groceries must be many times more risky. Obviously getting food is essential but mental health/exercise is also very important to our recovery.
“Going outside and being active should be encouraged.” – Dr Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health. “
Bob said:
. I wish people at the grocery stores were as responsible as the skiers I’ve encountered lately.
agree with the above, you can get coronavirus as easily at the grocery store or walking around your neighborhood, very unlike while skiing, last time I was in WBC, I don’t remember anyone being close to me, I was skiing, not hanging around with others
Hopefully the Canmore Nordic Centre keeps vehicle access open for locals with no car-pooling except for people who share accommodation. There is plenty of space on the trails for safe spacing. Its a long way to walk across town carrying gear, and I certainly don’t want to ride a bus anywhere. This is an outdoor exercise town with more than enough safe open space for resident population. I applaud the Mayor for telling drivers to stay on the highway and keep going.
Unfortunate about WBC. Must have been a busy parking lot over the weekend, if it was anything like Hwy 40 areas. Will the parking lot still get plowed?
It’s time to thank Parks Canada for their balanced decisions to facilitate our outdoor recreation in these trying times. Supporting the mental health of Canadians is an essential service. If we all remember to practice cleanly practices, we can get through this together. Carry your hand sanitizer with you, and use it.
I was surprised to see the public washroom was open at Lake Louise today. Parks Canada website says all visitor services are closed and I read somewhere that meant “anything with a door”. In my opinion a heavily used public washroom breaks the ‘social distancing’ rule – there is too much possibility of contact. Also the outhouse at MLR is open – not sure if there is hand sanitizer there.
Sat, March 21st. Arrived to West Bragg late & started skiing 4pm…started on Moose outer loop but a ways up a woman advised that there were some icy/dicy sections so turned around & had a good ski on west & east crystal.
Lots of folks were driving away as I was driving in…the lot must have been full at one point as there were vehicles parked on one side of the road…I guess if the government doesn’t reverse their decision to stop grooming we’ll have overcrowded parking lots & ski trails to look forward to. #protectskiingparksalberta #protectourparksalberta
Disappointing folks not picking up dog poo right bedside the trail!
Got interviewed by Global News & made a plug for ski grooming…might have made the 11pm news but I don’t get the news so let me know. Cheers
Exercising outdoors is an acknowledged route to improved physical and mental well being and increased longevity.
Any reduction in the opportunity to exercise will lead inexorably to a reduction in the benefit of exercise.
It is therefore depressing that the Kenney government is intending to discontinue track setting and grooming in a number of provincial parks.
Skiing in most of its forms is one of the few outdoor winter sports accessible to seniors. For them track setting and grooming is almost a necessity. Without it they are less likely to participate and cross country businesses will decline. Meanwhile, and for a short time only, business at the unaffected locations will increase. But these facilities will become overstretched and customers will start to shy away.
The decision to summarily stop track setting in some parks smacks of thoughtless haste. It was thrust upon us with no attempt made to explain the cost benefit nor, so far as we know, to assess the upsides of a user fee.
Mr Kenney, please help us to stay healthy and revoke the decision to discontinue track setting and grooming in Kananaskis, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Ribbon Creek and Mount Shark Trails.
Okay then . . . can someone puhleeeease tell me how to properly pronounce Tyrwhitt??
Is the “R” silent? Tyyyywhitt?
Is the “Y” silent? Trrrrwhitt?
Are neither silent? Tyyyrrrrwhitt?
Or should I just keep calling it . . . “That great trail in PLPP that I don’t now how to pronounce.
Found – Adult skating poles found at Canmore Nordic Centre parking lot on March 18. We left them at Trail Sports which is closed, but you can call them.
Does it not seem absurd that Alberta has to cut recreational funding for its residents but is still obliged to send revenue East in the name of Equalization?
I’m in the process of drafting another letter specifically addressing the issue of trail grooming and maintenance, responding to several replies from UCP MLA’s including my own, who of course toe the party line, with little or no understanding of xc skiing. Yes- with the current economic and Covid-19 situations- parks funding may seem to be of minor consequence, but normal life will resume eventually. We can’t let this get swept under the rug!
I’m in agreement with the GBCTA proposal for the most workable solution to funding trails, both winter and summer- a public lands recreation fee sticker or pass, available online, at visitor centres (oh, wait!) or along with your vehicle license. Yearly for residents, weekly for visitors. I believe that some American states use this approach.
A question to anyone belonging to one of the many local outdoor clubs: has your club sent out a general e-mail alerting the membership to the “Parks Optimization”? The club that we associate with has not, surprisingly, and I was talking recently to a member of another outdoor focused club that has also neglected to inform it’s members. Shame!
Finally- it would be a good idea to also include the opposition party in any correspondence: NDPCaucus@assembly.ab.ca
As part of my letter writing, I also wrote a letter to Miranda Rosin, MLA Banff Kananaskis. I got a reply today which, to be frank, was rude, and the ‘cut and paste’ section of it actually was clearly cut and paste because it accused me of things I didn’t even say in the letter. It did not address any of my concerns about the incorrect usage statistics at some of the provincial recreation areas, and did not address my safety concerns about closing Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. Anyway, beyond that, there was an interesting part that was added in about trail grooming in Kananaskis. Her office staff wrote:
“The decision to cease trail grooming was a difficult one, but I am confident we will find a solution that does not require tax funding.
I have had conversations with the Minister and his various staff members about this, and the decision to cease trail grooming will not be reversed. This being said, we need to find a solution to ensure that our trail network is still groomed and operational for next ski season and all seasons after that. I am hoping to help lead the charge on finding this solution.
Since the announcement to cease grooming, I’ve already had one local business express interest in taking over the duties in Kananaskis country, and have had many other businesses and recreators suggest trail fees. I’ll be speaking with industry professionals from the Kananaskis/Bow Valley area to brainstorm ideas of how the government can move forward while ensuring that trails are maintained and that local rental businesses are not harmed.
I will be looking to host a round table to coordinate this effort when the current environment allows. We will find a solution! But the solution to everything can’t be to throw more tax money at it. That is what got our government into the difficult position it is in now, unfortunately.”
So it sounds as if they are not reversing the grooming decision, but are looking for other formats. I do hope they host that round table – or perhaps several – I would definitely want to hear more about that.
A good friend and woman passionate about Alberta Parks came to visit me last night. Since Barrier Info Centre will no longer be utilized after April 1st, could Hwy 40 be diverted through that Barrier parking area where one could show a Pass both for Alberta Parks and for all ski areas to continue to be utilized and groomed. I realize one would need to have a similar “gate” for those travelling in winter on Smith Dorrien but in summer it poses two more entry points on the other side of Highwood for those coming from Longview and Elbow hwy. This Pass would include X-C skiing at Bragg Creek, Ribbon, Skogan, Shark, and PLPP areas where grooming (and removal of hundreds of trees) is rather critical.
Second suggestion: people must pay to park all over the State of Arizona and likely other States to utilize any parks for hiking and other purposes. Everyone just knows they have to pay to park their vehicle and it is a relatively minor fee. This might encourage more car-pooling benefits as well.
Third suggestion: Incorporate the cost of Canmore Nordic Centre Pass to include PLPP and all those other areas. For downhill skiing, people choose to buy a more expensive pass if they want to ski in 2-3 different resorts all winter.
Lastly: write personal letters to your MLA and Jason Nixon and remember who you vote for at the next election.
I know they’re not always successful, but I wonder if a fundraising drive would be of value. Avid skiers could consider it akin to a pass, but without needing to additionally fund personnel to police it.
Note: The UCP is threatening to push the budget through which may mean a very short turn around time for pushing changes.
So happy to see you on the trail today Bob! Both glad to see you after some elusive sightings by others in the past and also to know you are back in your element. Every day is a GIFT.
Best to your wife. Stay strong. Physio is as important as the surgery. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage.
Ditto – Ribbon Creek and Bill Milne today were superb – it just doesn’t get any better than that. We were surprised that there were so few skiers in the area given Jeff’s notice to the SkierBob empire last evening. Kudos and bouquets to Jeff et al on the quality of the grooming done Mar13/14 – it set up beautifully for a double bluebird day today – most memorable of the season.
Bob and Cheryl,
It was great meeting ya’ll and getting to know you both.
Thanks for having me assist with the hotel and medical transport needs during your stay
If anyone is in need of surgery and tired of waiting in line, have them reach out and I can put them in touch with Dr. Kassman asap for discussion
Stay warm and healthy.
Sincerely, Ellie
Thanks! We will be happy to recommend you and Dr Kassman. -Bob
Bob – are you aware you should be self-isolating for 14 days after returning from AZ?
Great to here the surgery went well.
I’m well aware, and thanks! I returned to Alberta on March 10 when the self-isolation requirement was not yet in effect. XC ski trail grooming is perfectly designed to provide the recommended safe spacing and “social distancing.” -Bob
An excellent response and a good starting point. One caution though given my past experience with public consultation. Best to define what “meaningful consultation” is, or what the purpose or goal is, or when it is achieved, so that it doesnt end up just being a few meetings to “inform” rather than consult, with the outcome being the same (consultation achieved in the eyes of government leaders). The goal of consultation should be to find and review ALL options and alternatives that allow grooming to continue (Plus the facts to support the notion that it has value and is worthwhile to support in the long term), including the unique issues/sustainability of a volunteer/donation model at WBC, especially if it becomes the only groomed location in Kananaskis.
Dear Bob:
There are 2 organizations who are taking on the provincial government over the parks privatization issue; if you go on their home page you’ll find a petition to address this very delicate matter and that involves you area MLA, not that these individuals are going to give any consideration to our concerns but is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.
There is something else about the decision procedure of this government, first they drop the bomb and then everyone has to adapt, a responsible leadership would have found an alternative first and then announce that it would be privatized, this is what is occurring in Europe, the tracksetting is no longer a responsibility of the local government but rather a consortium of local businesses who want tourism to flow efficiently.
So, the 2 organizations are:
CPAWS and LEADNOW ( Jolan Bailey)
I apologize for the lack of computer skill.
Take care: Paolo
With a few hours free at mid-day, the timing was right to get out and enjoy the sun and excellent skiing conditions of the core trails at WBC. Sundog W-Crystal E-Sundog E-Loggers-Crystal W-Mountain View-Mountain Road-Moose Connector-etc-finishing off with the seemingly overlooked by many, fun curvy downhill of Middle W Crystal. It occurred to me when encountering the fresh grooming on MV that ironically- could it be that this amazingly long and consistent season (the best that I can remember in 30 years) at WBC has put more demands than usual on the financial and volunteer grooming resources there? Other than the skiing, a highlight was encountering a busload of happy teenagers on xc skis- kudos to their teachers!
This is an excellent piece. Great thanks are due to the GBCTA for their out-sized contribution to our lives.
However, we are all dreaming thinking that K-Country skiing is coming back. Our family will head out to PLPP this weekend for what we expect to be our last ever ski there, ever. It was great while it lasted and we can all be happy for that. We will tell our kids about it when they are older and they will not believe us that we had paid government employees grooming tracks in the middle of nowhere. I’m just as sad as you are about it, but this is the reality.
The more important question is, how will we ensure the GBCTA gets the support they need to continue their work? If we as skiers want at least one other place to go, WBC is the most viable option that we have and we need to find a better way to support them and their sustainability.
An ecotourism professor in Calgary says the government is the best steward when it comes to managing provincial parks, and calls the Alberta government’s plans shortsighted.
This confirms just how ill-considered the “Optimizing Alberta’s Parks” plan is- if you could call it a “plan” at all. I’m still wondering where the specific cost-cutting measures originated- were they decreed from on high by the ministry, or selected by Parks bureaucrats? Either way-it’s pathetic there was no informed consultation with park users, the tourism industry, and the very group they cite in an apparent effort to add some legitimacy to the decision to end grooming (GBCTA).
Now, in an ideal world- free general access to our parks would be recognized as a benefit to the health and well being of the populace as a whole, and funded accordingly- a much better use of tax dollars than that ridiculous “War Room”. As xc skiers though- I don’t think that it is reasonable anymore to expect that taxpayers fund grooming, while at the same time wanting other users banned from these trails.
Keep up the pressure- don’t let this issue fade away!
Frustrating that so many are “for” user fees. What about those whom can’t afford it???!!! One person mentioned if the Government took back the privatized campgrounds in K Country, their suspicion is that revenue stream alone would pay for winter ops in K Country and to their knowledge possibly operations costs all year ’round!
Thank you GBCTA for your very thoughtful response to the UCP proposed cuts to our provincial parks. You are certainly in a position to directly address the problems associated with a not for profit organization attempting to take charge of tracksetting and trail maintenance in the areas PLPP, Mt, Shark and Kananaskis Village area. For the most part, it would appear that most users of these areas are not opposed to a user fee in order to maintain parks and services as they are now. This issue is much bigger than just the tracksetting and trail maintenance in the winter, it involves the trails and park services year round. I sincerely hope the government will listen and at the very least engage in public consultation.
This is a very constructive and thought-provoking contribution to the discussion. Since the last attempt by the Alberta government to cease tracksetting (2001-2002), and an abandoned attempt in 2004 to institute fees, K-Country skiers have been happily fooling themselves that they can continue to be the only high-quality XC ski area without some sort of user fee. If this idea can be discussed with government reps, surely some solution for free or reduced fees for Wm Watson Lodge users and low-income families can be worked out. In light of the last paragraph, we must not under-estimate the costs of winter and summer trail maintenance and be prepared to contribute what we can.
I mostly do skating and when I came to Pocaterra first time with skate skis only I was very disappointed to see the sign which is very hard to miss. It is even harder to miss that the tracks are done for classic only, they are nowhere near wide enough, even if they would be only packed and not trackset. So it’s not only stupid, it’s just not enjoyable, there is no point in skating there at all. I did double poling that day. Some people are just assholes, don’t forget to remind them.
Please continue to groom trails at PLPP, Mount Shark and Ribbon Creek. These three areas get well used by many skiers.
I would definitely pay a user fee or for an annual pass to keep the grooming up.
Cross country skiing in these areas is a joy. These trails are perfect terrain for this type of sport. Cross country skiing is quite affordable, great for fitness, and so much fun for many people.
Thank you
Peter Lougheed had a concept of the “public good” when he created these parks and services. Should we let a new political party, whose leader wasn’t even born and raised in Alberta, destroy this legacy?
All I have seen so far of the UCP government is the financial rewarding of plush political appointments to boards and high-salary inside jobs to their cronies. The $30 million dollar/year ridiculous War Room is a good example of a waste of money paid out by Alberta taxpayers. It has made Alberta a laughing stock across Canada and beyond. Corporate tax cuts to billion dollar businesses is another, with very little evidence of any jobs generated from that.
For single income families like mine, cross country skiing has been a viable sport when so many others are out of our price range. Now that the kids are grown, they still come out to ski as often as they can.
As for a park fee and user fees, we have several National Parks right next door already competing for those same dollars. That is why Alberta’s provincial park system has been fee-free all these years. How many Albertans can afford to pay for both, especially now? Personally, I think it is high time we get off the unstable royalty roller coaster that pays for basic services and infrastructure, and start paying a PST like every other province. If we had done that years ago, we would have a generously sized Heritage Trust Fund today.
I wonder how this person would feel if someone spoiled something they had just spent 10 hours working on, something that hundreds of people were relying on for their safety and enjoyment.
Hey folks, can we incorporate hashtags into our posts such as #protectalbertaparks & #protectourparksalberta & a hashtag to support grooming in our parks for the health benefits maybe #groomingbenefitshealthab
I was introduced to the wonderful trails of Kananaskis years ago by someone who taught me that what was important was just being out in the mountains. I used to often see skate skiers in PLPP (this was 10 to 20 years ago) and honestly never thought too much about it. I chuckle when people talk about conditions being “fair” when it’s a glorious day…there’s fresh snow but the tracks aren’t perfectly set. Maybe expectations are changing. It’s bad enough that we’re getting so divisive in our politics and now we seem to be getting divisive in our cross country skiing as well. I’m not a skate skier…but I also remember a friend of mine skate skiing on the Sawmill trails (this was over 20 years ago) while I was diagonal striding in about 20 cm of fresh powder…she could do it because she was tough and fit…and we both had a blast. I remember the fight between snowshoers and skiers…until both were educated…now they have their own trails (thankfully many of them were built before our current government came in) but if push came to shove both can be accommodated. What I would like to know is what’s happening with the recent planned changes to the provincial park system? Is anyone lobbying to maintain these services? I’m hearing from many that they would be happy to pay user fees…but have we studied the cost benefits of both options? I think we have bigger issues to worry about at this point. Has anyone proposed a meeting to discuss actions to take? I’ve seen a few links to petitions but I’m thinking a better idea is to come up with an actual plan for cross country skiing in the region. Where do we see the sport 30 years from now? (I know the government should be somewhat responsible for long term planning but no sign of this these days). When I say sport…I mean all aspects of cross country skiing ranging from hard core racing to backcountry exploration…and all things in between. I personally don’t care about having perfect track sets although I appreciate them when I find them.
Hi Bob,
It’s Jason Proche here. Further to Rhonda’s post. I was also out was also at PLPP today enjoying the amazing new snow, blue sky, and fresh tracks—that is until I came across the skate skier Rhonda mentioned. I came up on him from behind on Pocaterra as he was destroying the newly set tracks. I was friendly and simply mentioned that there are no skate lanes at PLPP, but told him areas where he could go. He played ignorant. After our friendly exchange I thought he’d turn around but kept climbing. I turned around and told him on behalf of the few hundred classic skiers that he should g9 and get his classic skis. He told me to call the RCMP. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED. So in jerk fashion, he continued his ski making divots in the fresh tracks. I’ll send you an email with his picture.
Cheers
Jason
Ps I was thinking a letter from all your sponsors to the Minister of Parks would be a good way to get attention—UCP May actually listen to the business operators.
Avalanche control work happening Sunday affecting roadways, in all the usual spots (whymper, Dennis, field, borgeau, etc), possibly continuing Monday. Likely EEOR/spray lakes hill to get added to the mix.
Followed Jeff the groomer up Skogan Pass and it was terrific conditions! Decided to go around Sunburst & High Level as we had caught up to the groomer tracks. With the recent snow it was a nice down to the parking lot.
As a lot of trails in the Parks are over growing with trees and the trails have become narrower over the years as a result. Trails like Elk Pass and Watrdige Lake use to have nice wide ski skating lanes but now they do not for the most part. This has had a negative impact on the ski skating industry of course along with the associated economic spin off effects.
As many of the ski trails now do not include skating lanes, the use of snow cat grooming machines is over kill. Trails that just have one or two tracksets could easily be groomed by snowmobile grooming equipment like what occurs at Shaganappi in Calgary or Banff. This would require a little more labour but it would reduce the capital and or operational costs of using snow cats- greatly.
There are ways to reduce xc trail tacksetting costs greatly while the existing ski trail system and maintaining Provincial Parks controlled services while not charging people for xc skiing. The benefits outweigh the negatives from an economic spin off effect point of view to maintain free skiing.
Furthermore, a number of trails have been closed down over the years, like ones that where accessed from the Chester Lake parking lot area. Alberta Parks has cut the cost of cross country ski trail grooming over the last decade or so. They can still make cuts without cutting back universally free skiing which boosts the tourism industry. Universal free skiing allows all Albertans to enjoy the sport including the poor, families and laid off workers.
When you are laid off from work, it is nice to know you can still enjoy a cheap day of xc skiing to get your mind off of the corporate rat race society we live.
Imho the grooming cancellation was just a distraction from the “sale” part of the announcement that was quietly removed from the website later. Those 164 sites listed for “partnership” is their main goal. I am guessing some of those sites were “promised” to “partners” who helped UPC to get back in power. Time to repay…
Hi Skiers. Im with a snowmobile club that been grooming our trails for years now. In 2000 the Alberta Snowmobile Association brought in a provincial trail pass to assist clubs with the cost of running a trail system. Groomers drags, trail maintenance, fuel, other equipment, all covered by trail pass and a HUGE amount of other fundraising. Raffles,bingo,casino rallies etc. You will do good as a group and self fund your activities and maybe do a better job than what the government has been doing for you. It has been over 15 years since the government groomed any snowmobile trails. We pay a fee for registration and get nothing back. Its time for a provincial trail pass for all users.
I totally disagree with negotiating/starting discussions moving toward a non profit or for profit taking over the running of winter operations in K Countray as a first tactic.
Once a strong minded individual (or in this case government) sees weakness/any signs of acceptance, all is lost.
I feel a smarter first tactic is strong condemnation by all is the best first approach, and I am very disappointed that some Nordic Ski clubs and associations have issued arguably weak press releases and public statements on this matter.
Cross Country Alberta is assembling a round table sort of collective to address this decision to end winter trail maintenance in K Country who likely will be meeting in the next few weeks.
I have firsthand information from a 2+ hour phone discussion this week with an Alberta Parks insider on how this decision came about to begin with, and also all the work that encompasses running nordic ops for Parks. The last time this decision was put forward years ago, there was strong public pushback, and in the end, the manager lost their job.
It is not reasonable to say volunteers can take Nordic operations in PLPP over for so many reasons. In the next few days I will share some of the data and facts and figures and reasoning behind this statement that I have from firsthand information.
1) Most grooming and track setting must be done at night in PLPP and in a graveyard shift because due to safety reasons grooming and tracksetting can not be done during the day in PLPP because it is so busy.
2) Since the death of a West Bragg Creek Trails volunteer, volunteers in Alberta are not allowed to do any chainsaw work unless certified to do so alone through a strict certification process and it is nearly impossible for people from a volunteer organization to get certified due to the strict requirements which make a tonne of logical sense. It is my understanding that the West Bragg Creek Trails Association (WBC) has to pay contractors whenever there is chainsaw work to do on their trails. There are many occasions in which there are trees across trails in K Country, and the past 3 years have seen winds over 100km/hr resulting in hundreds of downed trees.
3) Volunteer organizations tend to be fraught with problems keeping skilled volunteers as the friends of Kananaskis Country can attest. The Friends of Kananaskis Country did a survey asking volunteers about volunteering and a HUGE amount of respondents said the demands of the job were too much work. Volunteer organizations such as WBC have been fraught with troubles and strain over the years some due to background issues behind the scenes so-to-speak and also funding challenges and WBC keeps facing funding challenges, according to my source.
Please, I beg you to not cave and then put on the “we/somebody else can take it over” hat as a first response.
Someone recently mentioned when things like these budget cuts happen, this is when some people choose to put on the greedy hat and figure they can turn this into a money maker for them.
Please pause, protest, and protest loudly!!!
Online petition about cuts to Parks: (please try to ignore the rhetoric and sign for the common good…)
Please consider a few phone calls and written approaches:
Write letters (I hope of strong protest and condemnation) to the following 8 parties and cc the official opposition in all correspondence to the government:
The official opposition (it is important for the official opposition to be cc’d in on these letters to have a somewhat accurate gauge of how many letters of protest the government is receiving.)
NDP Caucus
5th Floor Edmonton Federal Building
9820 107 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E7
780-415-1800
From the outset I found it hard to imagine that there would be no grooming at venerable PLPP next year, however, how that will be accomplished remains in question. I’m wondering if there is going to be a coordinated response from clubs and groups and what will be the best way to provide input.
Myself for example would most like to see grooming preserved at PLPP and if that means sacrificing Mt. Shark and perhaps Ribbon Creek then so be it, however I recognize that others will see it differently. I’d also be willing to accept fees but as a more frequent user I’d favor a season pass that covers both CNC and PLPP and other provincial areas. I also think it is important that there be areas like west bragg creek and confederation where no fees are charged to avoid discouraging beginners.
I think there is a case to be made for maintaining the status quo, but I’m not sure in the current fiscal and political climate that will fly so I think the community that enjoys the trails should be prepared.
They removed the word “sale” from their announcement on Alberta Parks.ca. I think the petition actually worked. Now they are trying to convince us they’ve never planned to sell anything… Good manipulation Kinga!
I can concur with the initial surprise/disappointment upon seeing that our beloved winter trails will no longer maintained for xc skiing. But there’s a lot of potential for a good outcome here. We have 8 months to figure this out before the next season and there are many options to consider. But we need strong spokespeople such as ski and other recreational clubs, parks people, themselves, and forums such as this – Bob, looking forward to having you back in the empire as a trusted voice for the xc ski community (and best wishes for your family).
As for the parks issues, the government has proposed to close or reduce funding to a number of parks that are often very difficult to access due to their isolation and are thus underused, which makes them relatively costly to maintain (see the list and google map them). This doesn’t mean people can’t continue to use some of them, they just won’t be serviced with amenities that sometimes have to be helicoptered in. Not that controversial a move. They have not indicated that any public lands will be sold but, rather, that services/facilities in those parks may be leased. This is already happening today. Many provincial campgrounds have private leases for their maintenance or to operate facilities. I used to work for a campground maintenance company, family-owned, back in the late 90s in the David Thompson area. The people that hold these leases are not making millions, they are often retired people looking to enjoy the outdoors and keep busy. They provide care and vigilance of public lands, a great service and more than what the government can afford. Hardly the image of a “profit-making private corporation” as stated in the Leadnow petition. The Leadnow and Y2Y petitions circulating in response to this issue contain misleading and incorrect statements (e.g. “fire-sale of Alberta’s provincial parks”) and should not be further promoted as they’re just playing off people’s initial emotional reactions to the headlines on this issue. This article in the Calgary Herald helps set some of the record straight on the government’s proposal. https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/corbella-alberta-parks-are-not-for-sale-not-one-centimeter.
Strong emotions and divisiveness make people feel like victims. We don’t have to play the victim card when it comes to our winter trails. Albertans are truly lucky to have access to such exceptional, world-class parks and trails in our back yards, winter and summer. Perhaps it’s time to show our love in different ways.
This decision will affect thousands of Albertans. I would be willing to pay an entrance fee to keep grooming the trails and to maintain the visitors centres.
Compared to Health and Education I understand that Parks Alberta are not the top priority, but I question the provincial government approach to eliminate the deficit. They are still using the boom and bust approach. The stability provided by a provincial sales tax and user fees would be a more realistic approach when facing economic downturns.
HI Bob. Is there somewhere we can email to comment directly to the government about this decision? I agree with the reader’s comment about being willing to pay a user fee to use the trackset trails, but am also wondering if their decision might be influenced by a large number of protests (offering suggestions for what can be done to continue tracksetting) directly to them?
200K, eh? That’s not “millions of dollars!” as claimed by Nixon!
Tourism is hardly a major mandate of this government. They claim it is, but they aren’t acting on it. They’ve been doing their best to keep the Castle parks under the radar, will do nothing for Bighorn Country, and are now launching this attack on existing Alberta Parks and the “signature destinations” in Kananaskis Country. I don’t mean to sound glib or anti-Conservative in general – I’m not anti-Conservative, most parks in Alberta were established by Conservative governments, and the original champion of Kananaskis Country was none other than Peter Lougheed – but this government is following a very anti-parks policy.
I’m concerned that these “cuts,” which produce only a small decrease in spending at the cost of much economic benefit elsewhere, are part of a subtle larger plan to reduce low-impact parks use and erode our parks system.
Is that $200,000 track-setting cost specific to one area or all of K-country? I’d gladly donate to help support track-setting if that’s what it takes to keep the area alive.
Re: Fundraising for continued grooming in our parks. If only we could get a few days of the money allotted to the UCP War Room. 3 million / 365 = $82,191. Seriously. I don’t want to get political but just a small fraction would keep Albertan families active in the winter months.
Wondering how many you who read this website voted for the UCP and expected these cuts which were raised before a few years back..? User pay is NOT the answer when we share and care for our fellow Albertans and guests from elsewhere!
Wondering how many UCP MLA’s have ever skied or camped in PLPP?
Wondering how many NDP MLA’s have ever skied or camped in PLPP?
Wondering how clients of William Watson Lodge who XC ski in the area BECAUSE it is track set and safe will now no longer be served?
Wondering how many children of UCP MLA’s XC ski, and/or will when they come to an age of understanding ask their parent what in the world they were thinking… why doesn’t my school take me out camping, skiing, etc…
I would support trails that are open for all regardless of economic status, and grooming funded by fundraisers or suggested donations from those who can afford it. We would gladly chip in. The $200,000/ year does not sound insurmountable for our active community.
I love Alberta’s parks. Your government’s decision to cut the budget and close or deregulate almost 200 parks in the province will affect Albertans and visitors looking to experience our amazing landscapes and recreation.They also ignore the environmental value that many of these areas provide towards a healthy, functioning landscape.
$200k/year? So options are:
– insist government keep funding this chump change
– have YYC nordic groups organize an annual fundraising drive (ala $50 across 4k people) – means still free for low-income, etc
– get govt to implement park/trail fees
– have volunteer-run groups try to organize to trackset trails (which is tough in the cold, dead of night when it often happens – I believe confed struggles with volunteers already?)
– ???
– break out the AT skis for the lucky few, and practise dodging snowshoers and fat bikers, but since WBC is closer, it’ll be much less busy at PLPP and Mt Shark, especially if things start to overgrow (see: Sawmill trails…)
Why should we pay user fees when corporations are getting $4.7 billion in tax relief? We are spending $30 million per year on an embarrassing and ineffective “war room.” Jason Kenney is picking our pockets to pay for golden handshakes for his friends and political insiders. That’s just wrong.
The AB budget is $42,600,000,000 (last I checked)
These trails cost 0.00047% of the budget.
There is no economic argument for these cuts.
I would take trail fees over a shutdown too, but trail fees would invariably lower casual usage, and a more sedentary population could lead to higher health care costs, which already make up a whopping 40% of the AB budget.
IF you want to comment on the recent changes to Alberta Parks …
Which are as follows…
1. Barrier Information Centre and Elbow Centre Closing
2. End of winter grooming in Mtn. Shark, Peter Lougheed, and Ribbon Creek (Kananaskis Village ) Area in 2020-2021 Winter Season
3. Fee Increases to some Campgrounds
4. Closure of Some Dayuse Areas (washroom facilities, and garbage removal) Eg. Sibbald Meadows Pond
Yes, so grateful for this blog site at a time like this.
Thanks for the cost breakdown. With those figures, they sell an annual pass for $200 and the costs arr covered with the first 1000 skiers! Sign me up!
Thanks so much, Bob! I’m so glad your forum exists during this announcement. I hope that skiers can rally together and come up with an amenable solution.
Rocky Mountain Outlook reported that grooming the trails in Kananaskis costs $200,000 per year. I don’t know the accuracy of that figure, but to me it sounds like pocket change when you’re a government who generally speaks in millions of dollars.
And I can’t think of a single area in Alberta (outside of the national parks, which I’m not sure how they’re figured into Alberta’s economy given that they are federal) that has the same draw for winter tourism as Kananaskis, yet tourism is supposed to be one of the UPC’s big mandates for the next ten years.
And I think most of recognize we’ve enjoyed a free ride (glide?) in Kananaskis for years but massive fossil fuel revenues are history, and we’d be willing to pay user fees like most other places.
Makes no sense whatsoever to me, so I’m inclined to expect the same as Bob, that Kenney and Nixon decided to present us with the worst case scenario so that we’d readily accept the lesser evil of user fees. Let’s just hope they make them reasonable and/or provide an annual, multi-area option.
It’s very satisfying to tell a real human about your opposition to the funding cuts for Alberta Parks! Call AB Environment and Parks directly at 780-427-2391 on your lunch break, and keep those letters going too!
I would love to hear the exact annual cost of grooming the trails. So far, all I have heard from Nixon is that he doesn’t know the actual numbers. He tosses around that Parks cost 86 million and make 36 million. What of that 86 mill does this cost?
A way too easy solution…user fees. And perhaps friggin’ 5% provincial sales tax.
I thinks this all solidly smells like privatization. I sure hope the current grooming quality can be maintained with that plan!
Am I mad? Yes. Am I sad? Yes. This is so backward. Good thing they took Progressive out of their party name!
Seems like many XC ski areas in BC do quite well with user fees. Dawn mountain in Golden is $12 for adult day pass – not bad eh? Having said that, where is the line drawn then on user fees? Why single out XC skiing only? What about trail fees for OHV and horse riders? (Costs $ to maintain their trails too). But maybe pay per use is avoided with year round day passes like national parks and most provinces have? Time for open and informed public discussion on all this. After all, don’t the parks belong to all Albertans, not the current government?
Nixon’s claims that these trails are “under-utilized” and that pouring “millions of dollars” into these trails is a “waste” are shameful. These trails aren’t under-utilized and they don’t cost millions to maintain.
We had a lot of snow at CNC also! Expect 15+cm of fresh snow on trails groomed prior to today. Take caution on Rundle and Silvertip as they were groomed whilst it was still snowing heavily leaving one side of the trail covered in more fresh snow than the other and a ridge near the middle, this will be rectified tonight. The team will also work to get Banff natural, Bow and Meadowview along with the regular manmade rec trails done tonight too. Banff trail, Banff Loop, Olympic and Centennial were all redone after the snow finished last night so should be in good shape. Manyt Biathon trails will have a fresh cover as they were done prior to the snow finishing.
Good morning everyone. I am reading the comments about this topic and disagree with almost all of them. The Province is broke. That is a fact: not oil, not money. As XC skier and as a citizen I want to see cuts before in recreation and Provincial Park rather than having those cuts in Health Care or Education (where there are also cuts). The main resource of the Province is oil, and without it, there is nothing (thinking otherwise is lying). I agree with tax relief to corporations, if they leave the problem will be even bigger. It is very sad the Province wont groom anymore Kananaskis, disgrace for all of us. We, XC skiers and normal citizen, should partner and try to maintain the tracks in partnership with AB Provincial Park, the same way is being maintained in West Bragg Creek. Quotes, membership fees, entrance fees,… are possible ways to finance the maintenance (notice that I have not idea how much is the season cost). My 2 cents. Thanks
Dear Bob:
Very briefly; I honestly think that it is time to send a letter to the federal government asking them to declare Kananaskis and Canmore, part of the Banff National park system, bypassing all the junk that this province is experiencing, this would address not only the tracksetting of PLPP , Mt.Shark and Ribbon Creek but also issues like poaching, ATV ‘s and ensuring a vital corridor to wildlife for migratory purposes.
Cordially: Paolo
The honourable Peter Lougheed will be turning in his grave this evening. Shame on you Kenney. I am reticent to use the word holistic should it be construed As a left wing conspiracy but hey, let’s keep people healthy and out of the doctor’s office and hospitals and get the f**k skiing!
I fear there is a push for either a non profit or for profit group to take over Nordic ski operations in PLPP (what about Ribbon and Mt. Shark?) with people thinking it’s easy, anyone can do it. That statement is very far from an accurate statement.
Suffice it to say my opinion has gone back to keep it in the hands of Parks staff, and goes further to say keep campgrounds in the hands of Parks, as they are HUGE revenue generators which translates to offsetting if not completely paying for Parks operations year round!
Privatization arguably means lower standards, and definitely means lower wages that are usually minimum wage, not a living wage.
Many Parks in Alberta have taken back the summer operations from private operators because of the simple fact that summer operations are revenue generators.
Notice in the budget cuts that summer campground operations are being scaled back in the campgrounds Parks still runs!
Lastly:
There is a chance the “Optimizing Alberta Parks” is a regurgitation of information from the “Rationalizing Alberta’s Parks” document which was the Conservative government’s Parks Management cutback plan that was created a long time ago (possibly decades) which I was told was then voted down at the time by their own party.
Facts and figures, and also dollars such as tourism impacts will speak volumes. Stats from hotels in K Country.
Funding cutbacks? There also is the argument the oil patch can be given tax breaks and yet the gov’t can’t spend some money on Parks?
Discussions are under way around the idea of forming a collective to weigh-in on the government’s decision to cease all Nordic operations in Kananaskis Country and also to Nordic operations that are closer to Edmonton.
This group is collectively so far different user groups (aka Nordic Clubs); Nordic operators comprised mostly of non profit societies, some with paid staff and others which are all volunteer run; Cross Country Alberta, and Nordiq Canada.
If your group wants to take part, please email me: shagnordicATgmailDOTcom
I fear there is a push for either a non profit or for profit group to take over Nordic ski operations in PLPP (what about Ribbon and Mt. Shark?) with people thinking it’s easy, anyone can do it. That statement is very far from an accurate statement.
Suffice it to say my opinion has gone back to keep grooming and track setting in the hands of Parks staff, and I will further to say keep campgrounds in the hands of Parks, as they are HUGE revenue generators which translates to offsetting if not completely paying for Parks operations year round!
Privatization arguably means lower standards, and definitely means lower wages that are usually minimum wage, not a living wage.
Many Parks in Alberta have taken back the summer operations from private operators because of the simple fact that summer operations are revenue generators.
Also notice in the budget cuts that summer campground operations are being scaled back in the campgrounds Parks still runs!
Lastly: It is likely emotions aren’t going to change the direction the gov’t has taken this. Facts and figures, and also dollars such as tourism impacts will speak volumes. Also the argument the oil patch can be given tax breaks and yet the gov’t can’t spend some money on Parks?
One is the Kananaskis Recreation Policy under Klein in 1999, the other is Provincial Parks Act dated December 15, 2017.
A section from the Provincial Parks Act states: under Section 3 (d) Purposes of Parks:
“to facilitate their use & enjoyment for outdoor recreation, education & the appreciation & experiencing of Alberta’s natural heritage, and
(e) to ensure their lasting protection for the benefit of present & future generations.”
The same idea is under the Purposes of Recreation Areas, so I fail to see how this government is adhering to this current legislation!
I am by no means an expert but to my understanding our parks are protected lands…
I sent an email to the Environment Minister, I signed the petition & shared the petition on fb with outdoor groups, if anyone has any further ideas or can draft a letter referencing this legislation, please share so we can further support our opposition to this governments’ plans.
Also: “Groomed and track set cross-country ski trails will continue to be maintained in Peter Lougheed
Provincial Park and at Mt. Shark in Spray Valley Provincial Park. ”
Has there been a subsequent act passed that takes away these protections and objectives?
‘The proposed management objectives in order of priority are:
Preservation: to preserve or enhance naturally occurring ecosystems including
especially rare or uncommon species and to ensure that natural ecological processes are allowed to occur.
Outdoor Recreation: to provide opportunities for recreational uses such as camping,
hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, boating, and fishing.
Heritage Appreciation: to provide opportunities for visitors to experience, understand
and appreciate the natural resources of the parks.
Heritage Tourism: to provide opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy high
quality natural, cultural and scenic resources through provision of appropriate sustainable tourism facilities and services. “
It mentions that “The Peter Lougheed/Spray Valley Provincial Parks Area Management Plan provides a long-term
vision and day-to-day guidance for stewardship of this Protected Area. The plan was prepared
within the context of existing legislation and regulations. It outlines the type and extent
of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities, facilities and services including the delivery
of heritage appreciation programs that assist Albertans and visitors to understand and appreciate
our natural heritage while ensuring its ongoing preservation.
The Management Plan was prepared with extensive public input and will be reviewed and revised
periodically to reflect the current thinking of Albertans about how our natural heritage will be
preserved for present and future generations.
The Minister responsible for Parks and Protected Areas has authorized the implementation of the
Management Plan and retains the authority to amend or interpret its provisions.”
It clearly states that our natural heritage is to be preserved for present and future generation, that there was extensive public consultation and it is a Protected Area!
I have to delve into the document, however, wanted to share this as I am under the impression that our parks were created to protect them from the ideas that this government is implementing….
Do you know that some American states spend millions of dollars per year to groom snowmobile and cross country trails? But Alberta’s Government no longer will.
I have for sometime being advising people on Skier Bob’s website that the blizzard of XC skiing cuts was coming. When the citizens in the last Provincial election voted in Kenney, I knew that Park XC skiing cuts were coming for sure. When Kenney cut corporate taxes by over $4 billion and increased the deficit more than the last government, “the writing was on the snow” as to cuts to XC ski trails.
Kenney slashed corporate taxes by over 4 billion dollars which put the Province into a declining structural economic situation that economists were warning against. Yes, we needed to reduce the deficit but Kenney made it worse by bringing in corporate tax cuts at the worst possible time while not wanting to generate government revenues in other areas. The pro corporate Kenney government had other non tax and tax revenue options but they chose not to take them for ideological reasons and ignorance.
Kenney wants private management of the Provincial Parks. He suggests he would like First Nations or municipalities to take over the Provincial Governments job of running the parks but that is just not very realistic when the Parks were not meant to be revenue generators. Municipalities are having a hard time with debt as well these days due to many factors which the Provincial Government forces on them, such as the inability to collect taxes from oil corporations who fault on tax payments. Kenney may very well privatize all the parks which must be stopped if all Albertans, no matter their income level, are to enjoy the Parks universally. Our Parks belong to the people and are a form of a universal social program. They are good for our health, the environment, the economy, flood control and much more. Our Parks must not be privatized so only wealthy people can afford to play in them, like what is occurring in our National Parks like Banff. All people must have the opportunity to use the parks, not just the wealthy. This is an Albertan right not a privilege. This is the true Alberta Advantage which universally benefits all Albertans.
GROOMING COSTS
Now as for the above mentioned costs for trail grooming equipment, it seems a little high for the cost of leasing a groomer at $85k per year when a new one can be bought for $300k per year. Leasing is always a poor investment compared to buying. There are ways to get deals on snow cats to reduce prices, such as cooperative buying with ski resorts or other industries. Volume purchases mean cheaper costs. Also, there are different options for snow groomers in terms of size and brands. Tucker Sno Cat machines tend to be the cheapest on the market. They are also the easiest to service traditionally.
Buying used makes more sense than buying new. Ritche Bros Auctions often have snow groomers for sale in Alberta in December at the Edmonton/Leduc auction site. The oil industry tends to use these up north to maintain ice roads. These machines often make it to the auction.
Now big snow cat groomers, like Piston Bully’s make great trails for cross country skiing. However, in recent years these cats have become “over kill” on trails that do not have skating lanes. Many trails have had the ski skating lanes eliminated as trails have become overgrown by trees. There is no need to use big snow cats or groomers for trails when the trails are only track set for classic XC skiing. Snowmobiles work fine for this. Big snow cats are ideal for skate skiing XC trails. The one advantage of big snow groomers is that there is less grooming labour involved, usually, and they can make better trails with poorer snow when compared to snowmobile grooming equipment. Snowmobiles use much less fuel and are much cheaper to maintain. Used snowmobiles that can be used to groom the classic XC ski trails are very cheap. That is all Parks Canada in Banff uses.
Snow groomers and snow mobiles can be used for potentially a decade or more depending on maintenance. The snow groomers used in Peter Lougheed Park do not get the same kind of hard use as at ski hills. At the ski hills, the snow cats work much harder pushing around hard man made snow.
One way to save money on fuel for snow cats is to use bio diesel. Used frying oil from restaurants could potentially be obtained very cheaply or even free. Skiers may smell French fries as they ski behind such snow cats which might make them fell very hungry. Bio diesel drops could be made by skiers. Also, cheaper natural gas could be used to displace diesel as well potentially.
One last comment about XC skiing politics. Our political system in Alberta is stupid and archaic. Voting for parties that offer you limited or no real options is so old school it is ridiculous. I am sure many XC skiers voted for the UCP without knowing that funding for XC trail grooming would be eliminated. Kenney did not come out and say he would cut XC skiing, nor did he say he would cut corporate taxes by over $4 billion. In a modern computer era, the people should have the legalized right to vote on bills before the Legislative Assembly along with the ability to introduce citizen initiated legislation. This would enable people to stop legislation they don’t like that a party wants to bring in, which is what real democracy looks like. This is democratic choice. The oligarchy parties do not offer choice like what a democracy does. Furthermore the people would also have the option to introduce legislation and form the government in any way they wish. People could get rid of political parties if they wanted to for example.
If we had the legalized right to vote on bills before the Legislative Assembly, the corporate tax cuts and cross country ski trail cuts likely would not have occurred and our Province would be in much better shape financially today with less debt. There would be no undemocratic risk of our parks being privatized and made expensive to use.
Bill voting rights for you ends the same old same old corrupt political system which benefits the 1% mainly. Nothing else will This is what real democracy looks like.
Ski it up while you still can. Contact your MLA and tell them to reverse the cuts to ski trails and corporate taxes. Tell your friends and family to do the same. We have the cheapest corporate tax rates anywhere in Canada and one must ask why as it does not create more jobs or make for an Alberta Skiing Advantage.
Politics- if you don’t participate you collaborate with those in power. Silence can’t be heard. Demand Bill Voting Rights 4U.
To be honest with you folks, it doesn’t surprise me, I have been suspicious about this government ability to manage the future and the present of this province; my strong believe is that they are so skilled and obviously opportunistic, that it was quite obvious that they could count on a substantial amount of Albertans to believe indiscriminately to all the B.S. that was fed to the public about bringing back the fate of this province to the once claimed bonanza of the golden days.
The reality is that we are getting deeper and deeper into debt by diverting every penny subtracted from all the programs being cut, to support and subsidize an industry that is all about waste and massive devastation but many nostalgic of that philosophical line of thoughts, are not aware that more and more private funds have been invested towards the real future of this province and employment has been steadily increasing.
Perhaps the people of this province needs to experience real grief to determine that it is time to turn the page for good and have responsible people to take responsible decisions for everyone; the chance will come in 3 years so prepare for more ugly news because this is not the end , there is more to come and it is going to be even more outrageous than the end of tracksetting in Kananaskis, it will make you wish that the coronavirus will land to every UCP politician and do the job quietly, so we can finally think about enjoying this land with all the treasures, all the creatures, all the fun and make a living in compliance with Mother nature.
Paolo
I am devastated at the governments’ move to close parks & stop grooming our beloved ski trails in Peter Lougheed & Kananaskis.
They suggest that CNC & West Bragg will suffice. I’m not sure West Bragg consistently has good conditions & I don’t think those 2 areas alone will support the population of skiers especially when you include snowshoers, walkers & fat bikers. I love the variety of trails that we have & would rather pay an annual pass (ski/hike) to maintain & groom the trails then have those areas closed. Could the staff at Barrier etc provide any stats on the number of users? Could the businesses indicate how much revenue they will lose by these measures. Beyond economics, outdoor activities & cross country skiing are excellent forms of affordable exercise which promotes better health improving the provinces health expenses. I think it is short sighted & greedy of the government to undertake these plans without any consultation with the stakeholders. Families with young children are sharing these activities with the next generation. Beyond economics & health benefits, we have a treasure, our parks that have to be protected!
We need a petition specifically for the ski trails and not just for the privatization/park deletion idea, which is a separate problems (which Nixon denies exists-see his Facebook page!).
Speaking of Facebook, we need to be bombarding the social media accounts of Alberta politicians, especially Kenney and Nixon, with comments informing both the politicians and the public of our disapproval of suddenly terminating these decades-old ski areas with no consultation and no middle ground.
Early today someone posted on one of the blogs –
Trip reports or ask a question- a List of Politicians address is to send our comments
I can’t find it anywhere? help please- I want to send things everywhere
I think the important thing is that the pressure stays on.
Letters, twitter, phone calls, petitions ( facebook).
The government has to provide other alternatives like user pay. I bet most skiers would gladly pay for the quality skiing we have in the park.
It is time to write your MLA, the minister of Environment and Parks and Jason Kenney. Here is the email address for: The Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks, 323 Legislature Building, 10800-97 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 aepminister@gov.ab.ca
I sincerely hope you can find some great articulate people to meet with these reporters. What about the fact that an active lifestyle that the trails promote keeps people out of the health care system?
Our family would definitely pay a fee to use the trails! We will be losing out on so much if they discontinue keeping these trails open to the public. It’s important for health, tourism and family enjoyment. U bet if you check with the hotels and restaurants in the areas they will also suffer. Please reconsider and like I said a fee would even be worth looking at. Debi Lowther
XC skiing and exercise in general is how I cope with all the other terrible things happening in this province and world. I’m sure I am not alone in this.
It doesn’t matter what side of the debate you are on in regards to oil and gas, or the direction of the province at this point in time, these parks are what ground us all. The lack of consultation or consideration of how to move forward is concerning and unfortunately quite a common occurrence as of late. I hope we can unite together as exercise and recreation lovers to make the necessary changes to save our beloved parks. I am unsure who the best person to contact is as my MLA has been quite dismissive of other issues I’ve brought forward. How do we all move forward in a collective way that is meaningful?
I wrote both a “snail mail” as well as an electronic letter to Jason Nixon, Environment and Parks Minister as soon as I learned this today. CC’d it to Kananaskis lodge, as the tourism argument was valid.
It was almost too good to be true that we had access to this for decades, all for free.
Does anyone else remember back in the glory days of the late 80’s/early 90’s where there was a hot tub, pool and sauna at the village, free for anyone to use?
The Nordic centre was also free for years after the Olympics before they wised up to fees.
There also used to be a minimum security prison nearby and it wouldn’t be uncommon to see inmates shovelling snow. I think the Conservatives got rid of that too.
Collecting $5 or $10 per person at a gatehouse would be a great alternative. That’s the way it is in pretty much every other province. I’, surprised they didn’t go that route.
Hopefully enough of us get in touch with Mr. Nixon to make them change their minds.
I want to correct an earlier comment that I made. Gatineau Park, outside of Ottawa, has a lot of similarities to Kananaskis Country. It serves as a recreational haven for locals, and offers facilities for biking and hiking in summer, and for cross-country skiing in winter. There are numerous areas for people to enjoy picnics, and at least one lake where a private operator offers canoe and kayak rentals. It is the heart of outdoor community in Ottawa, just as Kananaskis is dear to the hearts of outdoor-loving Calgarians.
A few years ago, the governing body for Gatineau began outsourcing trail grooming and instituted a trail-use fee. I earlier suggested (incorrectly) that this was free. I’ve since asked a few locals, and cost is $20 for a one-time use, or you can buy a season pass for $200. I’m told the condition of the trails is excellent. It seems to me that the model works well for Gatineau. I see a similar structure at the CNC (as someone else pointed out). I’m wondering if it can work well for K-Country.
Everything for the parks over the past 10-15 years was paid for by oil and gas revenues. Now it is coming home to roost for the anti-energy people. Time for trail fees. If not then then those people can drive in their electric vehicles, put up a blockade at Hwy 40, and have a temper tantrum. People pushing Leadnow as a vehicle to a solution? They are the anti oil and gas clowns that caused the loss of revenues and hence the park budget cuts.
Make sure you call and email the Environment Minister:
Jason Nixon
780-427–2391 aep.minister@gov.ab.ca
It is not unusual for governments to make a bunch of unpopular announcements at once. Then they monitor the ones that get the most blow-back and save face by reversing those decision. So make a Ruckus everyone!
I will gladly support any petition, and will write letters, but based on their actions over the last 12 months, I expect this government will be tone-deaf. I don’t think that they care about the well-being or health of this population, and we would be seen as a small special-interest group and not really worth their attention. Their interest is in the bottom line and this is how we should approach this problem.
I agree with Bob, that we need to look at practicalities and costs. WBC have done a tremendous job and it would be good to determine if that model can be applied to other areas, such as PLPP. It would be good to have the WBC people provide some guidance here.
How much would people be willing to pay for trail fees and would that even cover the cost of grooming?
What type of governance process would we need to organize and what is the best way to approach the government if we want change?
If it comes down to it and we could only pick one area for grooming in K-country to consolidate our efforts, which of the three would that be? PLPP? Mount Shark? Ribbon Creek?
The decision is appalling in so many ways but let’s put lack of consultation or consideration of cost saving alternatives(including user fees) near the top of the list. As an aside, I hope they haven’t been spending $250k annually leasing the cat. A brand new Pisten Bully 600 with accessories(way more than is needed for XC grooming) is under $400k to purchase.
This is very sad news, but not surprising from the UCP. There is money for corporate handouts, tax cuts and the embarrassing ‘war room’ yet little money for public services that make life worth living in this Province. We need to demand better. This is our home. It is all about priorities.
I wonder if the Mt. Kidd golf course will be impacted at all by the cuts to Parks?
Trail fees should be a non-starter. Jason Kenney is giving a $4.7 billion tax break to wealthy, profitable corporations. Why should we pay to subsidize their bottom line? Governing is about priorities, and the UCP has demonstrated their priority is corporate welfare over the wellbeing of Albertans. If we’re in such dire financial straits we should start by cancelling the plan to lower corporate taxes even more.
Whether it’s cuts to healthcare (thousands of frontline jobs being eliminated, doctors contract being torn up), cuts to education (15,000 new kids per year and no additional teachers), cuts to post-secondary (500 jobs lost between NAIT and SAIT alone), and now cuts to ski grooming, the UCP has sent a clear signal where their priorities lie.
The Kenney Regime, I would assume, has fewer supporters in the Nordic skiing community than in other winter sports such as snowmobiling. What annoys me is how there was zero public consultation around introducing user fees for groomed ski trails in K Country and other provincial parks. I hope this isn’t a step towards opening these areas to snowmobiles and other ATV’s (that might be conspiracy thinking so I will remove my foil hat).
I think we need to accept that the days of the Alberta advantage are over and that our provincial finances are in lousy condition. I fully support a user fee for groomed trails at Shark, PLPP and K Village. Ideally, less than the $15 for CNC… maybe $10 for adults $5 for kids. Tickets could be sold at electronic kiosks and volunteers could monitor that people skiing on groomed trails have trail passes. An annual pass would give access to all three or perhaps an option to combine it with a CNC annual pass.
I don’t think we should waste our breathe trying to convince the Kenney Regime that the health benefits of Nordic skiing will save the province money over the long term in savings from healthcare. I propose a digital petition to get AEP to develop a strategy for user fees to maintain groomed ski trails, and to do so quickly so it’s in place for the 2020-2021 ski season!
Perhaps the Calgary Flames, through the Flames Foundation, could finance this activity, as an acknowledgement of the largesse recently shown them by the public sector?
YES! Remember, the government is employed by US. Let’s make ourselves, heard, loud and clear by our elected representatives. MLAs do take letters (especially hard copy) seriously and this is our time to flood their mailboxes. WRITE LETTERS! PHONE YOUR MLAs OFFICE! If you have time: SET UP A MEETING!! Let’s protect our public spaces!
I think it is a valid analogy. Moving forward things have to be financially sustainable from the perspective of the overall population. As time goes on we all expect more government services, yet whine when taxes go up. Sadly something like grooming XC trails is at the bottom of the list that taxpayers are willing to pay for.
I stand by my point that the government should not be in the business of providing recreational facilities or support (grooming, trail maintenance) as they clearly suck at running something without sky high labor costs, management costs, etc..
What about the downhill skiing areas? Can you imagine what a financial disaster that’d be if they were run by the feds in the National Parks and the province outside of the parks?
I look at it from the perspective that it could be so much better if it was run with a collaborative effort of volunteer groups and private business.
Is the Provincial government open to user fees in K-Country instead of outright elimination, or is this a done deal? What will they do with the grooming equipment that has already been purchased and used in those areas in K-Country? That is not an inexpensive amount to just let stand idle and rust. How does this fit in with the Province’s wanting to double tourism in Alberta? And, eliminating groomed areas in the front country will place increased pressure on the Banff area cross country skiing, which already is not a priority for Parks Canada (Parks Canada has put most of their resources into Lake Louise’s x-country skiing).
I think WBC is not a good analogy here because Kananaskis country, in terms of services and maintenance is not catering to that small of a population. I think we are underestimating the footprint of K Country. In 2017 (the last year we have Visitation Statistics for), domestic tourism (so not counting out-of-Canada visitors) accounted for 5.24 million person visits. 60% of those visits were overnight visits in hotels/resorts/motels or other commercial properties. After summer (which accounted for 39% of visits), winter is the second busiest season (23% of visits – that’s about 1.12 million person visits in winter alone). This is a substantial portion of Alberta’s overall tourism (which was about $36.9 million person visits total). Honestly, it does not make any financial sense to let K Country be run entirely by volunteers. It’s a bad business decision, and will have economic impacts.
I’ll go a bit against the grain here- although it’s disappointing this is really no surprise as our Province is functionally bankrupt. I don’t believe the Province should be in the business of providing recreation facilities and support as they can’t figure out how to run any department without massive overspending and inefficiencies!
I believe a more sustainable model is something like the WBC Trails association (which we should all have to buy an annual membership for!!) Give this group and others the legislative authority to charge an annual membership. This would enable a few key paid staff, a solid volunteer support staff and a more steady revenue stream.
This would be a much more sustainable solution than the Government hiring Government workers to maintain trails for the few (in % of overall population) that use these trails in the winter months.
I would really like to hear what Skier Bob has to say about this once he’s back from his emergency. I believe he’s a staunch supporter of the conservative government. I think he’ll probably say he supports paying a fee to keep them open. If this was the NDP government proposing this I imagine people (and probably Skier Bob) who say they would pay a fee to keep them open would be more upset and wouldn’t be willing to pay a fee. Just saying.
Wow! Surely the health and tourism benefits outweigh the cost to groom? If grooming does actually stop next season, the snowshoe/fatbike/ski/Walker mayhem will be unbridled, if the parking lots remain plowed. ACC hut traffic at elk lakes will be interesting. Maybe they will groom (as we also await what happens at shadow lake lodge). Time for friends of Kananaskis and WBC trails association to expand as a form of protection against private development/industry. Probably a good deal on a piston bully coming up. Couch HQ in PLPP will remain open! (If one can get past a maze of downed trees that won’t get removed during the winter season.) Trails like fox creek might cease to be maintained at all. The only real reason for any maintenance in PLPP will be the fire lookout, the hydroline and the elk lakes ACC hut. And what, decommission the pocaterra warming hut, vs. Keeping it locked but still heated to prevent water damage? Interesting times. I’m glad I have light touring and AT skis, if I’m allowed to set a human powered track wherever it is possible to do so.
That’s really sad news. Especially when we should be encouraging active lifestyles that will lower health care costs later. Especially in the winter!
I live in S. Ontario and if you want tracked trails you have to pay, even at the provincial parks. Although I’d love to ski for free, I’m happy to pay a nominal fee (usually 10 dollars at the parks) to support grooming. Good grooming is worth it. I’m even fine paying 30 dollars at Hardwood as their grooming is awesome, meaning you can ski much earlier and later than at other places. They do amazing things with small amounts of snow! Even there, XC skiing is still cheaper than most other sports.
Now I’m sad I didn’t get to ski there the last time I was home and went skiing. Canmore was fun, but the K Country is the best!
I agree completely with the comment that providing some kind of fee that would enable track setting to occur. After all we pay an annual national park fee. I would not be upset to pay an Alberta provincial park fee in return for trail grooming and other services.
So this is the three places I would suggest STARTING. Contact info included for your convenience.
Miranda Rosin MLA Banff-Kananaskis.
403.609.4509 Banff.Kananaskis@assembly.ab.ca
—————————————
Dave Rodney executive director for Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
Ugh, this is simply awful. I’d be more than willing to pay meaningful trail/park fees ala the national parks. Even the parks delisted and for private partnership (which will mean what exactly??) are well loved hiking areas. And closing Barrier Lake visitor’s centre?? I thought Kenney wanted to boost tourism not cut it. For those interested:
Hate to say but I think this is part of a larger plan to force a drop in user numbers. If they can show that, then they have an excuse to flog these areas off to industry. If you approach 10 people in Alberta and ask them if they support cost cutting measures like partial closures in provincial rec areas and parks, half or more will most likely say yes because they don’t ever use them and have no idea what they are saying yes to. Turning campgrounds over to for profit outfits would go largely unnoticed, and with the exception of people like us, killing services like track setting wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow.
This is so sad… My spouse and I were just starting to explore all the trails in these areas and we’d definitely be okay with paying to keep having access to them. It’s incredible that they don’t even bother asking the population before making changes like that. This is not a democracy…
Teachers, nurses, doctors, and concerned public citizens have written thousands of letters to this government about cuts to vital public services and have been ignored. I’ll join a petition and write another letter regarding XC ski trails, but this government isn’t interested in the public good, only the bottom line.
Do give your head a shake if you didn’t see this coming last April. Kenney has clearly demonstrated his inability to heed public discourse so don’t expect things to be much different than what Klein did to AEP services 25 years ago -remember what tracks at PLPP were like then?
Our parks provide economic benefits to surrounding communities. Revenue from Alberta Parks from 2018-19 was $33.4 million. However, when looking at the economic impacts of Alberta Parks on surrounding communities, the results are far greater. In 2011, Kananaskis Country supported a total economic impact of $202.5 million to the region. Tourism in Kananaskis provided wages and salaries that exceeded $125.4 million and in the same year $117.2 million in tax revenue accrued to all three levels of government. Ensuring provincial funding for quality public services, sufficient front-line staff, and conservation of species will continue to support tourism and provide economic benefit.
Wow. This, and the closure of the Barrier Lake visitor centre, are probably the most unbelievable in the full list of proposed closures and delistings of Parks and Recreation Areas https://albertaparks.ca/news-events/
K Country’s ski trails are a jewel for quiet winter recreation. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about trail fees etc as the platform-promise Trails Act surfaces in coming months.
I’m more than happy to start a digital petition if other users feel this would be helpful?
Written letters are great, but a digital petition allows for dissemination amongst the user group and its supporters – this is likely the best way to drum-up the most unified opposition to the cuts.
Write letters! I’m amazed that the government didn’t even try to impose a pay-for-use system.
I hope there will be a transition period in which the government is willing to work closely with special interest groups to sustainably transfer care of these areas (not just skiing) over to responsible groups.
This is a real shocker! The Kananaskis area is vital to the Canadian Rockies as a whole. It gives us all options throughout the winter and keeps the skiers spread out. To condense us all into fewer areas would take away from the outdoor experience. The remaining cross country areas would become overcrowded much like the downhill skiing resorts. We already have to fight for parking spaces during the summer months to do some of our favorite hikes because of heavy tourism. The infrastructures need to be maintained to provide quality of life.
“Beginning fall 2020, there will be no groomed cross-country track setting in the three main areas traditionally groomed by government staff in the Kananaskis Region. These areas are: Peter Lougheed, Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Village area. Grooming will continue to occur at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Track-setting will continue to occur in the West Bragg Creek area, done by the West Bragg Creek Trails Association.”
So just read the new plan by provincial government to no longer trackset anything not in a national park or Nordic center. So I guess this is the end of this race I suppose?
Thank you for all that you do, We all appreciate the time and effort you put into this fantastic website! It was nice to chat with you the other day, you’re right that Mountain View had great snow! I found some of your pictures with Tessa on the website too… What a pretty girl she was, she looks like she loved to ski and be with you and your family!
Odd question (and I understand you may not have time) but could you forward me that photo of Luna and I? I don’t have many action shots of her and I together.
That groomer was Eduard (Ed ) Meyer his company is Able Demolition and he does the grooming as a community service. He purchased
The equipment for the purpose of grooming the golf course. Of course his ulterior motive is that him and his wife Tina and son Erik love
skiing.
Thought you like to know that there still unselfish citizens around.
EDEL his mother.
Regarding slamming in ski poles to test ice strength, you need to slam them REALLY hard. I fell into a creek up north once after testing it with my ski pole!
Lets look at the mistake this skier made when skiing on this creek.
If you notice in the photo there is a little dip in the undisturbed snow to the left of where the ice broke on the creek in which the skier fell through. This undisturbed snow dip is in the lower centre of the photo extending to the edge of the photo These little dips in the snow on top of creek ice generally indicate an area of thinner and weaker ice.
Always look out for the dips in the snow on creek or river ice. Ideally never ski in these snow dip areas areas if non snow dip areas are present elsewhere on the creek or river.
If you must cross a snow dip on creek ice, slam a pole or heavy dried solid tree trunk into the dip as hard as possible in numerous places to test the strength of the ice before proceeding forward. Continue to slam the pole or tree trunk as you move forward until you are in a safe area. If you can break the ice back off. Have any lighter weight friends follow the ski track after you have crossed if you were unable to break any ice.
On major rivers it is a good idea to tie up with a rope to a tree or friend if you suspect weak ice.
I have fallen through ice several times on major rivers and beaver ponds up north. It is scary as hell when you drop through ice. You immediately wonder if you are ever coming back up through the hole.
You can never be sure about the strength of ice unless you drill test holes. If you fall through ice and get wet by yourself, you are at great risk of getting hypothermia and dying.
If there are major ice chunks on the river ice surface, I do not recommend you go out on the ice. I know people that crossed such ice and hours later all the ice broke up and flowed down river. It really makes you think about how you gambled with your life in such situations.
Please note that you will not always see snow dips on weak ice. Wind may fill these in. Crossing ice always involves risk and you must ask yourself “do you feel lucky punk?”
I have discovered that Sovereign lake has a dog friendly section of its hill. Dogs are welcome on leash on the corresponding marked trails. I have a photo that I could upload to provide greater clarity. Happy skiing with your furry buddies.
The grooming dudes at West Bragg Creek would like to thank all the folks in the Skier Bob universe for all your support, love and kind words. It means the world to us to see your enthusiam for skiing, love of nature and a smile on your faces.
Thanks for the feedback Bob and glad you enjoyed your ski! Just a heads up to anyone keen to ski at CNC this weekend that we are hosting the Alberta Winter Games which will be racing XC and Biathlon Saturday, Sunday and Monday but only on the inner / shorter competition trails so the rest of the trails will be open as normal.
That wind slab on moose was quite the ordeal. An hour of shovel work by the groomer in order to get the track set through it using the equipment they have. And apparently they may have to truck snow to mountain view west to fix the wind stripped sections. The amount of work to keep things up to expected standards is huge when “blips” in weather happen. And they also do a fantastic job of it given what they have to work with. Clearly they are passionate about it and love what they do. Admirable. Kudos.
I wouldn’t recommend classic skiing on the Mountain View West trail at WBC. Most track setting has been obliterated by the wind and there are a few hundred metres of trail with ice as well as dirt blown over the snow. I’m quite surprised they permitted logging within 100m of the trail.
Did a night ski this eve at WBC with my buddy TD and can attest that it sure got a lot colder than expected!! Wasn’t quite ready for that. Have to remember it’s often about 5 degrees cooler than Bragg Creek itself.
Trails had lovely fresh snow and seemed to have been well enjoyed this afternoon and evening by lots of dogs, classic, and skate skiers. Tracks definitely need another refresh however with that hard pack right under that could be tough.
Still it was great skiing under the stars and I highly recommend everyone try it. For night skiing it’s very quiet out there so pack extra clothing, food, and headlights plus don’t expect to go as fast or for as long as usual. every now and then just stop. Turn off your lights. And look up to the stars…
About 10cm here in central calgary. The web cam on top of the west Bragg warming hut seems to show fresh grooming in the vicinity. I’m assuming they are still working away on it. Hopefully they got enough to fix the icy conditions, and it bonds well.
Hi Bob and everyone. Carless vancouverites returning to Banff. We are going to be there for 7 days and last year we did Moraine Lake, Great Divide, Tramline, Fairview, Bow River Loop and other trails around Lake Louise and Yoho Park.
This time we will stay in Banff and were wondering what are the most relevant trails from a perspective of fun, beauty, physical challenge and uniqueness in your oppinion and the one of your readers for visitors.
I am a instructor of cross country skiing and we love day trips and all kind of difficult levels and thought about doing, in this order of priority, based on fun, beauty, physical challenge and uniqueness:
1- Spray River West Trail
2- Brewster Creek
3- Castle Junction
4- Cascade Valley
5- Goat Creek to Banff Springs
6- Redearth Creek
7- Healy Creek
Would you agree these are the top 7 trails? What would you add, subtract, change the order?
And, if I may, just 2 last questions:
a) What is the difference between the Goat Creek and Spray River trail, the Spray River West Trail and the Goat Creek to Banff Springs trail? Is one more interesting than the other based on beauty, challenge and uniqueness?
b) Is the Pipestone Loop worth a check out? We were also in doubt about Boom Lake, which we heard is beautiful but could not find any info on trail conditions. We are going to to Tunnel Mountain and to the Canmore Nordic Centre on two nights.
I finally got an email response from parks about the lack of useful details regarding the pipestone partial closure. Ended up suggesting they post the closure map that chuck showed on the important bulletins page like all the other closure maps. Regardless, glad it’s open and the couch location is accessible. I’ll be visiting shortly to build an appropriate structure for plonking ones potato on.
Sort of a negative post. Lake Louise was fantastic today, thanks Banff National Park for all the terrific free grooming.
Negativity is in the eye of the beholder. If BNP improves their reporting, this posting will have brought positive results. If we don’t make them aware of their deficiencies, they’ll never do anything to correct the problems. Free grooming is wonderful, now let’s hope they can start reporting it accurately. -Bob
Thanks Bob. Might have just been the “no dogs allowed on groomed trails in PLPP” I saw that I was referencing too. There is a “Jor” icon on the brochure that I guess means skijor which would imply dogs allowed. Tough to skijor without a dog!
Banff National Park is a joke. Their trail report sucks. Their grooming sucks. Now they can’t figure out which trails are dog-friendly. They need to get their *#% together.
What happened to the dog friendly trails at Mt. Shark? Both the grooming report and map now indicate that groomed trails are not dog friendly. When did this change?
I guess Lake Louise is “going to the dogs”. Think I will be driving out to Field and O’Hara end of the Great Divide more often. Thought the current available trails were generous enough for those who love skiing with their dogs but turning Tramline (both Upper and Lower) and Peyto into “Dogs on lease permitted” to me is a HUGE disappointment and mistake. I know many will be in disagreement with me, but I am stating my opinion once and only once on this matter and that is now.
I also wish we could get a formal update on Parks website on Pipestone. Is it going to open for the season? When approximately? I think writing something on the website re. current status of the construction process is in order.
Lynx tracks are less distinguishing because of the long fur around their feet. These look like cougar tracks. Cat tracks normally do not exhibit the toenails (they retract like a house cat’s paws). Dogs/wolves would have their nails out and are more elongated than a cat’s track.
Don’t even think of removing your skis while going under the highway bridge… would be a total waste of time… minor compared to skiing in the 1A ditches further along.
Enjoy… and see you at the finish!
Probably about -15 to -20 in the heally meadows and up on the rampart today (but it felt warmer, relatively speaking). -13 back at the car at 3ish, not cooling off on the return drive until past banff.
Thanks for checking in on the pipestone situation bob. I sent an email to a general parks address (rather than a specific person/position) and have yet to hear anything back. I wouldn’t be surprised if this cold weather has caused some delay to finishing things off, in addition to the normal unforeseen delays. Hopefully after the loopet is done grooming staff will be available to start on pipestone trail preparations. I’m guessing it will need some “flat packing” first, having not seen mechanical compaction at all this season.
You can quickly access some weather station data on Avalanche.ca and the parks avalanche bulletins. For the former, zoom in on the map and weather station icons appear for K-country including Mud Lake, Aster, etc. Strangely, none for the national parks, but the avi bulletins have a weather station tab that gives you all the stations in the parks. Cheers
More on weather stations. I find the site linked to below to be cumbersome to navigate through, but by selecting the “Environmental Data” layer and then scrolling and zooming in on the map, you will find a clickable icon for a weather station labelled as “Peter Lougheed Park- Fires” at the PLPP headquarters just north of Pocaterra. Select “Table Data” for most recent weather data upload ( which happens at intervals of a few hours, so not always real time). I can’t find a way to link directly to that station-it seems you have to go through the whole process each time.
Latest temp at 8 am shows -21 after a low of close to -30.
Data from this site shows -30 at Hay Meadow near Ribbon, and -17 at Vista View on the Skogan Loop. http://giws.usask.ca/telemetry/?sfns=mo
From the menu at top left, select Marmot Creek to access individual stations.
If you’re doing a loop it really doesn’t make a difference. The Bridge parking is right off the highway whereas the other is part of the campground area, it’s much larger and there’s more direct connection to all local trail options.
Here in Quebec, I love skiing un-groomed ski trails with my “backcountry” nordic Fischer E99’s. I keep looking at skiing in the Rockies but it seems that, with a few exceptions listed by Bob elsewhere, everything is groomed for cross-country.
Might this be an opportunity to offer advanced skiers another place to do what we call ski de randonnée? Another option like the ski to Skoki, if I understand correctly?
Would need good communications, of course, and I don’t know the trails.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Boulton parking lot versus Boulton Bridge parking lot?
Looking at the PLPP trail map, there doesn’t appear to be a difference in terms of accessing the trails I want to ski when I’m there 6 weeks from now.
In lieu of redearth getting track set past the campground this season, sure would be nice to see an updated opening date on pipestone trails, if not actually opening “mid-January” as previously anticipated. As far as ACC goes, one would expect parks advised a new owner/operator of responsibilities in the approval/leasing change process. I doubt such a facility can change hands without the blessing of parks.
From what Don from Parks Canada told me is that it is the “volunteer” responsibility of the Cabin owner to trackset Red Earth Creek trail beyond RE6 campground.
Ideally ACC should trackset the trail to maintain traditional obligations and for good marketing/public relations purposes. Skiers who attempt to go to the area for the first time may not come back if they find the skiing difficult and un trackset. From a marketing perspective, this would not be good.
The ACC could haul supplies by snowmobile up to the cabins that may be needed in summer, while tracksetting at the same time. They may need items like propane, tools, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, dried foods and more at the cabins. Tracksetting the trail will also give them better experience for the future.
I wonder if the ACC was aware that it was their “obligation” as cabin owners to trackset the trail before they purchased the cabins.
I broke trail to Sundance Lodge a week or 2 ago. It was excellent skiing conditions with no rocks. I also broke and packed the short cut up to the lodge which should be in very good condition now with new snow on top of the skier track.
I also sent Don from Parks Canada an email requesting the trail be trackset.
I would hold off skiing until Friday when it warms up and a person can then enjoy the “beach deck” without worry of frost bite.
Don is the only guy that does tracksetting in the Banff area? That is Parks Canada lame. What would happen if the guy got sick or injured for a few months?
Parks Canada needs a back up plan. Cut the clear cutting and burning of Banff forests and shift the money to tourism enhancing services, like trail maintenance instead. The tourism economy will be better off along with people’s health.
If you focus on the heel rather than the claw marks, it indicates K9. As you mention ‘2 sets’ that may indicate a domestic dog because wolf tracks are typically ‘single track’ impressions because their chest is narrower than most well fed dogs. The only way to really know the origin of a track once it has a K9 determination is to have a look at the scat.
My wife and I saw the tracks yesterday on Ribbon Creek Trail and talked with a skier who just recently had an encounter with a bobcat. He said he had to use bear spray to make it run away. There were other skiers aware of this too.
Layering is what get me through the cold days. I’m hooked on Merino wool base layers and use gloves inside my mitts.
The cold, DRY air gets to me another way. As soon as my heart starts beating going up a hill and I breathe in that cold air through my nose there is a very high chance of a nose bleed. Not a big one, but just enough to look like I’ve been attacked by a cougar.
I have the humidifier going full at home every day but if anyone has any other tips on how to prevent this nuisance from happening I would love to hear it.
I can’t take credit for the saying about “No such thing as bad weather; just bad clothing”. That comes from some of my Norwegian friends. As a nation of active outdoor enthusiasts, the Norwegians exemplify that approach better than anyone.
The following comment was submitted by Kiley on my Facebook page:
Curious if anyone knows why the tracksetting in Banff seems to be such a low priority? Lake Louise does an amazing job with their trails. You would think with higher visitation in Banff as well as a higher percentage of locals looking for nearby trails that this would be done more frequently…
Thanks Bob for visiting Confed! We had the same feedback about the bridges yesterday and plan to put some signs about the hazard. We don’t maintain them as they aren’t meant to ski on but people like to go on them. The warming trailer is open Mon – Thurs 4pm to 8:30pm and Sat and Sun 9am to 4pm.
Because I live close by, I ski Confederation often. My advice about the bridges: Don’t go on them! You don’t need to – the groomed track goes around the creek at the west end. Thank you groomers and snow farmers! Confed has been amazing this year!
Great to read how the trails are maintained. It gives users a better appreciation of all the work and dedication that goes into this. In the case of WBC , I expect it will also provide an incentive for donations! I hope we’ll get more of this type of article.
Always good to meet you on the trails, Bob. Twice in one day at that! After climbing up Bill Milne at the end of my trip to Wedge and back, and then meandering around the village onto Terrace for the homestretch north to Ribbon Creek, I was envious of your descent of all that perfect corduroy on the Bill Milne switchbacks. By comparison, Terrace was ungroomed but with an OK wobbly skier set track, and the Terrace downhill was rough and hardpacked from all the foot traffic. Easy enough, but not a lot of fun- like skiing on cobblestones! Should have done that side loop first instead of last, in the opposite direction. I would guess that the village trails are next on the grooming list…
There was fresh snow (4 cm?) on Bill Milne & the Wedge Connector for skiing on Sunday so the Ribbon Creek & Village trails, when groomed & trackset, should be good, even with the tree debris.
Bob-this is a beautiful post. There’s nothing quite like a dog’s love and nothing quite like spending a wonderful winter day on the trails with your best 4 legged friend. May you have many happy memories. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like a Lynx to me.
We saw two while skiing last weekend. Rounded a corner on Kovach and they both were walking calmly, looked back at us, and continued to walk. Very neat to see them!
Jeff, I must have just missed you on that day 35 years ago! Oh hold it, mine was 37. The single remaining firing neuron whispers to me that the road seemed endless.
Chuck, wonderful ski photo-journalism as usual.
Great pictures Chuck I skied that road 35 years ago. I found a pair of Head Standard skis and mounted cable bindings so I could use my telemark boots. It was crazy fun. I seem to remember more trees on it then.
We skied Goat Creek on Thursday , Jan. 2. Existing tracks were snow covered but quite good. Skied from Goat trailhead to Goat bridge. While resting at bridge we witnessed two skiers approach the steep downhill with far to much speed. One person baled out into trees ,the other hit the bridge hard knocking her equipment into Creek. Amazingly she said she was okay and her friend was able to pick her equipment out of water. We’ve only skied this trail 3 or four times but it’s the second time we’ve witnessed a major crash at bridge. Moral of story is heads up at Goat Bridge.
That video is awesome! I had a picture that I can’t find now, in a group ski, there’s a person in front, the rest coming up behind and a lynx pops out to cross the trail between the two groups.
Pure luck picture!
Just to add my frustration to the growing list. I met with 4 groups of snowshoers while on Elk Pass trail this weekend. 2 groups were being “guided” and I was told they had every right to use the trails even though it is clearly posted where they are meant to come off the trail. A couple gals politely asked if I minded that they use the ski trail instead of the snowshoe trail as they were coming out of the Elk Lake Pass on their way back to the parking lot. The snow was too deep and they were getting tired they said…
Instead of just being frustrated, I wonder if there is a way to groom (sounds ridiculous) the snowshoe trails with the fat bike machines so the ski trails are less tempting.
I am a multisport athlete ( as I’m sure most of us are) that fat-bikes, snowshoes, Hikes, Ice climbs…and XC skis. I have no ill-will towards other user groups but I have no desire to need to be air lifted out of somewhere in the event that some one chops up the trails post-holing up where we are meant to ski.
Clearly there’s a financial restriction but maybe we have to start looking at a fee system so we can make this happen.
Our group was amongst the first to ski Bil Milne and Wedge Connector today (Monday) and we couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day or better conditions….except for the trashed skate ski tracks from walkers, despite that it was JUST groomed. I politely asked a few walkers to please stay off the groomed and set tracks and in one instance was met with a definite no. Can Albera Parks PLEASE put up signs at all trail heads and junctions stating that the groomed ski trails are not for walking or snowshowing, in accordance with the information posted at the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. I heard Banff Parks is now fining people who walk on the groomed ski trails.
Also its well worth remembering when assisting an injured skier a long way from help place more clothing beneath the casualty than on top, insulating them of the cold ground.
“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. 🙂
Dear Bob and Cheryl,
We are very sorry to hear this sad news. I’m sure Tessa had the best possible life with you, full of love and adventure. It is never long enough, and so hard to say good-bye.
Hugs to you both <3
Looks like Tessa had a happy glorious life. Flapping ears, tongue out, head in the snow (which was a great photo) or sleeping on the back seat after a good day of chasing critters and leading the way down the trail, making sure it was safe for you and Cheryl.
Hi Bob, just a question on dogs allowed in the K -Village , Ribbon Cr , Wedge Pond, Bill Milne areas. The Ribbon Cr brochure has this quote “Don’t let the trails go to the dogs.Remember—Fido isn’t permitted on groomed trails. He’s allowed only on non-groomed trails, provided he’s on a leash and you remove his waste from the area.” We want to go out to Bill Milne with my son’s dog but as the trails are groomed right now we are not allowed it seems… thoughts. Thanks,
C.W.
Hi Briony, indeed there has been a lot of grumbling about the grooming and track setting after the big snowfall.
Everyone does, of course, appreciate your team’s efforts, and understands that someone was sick. However, many users including myself are confused by how trails are prioritized.
For example, today (Dec 26) nearly a week after the big dump, the obscure and seldom-used competition and training trails (which I love) such as Wolverine, Bruin, and Cougar have been groomed and track set yet the primary recreation trails such as Banff (beyond the warming hut area) and Meadow have not.
What is the rationale for prioritizing these seldom-used trails while not doing the most popular trails that I mentioned above?
A suggestion: prioritize the main recreation trails (e.g., Banff beyond the warming hut and Meadow) after fresh snow and you will keep 90% of your customers happy.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the heads up on the categorization of Bow, I have adjusted that one now so it’s back to a natural snow trail. Banff past the meadow will be trackset tonight – it took a lot longer than expected to pack down those natural trails so our groomer didn’t get time to get that one down. Have a great day skiing everyone!
Beautiful photos! Curious, if you go all the way from ribbon creek parking lot to wedge pond, how often do you need to take your skis off to cross roads? (Or are they normally covered well enough with snow?) TIA
Hi Briony,
Dealing with 50cm of snow is a massive effort! Especially wet heavy snow. My hat goes off to you guys. That is a herculean task. You guys are awesome groomers!
It’s like Rogers pass level snowfall. Only other place I’ve seen more in same period. Perfect timing for the holidays: heavy trail breaking workouts, mid-thigh turns and feasting. Happy holidays!
West Bragg Creek
It got pretty warm and sticky at WBC later in the afternoon, then it started to rain. It looked like the rain was starting to turn to snow towards Moose Mountain, so hopefully that means fresh snow for tomorrow.
Kananaskis public safety reported on the Avalanche bulletin at the end of today 25 cm on the spray lakes road and anticipating another 40 cm tomorrow. Warm snow and winds are making for widespread slab development and high Avalanche risk as a result. Be wary of Avalanche run outs next few days.
Skied Cascade Fire Road today. First few km have lots of debris and some filled-in spots in the tracks where the wind has blown the snow. Tracks are in pretty poor shape lower down thanks to the warm temps these past few days. Once you get to the top of the big hill it’s a different world – snow laden trees and the tracks are good all the way to the bridge at about 6.5km. However, 3 snowmobiles transporting a new outhouse (and associated staff and tools to install it) drove up the trail between the tracks beyond the bridge (to where we do not know) making the downhill on the way back somewhat sporty! We were on classic skis, and wouldn’t have fancied our chances skating in the snowmobile tracks! Won’t ski this again until the fresh snow (and the groomer!) come through.
Based on the Hill Pain calculation, Fergason comes in at an aerobic overload of 154! Horseshoe at 100. However, looking a little closer reveals that Horseshoe is much pitchier over its distance than Fergason which is only really super tough in the beginning. I’ve preferred racing up Horseshoe to racing up Fergason, but regardless I can’t wait to try both of them on skis! If only the snow were a bit more consistent. You’ve lucked out Bob!
Interesting to learn about ski venues away from the familiar local areas. We did a couple of summer family camping trips to Cypress Hills when our kids were young. They liked the beach, and I enjoyed some good mountain biking.
About that sign- the progression of numbers had me wondering where “20” was, until I noticed that the map is labelled “SCW(Spruce Coulee Winter?) 20”, located at the star on the map. So my guess is that the other numbers mark the locations of similar map. Do I win anything 😉
No idea about why 1-5-10… instead of 1-2-3….
Not to spoil the “surprise”, but Ferguson could definitely be on the Hill Pain hit list! From my data in the summer, steepest 1km is 10%, parts of which tickle 20%, and the avg. gradient for the 3.1KM is 7%. It’s no Alpe Cermis, but it’s in the top 5 toughies ’round these parts for sure.
According to the Alberta parks PDF winter trail brochure, there is a perimeter loop connecting east and west sides of the spring creek trail system that goes down and around the town site using horseshoe canyon trail (or ferguson hill), the shoreline trail and ridgetop trail. The map doesn’t show the ferguson hill trail or that it is a road that is closed in winter. Presumably one could do a big loop, perhaps with a bit of walking, and/or be able to access the spring creek trails from town without driving and getting more hill workout. Worth noting that the map transposes the colour labelling for snowshoe vs. Ski trails. I tried attaching the link to the brochure, but couldn’t get that to work. Perhaps there are more trails to the east also, in the direction of reesor lake? Certainly some on the Saskatchewan side. If enough trail distance for a multi-day stay, I’d go there for sure.
It’s great to see my old PB still laying down some nice track. I went up to Cypress a few years ago to train Darwin on how to operate it and set track. That system was just getting started then. I’m happy to see it up and running as it had lots of potential. Thanks for posting Bob.
Wow! Ferguson Hill is news to me! It’s great to cycle in the summer. If the snow stays over Christmas such top notch grooming just might warrant a trip from the Capital.
Cypress Hills is an amazing place. The sunsets looking over the prairies 2000 feet below are unlike anything else in Alberta or Saskatchewan. Picture perfect. Glad to hear about abundant snow there. That will be good for spring skiing.
If possible, whip up to the badlands north of Patricia for some spectacular ski shots on the way home. You will get ski shots that are out of this world which will send you back to the Cretaceous Period- well before the Hippie Period. Just don’t hit dinosaur bones with the skis as their teeth do a lot of damage to ski bases.
A common theme to the snowshoeing saga is that many or most of these folks may not know the rules. Evidently there are new rules about trail use but where are they written down. Our seniors group both skis and snowshoes and our people try to follow the rules but they need clarity. A conservation officer told me that enforcement may take place this winter re: snowshoeing, walking, biking on ski trails. Our snowshoers stay off the ski trackset trails but they would like clarity. Perhaps PLPP people should take necessary steps to provide written and enforceable rules to the public? As a skier I would like us all to use proper etiquette on the trail system.
I echo Nick’s comment where he recommends starting early or going later in the day. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the Bragg Creek ski trails and I prefer navigating the downhills when there are fewer dogs around potentially running across the tracks.
West Bragg Creek is a great place for xc ski. The infrastructure and the trail system are well developed and maintained. Grooming and track setting quality is top-notch, and what I mean by quality is the depth and straightness of the tracks. Note however, that the snow in Bragg Creek is generally softer than in Peter Lougheed, and so are the tracks.
You may like the Crystal and Mountain Road trails the most. Technically they seem easier to me than Elk Pass and Whisky Jack. Crystal is double trackset with the wide groomed skating lane in the middle. Mountain Road is double trackset with the tracks on right side when heading west. The left side of the road is a multi-use lane. Crystal Loop is roughly 7 km, Mountain Road is 4 km one way.
West Bragg Creek is a very popular destination for many on weekends. To avoid the crowds, I prefer to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
I enjoy the ~15 km (without adding it up) loop as follows:
Mountain Road/Mountain View West/Tom Snow/Moose Loop/Moose Connector/Mountain Road back to the parking lot.
It’s intermediate in my opinion, due to a downhill on Mountain Road, another one on Mountain View West, and a couple of rollers on Moose Loop. As I recall the track setter doesn’t put tracks in when he/she considers it too steep for people to safely stay in the tracks, which is normal in all the places I’ve skied. WBC is always weather dependent, being lower elevation than the mountains. If there’s snow, there’s great tracks.
If you are in Calgary, we like Maple Ridge golf course the best of all the local places. We went Tuesday night, and they had rolled it that day ( I think), with good tracks just beside the rolled part, probably from skiers out there before the roller went through for the first time.
Hope this helps…
Keep those tips up!
With kind regards,
Herb
It was a pleasure meeting you on the trail Sunday afternoon. I posted part one of Evan and I’s little snowshoe adventure on my YouTube channel (Martyupnorth) in case folks are interested in seeing what it’s like to stay overnight in a tent when it’s -30C outside.
We skiied telephone loop in west Bragg creek today. It was quite nice, a bit soft, recently track set, but a fair bit of the trail was chewed up by a fat biker and their heavy and deep foot prints. What a selfish way to ruin a beautifully track set trail. Makes for quite dangerous down hill stretches too.
Based on our experience the other day, seems that “groomed” on the live grooming page means track set at sandy mcnabb, at least on the south side of the road anyway. Maybe the other groomers in k-country can lend them a track set “column” for the live grooming page.
Has anyone been out to Peterlougheed (William watson lodge area) today or yesterday? I am taking a group of ladies out to learn how to cross country ski and was hoping to do some green trails. Is it track set?
Cheers
Jenna
Has anyone been out to Peterlougheed (William watson lodge area) today or yesterday? I am taking a group of ladies out to learn how to cross country ski and was hoping to do some green trails. Is it track set?
Cheers
Jenna
Glad you enjoyed the trails at Confed. Just a note on the parking lot and the 9th hole area being closed. We hope the parking lot will be plowed tonight and then we will be open the lot. It will open daily 9am to 9pm.
The golf course did a big reno on the 9th hole just south of the club house and it is surrounded by snow fence. This is area is closed as the work isn’t done and there are many hazards until the snow and may not be safe. We have had people crossing the fence as they are used to skiing over there but we ask that everyone stay respect the closure for their own safety.
Thanks for the update on Shaganappi Bob!! I live blocks from the golf course and feel so fortunate to be able to jog over for a quick ski so close to home. And so happy to hear they have a FB page-I was just thinking today it would be great to know who to contact to see how I can help out.
See any ski tracks coming from the helicopter? looks like the same one I saw last year up at elk pass, beside the hydroline on the BC side. I spoke to the pilot and guest last year. Brought a date out to go for a quick ski! So sent them to the couch and the meadows for a bit more romantic setting. I returned to the couch the long way around, and there they were. I didn’t linger, so can only speculate on the outcome, but perhaps they still go skiing together. (-:
Elk pass: the big hill up and down both ways was perfect corduroy. Excellent smooth fast turns on the way back to the car. Tracks and grooming set up well. No open water or bumpy undulating bits like tyrwhitt a week back. Fast tracks and probably faster tomorrow. Didn’t get much shovelling work done on the couch due to lack of snow for blocks, just more compaction and some biffy building. Next snowfall should produce some bench seating. And congrats to nick of course! Friday is the day to pick.
I have that book, sometimes I’ve had a quick look and when I’m out, I try to find old trail connections, which I believe I did, off the screamer. But usually I’m wrong…
When I first read of a Kananaskis ski trail called Lionel right here on SkierBob I thought ‘great a new ski trail for me to try’, a Google search immediately took me back to SkierBob (what a surprise) http://skierbob.ca/2014/03/plpp-flashback/ and a trail map revealing Lionel hooks up with Pocaterra. In all the time I’ve skied PLPP how could I possible have missed this trail before realising, oh it’s the hwy! The trail map does however clearly show Lionel ski trail joining Pocaterra South.
Thanks to the good people at Strathcona Wilderness Centre in Sherwood Park who did miracles with the scant snow we had, I was able to skate ski there three times already this month. Hoping for some new snow now after last weekend’s meltdown.
New snow total at West Bragg Creek is now about 40 cm, and still snowing. Expect soft conditions, or deep trail breaking, if you want to explore any of the snowshoe or all-season trails.
I was doing some work on the West Bragg Creek trails today. It started snowing steadily at about 4:00pm and around 2 cm had accumulated by 5:30pm. Hopefully, that’s an indication of good things to come overnight and tomorrow!
It’s difficult to expect snow shoers and walkers to go on the correct trail when all the maps in the system don’t clearly show where they are separate, nor is it super obvious when looking at the physical trails (if not well versed in the trail system). When a user is not armed in advance with research and topo maps so they know where to go, what it looks like and how to navigate, it’s hard to expect them to “detour” into a narrow bush trail, especially when it has fresh snow. Easier to just follow everyone else, whether for safety or ease of use reasons. Kananaskis has tried many ways to deal with this at Chester without much success. Perhaps the latest widening of the snow shoe trail has helped. If so, perhaps similar is needed in the elk pass area. But I’m not so hopeful given the basic nature of people and expect things will get worse. In the mean time I will try to remain calm and helpful unless my risk of injury increases.
Hallo folks:
I have strong evidence to prove that Darcy is a petulant git, there is plenty of trails adjacent to Hwy 66, all the way to the powderface and beyond, we can estimate at least 250km. categorized as multiuse where horses , hikers, mountain bikers and so on have shared the trails for decades with no conflict whatsoever or very little.
I agree very strongly with Scott, what equestrians leave on the SKI trails speaks very much about how much respect they have for other users and I do not have any sympathy for them even if I adore horses.
About Groomer Bill’s comment, although I have an immense respect for him and the dedication for all the work, unpaid, that he has gobbled up for us all, I am a little concerned about his own self respect, to accept the theory of frustration form a jerk who has no consideration for his dedication is not a good sign, some people need to be told quite bluntly where they belong, it just takes a little more assertiveness and I hope, in the future, if he is confronted by another one of them disrespectful individuals, he would at least consider taking lic. plate and information to be reported to the authorities so a change of behavior would perhaps take place.
I think that picture sums things up as to why equestrian users are being pushed out of numerous areas. The horses trash the trails for other groups and leave manure all over the trails – not a great experience for the majority of users
Looks like just over a foot of snow to me, maybe 14″. I measured just over a foot off trail further east at the MLR/Fairview junction (not enough for paradise). And p.s. The lower tramline parking tip is a good one. Not even a quarter full on return mid-day.
I did ski in Canmore (Frozen Thunder) today. I was impressed – I thought the track was in better condition than last weekend. Overall a good firm surface for skating that wasn’t too icy, and just minimal loose snow breaking down on some of the steep climbs. There was just a single classic track that was heavily glazed. I’ll be back tomorrow ready to play with klister!
At West Bragg today, I heard someone use the term, “dog jam” to describe the need to slow down for dog crowded areas. And for areas where groups of people were gathered to chat with Skier Bob, I heard the term, “Bob jam!” Fun times at West Bragg Creek! So great to see lots of people out!
I would have been there today, save for my tradition of attending services at the Cenotaph with an old friend. Hopefully, the temps stay low enough to sneak out with a headlamp after work this week.
Moose and both the Mountainviews were in great condition today as well. And yes- I used the good skis, and was glad I did. Such an amazing afternoon of skiing! Hats off to all the dedicated West Bragg volunteers. https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Moose-Mountainview-November112019/
Groomers Dave, Dan and Bill were out roller packing West Bragg Creek this morning. It looks like we got about 10cm fresh snow. We will start to lay tracks later this morning and tomorrow. Pretty chilly out there, dress warmly!
West Bragg Creek- black ice on road treacherous!
We intended to ski West Bragg today but were held up by emergency personnel as there was a car in ditch due to crash.
After waiting & getting a boost from a couple of kind fellas who stopped to help, we decided to ski when the roads were better.
Hi Bob thanks for the update on WBC trails. What do you use to polish the fishtails to stop clumping up? Just got our first set of waxless. Always have used waxable.
I marvel at the great service that you provide to cross country skiers. Your report is always (as you know) the most up to date. So appreciate all you do to keep us informed.
Wow, I’m surprised how good the conditions looked on the 8th! I’ll have to keep an eye on the website to see if there is a day upcoming that I can ski. Thanks Skier Bob!
Awesome! Bob’s blog is back, meaning we’ll ski soon. In fact, I had my XC ski season opened last night, 5K classic on a soccer field nearby! Never before I skied in September :o)
Hey Bob… this new website looks great.
Thanks for all your hard work during the summer.
Hopefully, it won’t be six weeks to ski season!
Only suggestion might be to expand the availability of the “Recent Comments” section (with maybe a “More… line) to facilitate those like me ensure they have not missed anything.
Ski you soon!
As you can see, many of us are still checking out your site almost daily for it is “our cyber ski community” and we all miss the ski season, especially seeing all those memorable photos again. I was encouraged to see that big snowfall so early in October up at Burstall; only 5+ months away. If Chuck ever writes his memoirs, I think the pic taken of him in the red chair with beer in hand, would make an awesome cover. Like Nancy and Paul, I tell people I am now in cycle mode and have been for the last month. It is all about the quality of the cold snow for me, so I can easily pass on Spring’s icy/slushy conditions. Give me -20 any day.
Thank you Bob for all the work you put into this blog. I pray you get to spend a wonderful summer with Cheryl and Tessa. Maybe we should post a random date to all meet for the buffet at Silver Dragon in Banff. We could enjoy the Legacy Trail to get there, before all the tourists come. I am already trying to figure out what my next pair of light touring skis will be. Hugs to all, especially after the tragic avalanche and crevasse deaths this past few weeks has brought to our heartstrings.
It was a good season, skiing a bunch with cheeky and Simona, an excellent fortuitous day skiing skogan pass in excellent conditions with helen as well as hitting a few spots I haven’t been to before and combining some camp fire cookouts with a ski day. Good times. Plus it was the year of satellite couches, bringing seating options to pipestone and Fairview. Definately worth doing again, especially the top end of pipestone.
To echo Bob’s comment about the bluebird days, we had some really great late-season skiing at WBC and Sandy McNabb this year after the deep freeze was over and before meltdown – some of the best I can remember.
A big thank you for another year of your website. It is always interesting and helpful to read the trip reports over morning coffee. We have had the bikes out frequently for a month now and we are looking forward to a great summer season. Cheers Paul
Not a very encouraging report, but other than less coverage- fairly typical conditions for later in April. As you say Bob- it’s been a challenging winter for the ski trails in many areas, but we are fortunate to have hard working crews both paid and volunteer, who provide us with so many options.
Skied there a few days ago. Icy in the morning, very soft in the afternoon. Natural snow trails are finished, so not many kms groomed which means doing laps to log a decent mileage. Surprisingly little debris. Sidewalls of the tracks were corn snow which softened quickly and were skied out by mid-aft. The bottom of the tracks consisted of ice granules but with some fresh snow mixed in, so there was grip to be had on fishscales, even in the morning. There is a magic period of about 2 hours between ice and slush – much better to get there very early to ensure you can take advantage of this. Forecast is for +12C tomorrow Thurs, but cooling off with some precip. on the weekend so maybe you will have a longer window with some more fresh snow tilled in.
Hello Paul here.
I am looking for possibly used cross country tracking / grooming equipment.
We are a small group here in Northern Saskatchewan, we ski mostly on Mintikwan lake and a bit of the surrounding shoreline.
If there is any equipment available with a limited budget we would be interested .or if anyone knows wher one could acquire such equipment the information would be much appreciated.
Thank you for you time.
Paul Pospisil
I’ve seen you on the trails a few times but didn’t put it together till this afternoon when you were checking the conditions…hope you had a great afternoon, it was a beautiful day.
A pleasure to meet you today. Coco and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Sometimes Coco’s enthusiasm got the better of me! – but we are learning together. So fortunate to be able to get out and enjoy the snow and the mountains today.
The second report for Wednesday nearly fooled me, until I realized that you had only started skiing at 2:30 pm Bob… I was back in Banff by then, despite chats with so many happy skiers!
Nice play on a good day for Grooming. If we were talking today, I would wager that the Cascade valley is being groomed right now (8 am Thursday).
With temperatures not forcasted to go above zero here, the Cascade should be excellent… and another social day.
Skee you there!
Thanks Mike and Bob for the update on grooming at CNC. I did notice something different on Sunday, but was not sure what it was. This is it, the cordoroy was finer. And yes I agree it will be safer. I thought it was just me getting my ski caught in the grooves while screening down hill.
Unfortunate about pipestone closing. Wanted to get in there today and see how the couches have faired over the course of the winter. Sounds like they have been user maintained well, although there wasn’t really a big dump after they were built. If anyone was there today and can share a photo or some info, that’d be great. Worthy of doing again? Other/better locations? Thanks in advance.
Thanks Bob for highlighting the tracks at Strathmore (and thanks to Ed for the hard work!). We had a lot of life changes this past fall, one of which was moving to a farm north of Chestermere out of Calgary. Farm life and 3 busy teenaged kids means there hasn’t been much time to get out to our usual haunts for skiing – even WBC is a longer haul now. I have been missing the quick trips to Confederation Park so I was delighted this morning to be able to head out to Strathmore for a quick ski before the kids’ activities start up for the day. What a hidden gem!
Thanks for highlighting these memories Bob.
My vote goes to Kevin Dowler for that amazing photo of the Grouse on Dauminique’s shoulder. At first I wondered if it wasn’t trick photography, but then I found the original article here: http://skierbob.ca/2017/03/saturday-night-update/
And the Oscar for amazing wild-life photography goes to ……..CHUCK!!!!
Thanks for posting-one never tires of such incredible postings. Thanks to ALL nominees. Wolverine-quite the moment to capture.
Train derailment: wow! 20 cars off the track (grain cars and empty car carriers), no injuries. Was thinking about the possibilities Monday skiing alongside the trains near protection mountain, and dismissed the thought based on a relatively flat and straight track. Wouldn’t be surprised if BNP contemplated a re-route of the ski trail to the north side of road further east to avoid the rail right of way, or a closure of some kind. There is an easy crossing point at the big meadow between “the hallway” and where the trail turns to run along the track. This would also avoid the CP maintenance vehicle crossings. But probably just trading that for AltaLink crossings instead.
We’re always looking for volunteers to help with snow farming. Regular sessions on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Sign up on the Calgary Nordic Alliance website here: https://www.volunteersignup.org/EHBPL
We did a bunch more snow farming last night (Wednesday) to build up the base on some of the areas that get the most wear and tend to melt out faster. Things are in very good shape now!
Can confirm the great conditions on Skogan today. Saw Bob just as he was coming down top of the Screamer as I was heading up for a late start. The snow did get a bit softer later in the afternoon due to the warm temperatures and there were couple of snow bombs as well. The Skogan Loop was super fast and in the best shape overall. If you want to access from the Stoney Trailhead, the Troll Falls trail under the power line is actually trackset and not obliterated by footprints which is pretty rare. There’s one good track on Hay Meadow but the other track has a lot of prints and pole holes in it already. It was my first time up this year and completely forgot how fast of a descent this is. Made it super fun after all that climbing up.
I skied it last year and it was trackset nicely the day I did it. Your description is exactly as I remembered it: a long slog uphill and a scream downhill. It’s worth doing at least once in your life just for the fun ride down (if you dare).
February 1936 might have been colder, or at least it was in the Edmonton area and Environment Canada’s website does not have data for Banff for 1936 so it is hard to say. I would like to show Banff’s temperature trend here, but I can’t post a pdf. The annual extremes are converging with annual highs tightly clustered around 30C, rising about 1C over 130 years, and annual lows, with much more variation, rising 3C over 130 years. The lowest temperature was -51.1C in January 1950, which is the only sub -50C I could locate in the records for Banff. I expected sub -50C to be more common.
Iron Creek really is a “Great Trail”, since it is part of the Trans-Canada Trail. It is a multi-user trail, so it is groomed with a single lane of XC track setting and a corduroy lane for all other users. The groomed distance is 1.6km and there is a 300m single-track portion that connects to the the Bragg Creek Hamlet portion of the TCT.
This list is awesome — thanks, Bob. A note about West Bragg. According to the Bragg Creek trail site, the on-leash area is a lit larger than the parking lot. It’s actually the Provincial Recreation Area which surrounds the parking lot in every direction. They show the area on a map here:
bob –
I Encountered skiers on the Spray east trail today with the dog and Another group coming from goat Creek onto the east spray with a dog.
I spoke with the first group who said skier Bob said it was dog friendly
and there was no sign for the spray east trail head off of the golf course ..
they were right only the signs to share the trail with Bikes and hikers.
Do you know why there’s no sign ?
Intentional perhaps?
It was great to run into you in the parking lot at Sandy yesterday, Bob. My beloved made me back up (when I said, hey, there is Skier Bob) and I am surprised he did not ask for your autograph!! We live about 15 minutes from Sandy and, conditions permitting, have skied there frequently over the past 19 years. However, after reading your trip report, you taught me something I did not know. I had absolutely no idea that there was an off-leash area at Sandy! This information will be very useful the next time we take our pups with us. I do remember a large sign “suggesting” a $250.00 fine for off-leash dogs that was posted near the highway not far from ranger station so just assumed this was in effect for the whole area. I thank you and Bob the dog and Cooper thank you. We, too, were very frustrated at the large divots left by the inconsiderate person who decided to walk in the tracks. We did come across a pair of hikers but it was on a multi-use trail so they were in the right. Sandy McNabb is such a gem and, as you would have noticed yesterday, quiet and beautiful. Grooming is sporadic and while I would have loved to have kept Sandy my own little secret, if more traffic means more frequent grooming, everyone can consider this their own personal invitation to come out and enjoy this amazing area.
Congratulations Helen Read! As someone wise said to me the other day: “make tracks, not excuses!” Inspiring accomplishment indeed (and well celebrated!)
This is for the next level of stupidity;
skidoo first and chuck wagon next, don’t expect any development for skiers, classic or skating, these trails will be dedicated to anything except x country skiing and if anybody wants to propose a dedicated trail system for everything but the kitchen sink, please come forward, it will be very interesting to find out how everything can be piled up on the same infrastructures.
Just one reminder: If by any chance there will be an encounter with some disrespectful or non observant of the obvious rules, based on common sense, please smile like donkey, just to encourage the endless flux of idiots who destroy what the taxpayer’s pays for, including those who don’t ski.
Great highlight reel of your ski. Parks has sure stepped it up with the bypass grooming, signage and such. Well done. And btw, your 3rd picture of the happy skier wearing the Finish touque kick-double poling is indeed a great photo capturing the all the elements and the essence of xc skiing in Kananaskis!
Hi everyone! I have a friend coming to visit and we’d like to get out skiing. One challenge is she’s got troubles with her knees and can’t do much for hills.
Can anyone give me suggestions for some trails that are flat or minimally hilly near Canmore, Banff or Lake Louise for this weekend?
Thanks for the help!
Lana
The Great Divide at Lake Louise would be perfect for your friend. -Bob
Hi Bob,
As per my post from last week, I also completed the Hummingbird, Skogan Loop and the Pass in one day. When I do Skogan (at least once a season), it has to be a full-course meal for me. 🙂
As a matter of fact I met you there on top of the Skogan Loop couple of seasons back. Your skis were much faster than my old waxless ones I use on descent to the main trail.
Thanks, Adam. I’ve added your name to this very exclusive club. -Bob
From the PLPP grooming report today:
“The construction closure through Boulton Campground has now been lifted, and this area has been groomed and trackset, but there may be a few thin spots and some exposed gravel on some edges.”
This was our third day in a row skiing WBC. Its so good to finally ski our favourite trails again and today we did Iron Springs loop…those were our tracks you were skiing in, Bob. Yesterday we did Moose and overall we’d say the conditions are very good , but the snow is slow as you would expect. Glad to hear a bit if a warm up is coming in the next few days.
Happy Trails
Heidi and Peter
Aw shucks. For the record- it was Alf who got me started on SkiHere, by e-mailing a link to “a new website that looks interesting”. Thank you, Bob, for this valuable resource!
The groomers seem competing silently for who can make the best ski trail with whatever quality snow one may have at their disposal. These tracks and corduroy on the picture above look pretty awesome, the five stars job done!
I’m going to have a chat with Bill this morning and see how it’s going out there. From the Ribbon creek end. I know…maybe not the best end to start from.
Cold weather and ice jams have a lot to do with it too. the bow river in calgary has risen in places a foot or more in the last week now that things have finally frozen up. Lots of water and ice flowing where it doesn’t normally given that normal channels are plugged with ice. It’s almost spring flow levels in some spots. Up and down flow rates of water release from damns on Kananaskis river exacerbates the ice damning when its cold. Without the deep freeze, probably wouldn’t be as much of an issue.
my wife and I are heading to Banff for a wek of winter fun any am a regular visitor to this great website . Any suggestions for some must ski trails next week would be great Thanks hope to run into some of the familiar names I see every time I visit
I’m so sorry we missed seeing you today on the Bill Milne trail. Apparently we skied past one another going in the opposite direction. The Esso gang told us that you were on the trail and that we just missed you … not once … but twice. Six degrees of separation. My husband and I have followed your blog daily for years. It’s such a treat. We live in Canmore … just down the street from Helen Read. (-:
Cooking Lake – Blackfoot Recreation Area near Camrose was -42 this morning and forcast high -I believe, is below -25 for this Saturday. That’s 1000 ski enthusiasts affected but there is always another trail for another time!
Kindness and sharing information on “how to” is what I will choose. I trust most people are simply not aware of the damage or potential danger. If you are not an avid outdoorsperson and have never cross country skied, how would you know? I too have come across this even with good signage Parks Canada has provided. I trust with a gentle word and simple explanation it will only happen once. In this time where so much hatred and little tolerance prevails, I choose kindness and compassion. We are so lucky to have all we have.
We got dropped off at the Goat Creek trailhead on Canmore side then after lunching in the side lobby of the Banff Springs we took the ROAM for $1 (senior rate) to the Hot Springs for a soak . From the hot springs we took the ROAM right back to Canmore for $3. Quite a deal if you can get a ride to the trailhead.
The Bow Valley folk group the Wardens have a tribute song to Dorothy Carlton called War Bride to Warden Bride. Check it out in this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giKxDelIHW0
The Parks Canada foldable signs along the trail say something like “Share the trail”. Below it is a schematic of a ski track with separate showshoe and walking trails. The schematic must be confusing, and walkers seem to heed the suggestion of sharing the trail.
Clearly this is not working. How about signs that say “HIKERS AND SNOWSHOERS: STAY OUT OF THE XC SKI TRACK” or something like that. It’s maybe not as gentle and nice, but grooming is expensive.
Wow photos Chuck. And thanks for continuing to report on his exploits Bob. You may need add another drop down menu titled as such. In other news, there were many Loppet heads to be accounted for at Nipika with -as I’m told, record setting turnout for the classic races. And that wasn’t the only record broken, the 30km challenging (to wax for) course record was also set by a well decorated Olympian (guesses?) Good hosts, great fun, outstanding skiing and spectacular scenery and camaraderie among all -young and young at heart!
Hi Bob, Missed you yesterday–we went up towards Ohara and it was fantastic! Denise did call Joe and he is out there today. You are right–no set schedule for us–Joe is a carpenter most of the time and we are lucky to have him when we can. Great photo’s you posted! That Connector is getting better as the days go on. Cheers, Marilyn & Bruce
bob
i also skied the pipestone today- it was -14 at
10 am but so sunny it felt fine. best tracks yet.
There were resent wolverine tracks from the trail down
down to the trail to the couch!
Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi now also operate Talus Lodge near the south-east corner of Banff Park. Helicopter access to Talus Lodge stages from Canmore and Mt. Shark Heli-pad.
Madeleine Williams is a judge in Edmonton
Chandra Chawford runs Fast & Female girl events
Perianne Jones works with Spirit North out of BC and also works as a Ultrasound extraordinaire
Ivan Babikov is now the Provincial Coach and Development Director with Cross Country Alberta. Members of the Alberta ski team represent the country on the international arenas. And Canada Winter Games in Red Deer are just around the corner.
Great coverage Bob! Thanks. Wasn’t able to participate this year myself but thoroughly enjoyed the trackset route from Morant’s to Sawback during my “before-the-loppet” ski last Saturday. Met & chatted with a few cheery volunteers hard at work as well as the Baker Creek grooming team doing a fantastic job as usual. Thanks All. Looking fwd to next year!
Hey Bob,
This was a first for my wife and I, first ever xc ‘race’ in fact. And boy what an experience! The going was tough heading out for Leg 3, and though we’ve never met you before in person, it was great inspiration to see you out there on the trail cheering everyone on. As newbies to this kind of endeavor, we were blown away by the great energy of everyone involved, both racers and the selfless volunteers throughout the course. It was humbling to meet these cheery folks at lonely road crossings giving us lots of encouragement and plenty of cowbell. Such a well organized event in the beauty of the Rockies. It was a day we won’t forget in a hurry! We might want to work on our double poling technique for the next one 😉 Cheers and thanks for all the great photos!
Bob
I met you at the finish, along with my two dogs Bonn and Tasky. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. Lovely to meet you at last. My first loppet. My first ever ski race. Im a runner and the running sections just made me smile. Fab event, loved it all even the last 6.7k section which was not really my definition of skiing. I’ll do it again for sure. Kudos to everyone involved. Will try to work out how I can help out for the event next year. Pretty special day for sure – I mean how many people get to start a race at a full blown Chateau and then drive to Banff for the presentations, only to see another full blown Chateau! Loved it all.
An awesome loppet!! Such beautiful country to ski in- thank you so much to all the volunteers for a great day! And that last leg going downhill on the split—so much better!
My second time doing it as a two person relay. Its such a fun race, always look at as more of an adventure race too. I hope it continues, so few opportunities to race with friends as a team in the loppet world. Big thanks to the organizers!
My second time. I managed to do the last edition that went right to Banff in 2013.
I see this loppet more as an adventure on skis than a “race”.
The revamped Morants Curve meant a LONG time on the road!
There was a lot of roots and trees and branches on the last 20km… definitely not for your best skis.
I hope the race continues… would be a shame to see it disappear.
I have biked this trail during the summer, and would love to XC ski this, however how do you get back? Did you have two cars, so you could park at either end? Could you ski back on the trail?
I cannot see the tracks too well, but they do not look like a hare to me, unless it has five legs. Mind you, size on a photo can also be deceiving. I’d have liked to have an idea about possible weight and how deeply the tracks are impressed into the snow; that is, how firm is the snow surface?
Lynx maybe? Wolverine? Fisher?
Heck, I’ll go back to five-legged hare.
I’m not even close to being an expert, but some googling leads me to think that these are from a snowshoe hare. Initially, I thought maybe a marten, but hares leave tell tale little prints tight behind big prints. The snow looks fluffy enough that their small nails didn’t leave impressions.
Regarding signs on trails restricting walking or snowshoeing, they are likely not constitutional.
The National Parks permit travel by historical means which basically comes down to walking. The National Parks can prevent non traditional modes of transportation such as horse back riding or bikes on trails but not walking whether it is summer or winter- unless there are wildlife protection concerns. But there is no reason as to why Banff National Park can not put up signs to educate people about back country travel etiquette on ski trails. This would be up to the Banff Park Superintendent, who is responsible for operational decisions and budgetary spending in Banff. But the Superintendent is cheap when it comes to spending on trails in Banff.
My experience is that the Superintendent of Banff does not care much for trail conditions or spending much on the trails. The vast majority of backcountry summer trails are eroding severely making travel difficult and dumping sediment in fish bearing spawning streams. This is impacting ski trails as well as more snow or “snow work” is required to make these trails skiable. A number of the winter ski trails that were once double track set and or had skating lanes are now single lane only trails and they are getting narrower as trees over grow them due to a lack of maintenance. A cheap or out of touch Superintendent is why illegal volunteer guerilla trail work is done by skiers to keep trails skiable and why educational signage is not erected on the ski trails to keep them in better skiing shape.
If real democracy was legalized, where people make the decisions rather than politicians, chances are our trails in the National Parks would be in much better condition for those that use them. There should at least be participatory budgeting in Banff so that the park users make up at least a significant part of the budget- then maybe needed signs would be on the ski trails. A lack of democracy makes for worse ski trails.
I find it interesting that the think before sink signage comes from groomed fat bike trails. I agree it would help for messaging but the reality is unless you are paying for skiing you just can’t stop walkers from using ski trails. Places like Lake Louise and the Kananaskis Village get visitors from all over the world who just don’t understand what a ski trail is. The best we can do is try and direct where they walk on the ski trail “ don’t walk on the tracks” “ stay to trail edge” type of signage works for the majority of users, unfortunately we tend to hear about that one person who walks the entire newly trackset right on the track. Personally I’ve never encountered any damage that made me have a bad ski day. You glide over it and move along enjoying one of the hundreds of KMs if groomed ski trails we freely have access to living here in Alberta.
Regarding the lack of advisory signage at LL this season: This Wednesday, tracksetter Jeff, who works for the Chateau, said that sometime last year a snow shoe user group (unnamed) had filed a cease and desist order with Parks. Parks complied and removed the signs. Any cross country loving lawyers out there willing to take on this issue pro bono ?
Yesterday we went up Tramline and around Fairview and back to the village in a loop. Glorious snow on blue wax with an inch of fresh on the track set. Coming down Tramline starting at MLR we hit fresh track set, yummmm. It was spoiled somewhat by a young fellow who had walked, in boots, all the way up from the Village on the new track set, sometimes in the track but mostly just where it had just minutes before, been packed. I was shaking my head all the way down.
We saw him consulting the trail map at the start of MLR with trail brochure in hand but we did not approach him. I checked at the bottom of Tramline and while the river side trail says multi-use and only has one side track set the Tramline going up the hill has no signs about useage. Are you supposed to be able to walk up Tramline in boots? Some signage would help people (likely tourists) manage their way around the system.
I suspect that the signs haven’t reappeared as they were not put there by Parks Canada. The trails that they were on are not closed to hikers or snowshoers and I suspect that Parks probably removed them. The guidance for snowshoes on the Parks website says “If you decide to follow groomed cross-country ski trails, please travel to one side in order help maintain them for other users.”
Re WTH: Yesterday we caught up with two fat bikes being pushed, yes, pushed up Lower Tramline in the fresh trackset. Admonished them to stay off the tracks, they reluctantly complied, only to step back in once we passed. Turned around to… educate. Turns out Wilson Mtn Sports had advised the young Aussies, first time visitors to Canada, to go up Lower Tramline, even though it was so soft they could not get traction. So we had a friendly chat, and I advised them to take the access road to their destination, the Chateau, instead of proceeding on Tramline. Turned around at the road crossing, waited for them, saw them get on the road. First guy started up, yelled, “Oh God, this is so much easier!”, thanking me with a wave. Total coincidence, 4 hours later on the return trip, we were walking across the road, when the 2 Aussies came rolling down, waved “Hello Boss”. “Did you have a good time?” “Yes, thanks mate”, they answered. So in this case, all is well that ends well.
Dog Friendly Castle Junction
Hi Bob and fellow skiers-hoping someone can help clear up my confusion. I see here Castle Junction through to Baker Creek is listed as dog-friendly. On the Banff winter trail map brochure it shows Castle Junction to Castle Lookout as dog-friendly but no dogs Castle lookout to Baker Creek. My pup, Bodhi, and I are hoping the brochure is a mistake! Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Syncline Castle Trails (near Castle Mountain Resort). Just skied there last week with my dog. Signs posted at the trailhead and at synclinecastletrails.org note that the “trails are non-motorized and pet friendly, so bring along your companions.”
To clarify, Redearth Creek was only groomed to the campground where the snowmobile tracks clearly turned around. Nothing was groomed past the campground – no final km to the lodge turnoff, and nothing between the lodge turnoff and campground. Only the first 6km were groomed. If anything beyond the campground was previously groomed, there was no sign of that. The snow got considerably deeper beyond the campground.
Thermos and kids booties still on the lost and found counter at pocaterra hut. Along with a black Nintendo type unit that’s been there for a few weeks.
There is a northern region trail report by Edmonton Nordic that has conditions for the Red Deer trails and many other ski trails throughout central and northern Alberta.
You were wondering if any experienced Red Earth Creek skiers know why the trail has not been groomed to the end. Well I am an experienced Red Earth skier, but I can’t say. What I do know is the last time I skied it a couple of weeks or so ago, someone on a snowmobile had pushed the snow from the right side of the trail (looking up valley) and made a berm kind of on the centre left of the trail for quite a long distance. I was blown by the amount of snow that was moved. The trail at that time was only snowmobile packed to just before this digging location. The snowmobiler actually walked several meters from their sled and then commenced to digging like a wild dog. Someone moved a lot of snow by hand. I skied on the berm to try to pack it down somewhat. This is a location where I have widened the snowmobile trail in past years by ski packing the powder on the left side- in order to encourage wider grooming of the trail in the area for skating purposes.
The location where the grooming currently ends is likely where the trail was dug out on the right side. The only reasonable theory I could think of as to why the snow was moved was perhaps someone wanted a more level trail in that location- once it snows more to fill things in. The berm that I skied on was potentially built to prevent snowmobiles from sliding towards the left edge of the trail. The part that makes this a crummy theory is, I did not think the trail was that heavily sloped to the left and any good snowmobiler should be able to ride that part of the trail without dong work to it- unless they are maybe on an Alpine single ski sled as those old snowmobiles really suck to ride ( I should have looked at the tracks to see what kind of sled was being driven- all that I know is it was not Santa Claus’ sled).
So, there you at least have a theory as to why the grooming ended about 1 km from the end of the trail. Maybe ask the guy who drove the snowmobile if my theory was correct. Let me know if you do. I like to keep score of the accuracies of my theories.
Hello Mr. Bob,
I’ve just recently taken up skate skiing and really enjoy it. We were at Boulton Creek trail today near the Upper Kananaskis lake. We found the trail quite narrow and a sign directing skate skiers to go to Shark mountain, which we did.
My questions are:
Are there any skate skiing trails in PLPP? If so, which ones would you recommend?
What other areas in Southern Alberta support Skate skiing?
Sounds reasonable to make sure there are well laid out maps for the snowshoeing.
I’m a little torn about the grooming though. When I snowshoe I am looking for untracked trails as I then can use the shoes as they are intended. When the track is packed I may as well just have boots or crampons on…No need for floatation.
Just me?
On the topic of snowshoeing, myself and 2 others were at Shark on Wednesday (met the infamous Chuck in the parking lot), and we snowshoed the 5km red/black loop. I told my friends we were ok to snowshoe there only because the trail had not been groomed or trackset yet this season and it would likely be done soon because finally there was enough snow. It was done the next day. I’m wondering if our snowshoe tracks would have interfered with grooming efforts the next day? I assume not, but I’m a XC skier as well and want to ensure I don’t make more work for our beloved groomers.
Seeing as I had my trail breaking skis with me yesterday, I was tempted to ski up the snowshoe track. Not sure a ski track would help or confuse, especially when there might already be confusion on where to go. The specific locations of the snowshoe trails aren’t marked on the trailside ski map so nobody really knows where those trails go other than what appears to be into the bush away from the main direction of travel everyone else is going. And the web site says the snow shoe trail leaves the elk pass parking lot at the north end, when it’s actually at the south end. I’m sure we could help them out better.
Excellent photos. Tourism quality. Things definately look inviting in the lake Louise area. I have been convinced, right after getting the couch to a workable size. Are they still doing the fire by the skating rink these days? Might have to fire up some sausages after a ski. Happy holidays!
The little (2.7 km) #3 loop going E from Castle Jct. will be a pleasant ski when it’s trackset. Skied the snowmobile grooming yesterday & still enjoyed it.
I bought one of his old groomer snowcats last spring. This year we will be grooming snowmobile trails on the Trans Canadian Snowmobile Trail North of Edmonton between Athabasca and Swan Hills. He is a good guy. Gave us a good deal and included parts and extra oil with the machine as well as helped us load it onto a trailer. Grooming ski trails or snowmoblie trails it all makes for a more enjoyable experience for the user. Thanks for the snowcat ED
On behalf of Prospect and our Outdoor Pursuits team I’d like to extend our sincere apologies to Alberta Parks and any Parks users who were negatively impacted by our crew on Friday, December 14.
Prospect groups work throughout the year, all over Kananaskis, to act as stewards to the park; helping to remove invasive weeds, performing garbage clean-ups and working to protect the parks and help make them accessible to all.
When we headed out to Pocaterra we didn’t see anybody else in the area and didn’t think we’d be interfering with other recreation in the park, so we set off to enjoy a hike. It was not our intention to disrespect the trail or the people who use it, and we unreservedly apologize that our actions inconvenienced others and/or put a damper on their weekend.
Prospect has worked, and continues to work, to be positive users of, and contributors to, Alberta Parks. Our commitment to the environment and fostering appreciation of the outdoors is well documented. If ever you have questions or concerns about our operations in Kananaskis and surrounding areas, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly:
Isn’t it ironic that yours truly started the latest thread about offering a ride but I can’t join the group because I deleted my Book Face account a year ago. 🙁
We ran into Bob and saw this food too – unbelievable! It was just after 3pm when we headed back down Elk Pass with great conditions. Then we came across this group about ½ km from the parking lot. They walked all over the grooming that had just been completed for about 1km. All their boot prints destroying the trail. I stopped to speak to a member of the group and tell them they aren’t supposed to walk on the trail and I was told to “mind my own business”. I said this was my business because it is a safety issue. She was extremely rude. Then I told her there was a skier behind me and to take her sled off the track (as to not cause an accident). Again she told me off. As it turns out, my husband did wipe out on the downhill. Probably got his ski caught in a boot print. Destroyed his ski! I’ve never in 30 years of skiing seen a ski blow out like that or met rude people like that. I’m furious with this group, their arrogance and disregard. I will be phoning the ACC today. User groups like this should not be permitted to make future bookings.
So unfortunate that users decide this is acceptable. Masid ACC makes it on there site and when booking to pack all garbage out.
This should be given to AB parks, they will fine people with enough evidence. A Canmore resident was fine doe have her dogs off leash (one chased a bear) others happened to film it. AMD they were identified and later fined.
If we want to keep nature natural, we will all have to do our part.
The immediate issue is to remove the garbage. I’ll take it out Sunday if it’s still there and drop it off at the Canmore office. The least they can do is request more of their guests.
Definitely report to the ACC, but unfortunately they do not issue bans from booking their huts or penalties for this kind of behaviour, unless they’ve updated their policies. We stayed at Asulkan a few summers back. The people leaving did not pay for their entire stay and they left bags of food, which we all carried out so it wouldn’t be left at the hut. We reported the incident and the ACC advised me they don’t have any penalties or bans.
I agree with Barb, the ACC should be advised of this, hopefully they will contact the people at the very least, and they should be blacklisted from using the huts again!
this should be reported to the ACC ! They would be able to identify the group by the booking and Hopefully do some “education”.
Ideal by the first hand observer.
just an idea.
Thanks for digging into this story, Bob. It’s a treat to see this more personal side of skiing and one that illustrates the goodwill and enthusiasm of Albertans for the sport.
Having such a great facility at their back door, some enthusiastic parents may want to start a ski club for their kids. Cross Country Alberta can help with guidance, tools and programs.
Very VERY dissapointed that Pocaterra Hut now closes at 6pm! Come on Parks AB! WHY!?!?!?
We regularly use it after 6pm on weekdays, after long trips at the south end of the trail system. I’m sure it is used even more on weekend evenings. On one rare occasion, when we happened to be there on the weekend, we met a couple from Lethbridge who said they made that weekend trip at least a few times and year. A slow-cooker and the hours of the hut made that possible for them. Between 6 and 8 the hut is a place to change clothing before driving 2 (or more) hours, the chance to meet and celebrate/commiserate with other skiers. A place to lie down and stretch and gather yourself before heading down an arguably dangerous stetch of road — in the dark. I’d argue it should close at 9pm, as the doors are on timer-lock and there are motion sensors, etc. and that system seems to work just fine.
I’d like to clamor now for fire-wood be made available down at Lower Lake picnic area fire-rings which I suspect is now the ONLY place left after 6pm for a fire… outdoors by the windy lake.
Anyone here remember having a hot shower at Boulton for a loonie? What’s happened to us? Was it about carbon offsets? By the way, protesting a pipeline makes as much sense as a glutton dieting by murdering their pizza delivery boys.
Hi Bob
Our Springer, Bodhi, comes skiing with us as much as possible but inevitably suffers from the ice balls on the paws. We sometimes use his Muttluks but are so worried about losing one while he’s romping off leash as they are so expensive!
I notice Freddie has the balloon booties on-do you find these stay on the paws well? And any tips for getting them on the paws ( we find the tight opening quite a struggle to get on Bodhi’s paws).
Thanks!
Jenn
I’m part of the Volunteer operations team for Confed through the Calgary Nordic Alliance. The conditions at Confed rely heavily on snow farming. A technical term for shovelling snow onto the trail. ?. If you like to ski at confed and like good ski conditions then please consider volunteering on a snow farming night. They are scheduled every Wednesday night at 6:30. Go to the Nordic alliance website to sign up!
Hi Bob,
Too bad we didn’t see you today, Klara also just had her first birthday and today was her first xc ski as well. She did a good job staying out of everyone’s way and quickly decided that skis were somewhat scary and stayed away from the tracks. She was off leash most of the time and did not bother any other skiers, even those coming downhill toward us, or fat bikers. We practiced some on-leash skiing and she did a close imitation of Kazzy the dog’s amazing on-leash skiing style. It was a great day!
Thanks very much to the volunteer groomers and all of their hard work!
I picked the 4th, too bad I missed it by one day. Bob you’re living in Calgary this winter, I thought you always lived in Canmore in the winter. Hope your shoulder is recovering nicely.
Kimberley Nordic Center opened officially on Sat. and the skiing is pretty good, just a bit of twigs showing through, but so enjoyable to finally be out on the trails. Last year first day was Nov. 5th.
I was cleaning up the basement and I found some old receipts, including tools from Sears, craftsman. But I also came across my skis receipt from October 1991.
Asnes Snorre $104.
I think I used those skis until 2006??
Skiied the Frozen Thunder trails several times in different directions yesterday afternoon. CNC crew has done a great job and we were pleasantly surprized by the snow quality. Be back today.
Nice to see you enjoying the snow at West Bragg Creek, Bob!
The skiing should be OK on the roller-packed trails tomorrow… and maybe Sunday, if it doesn’t warm up too much on Saturday. Use caution on the hills! https://photos.app.goo.gl/7NV1prJXz96jJpd1A
As far as the Avalanche season goes, there is a nasty deep layer present in many areas in the Rockies (being referred to as the oct 26 layer) that is causing some unusually large early season slides. Probably requires more caution and assessment than normal and avalanche forecast professionals are anticipating it to become a “deep persistent weak layer” and an issue to be cognizant of throughout the season, especially as it receives more snow loading in the coming months. A number of our track set cross country ski trails are exposed to avalanche runouts and have seen large slides over the grooming in the recent past when these conditions exist.
Emerald Lake…Morraine Lake Road and 1A are nearly always the first trackset areas. The skiing community tends to focus on Elk Pass as the next skiable destination. But just when do the trails at Emerald Lake become skiable. If one drives all the way to Lake Louise only to find a crowded parking lot, why not drive the extra half hour to Emerald Lake and enjoy uncrowded trails and beautiful mountain scenery ?
The Yoho trail report indicates “Thin snow cover, not enough snow to trackset.” Emerald Lake tends to be about a month later than the Lake Louise trails. -Bob
How does that saying go ‘ the avalanche does not know you’re an expert’. BTW are dogs allowed in paradise valley and if so how would my k9 friend get to the trail head without subjecting me to a $25,000 fine?
The road crosses some hairy avalanche slopes beyond the end of the track set. Best not to encourage people to venture into places where death from above is a very real possibility.
Hey There,
I left my black, puffy KiXS jacket on the side of Moraine Lake Road, 250 meters up from the parking lot and somebody else picked it up. It has my name and phone number on the tag. If you know anything about this, please call or email me at marielle.ackermann@icloud.com
Thanks
great divide today
sking was hit and miss skied in tracks & a couple cms overnight.
On return – at 12 pm – groomer appeared- packing.
then Andrew with tracksetter.
he said he hadn’t expected to trackset trail but was trying..
this was just 500 meters from trail head. so don’t know
how it turned out. BUT they were going to try setting
Moraine in AM tomorrow!!
Best to leave “found” items for 24 hrs, if they are still there the next day then good to pick up and try to find owner. Over the years I have “lost” a few items I left on purpose at various corners only to return an hour or two later to pick it up, only to find a good samaritan, or other, had retrieved it – and I never got it back.
Thx for the CNC update Bob -u saved me unnecessary mileage, though I should know better and dbl check their website for posted events! Great other news too. Keep it up.
Great info as usual, there is a group of us in Calgary that skijor a few times a week with our dogs and love staying up to date via your blog. If you ever want to join the Missy Mushers on our adventures just let us know.
Sweet dude!
Great leadership by example. There are all sorts of people doing things to make the trails a little better for others to enjoy. I hope Alf inspires more people to upgrade trails and the skiing will be even better.
Keep on rocking on by burying rocks on trails and snapping off over hanging branches.
Congratulations, Alf!
I would like to add my voice to the chorus of hearty thanks and appreciation.
You are such an inspiration, and delightful person too 🙂
Well done, Alf! This is an amazing accomplishment that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. I, and certainly many others, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you and all of the other hardworking volunteers for your incredible efforts in creating this beautiful area for all of us. I can’t think of a better legacy than being part of preserving and enhancing our natural spaces ?. WELL DONE indeed!
Congratulations on the well deserved accolade Alf. Your passion is exemplified by the good works and committed volunteering leadership in Kananaskis over a great many years. Thank you.
This is so awesome! I love skiing at WBC, but was always a little scared of that stupid ice flow 🙂 Thanks to the folks out there for taking care of it. What an amazing bunch!
Was going to put the ski’s away this morning after 2 beginners skiing the Nordic Center Monday Good Conditionds and Lake Louise Wednesday and Tuesday sticky and fast depending on the time of day but overall good!! April 11 We are looking to take advantage of this little flurry coming down now and thought to check here?!? Bear warnings at LL ( just one bear) so they say groups of 5 or bear spray on The parks trails ?
It was and still is a winter for the ages. I hope for one more like it before I go on before. Thanks, Bob, for being part of the vibe that consumes those who worship the greatest season of all. Let’s pray for a short summer.
Don’t give those skis away too hastily. You’ll need them again there are no doubts – you are a tough guy. Good luck for a successful surgery and rehab. Patience will become your best friend.
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow! I expect you will get some interesting drugs to help with the pain! If we see some peculiar ramblings on the website, we’ll know that you’ve been mixing them with the Barracks Brown!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Nice to see you out for a walk yesterday. All the best for your operation. Thanks for another season of blogging. Love getting a coffee and reading about your adventures.
Excellent timing, coinciding exactly with the real end of winter, you’ll be skiing even faster next year, with your new and improved shoulder running on pure caffeine ! Thanks for an awesome ski season Bob 🙂
The fresh grooming at PLPP was good today – firm but not icy and never got slushy. My fish scales skis worked well again, +1 at 10 am, + 3 at 1 pm, all old tree debris worked into the fresh grooming. Saw a grand total of 7 other people – I wonder how much longer PLPP will keep up the grooming?? Good luck with your surgery, and especially the recovery!
All the best on your big day. Have fun after they give you the sedative -)
I look forward to some hiking updates as you strive to get into shape for next season.
best of luck and speedy recovery from me as well .
good news, can of beer weighs same as cup of coffee.
not so good news, you will miss all the May tracksetting.
LOL I’m partial to Barracks Brown Ale but it comes in a bottle. Might be too heavy. -Bob
Another thank you from an avid follower! It was wonderful to see you and the lovely Cheryl at Pocaterra on Saturday, as well as finally meeting “Man of La Couch-a”.
Looking forward to meeting you on the trails again next season 🙂
Seeing is believing… but thanks for the heads-up Bob!
I just took my old Combi skis and boots and that worked beautifully… no sticking. Classic on the flats and downhill, and a little skating on the uphill when my arms got tired.
Lots of people enjoying today’s grooming, and they were mostly classic skiers.
Bob… you need a few photos: https://1drv.ms/f/s!ApWd3WZ3ra9Nhh6T9-NTWrID-Q5n
Guess I’ll have to check out the Cascade tomorrow, early.
PLPP, whiskey Jack to Lookout 10-12:30. Warm at summit. Loose snow trail on Lookout. On trip back to Boulton Bridge, water dripping from trees onto trail. Awesome day.
Thanks SkierBob.
Hi Bob. It was so nice meeting you today. I just wanted to let you know that even though things were pretty warm when we started up Pocaterra around 3 pm, and almost turned back to head for coffee, the wax and skis cooled off within 15 min or so and we were able to get up the hills without too many problems. The clouds became thicker and the day a bit cooler….and so we had some fun fast skiing. When we arrived at the junction of Lynx, Amr said he preferred to do a loop rather than to ski back the way we came…and so on we went on Lynx which had fun hills and then onto the skier set Woolley…which was fabulous! At this point the snow started to fall lightly…getting heavier by the minute and around 530 pm we arrived at the Visitor Center. From there we skied on to Meadow on the west side of the road, and down the big hill under the hydroline. By this time it was snowing quite heavily. It was great to arrive at the hut with a nice warm fire already burning and some wonderful folks to chat with. We ate our “lunch” and then headed home, on almost empty roads that were fine despite the snow starting to build up. I imagine if anyone is brave enough to head out in the morning the conditions would be fabulous. By the way, I mean fabulous in that there is nice snow….to me having perfect tracks is just a bonus (although I want to thank the grooming crews for doing a great job!) If I didn’t have an orienteering session in the morning and then helping a friend to move in the afternoon, I would head out skiing again tomorrow 🙂
Bob, It’s always a real pleasure to see you on the trails and thanks for this useful and unique blog. The xcountry community is lucky to have you! Have a good spring / summer whenever they come….
Thanks again Bob for another great season together on the tracks – for supporting such a community of like-spirited people coming together on the ski trails and here on the blog. Kudos! See you next year.
I imagine there’s enough good-quality snow to make it skiable but there won’t be much in the way of ski tracks. Goat Creek hasn’t had any grooming for quite a while, and the initial 7K to the Goat Creek bridge sees a lot of multi-use traffic. No thaw-freeze cycles, and some fresh snow has probably prevented the trail from becoming icy.
I agree with Alf, beautiful mid-winter ski conditions in West Bragg yesterday! We classic skid with blue/green rode multigrade the entire ski and it was perfect grip. Thank you Bill and Dan and GBCTA!
Please note that the volunteer groomers and equipment are running on fumes after 4 months of ski grooming. If you’ve enjoyed the skiing this winter, please remember to donate, or top-up your donation. http://www.braggcreektrails.org/about/donate-now/
Nice to see you today Bob, along with surprisingly few others out enjoying “February in April”. Conditions are so amazingly good right now – well worth taking a day off this week and sneaking out. Mid winter snow quality, full season snowpack depth, cold air, cold snow, warm sun.
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
Dang missed this again, and we were even out there, but based out of the Visitor Center. Can’t make it next weekend so will have to wait a year I guess. Thanks for all the photos, posts and info.
Hi Bob. I’m taking a couple of never ever skiers out today and after visiting the Pocaterra area last weekend I really felt it is not flat enough for never evers. There are many hills and rolling terrain…unless someone can recommend something very flat in the are, it’s unlikely we will have a chance to meet. Thank you (and the groomers) for all their amazing hard work this season.
Since the demise of “Old Pocaterra,” there’s limited terrain for a brand new skier in PLPP. Wheeler is about the only trail without any significant hills but it will have a ton of new snow on top. The Rolly Road practice grid and trail leading to it were trackset last night but it’s only a short trail. Good luck wherever you go. -Bob
question 22 was important as was question 30.
gave me the chance to share my thoughts/suggestions/complaints for Peter Lougheed
about the grooming , signage ,trail rating info, nonworking web cam ,damage to tracks ,inconsistent grooming reports ,daytime grooming ,user fees etc
Thanks for orchestrating this and putting it out there bob! Been working a lot lately so looking forward to a ski with new non-sticky snow, hopefully some sun for a pleasant couch visit followed by some social activity. If we can’t fill the hut, could at least fill the couch beforehand. (-:
YESTERDAY, March 20th was Skier Bob’s 65th birthday!!! I had to get out my calculator to ensure I had the numbers correct. I only noticed this big statistic in my birthday book this morning. Perhaps a nice way to show our respect for this Senior Citizen, whose blog we all so greatly appreciate, would be to donate $65 to his website. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!!
Hi Bob. Great post and on a timely topic.
Guess you were going too fast to see the snow fleas in and around the classic tracks on Banff trail, towards the Rundle riverside end. A sure sign of spring skiing!
I used my Skintecs today, probably my best day ever on them in these conditions.
Hi Bob:
I find this time of the year snow ideal for skies so called all around like the Salomon S/lab yellow or the Fischer speedmax 812 which is rated for -10 to +5:
I have both and very happy with them but waxing is still the best choice in my opinion even if it requires some sophisticated sorcery to be spot on.
I recently went to see Geret at ” The grinders” In Canmore and tested these very skies for camber ans suitability, his electronic method of calibrating the skies is accurate and also allows you to optimize the position of the bindings, which is rather important, therefore just pay him a visit with your skies and find out what you are working with, you may be surprised of the outcome; not all the time a slippery ski is to be attributed to the wax, you may have inappropriate camber for the snow type, perhaps too stiff.
I have mentioned this before: I ave been using Rex powergrip wax for the glazing conditions and it works magnificently; it is used as a base like a klister and then cover it with stick wax, you need a heat gun to apply it and just e few drops are sufficient: On the Rex website there is a video that explains the dynamic of it.
Good luck: Paolo
Great topic Bob!
I think you’ve hit the pros and cons of each category.
We switched to Skintecs two years ago. The best benefit is that we can travel anywhere and get good kick and glide regardless of the snow or temps without a wax box.
Coming from a teaching/coaching/racing/ ski rep background, I’d much rather have a properly waxed ski. However as a buddy mine says these new skin skis are like comparing a rotary dial phone ?? to a smart phone ? when comparing waxless to skins skis. Like any ski they need to be matched to the skier and their weight. BTW if using skin skis in the wet we use a ski skin prep used for AT skins to prevent icing. Nikawax has one as does Swix.
That’s an interesting topic. It touches on why sometimes I’ll use my AT Skis in the spring on a valley bottom trail just because that’s the only pair I have skins for. I’d like to see more feedback on the Zero skis as well. For example, how about wet, but freshly fallen new snow? Sounds like it may be time to add some arrows to the quiver.
I also noted with interest your sanding recommendation was echoed in an old NY Times article found via Googletron, which seems to be a pretty good introduction to this type of ski:
“The grip area may not need waxing, but it does need occasional sanding. At Madshus, Groenaas demonstrated his technique by flourishing a large industrial rotary sander. But he allowed that most skiers would probably prefer do the job by hand.”
I think Skier Bob must be of the industrial sander camp withal…
A quick measurement at skier bob headquarters in the morning would be great. (-: Probably head to Bragg creek tomorrow aft, get on telephone loop, and maybe more if grooming occurs in the morning. Good timing for a reset for sure. Will have to dig out the couch again too this weekend, ready for the next high pressure ridge, and just keep skiing into may…..
What surprises me is that you people feel this is a fatbike only thing. Have you never ran into a gaggle of snowshoers with their packs and gear strewn all over the trail on the bottom of a down hill? More often than not I have to make evasive maneuvers skiing down from Taylor Lake to avoid a group picnic in the middle of the track, I almost expect it now. Have you never skied down Blueberry Hill and encountered people re-waxing their skis and taking a layer off, grabbing a snack or drink in the middle of the trail? On a busy day skiing down Blueberry can be like a slalom run skirting around other skiers doing all sorts of things in the middle of the trail. Its just the way it is. It seems like when some people get out of the city and onto a wilderness trail they feel like they are the only ones out there, even if you and I think it is busy. And, well, some people are just stupid.
My point is saying “fat bikes are dangerous” is wrong. The people riding them in that instance may have done something you felt was dangerous but there is no reason skiers and fat bikers can’t share wide groomed trail. I personally feel if any two winter activities are compatible it is xc skiing and fat biking. They travel at about the same speed and the fat tires leave less of a mark on groomed trails than skate skis. Hey, settle down, I’ve skate skied for 25 years, I know what sort of tracks I leave behind and I know in soft groomed snow a fat bike doesn’t leave near the rut. The biggest thing fat bikers have to learn is that skiers have the right of way on downhills. In mountain biking the uphill rider has the right of way and it would be incredibly poor form to the come barreling down a hill screaming “track” and expecting everyone to go diving into the bushes.
I get that the xc purists don’t want to share their domain, I get that they are unhappy that snowshoers, winter hikers and now fat bikers have infiltrated their once private and peaceful paradise. I get that they are unhappy that there are just more people period. I track ski a lot less than I used to, preferring to go backcountry and get away from today’s crowds.
Fat bikers aren’t a bunch of roving thugs like some on here like to make them out to be. They are your neighbours, your school teachers, your physio therapists, your restaurant servers and maybe even your friends. They just want to do the same thing as you, get out, enjoy the great outdoors, get some exercise and have fun.
Re Fat Biking: There is a Facebook page that I created about skiing the lesser known trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre. I’ve rejigged my intro to the Page.
“Initially, I formed this page to promote the lesser used trials at the Canmore Nordic Centre. In the back of my mind I wanted to promote the use of these lesser known trails to show the CNC they are are of value to XC skiers and still need to be groomed. In the past few years Fat biking has exploded. This is an activity of which I approve . Fat Biking opens up new areas to biking in winter. My fear is that we, as XC skiers, need to use it or lose it. There is potential of losing XC trails to the FatBiking community at CNC and everywhere else. This forum is one place to show support for XC trails at CNC.
Fat Biking is here to stay so don’t piss and moan about it just go out and ski. post here”….. and on Skier Bob..
We had our first confrontation with a group of Fat Bikers at Bragg Creek a few weeks ago. When we encountered them, we politely informed them that they were on the designated ski trail and later at a junction sign pointed out the designated ski and bike trails. We were rudely informed that until there is a bylaw enforcing the skier only access to the trails, they would not abide by the closure. They also informed us that they are members of a Mountain Biking Club, they pay their dues and this gives them the right to bike wherever they want to. Later we spoke a trail volunteer and he said that this reaction to our request was the normal reaction when they inform Fat Bikers that they are on the ski trails.
On Monday we skied into Chester Lake. We were the only skiers, but we encountered about 40 snowshoers and a number of hikers. Most were on snow shoe trails, but a percentage were on the ski trail. The trail was quite icy from the high number of users on the weekend and warm temperatures. I have been skiing in the backcountry for over 40 years and Chester Lake is one of my favourite trails. I have skied it at least once every year for the past four decades. The big change that I am seeing is the massive increase in usage of this and other trails in the Rockies, both winter and summer. Until 5 or 6 years ago, you hardly ever saw a snowshoer on the trail and now they often vastly out number the skiers. I also note a big increase in winter hikers, but this is likely due to the increasing number of people on the trails. Skiing out on Monday, the trail had softened up a lot, but a small number of the snowshoers and a few hikers had walked out the ski trail, chewing it up in the process. and making it difficult and less enjoyable to ski This is almost the new normal on trails in the Rockies now. I long for the days when there were only small numbers of skiers on the trails. Thankfully there were no Fat Bikers on the trail.
We are only going to see more user groups on the trails and I think as skiers we need to stand up for ourselves and have more trail restrictions on some trails and more designated skier only, snow shoe and other users trails. I have written letters in the past to the Provincial and National Parks, the Provincial and Federal Parks Ministers and I plan to write more letters in the future. Thankfully Snow Pogo Sticks haven’t caught on yet and I hope they never do.
First, thank you for your great website and to those of you who post trip reports!
It’s really unfortunate to hear that some Fat bikers aren’t following trail etiquette and just common sense on a multi-use trail! The last time I was on Moraine Lake road skate skiing I stopped a couple (clearly tourists) walking on the tracks and politely “educated” them and they adjusted their route. I don’t know why Parks Canada cannot post a couple of larger, legible signs – perhaps with a diagram showing who does what, where at the start of these trails…..Great Divide too!
I wonder if such diagrams could be posted in bike shops/stands which rent out Fat bikes. Clearly there are people are who are just clueless, perhaps first timers needing clear direction – like perhaps this group that Chip ran into (b/c cyclists know not to leave bikes in middle of trail!)
Anyone good at photoshopping such a diagram and posting? 😉
How ironic that this post was up because I was also skiing at dog friendly West Bragg Creek on Sunday with my family. I gotta say though I am absolutely disgusted by the amount of dog owners that do not pick up their dog waste. Or respect the “dogs must be leashes” rule.
I know it’s not all dog owners but seriously what the hell is wrong with people. If you can’t be responsible for your dog, I’m thinking you probably shouldn’t have one.
I feel like other dog owners (the responsible ones) should be policing the irresponsible ones. I feel like it has zero effect when a non dog owner comments on these matters.
Despite the fecal count we had a great time. Thanks for the outlet.
We must have been on different trails because I was impressed with the fact I didn’t see any dog poop. -Bob
No tree debris anywhere thanks to all the new snow, and evident from the pictures in my Trip Report: http://skierbob.ca/trip-reports-march-2018/#comment-738927
Given Helen’s Wax advice for today, I used her first choice VR 40. Bob chose her second choice Vintage Green… and still won the race!
It’s snowmageddon in WBC today.
The groomers have been out for 40 “man hours” today trying to get on top of this gift from Heaven. Work will continue tonight.
All 65 km of ski trails have been roller packed and the core trails have been track set but it continues to snow…
The Alberta Youth Championships will be running on West /Middle Crystal Line Saturday and Sunday so expect a big crowd but there will be plenty of awesome terrain for everyone to enjoy!
Groomer David
Love your site! I check it as well as trail reports for trail conditions. Thanks for keeping us cross country skiers updated!
Maybe block the user to avoid receiving unpleasant emails.
Bob, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do and for all the goodness you have provided people by developing this site. You are truly a great person and there are many of us out there that are extremely upset by reading the disrespect exhibited by this individual. People will always have different opinions but there should always be mutual respect towards one another. Shame on this fellow. Just know you have the support of many and we are all wishing you good thoughts.
I was skiing there on that day too and saw the fat bikers and the off leash dog and felt it was dangerous too. I am a dog owner myself and an avid mountain biker. The trails had been groomed and track set for x-country skiing so I am sure it meant they were open for skiing.
I use your blog all the time Bob and I love it.
Sophie
You will not be able to reason with someone like this. He is just trying to get a reaction. You need to block/ ignore him. He has problems in his life and he’s taking it out on everyone else. Feel sorry for him, but don’t let him get to you. Your website is great! Stick with the skiing information.
I knew it was you Bob (we talked a bit at the end of the ski day) :-)! It was our first time there, but we truly enjoyed the day. Great report! Love your site! Very informative! For newbies like us… fantastic! Thank you.
What do I make of it? I would say he is still really angry with you. And I think you’re stirring the pot. It looks like you want your readers to support you, hate this guy, and if they don’t, you get angry at differing opinions. You did ask us what we thought.
Three months latter and still ….this trespassing fat biker with feelings of self entitled for things that don’t belong to him…..is STILL at it ….needing something to hate for all the short comings in life….dude pull it together… for yourself and if you seriously want to be an ambassador to promote your sport
Corey Kruchkowski is right about one thing: he did play semi-pro hockey for exactly one season, as he’s “featured” on a website called “dropyourgloves.com”, which may partly explain his mental state.
Bob, thank you so very much for all you do! I’m so very sorry that you are a target for such bad behaviour! Please keep doing what you do so wonderfully!
Bob, I am so sorry you’ve been dealing with this horrible behaviour. It seems to be part of a continuum of bad behaviour we see online these days. Rotten to have to put up with this.
In all seriousness though, I wonder why not put up another category on Trip Reports? Call it Fat Biking. You could try it for a period and if it fails, then pull it. I realize this is more work for you, but as you know we’re all part of the same outdoor loving club.
Has anyone suggested this? I’ve read quite a bit of the posts on this topic, but definitely not all.
Lol.. did this Corey guy even graduate from elementary school? How childish and uneducated. Could it be an imposter trying to create some drama? In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Bob publicising the email if it really is Corey. At least if something really happens to Bob on the coming weekend we know whose door to knock. Also, the other benefit is if it’s an imposter, the real Corey (if he sees this blog) will be able to defend himself and clear his name.
Anyway I am amazed an adult would actually behave like that. Definitely mentally retarded.
“…they dispute not in order to find or even to seek truth, but for victory, and to appear the more learned and strenuous upholders of a contrary opinion…” (Giordano Bruno)
Hi Bob and Corey. I have been an avid cross-country skier, snowshoer, hiker, and mountain biker in this area for countless years. I have always been very appreciative of individuals such as Bob who dedicate their personal time to sharing knowledge and conditions of our trails, and to people like Corey who dedicate their personal time to volunteering and engaging people with our trail systems who may not otherwise have the means.
Have we forgotten the reason why we are all here? We all have a commonality: our passion and stewardship of an incredible network of trails. It is disappointing to see communities of people turned against each other rather simple miscommunications. These continual arguments and back-and-forth accusations are growing tiresome and rather embarrassing for our community.
May I suggest that we put an end to the scathing accusations, finger-pointing, and harsh words? Let us put our egos aside and recognize that reposting private email conversations is slanderous and can be damaging to reputations. Please keep private messages private. Things are getting out of hand. An individual made an erroneous decision, and has admitted to it. Let us forgive.
At the end of the day, we can agree from now on to do our due diligence to follow mandated trail designations. I’m sure all followers of this blog will be grateful to see an end to this. Let’s shake off our sour feelings and enjoy the this beautiful place together.
Curious if the second IP is from the Calgary Cycle shop…anyway to find out?
Three ways to find an IP address:
1. Ask them what it is
2. If the shop provides internet access to the public, you can also look to see what the IP address is.
3. If someone is posting defamatory or threatening comments, it’s possible to get a court order if you can convince a judge it is warranted. We’re not there yet, and hopefully won’t ever be. -Bob
I checked the Alberta Parks website for PLPP and it definitely is no fat biking period. Not sure what the not officially open for XC reference is supposed to mean as certainly doesn’t vindicate his actions. Fortunately this is not the shared opinion of the majority of fat bikers as per the Ride The Rocks Facebook entries.
michael
Just received this email from a reader. Police won’t do anything until a crime is committed. I thought the best protection was simply to post his email and make it public. I appreciate the concern.
Hi Bob,
I just read your post about comments from Cory and more comments from the same IP address. I would like to encourage you to file a police report. This Cory person doesn’t sound like a reasonable character, and is bullying you online well after initial incident. I’m glad you posted it on your website for all to see but I think I would take it a step further and speak with the police. His email is concerning to me that he “hope you meet again.” For him to be using his energy into harassing you is not something normal people do.
I’m sorry that this cyber bullying is occurring. I read your posts on the incident itself and my husband and I both thought you were levelheaded and fair, just and honest.
Hey Bob
I would be inclined to talk to the police. Just to understand what is and is not “Cyber Bullying”.
Stay strong. The people that matter stand with you.
Thanks. Now that he knows it’s public, I wouldn’t expect him to do anything crazy. If, on the rare possibility that he’s ready to go over the edge, there’s nothing anyone can do about it. -Bob
Hello Bob, missed seeing you on the trails this year! I want you to know how much we enjoy having your blog to read on a daily basis. We use the information that you and others provide on this site when we are skiing in the area. In light of this most recent disturbing blog, sometimes it is just best to ignore those who have obvious other issues. Thanks for sticking up for the cross country skiers and the trails. If these guys I believe by the IP address one of the same wish to be on these PLPP trails they should take up cross country skiing. I never saw skate skiing a PLPP Hang in their Bob don’t let this get to you!
Joanne & Allan from Regina
Hey Bob. I was there that day too and nearly hit them. If Cory thinks he’s right about trail closures, the fat biking page for Kananasksis (https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/activities-events/winter-activities/fat-biking/) describes PLPP as “Currently NO TRAILS approved for fat biking” whereas for other trails, closure dates are stated such as “Stoney Trail (Seasonal closure: April 15-June 15)” or for Bow Valley Wildlife Prov. Park: “Prohibited from December 1 to June 15 (including all trails above EKG East – Killer Bees, Ziggy’s, Nectar Noodle, The Backdoor, The Albertan) ” and “Restricted to designated trails only from June 16 to November 30”.
I see no dates limiting when fat biking is allowed or disallowed in PLPP
Bob, You haven’t had your usual overnight outings to Emerald Lake Lodge and Nipika. I am off to Nipika tomorrow with 5 other women, was hoping to see a posting about it but n
Hi there!
Maintaining good health doesn’t have to be overwhelming or costly. I’d love to share a guest article with your site that provides straightforward, budget-friendly health and fitness tips that can easily fit into even the busiest of schedules.
The article will focus on realistic strategies for staying active and eating well, making it an ideal resource for readers looking to prioritize their well-being without added stress.
Would you be interested in reviewing it for publication? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks a lot,
Julia Merrill of Befriendyourdoc.org
“A doctor who cannot take a good history and a patient who cannot give one are in danger of giving and receiving bad treatment.” – Paul Dudley White
P.S. By the way, tell me your suggestion if you’d like me to write about a subject of your choosing! You can also simply inform me if you don’t want to hear from me again.
I especially liked the photo of the mouse on skis.
There seems to be MANY This That episodes, look for…(load more, again, then ctrl – f search)
The Dark Side of Cross Country Skiing
You really should write a book Bob —a treasure trove of stories here and a wealth of nordic knowledge of your empire in your head. A curated & artistic bound volume in this day of fleeting digital captures would be appreciated by many.
Hi Bob,
What a beautiful little Springer Tessa was, I have a
Springer as well. Her name is Mollie Mayhem never
Taken her skiing but she has been on lots of hikes.
Thanks
Darren
The anti-demcoratic UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax was pushed by special interest groups that obtain funding from the government. For these groups to support the UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax looks like a major conflict of interest to me. The tax is being used for lining Conservative Party supporters pockets while keeping the less wealthy out of the region. This is exactly what the Kananskis entrance tax supporters want as the population increases along with trail use. This is a typical economic barrier put up to keep the less wealthy out. It sure is not a part of the Alberta Advantage. The Kananaskis is no longer a region to be used universally by all people which is disgusting and a form of dicrimination.
Lots of the money for the Kananaskis tax is being wasted on unnecessary new expensive signs, advertising on big bill boards, hiring more people to check for passes, wasting money on broad band internet service, wasting money on new snow cats and so much more. This is not what economic conservationism looks like. This is what elite government waste looks like.
Extraction of resource revenues in the Kananaskis region should have been utilized to direct funds to keep the Kananaskis universally free for all to enjoy, not just the more wealthy. Revenues from Nakiska Ski Area, the golf course and other businesses should also have been directed to keep the Kananaskis universally free for all rather than have those revenues go into the Provincial government’s general revenues.
The UCP Kananaskis entrance fee tax was poorly thought out and shoved down our throats in a highly undemocratic way. This is not what democracy looks like. It is what authoritarianism looks like- China dictatorship style.
To those involved in the decisions on where to use last winter’s parking funds – well done!!! We will all benefit from these improvements.
Question: will the UPC government seek input from Nordiq and other x-c ski clubs for their input as to where the 2021-22 K-country improvement funds will be spent. I certainly hope so…
Again, thank you for your input, expertise and accountability.
Hi Bob
Thanks for the excellent update on this important topic. I was excited to see that you recently registered on the SkierRoger website where we’re all eager to read your trip reports.
By the way, if you would like me to add a special category for any blog comments you may have, just let me know. We all really value your insight.
Sincerely,
Roger Sakatch
Hopefully some of that is going back to pay for grooming in Bragg Creek. The blurb about the fee says that it is covering ski trail grooming, but Bragg Creek Trails sounded a bit doubtful last time I read anything.
Happy ‘retirement’ Bob. Hope you regain some sense of solitude and serenity on the trails again and may your next chapter be refreshing and bring you contentment.
—Yours in skiing, grooming and storytelling, JeremyN
It’s unfortunate that trip reporting on the new blog requires registration, login, password, email. These are barriers to participation in a system of user based information sharing.
Bob – not sure if this is the right forum but I’m sure I’m not the only one to wonder what set Roger apart from the other offers to continue your legacy?
Btw – I’m looking forward to Rogers site and am happy to see it’s been a relatively smooth transition and so many shared resources. Clearly you had a solid combined effort over a few months to make this happen, for which we are all grateful.
Many thanks for supplying skiers & snowshoers with great information on grooming in our park areas. I’ve used your site for many years as my ‘go to’ before heading out.. Very grateful for all the hours you’ve put into this site – will miss seeing it but glad to see SkierRoger will continue. You’ve set up a great legacy…again thank you.
A correction: I think Helen’s “creative writing” comment was directed to MAAD, not myself. Wouldn’t want to steal anyone’s thunder.
Bob,
The best part of your site was your personality and the enthusiasm you injected(, plus the spirited debates on track setting, fat bikers, dogs and skate skiers). We are forever indebted to you for adding a whole new dimension to the best winter sport ever. Nothing beats a Skier Bob meeting on the trails. Thank you .!!
Bob,
Thank you for helping to promote the ski trails in Cypress Hills. Hope to see you out here next winter.
Roger, thank you for continuing the great work that Bob has carried out.
Darwyn
Bob, thank you so much for your years of dedication to your blog! You have made such a huge difference for all of us who love to ski! I hope you continue to enjoy the trails, and will post on Roger’s blog.
Welcome, Roger! Your new blog is looking wonderful! Thank you for taking up the reins. I’m sure it will be a great success!
Bob, your comments and posts have been very welcome. We hate to see you go but welcome Rodger. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and taking over a huge job Roger.
SEEMS TO WORK WELL!
Thanks Roger for giving us an option.
I like the fact that one has to register to either Post or Comment.
THANK YOU BOB for all your work through the years, and managing my social media exposure!
This is encouraging me to go out for one more ski trip this season, just so that I can post about it.
And who is Roger, any introduction?
CTV Are Statistically Unscientific Junk Polls
The CTV CFCN poll that was conducted is statistically unscientific and should not even be considered anywhere near scientifically accurate. As a person who spent too much time studying statistics, I understand that every poll on CTV is not scientific as the polls can be pushed by people with an agenda and it is not a random poll which is required for good statistical science.
The polls may somewhat represent the views of the CFCN TV viewers only at best, but still not likely. The poll could have been pushed by UCP party members or supporters as far as we know.
The best poll on such a political question would be to allow the legalization of the right of people to vote on government bills. If the people had the choice, they likely would reject park tax fees which are a regressive tax. Regressive taxes are taxes that harm the less wealthy more than the wealthy and are based on a proportion of income. If a poor person earns $7000 dollars per year and has to pay the same $90 park entrance fee as a millionaire, it is a higher proportion of the poor persons income going to the tax as compared to the millionaire.
Here is the math:
$7000 poor income divided by $90 park fee tax equals 1.3% of total income.
$1,000,000 wealthy income divided by $90 park fee tax equals .009% of total income.
As one can see the millionaire is not affected much by the park fee whereas the poor person pays a large proportion of income to access the park.
The scientifically poor CTV CFCN poll results are also affected by income levels. Poor people can not afford a cable connection to watch CFCN CTV TV or even an internet connection so they would be unable to participate in the poll which skews the poll results even further in favor of wealthier people.
Most polling these days is junk as pollers can not access people in a random manner as easily or economically as in the past by land line telephone. The only other method to get random statistical surveys is to directly randomly poll people which is time consuming and expensive. All other polling methods do not give a scientifically accurate picture, as we have seen during recent elections.
Taking this opportunity to say thanks Bob for creating the blog and supporting this amazing community. My husband and I have visited the Rockies to ski every year or two for many years now, travelling from Ottawa. First few years, our visits were tacked on to an annual work trip to Calgary, and gradually extended over the years. I was one of the (probably now thousands of) smiling skiers that you have snapped a photo of, for me coming down Lake O’Hara Road on classic skis. Now we are retired and hoping to visit for longer. It is a fall tradition for us to start checking out your blog, especially in years we have planned a trip. You have brought joy and the chance to see the mountains to many who are not fortunate enough to live as close to them as most of your readers and contributors do. We would love to share our little corner of nordic ski heaven, the Gatineau Park, with you if you ever head out Ottawa way. Best of luck in your future plans!
UNIVERSAL PARK ACCESS- LIKE HEALTH CARE
There is nothing worse than an undemocratic dictatorial oligarchy government for the people or park users. If we lived in a real democracy where people make the decisions, it is highly likely that the people would reject Conservative oligarchy government user fees for parks.
The wealthy have gotten 30% richer during the COVID-19 crisis while most other people have lost wealth. It is only logical to make the wealthy pay more rather than the poor or the lower middle class. There are numerous ways to do this including raising license plate fees for luxury or gas guzzling vehicles. It would not bother some rich skier to pay $1000 dollars per year for a license plate for their BMW. The government should put in a luxury provincial sales tax if it needs money- with the consult of the people democratically. Or the government should raise oil royalties to Lougheed era rates. That would bring in billions of dollars of revenue for the oil you are a shareholder owner of. Our parks need to remain universal like our health care system so all people can have the opportunity to access them without being financially penalized.
Putting user fees on one park will spread to all others in the future if the oligarchy dictatorial political system remains. We the people own the park lands and we should have a democratic say in reguards to fees.
The intention of the UCP (United Charging Party) Government in charging park fees is to keep poor people out of the park so the trails are not so crowded for their wealthy supporters and to derive more funds to subsidize the unethical foreign controlled oil industry that I once shamefully worked for. The oil industry needs to pay its own way and the hundreds of billions of dollars in oil industry subsidies need to stop. The oil industry needs to clean up its own immoral unethical mess.
The $90 restricted Kananaskis park fee is much higher than the National Park fee which enables one to access many parks across the country. How Conservatively stupid is that?
We must get rid of the old school undemocratic Jason Kenney as Premier who has never stepped onto a cross country or hiking trail. This Ontarian is not a true Albertan and he does not understand Alberta’s lands or the people. He is a corporatist tax grabber that does not have the intelligence to raise non tax funds for the benefit of Albertans. He is making life hellish for the poor and for medial workers. Soon the poor will not be able to travel out of the cities or towns as they will have no place left to go to afford other than the prairies.
Corrupt people support corrupt anti democratic oligarchy political parties that reign over the people in a dictatorial undemocratic way. It is time to break the chains of political oligarchy oppression and make Alberta a real democracy to build a better province the way the people want it. Give people the legalized right to vote on Government bills along with citizen initiated legislation. This is what real democracy looks like and it will likely keep park fees at zero.
Hi Bob et al. Regarding …” I’m surprised nobody asked Ken Hewitt about the slush fund of about $80,000 which was collected over-and-above what was required to pay the government. ”
Well… I don’t expect that there will be any problem finding worthwhile projects to spend the money on. With the Conservation Pass now announced, and grooming confirmed for the future, the 4 person committee has now scheduled its first meeting for next week to review a draft set of selection criteria. I’ll report back here afterwards.
As a frequent user of WBC in all seasons, I will continue to donate in addition to the new park fees.
Your groundbreaking blog will never be forgotten Bob.
Discount for Seniors?
For those of you who didn’t listen to the press conference there are a few points that stood out. Calling it a conservation pass with an intent to minimize the amount of cars heading into Kananaskis. Nixon was very clear that starting June 1 people should car pool more ( Covid won’t be an issue by then.
I am very skeptical at the direct impact this will have on trails especially grooming. The 200k raised this winter really only went to offset an already reduced grooming budget. There are future costs coming up that are significantly more than that amount.
Did anyone see the story on Global News where a guy with three vehicles was complaining that he’d have to buy passes for each one? Some people have no sense of shame. (In reality, he’ll only have to buy two passes, but I think there should be a special rule for people with three vehicles; pay triple).
You have been a beacon of joy, hope and humour to millions of diverse people from around the world who share the common obsession for xc skiing. I thank you from the bottom of my sticky wax box for your constancy and unflappable enthusiasm you gave to us all, your readers. You will be missed. Every day.
Clear favoritism and privilege afforded to the OHV crowd!
There should be a discount for Seniors
WWBMT
(What Would Bill Milne Think?)
People should read the press release or watch the video before commenting, or better yet go to https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx. The pass covers ski trail grooming, and that two vehicles can be registered on one pass. There is also provision for “low income” Albertans. The pass will operate much like the ParkPlus system in Calgary. The pass does NOT cover the Canmore Nordic Centre.
From CBC news, quote:
“Included in the new investments will be $1 million to begin planning work on upgrades to the Canmore Nordic Centre, the province said.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/kananaskis-country-alberta-fees-1.6003671
Looking at the map of the area affected by the new fee’s, west Bragg Creek is included.
The cost to ski in PLPP has gone from $0 in 2019/20 to $90 in 2021/22. But corporations in Alberta during the same period are paying much less tax… Thanks UCP!
Big thumbs up!
If “winter trail grooming in Kananaskis will be supported by the new pass” means that the grooming at the CNC is going to be covered by this fee, this will actually be a significant cost saving verses the fee charged in previous years
I find it extremely ironic for this government to be touting “environmental concerns” when they would gladly sell off most of the mountains in this province to investors who would just leave their pollution behind.
Of course, we knew this was coming and I wouldn’t mind so much if the revenues weren’t being handled by an incompetent government. What I would like to know is if they are re-instating the visitor centers as well as re-instating the cross country ski grooming (I’d like proof of this please). I’m sure these fees will help to pay off the money they gave away to industry that ended up fleeing Alberta and leaving taxpayers with the bag.
I don’t trust this government one bit. I’m still trying to see how they are improving the lives of Albertans. They have no clue what they are doing.
Contributions by Skier Bob to the local xc ski community- innumerable!
See you on the trails.
Great to hear this! Jeez you nay sayers! Where does it say you’ll be paying for parking to ski?
You didnt have to pay this year. It was voluntary.
Coming from Quebec where fees are the norm we have been so blessed up to date
With the state of garbage lately in K country and the disgusting mess people leave I’m all for it. I feel so bad for parks staff and what they have to deal with
I wish it would be feasible to have people pass a how to dispose of garbage test (lol) before they come to our beautiful asset that we Albertans have.
Can’t see the forest through the fees.
I wonder how much the success of the grooming fee this winter set the stage for this?
I suppose that if it does lead to hiring of more conservation officers and parks staff than we will see some benefit. Time will tell.
Good point Jon – I don’t like the idea that I can’t transfer the pass to another vehicle. To me, this supports the idea that this is more of a cash grab, rather than about improving services and enforcement. To be a bit cheeky, if I ride my bicycle, does that mean I can go for free? 🙂
Not much to add, but huge appreciation for all that you have given us 🙂
We don’t know how we will manage without you, you will be sorely missed!
Thank you for everything, and congratulations on a remarkable record!
Wishing you many more years of great skiing 🙂
So, does this mean I will have to pay $15 a day pass, plus $10 for cross country skiing, or $90 annual fee, plus $50 annual fee for skiing? For a government that brags about lowering taxes they sure do love user fees.
Wow! 2854 posts is a remarkable number. I know how much work it is to put just one post together. Thank you!
Wow! That is an amazing record, Bob. You must be the fittest guy on the trails.
Thanks again for all your great tips and advice.
Congratulations on all your numbers, summarized today, Bob. While I have only come across you on the trails, once to my recollection, I have visited your site often and daily in the last quite long while. Your input to many skiers as they try to figure out where to go has been immeasurable. I for one will miss reading your blogs, seeing your trip and snow reports, and looking at the many photos you and others have posted.
Hopefully we will cross paths in the future and maybe share a couple of words along the way. Many of our seniors club skiers have benefitted from your website.
Thank you for all you have done over the years and all the best to you.
Many thanks to Aqua Toque for sharing the beautiful fox video!
Hi Dylan
It is very noble of you to try and take this on, maintaining a xcountry ski trail is very rewarding but can also be a lot of work. Calgary is not known for consistent or a lot of snow plus it is prone to chinooks . Shag and Confed are two areas that can give you lots of info on the trials and tribulations of keeping a ski trail going in the city.
As far as what you need the basics would be a decent skidoo with a minimum 503 cc low geared , forward and reverse. Some kind of roller at least 60” , a manual style track setter like an old Bachler or a newer YTS Ginzu or Todd Tech. In a park you will need volunteer snow shovelers and snow fence to catch the blown snow. A few well placed signs and you are more or less good to go.
Feel free to contact me directly trailguy58@live.ca if you want some specifics and costs for equipment. I just retired after 40 years of ski grooming and like you I am setting up some local trails in my soon to be new home.
Hey Dylan, have you tried tried contacting the folks at Foothills Nordic Ski Club? They take care of Confederation Golf Course and Fort Calgary. I’m sure they would have lots of advice for you.
Great video of a pair of “red” foxes. One looks like he came from a strange background. Can you make a guess at what the scrap was?
Yes, still some scraps in the Bragg Creek area.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qWr8eTu8HbfPHAm1A
With all due respect to the Shirelles, the slower version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” recorded by co-writer Carole King in 1971 (and featuring James Taylor and Joni Mitchell on backup) is the superior one which definitively captures the spirit of the lyrics.
That would be great to have that trail groomed. A great place for families and people who just want to put some km’s on and beginners as well. Great wide open trail with amazing views.
I expect that a large percentage of new XC skiers (or those that returned after many years) will continue to develop their skills and interest… However for a fair percentage (~WAG ~20-40%) they’ll be of the “been there done that” mind set, or feel it’s too much work, or give up without giving it a fair attempt sadly. So… this next winter and the following I’m hoping for some great deals on lightly used decent equipment!!
– Same could be said for any of the Covid-mania goods such as cycling gear, camping goods, and sadly enough pets.
That all said, the increased awareness of our amazing outdoor facilities will hopefully generate increased development, maintenance, and funding for these terrific assets. That might include government funding, funding drives, and even sponsorships. I suspect government funding will be increasingly curtailed due to the excess and continued unrestrained federal spending problems.
For clarity, there’s still an avalanche hazard on that and other slopes. It is NOT now safe for the rest of the winter to go to Moraine Lake for anyone who doesn’t have the appropriate avalanche safety and assessment equipment and training.
Great reports! We’ve really depended on the emails to decide whether to make the drive out to PLPP, our favourite ski place.
WOW! You made my day with those Mountain Goat pictures and a peak into the area that is on my list to hike this summer!
Thanks for everything Bob. Happy Trails!
Lionel was one of the engineers who surveyed the lakes for Calgary Power. 1930’s. Remnants of their camp remain on the little peninsula opposite Upper lake boat launch. My Valley – the Kananaskis, Ruth Oltman, p. 53.
It would be wonderful to have another beginner trail but …
There’s no way to know if this year’s sudden covid-related boom in outdoor activity will persist. Parking pass revenues could take a big hit post-pandemic, as early as next winter. Keeping some surplus funds as a reserve would be wise.
Some will argue that surplus revenues should be used to reduce the cost of parking passes.
Hwy 40 is plenty wide but any loop off of the highway would presumably need to exploit existing trails which it seems are just too narrow for multi-use.
If Lionel is resurrected, I would be one of the first to ski it, though.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Bob for all you have done for the X-country community over the years. Enjoy retirement and look forward to continue seeing on the trails.
Hard to believe this is the end. It will be very strange not seeing your updates. Thank you for facilitating such a vibrant community of people sharing their ski experiences so others can follow. Wishing you the best in whatever comes next.
Great to meet you on the trail today Bob! Such a beautiful day and amazing conditions. Thanks for the photos! Hope the end of your ski day was as great as the start!
To Alf’s comment: “seems like reactivating Lionel as a ski trail should be a no brainer” — I’m not an expert in this stuff, but I don’t think it is quite as straightforward as we might all like it to be.
1) Grooming 8km of trail even once a week is a significant addition in terms of labour. It isn’t just one pass with the PB 100 – it would likely be four (or five to return). What other grooming would we be prepared to give up for this?
2) My understanding is that some years ago one of the grooming machines broke through the ice on Sounding Lake with a major rescue operation necessary to save it – and this is the reason it is no longer groomed for skiing.
3) Providing for parking at the gate (washrooms too) would be a pretty significant incremental cost – and moving the gate could also be expensive.
Not arguing against the idea — just trying to add a sort of reality check here.
I think Alf has a great idea for the beginners. That trail allows for a great introduction to x country skiing along with the space for skate skiers. If it were to be track set and packed it would add to the already great trails. I would suggest that along with the aforementioned it would also add to a round trip if the lower Pocaterra to the hut were to be remade. That would allow for two return routes from the Lynx intersection – one for beginners and one for intermediate to advanced skiers.
Pipestone Blue up and Green Merlin/Drummond/Hector down. Yesterday’s hikers did not help the first stretch of blue but they turned off onto Drummond and then encountered deep post-holing by the pond and went back the way they came. Quite windy by Pipestone Pond so sheltered in the trees for lunch. Snow temp -4 at 12:30 with varying 5-8 cms in tracks of new snow. No worms as seen at CNC Wednesday or snow fleas-just clean cold snow. Saw one other couple and their dog. Merlin was a delight as always. No freezing up on blue 0 to -6 or clumping either. Supposed to be more snow tonight so check skilouise in am. Ma Sid tempted us to explore the meadows on MLR further but very happy with today’s choice.
Fairview at LL was a wonderful gift today ( April 9).
Skier track set in approximately 10 cms of fresh dry snow
By 2:00 it was starting to soften but I don’t expect it get to warm so tomorrow should also be great.
A younger Alf in the day may well have awarded Sara with the “light gear touring award of the year” for this trip. I too followed along the great description, map in hand. Bravo Sara.
What a feat of perseverance Sarah. Nicely done and reported.
Good advice but nicely done Sara! An adventure survived always makes for a story that gets better with each telling. A great way to cap off the season and lead into scheming the next.
Sara M: so glad to meet you via this blog and how deserving you are to be featured after that ultra marathon of an obstacle course. I had to get out my old Banff Gem Trek map to check out your ski. So many of us have truly enjoyed your Trip (with a capital T) reports this season. Thank you for bringing such enthusiastic adventures forth and for taking such a terrific selfie!! No wonder you were smiling to make it that far. I’d happily have risked my car’s suspension to pick you up at Goat Creek had I known of this Spring Skiing Adventure. As Chuck said, an awesome description complete with poignant photos. The one of your feet on the snow is a winner as is your beautiful selfie.
Oh man, Steve Riggs/aka-bigsteve has been out there since the dawn of the internets –dispensing enthralling trip reports, words of wisdom and encouragement plus veiled hints of secret stashes on various platforms.
Long ago upon discovering that internet ski forums and blogs were a thing I took the plunge and began posting my first tentative TRs on a now long lost backcountry skiers’ forum. Steve’s positive response to those posts inspired me to continue taking photos and composing descriptions of various ski-related triumphs and failures.
So yeah, I blame him for everything!
Thanks Bob for all the photos, I just met a handful of reporters over the years but recognize some faces from brief encounters. I was hoping to see a photo of MAAD, but he’s or she’s like the « Arlésienne » as we say ion French.
Good to put faces to the names of regular posters from over the years. Looks like it was Steve Riggs I was chatting with at Patterson/Elk junction Saturday evening.
Started on Whiskey Jack on Saturday morn on pure ice but on Tyrwhitt the lurching began from shade to sun. Saw Moose & Wolverine tracks. We were warned about the huge spruce across Elk Pass Trail on the descent so no speed record this time.
10mins from arriving at the top of Blueberry as I was herringboning, the toe bar on my ski boots completely detached from my boot. My brother & I tried using tape & paracord to rig up the toe bar to the boot but no success. My brother had to leave but I continued to the top, stayed for an hour in the sun & light wind. A helicopter flew by below me & looks like a brief touch down at Rawson then it went to the Rawson parking lot…perhaps a rescue? I hiked back (on the side of the tracks) with my skis on my pack to Elk Pass parking lot. I’m lucky my gear failure didn’t happen off tracksetting on a longer trip. Saw a Boreal Chickadee & Steller’s Jay along the way. I was very appreciative to hitch a ride (with masks on) back to my vehicle at Boulton campground with a friendly couple I met up on Blueberry.
The top of Blueberry was great compared to the previous Sunday when I skied from 4:30pm-8:45pm to Blueberry Hill breaking trail in up to 25cms of snow over tracksetting during the big storm. On the drive, the visibility was the worst I’ve ever had in all these years doing adventures & couldn’t see a thing on Hwy40 north of Nakiska turn off so I made it to Lorette Ponds lot & hung out for an hour until the snow eased up & I continued on. I was kind of looking forward to spending the night out there. 3.5 hour total (including stop @ Lorette) to get back to Calgary.
This larger than you blog (not an easy feat) was an expertly curated and entertaining read over the past 10+ years. I’ll miss contributing, reading and scheming by it …but will still hear the mountains calling regardless. See ya out there Bob!
it’s about time the Govmint widens & pave this P.O.S. road (the new parking pass program could cover the cost) so us heavy hittin x country back country snow beaters can rip out there in our big chevy escalades (1 person per vehicle please) and ski the be-jeepers outa those mountains and still get back home for happy hour and start posting ad nauseam of our exploits oh yeah !!
Don’t look at the potholes, look at the spaces between the potholes.
Congratulations and many thanks again for the wonderful work you have done for so many years
Congratulations Bob for the well deserved honour.
I feel the track setting and trail grooming was very much “my monies worth”. Thank you to all the folks who organized the “pass” system and to all the volunteers that manned the parking lots etc.
Our seniors group/club did not get out as we normally would if our bus trips were still running. However, many of us have been driving out in our own cars and have enjoyed a wonderful season that is still going on as I write this on April 2.
Also thank you to Bob Truman “Skier Bob” for all his time over the years! Your website has been invaluable and I am sure that all the skiers thank you very much.
It has been a good year and hopefully we will have many more as x-country skiing has expanded at an exponential rate.
Congratulations on being awarded such a beautiful painting Bob! Thanks again for your wonderful blog and happy ski trails!
A beautiful painting and a well earned recognition. Thank you Bob for your amazing website. I will sure miss it.
That is beautiful!! Congratulations, and thank you for everything! <3
A huge thank you to Bob, Ken, and all the volunteers. Signage for the parking pass grooming program was prominently posted at the cash registers at Norseman ski shop. Quite a few customers asked about it, and we did our best to explain and promote the concept. Personally, I encouraged folks to contact their MLA and other politicians about the grooming and parks in general.
What a fitting gift. You deserve it, Bob!
We all thrive in some manner to make a difference in other peoples lives and ours.
You certainly did.
Thank you Bob.
That is just perfect and so fitting. Put it somewhere you can look at it from anywhere in your favourite room!
Although, like many of us who have followed this blog, I think it’s quite possible your favourite room has distant rock walls and an unlimited ceiling of February Rocky Mountain Blue.
A great recognition of all your hard work… Thank You Bob
Congratulations Bob, and Thank you so much for all your efforts and ski reports. You will be sorely missed… see you on the trails.
Hello Bob!
Thank you for your kind words! I am so pleased you love your painting.
As a frequent visitor of the ‘Skier Bob’ page, it was an honour to be able to help celebrate your well earned retirement!
More of my work can be found on Instagram @erinkerr.clubb
http://www.instagram.com/erinkerr.clubb/
Happy trails,
Erin
A beautiful painting and a well deserved special gift, of one of your favourite trails. Couldn’t quite tell if the skier was wearing a skihere toque.
So awesome. You deserve it Bob. Thank you for everything. Enjoy your next chapter and hope to see you on trails!
M&L
Well deserved recognition. Thanks for all your hard work.
OK, so this might be sacrilegious, but as one of the volunteers for Nordique, I find myself wondering just how useful it was, really, to have volunteers out in the parking lots. It seemed that in PLPP anyway, about 70% of skiers had their passes when they arrived. That is, they had been convinced already that buying the pass was a good idea. Since more money was raised than needed, perhaps the money from this 70%, who bought without volunteer encouragement, was sufficient. Sure, being a volunteer was pleasant enough, but I wonder how much it really contributed. Maybe next year it would be interesting to try advertising only, and see what the result is. Signs could be put at the entrances to the parking lots stating something to the effect of: Trail grooming is done due to voluntary contributions of users. Please buy a pass at:……….
That’s great news all around
Did this get recorded?
HasBrewster Healy XC trail been track set in the last few days
April 1 2021???
Pretty amazing result from Nordiq AB, Ken Hewitt and all the behind the scenes folks who helped to put it together.
Thanks to all of you!
My wife’s and I were part of the 162 volunteers who worked shifts at PLPP. We enjoyed talking to the skiers. We asked them where they were going, what wax they were using.
One can only hope going forward, that keeping Albertans mentally and physically healthy is a priority recognized by our Politicians. Reinstating the grooming program should be one of their top priorities.
Thanks Ken, Jeff, James, and volunteers!
Big shout out to the Nordiq Alberta volunteers!
Spotted fresh wolf tracks today on tom snow south. Also found a picked clean deer carcass off trail along one of the nearby ridges/cut blocks.
Tom snow (south section) from station flats was still skiable early this morning before the crowds, especially north of the R3/bobcat junction. Unfortunately I wasn’t on skis. But the Bragg creek touring should be back in fine form if snow shows up there sun/mon.
A 7 ft trail runner?
The Bob Trail?
Bob, quoted from above:
I’m a big believer in the motto “When one door closes, another one opens” so we’ll see what’s behind that door when the time comes.
Oh no, please don’t let it be fatbiking! Not that there’s anything wrong with that 🙂
It’s unfortunate we missed you today Bob! We spotted some of the crew you were chatting with going through west elk pass while we lounged at the fork ‘n meadow log. Good times.
West Bragg Creek
5-8 cm of new snow at WBC, with a morning low of -13C. It’s warming up quickly under a sunny sky.
Many of the sun exposed ski trails were down to bare ground and puddles yesterday. So, Mountain Road, Moose Loop, Moose Connector, Mountain View, Iron Springs, etc are not a good idea.
The main core Crystal Line trails still had a pretty good base of hard, icy snow, with only small bare patches. Set tracks were still present on the shady side of those trails. I’d recommend rock skis. It is forecast to get above 0C by late morning, so the snow will soften and compact by afternoon.
The parking lot has been cleared.
We had a late start at CNC today. Conditions were slushy at the start but by 1:00 pm or so, it started snowing heavily! The storm lasted for about half an hour and left about 2 cm of much needed snow. The snow was very grabby.
From this we can conclude that a bear’s cue to wake up from hibernation is the sound of cussing skiers in the woods.
“The Spray Lakes road is indeed a neverending stretch of potholes.”
Amen…
Jeff, now that you’ve done your last shift, please accept many thanks from someone who has really appreciated your tracks since the 80’s.
You should take great satisfaction from having made so many people so happy so many times.
Good luck in PQ.
”
Here all we have here is sky
All the sky is is blue
All that blue is
Is……
“
Thanks to the wonderful Tracksetters for all the joy you spread through your service!
Just awesome work and so greatly appreciated all the time but during a pandemic just so much more. Thank you for some great tracks this year.
I vote for keeping PLPP a skate-free and dog-free zone.
Huge appreciation to all the tracksetters and groomers. Great job. In addition, we would like thank the many unknown faces who ploughed the roads and parking lots, so that we could get to all that wonderful tracksetting!
Oh sure, these tracksetters are really great and everything. Toiling away at all hours of the day and night for little or no pay.
But who here among us wouldn’t kill to toodle around in these uber-cool machines and be loved by all?
It looks like a pretty good gig.
😉
A sad day in the Skier Bob universe when grooming is over for the season at Bragg Creek and Ribbon Creek. Here’s hoping for a few more weeks at Lake Louise, PLPP and Mt. Shark, we’re not ready for winter to be over yet! Many thanks to all the groomers, it’s been a great year!
Thanks to everyone who has worked on the trails for our enjoyment and safety. Your skill and dedication is very much appreciated.
Pat
Thank you! A few times I was out shortly after a big dump of snow, and I was amazed at how quickly the whole trail system was groomed. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone this year! More than any other year, this has made such a difference to our health and well being!
I really appreciate your dedication and excellent grooming and track setting skills! Thanks for making the season great.
Rhonda W
Sounds like a great idea!
Thanks to everyone at BCT! While it wasn’t a season for the record books like 19-20, we still enjoyed plenty of fine skiing at Bragg. And like Mike W- I’m not giving up yet. My closing day there last year was April 6, with good skiing in dry new snow over firm old grooming. In terms of preserving the base, this week’s forecast isn’t looking too promising, though.
Thank you WBC grooming team! You did awesome!
Thank you to the team for a great season of grooming!
Thanks to the WBC grooming team for all the work this winter! My last ski there last winter was April 8. I’m figuring there’s going to be at least one more big dump and I’m hoping be back for at least one more ski this spring, with or without grooming!
That’s a terrific idea. I would use it.
I would assume that they would need more grooming equipment to take on more trails. They haven’t been able to keep up the trails they currently have after snow falls. When I last skied out there the trails we picked were is very rough shape, despite the groomers working long hours.
Gotta hand it to Alf. He’s always got his thinking cap on.
These are the views we would get from Lionel trail opened to skiing.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3huirfo3rwqw375/Lionel_trail_ski_circa_1982_1920px-1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyi7wypyhiglqfd/Lionel_trail_ski_circa_1982_1920px-2.jpg?dl=0
I love the idea of resurrection of “Lionel” but I can’t see it possibly going South of the “Back Door” due to Avalanche risks. Parking lot at the winter gate would be a nice addition and definitely need to bring back the trail connecting Pocaterra to “Lionel” which would allow for a loop.
Does anyone know why Lionel was decommissioned in the first place? What about the other decommissioned trails such as Sounding Lake, Rockwall, Canyon and Lakeside? I’m only 30 and never skied on any of those before decommissioning but my parents did and they have an old map from 1983.
Better check with Lionel.
I agree that the Hwy 40 groomed trail with an enlarged parking area on the existing pavement would make an excellent addition to the PLPP ski trail system. Another idea worth looking into would be to reintroduce the old alignment of the Pocaterra Trail from Pocaterra Hut to the Lynx junction. The trails were already there so a rebuild of the old bridges would allow for yet another beginner route (that we used to have) rather than the at best intermediate route when the trails were raised out of the valley. Yes the area flooded but how often? It would be interesting to find out an estimated cost for a project such as this.
The bottom line is that the monies left over from grooming should ONLY go back into the various areas where Kenney and Nixon made us pay for parking.
I like the idea of resurrecting Lionel. Earlier this year I skied from Boulton up Packers, out the Back Door, and on towards Highwood Pass. The section south of Back Door is very scenic and would make for an excellent xc trail as well. Being less protected by trees, the road does get more wind and drifting snow, though.
Great idea Alf!
Carl- looking at the satellite image, there appears to be nothing of concern regarding avalanche hazard up to at least the “back door”.
Cindy- I think the wildlife aspect of the closure applies more to the Highwood valley south of the pass, where open slopes and much less of a snowpack provide important overwintering terrain.
I think before a decision is made there should be an assessment on how it may impact the wildlife which is the primary reason for the road closure I believe.
His Bob,’
I found this 1986 map from an old post you posted a few years ago and I guess the same map Carl is referring to.
http://skierbob.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/North-trails.jpg
Cheers
JF
I love this idea, but when I posted an enthusiastic note about doing this on Dec 19 2020 someone replied that they thought that Lionel had been decommissioned because it crosses an avalanche path.
That rang a bell for me, but I can’t think where that might be between the gate and the back door.
According to my 1980’s map, Lionel did not go all the way to the gate, but branched off from the old Pocaterra near the Rolly Road and Come Along junctions. It was marked as .8 km intermediate and 7.2 km easy.
An excellent idea. A loop connection would be good, allowing return from pocaterra to Hwy 40 parking. Not sure how feasible that would be given height gain/terrain. Same with extended grooming further south, allowing easier access to other terrain, but not essential (kinda like extending beyond MLR grooming to moraine lake). But also quite open and exposed to the elements. Worth a “pilot project” test regardless. Lots of cars were parked there the other day using the road.
The Nordiq Alberta ski pass program has been a huge success. It has provided us with exceptional ski grooming plus the bonus of extra funds that could enhance skiing opportunities for next year.
The value of those surplus funds are not enough to purchase much equipment or to build much new trail.
So, my suggestion is to make better use of what we already have. Decades ago, Highway #40 was groomed for skiing from the winter gate to the Pocaterra “Back Door”… it was known as the Lionel trail.
Given the popularity of the Moraine Lake Road, grooming Highway #40 should be a no-brainer.
Ideally, the winter gate would be moved south by a few hundred metres to provide a paved parking lot. Add some portable toilets and a portable trailhead kiosk, and you’ve got a functional trailhead.
I would suggest that the highway could be groomed for multiple uses. Classic track setting would create an ideal “easy” trail. And it would create an obvious loop with Pocaterra trail.
A wide skate lane would provide an opportunity for skate skiers. A separate groomed lane could be created for fat-bikes, hikers, snowshoers, skijoerers, winter hikers, etc.
That is a small infrastructure cost, no additional grooming equipment… but more grooming staff time… and it would produce a tremendous addition to the PLPP trail network
This is how Shadow Lake Lodge looked when we passed by in 1990:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/up2oYbcmYvoPXzoQ8
We cannot come close to the happiness so evident our dogs experience skiing with us
Life is so much better when you love dogs!! We have a Wheaten and a Golden (both high energy breeds) and nothing makes me happier than to see them flat out exhausted after a long distance ski. I have had dogs all my life and the only drawback to having a dog is, of course, losing them. Wonderful to read a “pawsitive” story on dogs and skiing.
That is such a great story! Thanks for sharing! My husband and I rediscovered skiing this season. And it was my 9 year olds first time on skis. We started out for a couple of times at WBC and the pups on the trail kept us happy, even on the days we struggled. Last weekend my daughter decided she wanted to try to ski 20k, so we headed to the great divide. And the dog sled teams zipped back and forth all day. We didn’t notice any chance of tiring out on my daughter’s end. But those pups sure gave us great joy to see how happy they were! Thanks for sharing! And can’t wait to see more pups on the trail!
Rio has been found! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/562727260820378/permalink/1153519731741125/
FOUND!
Rio was found tonight on sugar momma and has made it home.
A huge thank you to the community for all the support, it was great to see so many out looking.
talked to Lisa and dog is found?
did you find the dog yet? if not i will come and look tomorrow
Pipestone grooming was sketchy as the hard pack prevented the tracks to be formed to depth. The downhill areas were almost solid ice with some rocks coming through. The trails overall were still 70 % avg
30% below. More snow needed 6-12” to rehabilitate the trail. Safety will become an issue bc soon.
Morning
I would like the money to go towards obtaining the Fortress lease. That way the area could be managed more in line with the spirit of the surrounding area rather than what is planned.
B
Small update, she was seen late afternoon heading up Snowy Owl from Boundary towards West Bragg. She is very scared and bolted as soon as she saw the people. Search was called off for the night, will resume tomorrow morning.
Any updates?
Hate to think she is out there still tonight.
I do hope they find Rio-so scary when a pup goes missing. Please post Bob if you hear anything.
65,000 x-c skiers if you count those who only ski once or twice a year in town or at West Bragg.
100,000 viewers .
How many did not purchase a pass? How many skiers are there for each season pass? My guess would be 1.5 skiers per season pass, and 20% of skiers did not purchase a pass so that would mean there are about 12,087 skiers.
Hey Bob….I might be able to help out a bit. Here is a breakdown from the combined season and day passes:
Calgary 6030
Canmore 649
Okotoks 133
Cochrane 274
Edmonton 183
Banff 27
Red Deer 64
Foothills 33
Other 207
Some error margin here — because these numbers include as separate counts those people who purchased more than one pass.
Hi Bob,
I now live in Bonnyville and I purchased a Kananaskis season pass, which I have used 2 times so far and intend to use 2 more times by the end of the season.
Either your question is too broadly stated, or else Bonnyville is part of the greater Calgary area and SkierBob empire!
In any case, you should come here and try the excellent trails of the Lakeland region and enjoy some night skiing lit by polar auroras!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/366435621213177/permalink/460679701788768/
Joad
In this post I asked the question, “In the comments, tell us what you would do with the excess funds.” Please stick to the topic.
While I like Skier Dougs’ idea of using “excess” funds to revitalize the Sawmill trails, I think that ship has sailed. The money should be held to cover any deficits in future seasons, or used to expand expand the frequency of grooming. Or- the grooming period at either end of the season, should weather and snow conditions be favourable.
I think the success of the pass program- despite some naysayers who don’t accept that xc skiers should pay a small fee for the special services that we desire- bodes well for the future of groomed xc skiing in Kananaskis.
Kudos to those who made it happen!
First, thank you to Nordiq Alberta and all the volunteers! My main concern is to keep this funding and tracksetting permanently. There is a good possibility that volunteers will tire, and numbers of skiers (pass purchasers) will slowly decrease as Covid 19 becomes an unpleasant memory. Surplus should definitely allow equipment upgrades, I would hope even a used machine would last more than 3 years, so a purchase seems reasonable. Allowing for expected drop in numbers, I would favor a somewhat higher Season Pass, leave Day Pass the ame, as we want to encourage occasional skiers, and regular skiers are probably getting a very good deal already.
The Nordiq Alberta program was certainly a success. Despite this, the government has yet to make any commitment for grooming next winter and beyond. Nordiq Alberta will hold in trust the sizeable surplus they are collecting, “pending further spending decisions regarding the use of the excess funds to support future investments in cross country ski trail grooming. … only to be spent, dispersed or utilized on the prior mutual agreement of both the Society and the Province.” See page 14 of the Alberta Parks – Nordiq Alberta Cooperating Agreement – https://drive.google.com/file/d/152HMMbAR6HUrctwcppQ5Q3O67OB0UbFg/view.
Since the government hasn’t committed to grooming next winter, I wonder why the program wasn’t set up to terminate as soon as its funding goal was reached, rather than accumulating a surplus with no predefined plan on how to use it?
I’m all for any surplus going to whatever is needed to keep the grooming going. However, I wonder if we need to adjust our expectations. Assuming the operations cost of grooming is $200,000, and that the expensive equipment needs to be replaced from time to time (5 years?) at $200,000 a pop (need to save $40,000/yr). Funds raised this year around $280,000 would appear to cover both operations and a fund for equipment replacement. But it doesn’t look like there would be much leftover for any expansion of the program. I don’t know how reliable the funding will be and I think we should keep our minds open to the possibilities of less trail grooming, less frequent grooming, using less sophisticated equipment, etc. to have a sustainable budget.
I hope that there is going to be some kind survey done after the season is over to get everyone’s view on this. Personally I would support a higher fee if that could be put towards more equipment so that the trails could get groomed on a more timely basis after each snowfall. After a fall last week the PLPP crew were able to groom 18km of trails, while at the same time (I think) the Bragg Creek crew were able to do over 70km. For the skate ski trails especially, it is important to get to them as fast as possible after each fall. Balanced against this is a wish to keep the fee as low as possible so that we don’t price people out of our great sport.
I support the money going forward to ensure the sustainability of the XC ski grooming in Kananaskis next year and beyond. The voluntary pay system this year has allowed those with less financial means to still access the superb trails in this area and this is important that access for all is maintained. Although it would be lovely if the government took over paying for this again, I’m OK with contributing a small amount each year for superb skiing, and am so heartened that the fundraising goal was met!
Invest in recommisioning the Sawmill trails for future trail grooming.
Use surplus funds for future XC grooming services or equipment needed. Funds must be used towards XC trails. That is specifically why I bought a pass and made a donation. Kananaskis trails are key to early and late season skiing. Thank you for the great work on the trails so far, and to all the volunteers!
I’m sorry to be the only dissenter here and honestly I love you Bob and all of the work that you’ve done for the cross country skiing community, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why we are volunteering to pay for a piece of equipment that the government of Alberta should be buying. They buy equipment (or hire contractors) for other facility maintenance, why should cross country ski trails be any different? I was livid that we handed them their operational funds on a silver platter without so much as a discussion amongst Albertans as to whether this is a public good or a user good and now we are proposing to buy equipment for them as well? Some options for the extra money from me:
1) put it towards programs that encourage newcomers to try cross country skiing – maybe hire some coaches, schedule some dates, rent some equipment
2) put it towards people who want to enrol their kids into cross country ski programs but who might struggle based on their income to do this
3) put it towards training, coaching and equipment for young people to develop their cross country ski skills and athletic development
4) put it towards volunteers who are willing to obtain various coaching levels who would volunteer a set amount of time to encourage cross country skiing within families of all income levels
5) pay for those who would struggle to afford parking fees (but lets hope we don’t have to repeat this again)
6) put it towards public engagement and lobbying the government so that ONE user group DOES NOT have to pay for trail maintenance in Kananaskis
If we absolutely had to have a user pay system, then I would propose that we have a Park entrance fee to Kananaskis (by car not by person) that is set at a lower rate (because there’s a broader base of payers) making it more affordable for each individual. This would still encourage car pooling (charge by car not by person).
Honestly, I hope we don’t assume that the “pay for cross country grooming via parking fees” program is going to happen again, now that there’s time to facilitate discussion amongst Albertans and even within the cross country ski community as to whether this should be a public or user pay system.
I feel like I’m the lone wolf in this perspective. If our current government wasn’t so incompetent in managing the province’s affairs, I might feel a bit differently but on this one I really feel we completely threw ourselves into their trap setting a dangerous precedent and I’m surprised no one else is as upset by this as I am. CPAWS Alberta managed a great “Defend Parks” campaign and groups have also gained traction on the coal issues. I think Nordiq Alberta, while having their heart in the right place fell right into the UCP trap.
Bravo, and hearty thanks to the volunteers and to Nordiq Alberta. What a welcome success story. For the excess, ensure good equipment and consider off-loading some of the volunteer duties to a paid position.
I would not mind seeing some funds used to better signage at the Ruthie / Skogan junction to clearly state that Skogan pass trails (and offshoots) are skiers only. An alternative would be to encourage snowshoers / walkers to buy a season pass (i.e. not limited to xcountry skiers) to raise funds to build a specific trail to go to Hummingbird Plume Lookout …and to avoid ruining Sunburst and High Level trails
I need new pants.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BQe9GhP8BrEwqpV5A
(Pay it forward to a backcountry skier who also bought a tracksetting season pass).
With the extra money, the future of grooming in Kananaskis can be even better than it was before the government’s announcement. People are obviously willing to pay a reasonable amount to have groomed trails, and I bet they are willing to pay a little more than the paltry $50 to have more grooming(the snowcat could easily be operating a daily double shift in PLPP), and possibly open up some new trails. In retrospect, the government has done us a huge favour by “ending grooming” in Kananaskis. We’ve removed the threat of the government taking this away from us.
A further benefit to skiers paying for groomed trails is that it will give us some clout when it comes to keeping the hikers off the groomed trails.
Does anybody have sense of what happens next year and beyond? Continuation of the approach used this year?
Put the surplus towards future ops and perhaps expanded service and equipment upgrades.
Way to go Nordiq and volunteers! Thanks.
Invest towards future gear so that grooming can be continued and even trackset fresh more frequently if not needing to share equipment between different regions
Pssst…. new update from Nordiq Alberta re: the Kananaskis Parking pass program. Looks like $270,000 was raised via passes, plus $22k in donations.
https://mailchi.mp/826e3b805531/we-did-it-together?fbclid=IwAR2lpmK3ve2i3vE84AIPENa5ZiYfmebpJ5khQeAxLXoXpRqtbyhuEuxggrA
I tried skiing Cascade valley yesterday and found it icy in the morning and soft an hour or so later. I think my wax was too hard ( it was a really tough day of sliding all day) , so have ordered some purple and red wax. Is my ski season done for the year? Are there any other waxes that I need for these conditions? I’d love to keep skiing as long as possible!
Congrats Mike, that’s incredible!
Heard about your trip from your family and it blew my mind away 🙂 Way to go!
Way to persevere Mike. That’s 20km more than I’ve done continuously so can attest that the last lap must’ve been a grind. There is a decade old 100km ski tradition that happens every New Years(ish) in PLPP -double round the works including blueberry that you’d be well fitted for! Hope to cross paths one day 😉
Wow that’s incredible! Well done!
I would guess the other cars might have been hikers hoping to catch sunrise on Ha Ling
Mike W must be training for the longest race, 220 km above the Arctic Circle, in Sweden, https://www.nordenskioldsloppet.se/en/
last year the best times were just below 12hrs
It is nice to know I still inspire people. I just wish it was with Making Alberta A (Real) Democracy rather than night skiing!
My secret is out on how to make mileage on skis! Ski at night fast with the headlamp so the Panthers and Griz don’t get you and get that rush effect of the trees going by real fast in the periphery vision.
Skiing at night allows you to go full throttle on the hills cause you know no one else is on the trail- unless they are skiing without a headlamp turned on. It does happen once in a Blue Moon. Be careful skiing on the Blue Moons.
It is always strange coming back to an empty parking lot. I never get over that feeling- where did everyone go?
What do you use for 100k ski fuel?
Thanks Bob, my second time on the front page in just over a week! – http://skierbob.ca/2021/02/sunday-morning-update-20/. Not in costume this time though!
I probably did, to be honest the $50 felt more like a donation, so it is quite difficult to answer the specific question. I’m very appreciative of all the efforts that Ken and all the volunteers put in to make this work.
I hope that we might be able to build on the success of the program next year and perhaps increase the amount of grooming. The PLPP crew seem to be challenged to keep up with new snowfalls (I have no doubt that they are doing their best with the staff and equipment available) and wonder if more money (higher fee or more sales) might be able to help. Perhaps a survey will be done at the end of the season to get everyone’s view.
The fact that we have to pay for K-Country grooming while Cypress Hills PP is done for free does slightly irk me.
If there had been no grooming, better to get some LT gear and break your own trail (not that you would have always had to), vs. going snowshoeing. At least the down would still be fun, fast and efficient.
For me, it’s been “waxless ski” weather all winter! I purchased a pair of Rossignol RSkin skis on clearance from Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise in April last year. They’re a relatively high-end pair, just below the X-Ium race line of skis, similar to the Rossignol Delta Course waxable skis I already had. I’ve been using the RSkins exclusively if the forecast high is above -3C or so, especially if a sunny day is forecast. But I’ve also used them in temperatures as low as -20C. I’ve skied a couple of times with one RSkin and one waxable for a head-to-head comparison in -20C and -8C, and was unable to detect any difference in either grip or glide. If anything, the RSkins were marginally better. The big difference is that with the RSkins, I don’t have to spend time scraping off old grip wax and carefully applying and corking in 4 or so thin layers of new wax in a pyramid pattern to get optimal performance. And I never have to reapply grip wax during the day, or get caught out by a wrong prediction on what wax to use. Nor do I have to worry about snow fleas and tree needles and other debris getting embedded in the grip wax. This winter seems to be particularly bad for wind and tree debris.
The RSkins are not maintenance-free however. They need to be occasionally cleaned and waterproofed. And of course both the RSkins and waxables have to be glide wax. The skin strips slowly wear out, and need to be replaced eventually at a cost of about $50, which I figure is about the same as the amount I would have spent on Swix VR grip waxes during that time period. So far, after 400km on the RSkins, there’s no noticeable skin wear.
Here’s another stat from xcountry gear sellers in Canada. Skier Bob is almost National now
https://ccsaa.org/2021/02/cross-country-ski-retailer-survey-report-mid-feb-2021/?fbclid=IwAR0zpp2iJCBBJu5CH8dJSLFjrUGjnWqmn7feTkfgFPd4CAWov3ZUC7S80EM
Over 5,3 million people is a lot of skiers for Skier Bob to count!
I blame much of the increase numbers of skiers skiing the eastern slopes on Skier Bob and his great website that people from around the world look at. Without this website, there is less talk about XC skiing in Alberta. The more talk the more people that get interested. There is no doubt COVID helped increase numbers this year, but those new skiers got a lot of information from Skier Bob as to where to ski and crash head first into their ski tips. New skiers with ski tips imbedded in fore heads have Skier Bob to thank if they viewed his website.
I felt like I got my moneys worth. I am a COVID cross country skier. I have spent the last many years spending weekends at the ski hill and chose nordic skiing this year to avoid the crowds at the hill. I am undecided whether or not I will purchase a pass next year. I wonder how many more there are like me and if passes will cover the cost of grooming next winter.
I am extremely appreciative of the grooming. I was extremely disappointed in the government’s decision to cut funding to ski grooming. When I moved to Alberta in the 90’s it was something I was really impressed about Alberta, and as a student at the time, I appreciated the free skiing. While $50 for a year of skiing is no big deal to me now, I regret that it needs to be paid. I felt it was something that made Alberta special.
My final consideration when I reflect on the program to groom is how many volunteer hours is needed to collect funds, administer the website and patrol parking lots. I would argue that we were better off before. Having said all of this, I would take this over no grooming at all.
Kudos to all the volunteers that made this possible this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my winter!
I would pay more for groomed trails – love the variety. Done a ton of skiing at PLPP this season – some at Kananaskis and WBC too as well at CNC and local YYC trails, however PLPP is my fav hands down. $50 per car is a BARGAIN!!!!
Haven’t got my money’s worth, but I don’t care. BC residents pay pretty much everywhere to ski AND have a PST. So those that complain (Martin & Jip), you need to realize what you have. Kinda like the GST, before it came, there was a hidden tax on a lot of things, especially imports. Out of sight out of mind….
$50 is good value. I have used my Pass over 30 times. Hoping to hit 40. In the fall, I thought I’d have to take up snowshoeing. Instead I’ve skied more than ever. Thank you to all who saved the season.
Great day on ElkPass-Blueberry Hill. Snow awesome. 2hrs up-1hr down.
A resounding YES!!! PLPP is one of our favourite places to ski and the grooming and track-setting were stellar, as always. We even got in a few more skis than usual on Bill Milne. A big thanks to the groomers, and to Ken Hewitt for all his time and effort. Even volunteering was fun!
Definitely worth the $50/season/car. We are so far at 12 visits (mostly PLPP) this season – not bad for weekend warriors. We ski elsewhere (CNC, WBC, LL) but Kananaskis is a bit special – scenery is beautiful and it always feels so quiet once on the trails.
Thanks to the awesome groomers and parking volunteers for making this possible.
Yes absolutely worth it. Thanks to the hard work of Nordiq Alberta and the many volunteers we were able to keep these pristine, beautiful areas groomed and trackset for fantastic skiing. Worth every penny.
Hi:
Although I didn’t get out to PLPP as much as I would have liked to (does one ever?), I consider it money well spent, having skied there for the last ~25 years.
With kind regards,
Herb
P.S. I had a fantastic trip yesterday, Fairview/Lac Annette/Moraine Lake Road/Tramline. I took the trail back to the road from the first bridge along the creek. Who woulda knew!
I’ll be the voice of dissent, no I haven’t purchased a pass and have not skied PLPP, Kananaskis or Mt Shark this season, I do commend Nordic for their efforts but I’m in total disagreement with the arrangement which is grossly unfair and ridiculous turning citizens into tax collectors. Thank goodness for WBC who will continue to receive my support
The pass is very inexpensive and I am very grateful that Nordiq Alberta stepped up to make the grooming happen, especially this year of fewer options for travel and indoor recreation! I would pay even more for more consistent and frequent grooming but yes the pass was definitely worth it.
I’ll say. The pass is peanuts for skiing on some of the best trails in North America. I have a hard time imagining more interesting and scenic trails than those at PLPP and Ribbon Creek.
Absolutely ! Thank you !
With probably 6 weeks still left in the Kananaskis grooming season- we are already at under $6 per skier day- and that’s with buying a pass for each of our 2 vehicles. That’s quite the bargain!
Definitely worth my money. In December and January when conditions in WBC were marginal at best, I did most of my skiing in Kananaskis Village / Skogan pass (10+ times) and PLPP (15+ times) and without grooming I would have been miserable and « forced » to go farther. This month I skied mostly in WBC and next week will return to Kananaskis / PLPP.
Yes, partner & I out there 3 wknds in Jan and 3 in Feb.
And yes PLPP busier than yrs past, more youngsters.
Your “farewell tour” — it’s still hard to imagine. The Empire without the Emperor front and centre. Glad to see you’re out there meeting lots of friends and fans. I’ve barely gotten out in the last two or three years, but doing a little better this year, so hoping to meet you. Having been a follower since the earliest days of SkiHere, I’m definitely going to miss your blog. But cant thank you enough for how much you’ve done for xc skiers and xc skiing.
I’ll be able to tell people I met the Emperor when he had no clothes! Long ago and not far away … in the showers after the Lake Louise to Banff loppet 🙂
Very best wishes, Bob. Thank you! See you out there.
My biggest disappointment about not having a real Lake Louise Banff Loppet is not getting to cheer on Janice (and everybody else) at the Baker Creek crossing. Next year I will be there with my shovel.
I’ll miss your updates tremendously Bob. They start and end my day. 🙁
Thank you Bob for creating this huge family of like minded skiers and outdoors enthusiasts. Your big tent included many like me who are out of province, yet you made me feel most welcome.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, which I am glad to hear will still include skiing.
Thank you Bob for your blog! Your blog and information has helped me and my friends immensely when it comes to deciding where to go skiing. Many places we’ve never even thought or heard of. Your information has been well informative and, on some occasions, humourous :-). Best of luck to you. You will be missed.
We use the trip and grooming reports every time we head out for a ski. When we first started seven years ago, this site was recommended by many people, and we have since passed it on to many new skiers.
Thank you so much for keeping the blog going, it has been fantastic. Happy retirement!
Wendy and Rob
Above all else maintain the down home dawn-of-the-internet vibe.
In addition to other comments, attributes of a “ski community” information sharing web site (if that’s the goal, hopefully):
– A public, open and inclusive platform, no membership login or exclusivity
– Not a for profit business or overly explicit advertising or product based platform
If you use the search bar on this site and look for ‘track width’ you will find:
Track width
A frequent question: What is the maximum width of ski that can be used in the tracks made by tracksetting equipment:
This is a reply to the question by Tracksetter Jeff(Ribbon Creek):
“The bottom of most track pans is 70 mm The sidewalls flare out to 140 mm at the top of the track. If you were skiing on 65mm skis there will be times when you will get a bit of drag from the sidewalls Also understand that unless you get the first tracks in a fresh trackset the sidewalls are subject to scraping from all the other skiers who went before you.
If you are looking for performance in the track I’d go with the 59. If you are out for a nice easy ski and want good support for the hills the 65 should be fine.”
Hello,
Will it be possible to use Fischer backcountry 104-74-95 skis on this trail?
Thanks a lot,
Rahul
Having a daily featured post is one of the things that brings me to your site every single day. Then, I go to trip reports. Like many others, I also use SkierBob as the primary link to weather stations and forecasts, webcams and grooming reports. I could save them all as “favourites” in my browser, but it is way easier to just go directly to this site.
Hi Bob. You will be missed a lot 🙂
Trip reports for sure. And pics.
Grooming updates.
The link to all trail maps in one place!
Thanks for all. Cheers
Hi!
Hope this is appropriate… I would like to thank you, Bob, from the bottom of my skis for all you’ve done to keep us inspired and informed over the years.
You probably don’t remember me but a few years back, I took your photo celebrating your 1000th kilometer (that season). It was at the top of the big hill at the beginning of Elk Pass with the splendid view of Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes down below.
Wishing you many, many more kilometers, Bob!
Hélène
My priorities for a new blog:
Trip reports are #1 90% of my time is spent on Skier Bob is on trip reports. Details like snow conditions (track conditions, skate -ability, dirt on the tracks , wax used, temperature. Parking etc.
Ability to add pics VS a link to a photo storage page.
After a while, I get to recognize the writer and trust their reports for accurate beta.
Grooming updates are great as well.
Keeping it current is probably the most important.
Having a FAQ page for those questions that seem to get asked everyday on any Facebook page.
Hi Bob, the trip reports for sure, the grooming updates and links to grooming reports, and the info on the loppetts were most useful to me.
The daily posting is where it all starts, and is a vital contribution.
I wonder if the earthquake had anything to do with triggering an Avalanche.
I’m not sure what the fuss is all about. It looks like this lynx walked with its legs splayed apart to avoid stepping in the ski track?
Re: Helping people out at Bragg Creek: I am not by any means a regular there so you can stop reading right now, but from all the posts I see about Bragg Creek and all those who are passionate about the place, would it be worth while to initiate a “SNOW HOST” kind of concept as works very well at Canmore Nordic Centre? The program basically runs only on weekends, or perhaps also during Race Events, but those involved and trained “can” snow host, wearing their identifying vest, any day of the week.
Part of the deterrent of my wanting to explore the trails at Bragg Creek more, is the entire area has such an overwhelming abundance of trails and perhaps the hikers/snow-shoers could be more efficiently managed by designating more trails JUST for them. Recently while in PLPP, I was impressed how many trails are now totally designated to walkers/snow-shoers/fat bikers. There is a big map available at the Discovery Centre “PLPP Winter Trails”, showing Elkwood Loop, Marsh Loop, Lower Lake, Canyon, Penstock, Tall Water, Frozen Toad and Torpor Loop (and likely some shorter distance ones). Yes, there have always been issues with people heading to Elk Lakes Cabin but for the most part, PLPP has done a great job of providing this many snowshoe trails. All of these are marked on this map, and alot of excellent general information also included on the back.
Thought Mike W’s and Herbert’s comments were very well said.
Hi:
While “taking a photo and shaming them on the internet” might solve the immediate problem, society takes a small step backward.
H.
Bob, with respect to shaming the walkers, I’d start with shaming the skate skier who sliced up the trackset. He/she did way more damage than the walkers (one couple was still figuring out where to go, and the other couple had just started). And the skier couldn’t claim ignorance as to what the purpose of the trackset was.
Don’t you just HATE water when it’s not crystallized?!
I remember the time dad read us kids “The Avalanche on Redearth Creek”.
Worst. Bedtime. Story. Ever.
Is the October 23, 2013 photo of the bridge over the Spray River free for use?
Probably another road closure coming for spray lakes road and avalanche control affecting access to goat creek/shark etc. next few days.
To be more precise for the Red Earth Creek fireroad past km 7, with respect to the highest avalanche hazard potential and based on ancestral slide path off Copper Mountain, the section of the ski trail from km 8.2 and 8.7 is the most obvious. When the ski trail gets very close to the creek, past the Lost Horse Creek campground, you are entering that 500 meters section.
Lucky, especially when getting pushed into lake water!!!! Another report from guides yesterday accessing saddleback and surprise pass at lake Louise. Conditions rapidly changed while they were travelling so they pulled the pin and headed back, only to see their up track had been hit by avalanches. It’s quite possible that some of the avalanche paths near cross country trails will run also (or hiking trails or other areas without fences or signage), increasing risk to potentially unaware cross country skiers, snowshoers and hikers. It’s that kind of time right now, and maybe another week or more of heightened risk. Avalanche terrain exposure maps are available to the public. It’s the users responsibility to inform themselves, always.
To be clear, the avalanche path in question is not off the headwall at the end of the lake, but rather about half way along the lake at the base of a huge avalanche path, as seen in pictures number 5 & 6 in this photo link from March 2019:
https://1drv.ms/a/s!AgTx5EOCG7eSihUV_yzr6hFjrwpR
This avalanche regularly breaks the lake ice on impact and should never be approached. Any pictures taken should be with a long zoom lens like mine!
I posted the original incident report to Avalanche Canada. Thanks for reposting here and increasing the visibility of this incident.
I believe that Parks Canada needs better signage on this trail to indicate where the avalanche terrane begins and what that means. Currently there is a small sign, posted on a tree, that says something along the lines of “ski touring beyond this point”. This language is not clear to non-skiers (heck it’s not that clear to skiers) which are the majority of trail users these days. There are clear warnings at the trailhead but they are lost in the clutter of maps etc.
Thanks the update Bob, regarding the Boom lake avalanche incident, I have seen over the last months a few posts on Hike Alberta of folks wanted the « perfect Instagram shot » of themselves near the frozen waterfall below the avalanche path. Even from their photos you could see right away they were putting themselves in danger and many comments were like « stunning photo » lets go there!
Shaganappi: Was there yesterday, about 15h00. Classic, loop starting w/ “expert” of to right from parking lot. Mixed conditions, first hill was fine w/ decent snow as was field on other side, then hit slush on back side of that field, crossing the creek the snow was soft but still a lot of it, coming up toward the condos conditions deteriorated quickly, snow turned to slush w/ icy patches, that was pretty much the “top” part of the loop. Lot of bare patches, but easily avoidable. Tracks were largely non existent.
On the flip side, the place was quatro gatos empty as they say way down south.
Snow preservation is the right call.
I finally made it to the SkierBob front page photo! Small correction on the photo credit: The photo was provided by me, but not taken by me. I don’t know who took the photo.
Now you tell us!
And to top it off you post up drone footage!
Got any with “lignum vitae” edges?
Another thing I’ve been trying to sort out this week is my wax. How should the ideal wax feel? Especially for trails with lots of ups and downs. I was doing pretty well sorting out wax for the flats. And now that I’m adding in elevation, sometimes it feels too sticky or not sticky enough for the uphilks. Thanks again!!!
Hi! Thanks again for this wonderful portion of the site! I’ve been out enjoying great skiing this week. But I’ve also developed quite this blisters on my heels, and On the bottom of my second toe. Any suggestions?
Q: What did one moose say to the other moose?
A: Waoh…. that is one BIG rabbit!
Check out the Feb 2021 Trip Reports. There’s a Sandy McNabb report that was posted yesterday evening.
Does anyone know the current condition of Sandy McNabb? I looked at the interactive map and it says some trails were track set about 5 days ago. I went out there 4 weeks back and there was nothing… no tracks no trails, everything was pulverized by people walking on them. I used to ski there as a kid and would love to take my kids out there but don’t want to get out there and be disappointed again 🙁
Hello,how are you. My wife and daughter and I live in the Okotoks area and are beginners to novice skiers. We are looking for a nice user friendly course relatively close to Calgary. As well we will need to find equipment to rent. We are planning just a day trip,so we’d need to rent for just the day. Can you direct me to the best way to go about this? Thank you
I found the same thing at the nordic centre. The air was warm, but the snow was still very cold and slow
We also lost Marmot to mid-mountain in the flood too.
MAAD wouldn’t have turned around.
Looks great! Stoney Trail NE of Troll Falls perhaps? Maybe route was originally packed for powerline access?
We were at Confed late afternoon Thursday (11th) and saw the Valentine’s sentiment on the hill. Glad it lasted and hope whoever it was intended for saw it!
Thanks so much to the Ribbon Creek groomers for grooming a detour around the ice floe so quickly! We didn’t ski it today but saw it as we drove past and several folks were out on it. BTW the temp. at Evan Thomas/Wedge Connector/Bill Milne was around -10C early afternoon and more people out than yesterday.
Historically, Telephone loop (along with many of the trails in WB) was designed specifically as a ski trail by Don Gardener in the late 1970’s. It was not groomed consistently until a few years ago when the GBCTA took over responsibility for it from Parks.
The east half of it has been deemed multi use which has led to heavy amounts of foot and bike traffic.
Maintaining this as a groomed ski trail is proving to be impractical, and we see it as being possibly delegated to a primitive ski trail. Our efforts to provide a quality experience for tracked skiing are better suited to areas that are restricted to skiing only.
In an effort to be all things to all users, the original intent of this trail has been lost.
The thought occurs: If it is a multi-use trail then why set ski tracks? Or think for even one second that non-skiers should stay off our precious ski tracks? I think the non-skiers should be free to enjoy a trail without having to tiptoe around ski tracks. Guess I won’t make any new ski friends with this remark.
A couple possibilities would include:
1. Nordic Alberta’s website (would require modifications to have SkierBob functionality)
2. Creating a subreddit on Reddit for Alberta xc skiing
3. Discord
Well done Skier Bob. Thank you for all of the wonderful ski updates and the service you provided for us all. You’ve served the community well and I wish you all the best!
-Karena
Dear Skier Bob,
Although our paths probably have crossed when the Regina ski club made it’s annual 4 day trip to Canmore area I don’t think we’ve actually met. We would often pick your brain/blog for the best skiing options for us flatlanders and your prompt replies always sent us in the right direction. I believe one year you told us not to do Goat Creek unless we we’re planning on doing it with a luge. It’s another “end of an era” but it’s totally understandable. On behalf of the Regina Ski Club thank you so much for countless hours you’ve spent to make this a better world. ?
I know I’m late to the game, but better late than never! Skier Bob, you’re a regular part of my winter routine. Every week I check out your posts to find out where to ski and have explored so much more of the Rockies because of you. Thank you so much for all you’ve done to advance XC skiing for all Albertans!
Lake Windermere WHITEWAY (Advertised as The World’s Longest Skating Rink): Friday Feb 12th Started at Kinsmen Beach in temps around -20 and warmed to -15 (blasting bright sun: where were the Eskimo Slit Goggles?) After skiing all loops and to far end of lake, we reached our desired goal of 31 kms. Supper at FUZE was wonderful, especially to sit down warm and cosy inside. Almost needed “extracting” out of the car at 9pm, but Mission Accomplished for our Virtual Birkie on two opposing teams.
Thanks Steve! Sounds great!
I have a friend in Norway, in Sandvika near Oslo, who ski often, here is their map of ski trails and info on grooming/tracking near Oslo.
https://www.skiforeningen.no/utimarka/turplanlegger?fbclid=IwAR3daIsrAYI5MFju_IJUiqTOxjCp0Wu0eRemeHN_cZUCezFnOi6XXwNqfyk
On their web site of the ski association https://www.skiforeningen.no/magasinetmarka/aret-som-gikk/
I am reading:
“A total of 16,265 kilometers of ski trails were prepared in 2020. Compared to 43,585 kilometers the year before(2019), it is understood that it was a demanding winter. In some terrain trails, there was not enough snow to prepare at all.”
Info might be of interest to our groomers and others,
anyway, thanks for your contribution over the last 13 years,
Andrew
P.s. We live in Cochrane, so if there are any other trails close to us for the busier work/school days, that would be great to know too!
Hello! My family is new to Calgary and my 9 year old daughter is new to skiing. We’ve been loving WBC and working up through the trails. Moose loop was beautiful on Sunday, if a little slow. Technically the trail was perfect for my daughter, and she is excited to go again, but the length was at her upper limit. Any suggestions for the next set of trails for us that would have nice mountain or trees or any nature scenery views? We are willing to drive a couple of hours. Thank you! Happy skiing! And happy Chinese New Year!
I have loved your blog and will miss it immensely! Thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put into it over the past years. I met you once on Goat Creek and it was a real highlight!
Could a trail in the Empire be renamed the SkierBob Classic or the Bob Truman Trail!?
I emailed Banff NP info centre about whether Parks Canada could join Nordic Pulse. This has been ‘passed along to management.’
Bob,
Thanks SO SO much for bringing together the Nordic community through your website.
I still hope to meet you on the trail someday.
Best wishes to you,
Anne
Hi Bob,
I concur with your comments regarding the utmost importance of trip reports, on a personal note, the groomers reports are equally important as they provide first hand information and usually before the « official » website.
Regarding the grooming as Skitrails.info seems to only work for Kananaskis Village greater area trails, I have noticed that WBC uses Nordic Pulse to provide a similar colour coded map. What do you think to « push » this option to other ski areas?
I’m still having a hard time accepting the new reality that this blog will not be available next season.
If someone is going to design a new blog, a few suggestions come to mind:
1) Anyone wanting to post should be required to create an account including a unique UserName linked to their email. This would eliminate the confusion when two people use the same name, knowingly or unknowingly!
2) The ‘Search’ function should be allowed to work on contributed Trip Reports. At the moment the ‘Search’ function only works on the Home Page. The Administrator(s) can’t be expected to ski everywhere! Year’s ago our reports did go directly to the Home Page, but that became unmanageable. Users often want to check out the recent reports for a particular trail (or by a particular reporter), so this would facilitate their search.
I’m so sad!! Checking in on your website has been a part of almost every winter day for many years – that being said I realize this is a tremendous amount of work and those are hours you could be out on the trails. Thank you so very very much Bob! Your dedication to sharing good information has been so valuable to a huge community. Thanks for so many years of great service!!
Thank you Bob for creating this wonderful resource for the x-country skiing community! Your site has been the go to place for current trail conditions and everything else x-country skiing for myself and many others for the last 13 years. I’m sure I’ll bump into you on the trails in the future. Until then wishing you all the best!
Thanks, Jeff. I always enjoyed skiing your tracksetting. Skogan Pass, my favorite, has the most elevation of any trails I ski. And Bill Milne – well, its the flattest. So you covered both ends of the spectrum. Enjoy your retirement , and thank you..
Thank you Bob! The positive, welcoming style of your updates has done much more than just inform us about conditions and entertain us with stories. It has created a community of cross country skiers. It has embraced and celebrated all the different ways that we enjoy skiing. Many of us check SkierBob every day, often several times. There was always something new on the site- a new post, fresh trip reports, grooming reports and it was the hub that linked us to more details about weather, grooming reports, etc. But, to accomplish that, you had to be working on the website every single day. What a huge commitment!
I’m hopeful that your remarkable example will inspire some others to pick up the torch to ensure that something similar will continue on. I expect it may require a team effort.
Thanks for all that you have done to bring us together! See you on the trails!
Thanks so much Bob for all you have done. I read your blog and the trip reports nearly every day during the x-c ski season. What you created has had value beyond belief. Congratulations
We really can’t add many more accolades Bob. You have a huge loyal fan club, and they have stated it quite eloquently and we echo their sentiments.
There is nothing but respect and admiration for all your hard work. You give up a lot of your own ski time to help others out, always with a big smile on your face. (And a happy greeting for the canine)
Thankyou !!
When I read it on CBC today my reaction was Oh No! Will REALLY miss your blog!! Thanks so much for all your work over the years
On behalf of myself, and my humans Chris & Peter, thanks so much for all you’ve done for the XC community, especially where pupsters on trails are concerned – it’s been great to have access for doggies clarified. I know my humans check your page regularly before deciding where we will ski – this input will be sorely missed! Hope to see you on the trails soon!
So long Jeff, and thanks for all the tracks!
thanks thanks thanks
Thx BOB, amazing to have used this for so many years
PLEASE not a FB page. Not all of us rejoice with FB or have accounts.
the “end “
So many great comments from all your followers , friends and admirers!
You deserve them all and more- You covered the basics 10 times over, Always relevant ,interesting ,helpful and sometimes funny!
I don’t know how you had time to ski!
And all work on getting PeterLPP Back And successful
It won’t be the same.
Sad to hear, but you must need a rest
!
hope we will Cross paths in the future
Jeff – Thanks for the many years of great tracksetting! When the weather is very cold, Skogan Pass is my favourite trail. The extreme cold greatly improves grip on the ascent and reduces the need to snowplow on the descent. Very little of the trail is flat or low angle descent where you’d notice the impaired glide. Having enough layers to survive the wind chill on the descent is challenging though!
Enjoy your retirement in Quebec. I’m sure Alex has been well-trained to carry on the great work the two of you (and others?) have been doing.
Merci Jeff pour ton travail assidu à tracer les pistes pendant toutes ces années. Grâce à toi et ton expertise, on a pu pratiquer un sport de glisse dans des conditions excellentes. Bon retour au Québec et fais-nous savoir qu’elles seront les pistes que tu y traceras!
Hello Jeff, I had the pleasure to meet you a few years ago and I remember you telling me all about pre-Nakiska trails that you had groomed. Just for my sake, on YouTube there is 2015 video of the Skogan pass grooming, was it you?
Skogan pass and shootouts are my favourite place for a good workout and many thanks for the prefect grooming.
Bonne retraite au Quebec et un grand merci pour toutes ces années!
Cordialement.
Wow, everyone is retiring this winter. What a shame, we’ll miss Jeff’s tracks. Hopefully someone will take over and this isn’t an excuse for the government to end grooming at Ribbon Creek?
It’s good to hear that your knowledge and skills will continue to benefit skiers. And bikers too, I’m guessing. Sounds like Alberta’s loss is Quebec’s gain! Thanks for going above and beyond, Jeff.
Owning a place in Lac Des Arcs (purchased in ’93) made this whole area at Ribbon Creek “my” Nordic Centre. Those many deep snowfalls made Ribbon Creek such a joy to ski. It was and still is a Winter Wonderland. Just last Friday we skied up Coal Mine in perfect conditions; I guess in hindsight, it was in your honour although Alex, your well trained successor, might have groomed it. After Kovach’s loop we skied down from the Hotel (is that trail really called Bill Milne Paved Trail as my Gaia would suggest?) back down to the car, a wonderful pot pourri. It would be awesome if you would list the Top Ten Beefs from an EXPERT Groomer’s perspective before you leave us. Thank you Jeff for your years of service to our deeply loved Kananaskis Country.
What was the second announcement? 🙂
The second announcement was Ribbon Creek Tracksetter Jeff’s retirement. -Bob
Thank you, Jeff, for your years of dedication! Your retirement is well-deserved! You will surely be missed. All the best to you in your future adventures!
Thanks for all your hard work on the trails, Jeff. I skied on your tracksetting in the 1980’s . How lucky we all were — and are — to have teams like yours. Best wishes for your move to Quebec!
Many thanks to tracksetter Jeff for the his superb tracks in Kananaskis country. You’ll be missed.
What a week of announcements for the x-country community. Another loss it feels but a very deserved retirement for Jeff. Hopefully he is able to pass on his skills before he leaves!
Thank you Jeff for hours of blissful trails we enjoyed because of you. We have been skiing here since the mid 90’s so we owe a lot of memorable skiing days to you!
What a fantastic story of the early days of Jeff the Groomer. His early grooming career occurred at a time when the Alberta economy was hurting from very high interest rates, the American oil pull out in protest of the National Energy Program and oil as low as $12 per barrel, about 4 times lower than todays rate of $58.27/ WTI per barrel. This was an age that people in Calgary were selling homes for $1 because the economy was so brutal. Yet the Alberta Government had some intelligence to expand cross country skiing at the time to benefit the health of Albertans and to expand our tourism industry which would help the government books in the longer run. The Progressive Conservative government of the day had so much more tourism vision back in the 1980’s as compared to recent years with the elimination of new open pit coal mines in the mountains, expansion of parks and xc ski trails.
It would be great to expand the story on Jeff and get more details. I wonder how much input he had on expanding the xc ski trails to make way for the first Piston Bully. It must have been a glorious day to step into such modern technology. He could have been stuck in a Tucker Cat instead!
To hear that the first Piston Bulley used in the Eastern Slopes of Alberta, which was bought way back in the last century, is still in use today in the glorious Eastern Alberta Cypress Hills is fabulous That is another clear example of why it is better for the government to buy good equipment rather than leasing it. The savings are superior this way and it reduces the cost for xc tracksetting and grooming which is something we all want to see.
Too bad Jeff is heading to Quebec to retire. Lucky Quebec that will benefit from Alberta’s brain drain. Jeff’s experience would be valuable for the next new Alberta Government after the 2023 election in order to upgrade the Alberta XC ski tourism industry here for the next 7 generations.
Thank you Jeff – wish you all the best in the move!! The trails are always such a dream to glide on. Ribbon creek is where we discovered our love for XC skiing !
All the best to Jeff, wishing him a long and happy retirement. Many thanks for a great job on the trails, I am fortunate enough to have been able to enjoy them these last few years.
Like everyone else who has commented, thank you for your tireless efforts promoting and advocating for cross-country skiing in southern Alberta and eastern BC! May you enjoy whatever you have planned next.
A coupe of years ago we relocated to B.C.’s Lower Mainland for work. I knew one thing I would truly miss was cross-country skiing in K-Country and WBC. I was right: I’ve been on my skis three times since moving here (and the skiing isn’t the same). I ski vicariously through this blog. =)
Skiing on your tracks in Kananaskis has been pure pleasure! I’m so glad my toddlers got to enjoy your trails on your last season with us too! Your retirement plans sound perfect. Best wishes to you, your wife, and those lucky Quebecois skiers! 🙂
Thank you Skierbob! For all your work putting together timely info and also your generosity in sharing it. Your blog is positive and upbeat, filled with great photos, current conditions, etc. Everyone who submits trip reports has been so willing to give info and tips to help us all have a better experience… Your website has so much helpful info/tips – webcams, weather, maps, competitions, gear, etc. We may not have known about the grooming kerfuffle with the gov but your website rallied us all and hopefully the user pay passes will have made a difference to keeping the tracksetting going. Enjoy your skiing next winter but know that you will be missed a lot.
Thank you Bob for all you and your blog has done for the X-C ski community over the years. Also thank you for bringing together a group of great, thoughtful, kind and generous individuals through the blog. Everyone needs to retire at sometime and you have decided it is your time, so go for it. See you on the trails!
Heartbreaking news. Wonderful to have had this blog for as long as we did – always something to look forward to. All the best!
Thank you, Bob, for all you have done for cross country skiing. I will miss your posts.
Love, love, love the updates and seek them out before heading out. I will certainly miss seeing what Skier Bob says.
Bob you truly paved the way and kept us up to speed on where to go for incredible skiing. Thank you for taking the time to do this! I fondly remember the Lake Louise to Banff relay we did together with the others. Will hopefully see you on the trails!
Thank you for providing such an amazing platform for the xc ski community!! When we moved back to Canada last year our friends told us that we had to follow SkierBob to get the best info about xc skiing…it completely exceeded our expectations. We follow all of your posts & website to help us plan all of our xc ski days. You are going to be sorrily missed and have left a legacy that will live on forever!! Good luck to you and Happy Trails!!!
Bob, your support of the southern Alberta / eastern BC XC community has been outstanding. A hearty congratulations and many thanks.
RIP (retire in peace) SkierBob! It’s been a fantastic journey, for you and many many others. What you have created will endure in more ways than just the technical cogs of a web site. It really is a wonderful inclusive community. Thank you so much for that. Retire with pride. We all look forward to a post covid retirement party when it’s ok to hug again. Maybe one last raffle/contest is in order though: It’s time to pass on the SkiHere toque (literally and figuratively) and don a trip reporter hat. Happy care free skiing Bob and see you on the trail, or better yet, at a relaxing comfortable couch. (-:
Bob, thanks for all that you have done for the Calgary and area cross country ski community. You will be missed! Best of luck for your future endeavours.
My family and I will miss all the comments, trip reports and insight. As with many it was an honour to meet you on the trail a few years ago.
Yes, me too. Will miss you Bob. I check your site every day before I go to sleep and as soon as I wake up. Plus some days even more often. I probably would not have to do it, since I ski with Helen often and I think she is on your web every hour. But I do not blame you, I also am trying to limit my time on the computer and the contrary is happening right now. Maybe you will still change your mind when the next winter comes. Enjoy this one.
The first question I always ask a fellow cross country skier, “Do you follow Skierbob”. The answer is always “Yes”! This site provides so much information and inspiration. It is the first (and pretty much only) site I check on before we head to the trails. Your blog posts,Bob; trip reports; answers to questions, trails conditions; your site is such a huge part of our winter. You will be greatly missed!! Thank you for all you have done for this ski community.
I secretly hoped that somehow, miraculously, this site will go on forever; can’t imagine heading off to the mountains without looking for info here first. Thank you, Mr. Truman, for your great service to the community.
Well, they say that “all good things must come to an end” 🙁
It’s just that “WE” – the XC Skiers of the EMPIRE aren’t ready to say farewell to what has felt like home base for so many of us for so long. “SkierBob.ca” has become every skier’s BFF 😉
BOB: Thanks for your dedication & the many hours you devoted to your exceptional website – a true labour of love! So grateful to you for sharing it with us for these many years!
Best wishes to you as you “retire” to the freedom of the many happy trails ahead!
Cheers to you!
Bob, you deserve our thanks! I recall when we first started to xc ski, how frustrating it was to glean a little information from the websites, and then just how relieved we were to find your humble “home page”. Kudos for what you’ve accomplished here! Grateful that your webpage doesn’t demand to turn us into a product.
Thank you Bob for all the work you did over the years.
For years you have been our #1 resource to decide where we would ski.
I also love how positive you were and always stayed away from criticizing anyone or anything.
Whoever is thinking to take over will have BIG shoes to fill.
Thank you, thank you and looking forward to meeting on the trails for many more years.
Sophie & Andrew
Bob… you’ve built a wonderful following thanks to your ongoing passion, engagement, and willingness to tackle/facilitate many challenging issues. You’ve given voice to the average person (comments, reports, etc), enabled and solicited engagement and participation from many, and even though this is a very simplistic blog/forum it is true to it’s cause and maximizes utility. You’ve managed to help keep much of the cr@p off this site (ie: poor comments, trolls, bad advertising, “selling out”, etc…).
Between you, and the many contributors, you’ve helped so so many of us find anticipation, joy, and share our crazy/gleeful moments on ye ‘ole misery sticks.
Hopefully you will entertain many out on the trails as we encounter you. Hopefully you have some swag you can find a way to offload (hint: fundraiser for ski-related services).
Hopefully you will consider some form of “hand-off” and/or continuation in whatever form this site and you would support?
Thank you for the few times you referenced any of my posts. Thank you for some of the personal notes over the years too. Thank you.
As you ski off to the end of the tracks… be proud man. Be proud.
Thank you.
(dangit… dunno how this became a long drawn-out note)…
Tears are running down my face. What will we do without you Bob??? You leave a lasting legacy and the XC community was very fortunate to have you for as long as we did. Thanks for everything!!! Happy Trails 🙂
Bob thanks for all you have done for the cross country ski community with much appreciation from Janice and Charlie Perry .
One last poem for the Blog for you Bob by Janice
When looking for a good cross country ski source
Everybody tunes in to Skier Bob’s Blog of course
Information on trails, conditions, maps, and stories
Anecdotes and photos of skiers in all their glory
Bob’s camera ensures a picture says a thousand words
As we see scenic trails, happy skiers, mammals and birds
Let’s not forget all the contests and prizes
There’s always something wonderful to surprise us
Informative trip reports bring our ski community together
Details of trails, waxes, conditions and weather
Everything you need is in one place
Hopefully the info won’t disappear without a trace
If you lost something on the trail don’t sob
Look for it in the Lost and Found section of Skier Bob
Looking for information on Loppets to try
Find this on Skier Bob in a blink of an eye
Not sure where to ski with your dog
There’s even a section to help on Bob’s blog
Need to write a letter to the government to lobby
Get all the information on the Blog of skier Bobby
Want to ensure you have great conditions for your favorite sport
Just click on the section titled Grooming Reports
Bob you have made so many friends on the trail
Now its time to just ski and enjoy your fan mail.
Thank you for your beautiful blogs and excellent reporting. You’ll be missed Bob! Happy Ski Trails.
All of my friends and I say (when deciding anything relating to xc skiing) “but what does it say on SkierBob?”. You will be missed greatly. THANK YOU so much for everything that you have done, and the way you have done it – such grace and positivity – what a great spokesperson for xc skiing.
Hope to see you on the trails!
Bob, what will we do without you! You’ve become a legend in the xc ski community. Thank you so much for your years of dedication to providing us with so much information about our favourite sport! I certainly hope you never lose your passion for skiing – maybe you can get out even more now! We’ll be looking forward to seeing your trip reports in whatever new blog rises from the ashes! Happy ski trails, Bob!
Thanks a lot Bob for the commitment on your website over the years, in being the common thread of the skiing community in the Calgary and Rocky Mountain areas. Whether it was for track-set, flat-pack, knee-deep trail breaking or powder turns, there was always a good snow all-you-can-climb’nglide buffet on the website. It will be a tough task to replicate the same standards and wealth of info we could find before and after any ski adventures. Hopefully, there will be a unique place for all the regular contributors to share their stories and all of us to gain valuable information.
I enjoyed reading all accounts daily, especially those from Helen, Alf, Chuck, MaSid, MAAD, Mike W. et al. Knowing where all those contributors will post their reports starting this fall, to get accurate info on trail and snow conditions as well as photo galleries, would be great to fuel up on each other outings. Ski safe.
Bob, Empires come and go, but not many, if any, depart at the height of their powers. Skierbob has been an invaluable resource to me over the past many years. Many thanks for your significant contribution to our winter pleasure.
Devasting news – just devasting! We are mourning the loss of this exceptional website.
We actually get “all the news we need” on the Skierbob report!
What will we do every evening and early morning without checking out who went where, and what they found?
We luckily discovered this site about 8 years ago and what a blessing it was. We learned so much and were incredibly inspired by so many of your Trip Reporter’s exploits. What an incredible crew of reporters.
Great job Bob – you are star and we can’t thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication to the sport. Your website is REALLY going to be missed in our household.
Enjoy your new schedule and we look forward to seeing you the Skierbob Special in PLPP.
3 Cheers to you – JR & Karen
You are a LEGEND. Thank you for the years of information, insight and communication. I hope someone can fill the BIG shoes you leave behind so we can continue this awesome community of active peeps sharing knowledge and trail tips.
Thanks again ROCKSTAR BOB!!
Wow! You’ve been my go-to website to figure out where to go skiing for the last decade!
I will miss this structure (as opposed to the FB structure), but understand the need to step-back at times.
Thanks for everything you’ve done for the community.
Bob,
I can’t imagine a ski season without you and your BLog Bob. 🙁 . But I completely understand your decision. I was just saying to a friend on the weekend it must be so much work for you to maintain this blog as well as you do. I can’t remember how many years ago I started tuning in but it was many.
Thank you so much for all you’ve done for the x country ski community and for announcing this now instead of end of the season. Other bloggers may take on this challenge but it’ll never be the same or as great as yours.
Rhonda W
Thank you SkierBob!
Identifying primarily as a backcountry skier I have nevertheless found your blog to be extremely valuable and entertaining.
Hopefully someone with a lot of time on their hands will *just get off the couch* and pick up the reins.
Thanks Bob for your great contribution over the years.
YOU WILL BE MISSED.!!!!!
I, and some friends were some of the first groups (from Edmonton and Vancouver) greeting you on Pocatera 15 or so years ago, and followed you on this blog ever since.
Your notes, friendly banter and pix lightened up the day:-). Now that the Long Loop (cca 30km) from WWL is too much of a challenge for me , I do my skiing in Edmonton and view this blog to reminisce!! Alas, with warmer winters the XC tracks are rather unreliable here. So I went to the dark side, to down-hill skiing at Snow Valley, Edmonton. They groom every night, so ice is not a problem.
Thanks again, good health and all the best, Emry
Thanks Bob, I refer to your blog often. I appreciate all the effort you have contributed to our community.
Thanks Bob for all the years of providing a great platform for trail information. This has been a big part of our trip planning. While Skierbob blog may ski into the sunset, hope to see you on the trails. Warm hearted thank you.
Thanks for everything that you do for cross country skiing Bob, we are very grateful for the vast amount of information you provided, and for the community you have fostered with your website. It will always be the SkierBob Empire, best wishes!
Thanks for all your hard work over the years, I don’t know how to manage without this site. I hope someone else can take it over, or start a similar one.
Thanks Bob, for all the effort you’ve put into this website over the years. I find that just posting a trip report with photos is a lot of work, let alone what you have to do on a daily basis. Hopefully you’ll have more time now to go skiing! Just post your phone number at the top of your home page so we can all phone you to find out where to ski! <>
Similar to MAAD’s idea, perhaps a XC ski shop or a ski club would be interested in setting up a similar website. That way, the work could be split between several people.
Thanks for all your hard work! I have treasured this site and the community it has forged. Wishing all the best in your new adventures!
I just wanted to say thanks, Bob! We appreciate everything you’ve done for our local ski community. Enjoy the next chapter, you deserve it.
Skier Bob,
Thank you for all the years I’ve turned to Skierbob to check trail conditions & reports & enjoy folks’ shares!
Enjoy retirement from managing the blog & hopefully see you on a trail!
Our small group has found your blog so helpful over the years. So so appreciated! Thank you for your tireless efforts. Wishing you the best.
Absolutely new to cross country. Have never tried and really want to try. I am a single mother and have a very athletic and coordinated 9 yr old and was hoping there was a place I could get a quick lesson or an intro lesson for half of a day ( a couple of hours ) in the Canmore area
Does such a thing exist ?
It won’t be the same, but you’ve certainly done more than your share for the rest of us over the years. Thanks, Bob!
You are Skierbob, professional, star quality, ski royalty extraordinaire. You started your own blog, Skierbob Banana Republic in 2008 because you found your passion for skiing. It was a great idea as you wanted to provide all the information that you became interested in, in one location.This information took a tremendous amount of time to accumulate as well as providing a one-stop blog to obtain all the answers for others who enjoyed this sport as well, and wanted this same knowledge and could find it all in one place. I am sure it took you a lot of time to contact all of your support people, experts, government contacts, groomers, and of course introduce yourself to each of them to explain your idea and concept of your blog.
By reading your blog today, I can see why many people read it as they all can see the amount of time and effort you put into it. I can also see it has been a time consuming passion of yours. Not only did you get the support from others, you compiled excessive amounts of material from individual sites to provide complete and necessary information to aficionados like yourself who are looking for similar information also for enthusiastic beginners. You answer so many questions daily on your blog and while some of the questions don’t appear to pertain directly to this sport, you still faithfully supply what information you can. I am amazed at how you find some of the information sometimes to help others. So may enthusiasts want to know: the weather today, tomorrow and the amounts of snowfall, the condition of the snow, and even potential storms, when the trails were last groomed, the condition of the trails, any trail hazards, or hidden curves and training or speed hills. Besides all that people want to know wax treatments for the skis in any weather, parking availability or restrictions. On top of all of this you took the lead in compiling more information and contacting everyone to help push the voluntary purchase of parking passes, to support the continued upkeep of the ski trails. So once everyone reads these facts, you further entice them to go skiing right now by showing all those gorgeous pictures taken by your friends and of course your own. As one person stated on your blog, this is a gold mine!
This blog isn’t all hard work for you though there is a lot to do. You must get off the ski couch and ski around yourself, talk to numerous people, say hello to all the beautiful dogs (you talk to them all). You talk to as many people as you can, you are friendly and concerned, asking everyone how they are and if they have any issues. It is all about your ambassadorship for skiing and treating everyone as part of your skiing family, Skierbob Banana Republic X-Country Skiing.
No wonder you are known as a celebrity on the slopes Skierbob! You blog is a one-stop dynamite place where you have provided your own attachments and insight into the contribution from others. This sight is a part of you, the humour, the honesty, it is your heart. It’s a joy for all of us to read and take advantage of your knowledge and facts. Thank you for all of your dedication.
This and Kamloops trails are my two favorite, resourceful and most helpful blogs I’ve ever subscribed to.
Well done and your work was most appreciated!
Hopefully someone will carry on all the resources you’ve built up.
I have been reading your blog for many years. Thanks for all you have done! Catch you on the trails 🙂
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
Rats. Thanks a lot for all the work you’ve put into this site over the years. Thanks to you and the people you’ve brought into your world, I’ve discovered new places to ski, learned a lot about the sport, and have found a community I’m happy to be part of. I’m convinced that a big reason there are so many people on the trails this year is due to the access to information you’ve been providing.
Thanks again, and hopefully I’ll finally run into you on the trails one day!
As the novice XC Skier 7 years ago, Bob, your blog was the first source I found which inspirited and informatized my wife and myself searching for joys of freezing winters. Thank you very much for over-years efforts running the blog. Wish you all the best.
Bob you have made a measurable and considerable impact on our xc skiing community. Thank you so much for your dedication and enthusiasm for this wonderful sport. Wishing you a happy “retirement” and now more time for getting out on those trails you love. All the very best!
Thanks for everything you’ve done. I promise to do my part to keep things going in the Facebook group (apparently we have 6000 members!)
Starting a new blog isn’t in my future but I hope somebody is inspired to do so.
You’ll be missed. I’ve visited your site nearly daily over the past several years.
It’s clear this website has been a labour of love for you over the years, Bob. We cross country skiers have benefited significantly from your commitment and dedication to providing this forum to share information and encouraging a sense of community for all us. Thank you! and Happy Trails!
Bob, it’s just the start of a new trail for you! Thanks so much, your blog has done so much for cross-country skiing.
I’m sorry to hear this as your site has been a real source of inspiration for me! When I moved to Calgary from my home country of Sweden I found your site pretty fast and it has helped me feel more at home here, it has inspired many trips with my family. Thanks for all the work with keeping it such a current and relevant site. I will miss it!
But I just signed up yesterday!! Sounds like you have been a great asset to this community and will be missed. All the best:)
Hi Bob
I’m sad to hear that you’re intending to end your website this season. It’s an amazing site. I wish I had known it in 2008. I’ve recommended it to many skiers.
I understand that it’s a lot of work to keep it up.
I’m sure you will be out on your skis on the trails you love.
Take care and keep skiing!
Will miss you Bob! Thanks for an amazing blog – we read it all the time and will continue to look back on all the wealth of information you have provided to the cross-country skiing community! Thanks for keeping the site on.
Hope you can enjoy your skiing even more now!
Thanks so much for your dedication and hard work, Bob. The terrific information in your blogg has been a great help to our small cross-country ski group. We will miss you!
Your blog will be sorely missed! There’s such a community feel to it- skiers sharing photos, trail updates, photos of wildlife or dogs encountered, etc.
I hope there is someone out there willing to continue with a blog as many folks prefer an emailed blog to using Facebook, although it’s great to have both.
Thank you and happy trails.
Shutting down SkierBob will harsh the XC Ski Nation’s buzz.
I hope you are going to shift to Making Alberta A Democracy now!
Thanks for the great service Bob.
Ski long and prosper.
(PS Sell your website to a ski shop)
Bob, you have done a fabulous job in conveying a worth of info to hundreds of enthusiastic Skiers. I am blind and your blogs really helped me to choose where I could to and safely ski. Truly, we will miss you. Thanks indeed. I hope someone else takes over to administer your site or starts another one. May God bless you.
Shabu..
We’ve really appreciated this site for a wealth of reasons. You have created a community and injected us all with tremendous spirit for the winter season. We will all miss you. Does one have to have a FB account to access the FB site? We do not have a FB account. Please someone think about picking up the mantle. I nominate Helen. But I know there are several others that get out daily.
There is not a day in winter when I don’t read all the updates / trip reports to plan my next outing……the blog will be sorely missed and for sure you would deserve a proper send off at the end of the ski season from all the readers / trip reporters! Would you consider letting a group of aficionados take over the blog and continue your “oeuvre” or are you more inclined to just close the blog?
In any case many many thanks for the time and energy you dedicated to the ski community and being such a great ambassador to this sport.
Cordialement,
I just got back into XC skiing before Christmas and your site as recommended by a long time follower of yours (thanks Rhonda) was instrumental in getting me the information needed to facilitate a fast and informative launch! Thank you so much, Bob!
Thank you for a great website So nice to have access to all the information! A job well done!
Thanks Bob, for doing so much for the xc ski community!
Don’t put that camera away, though.
Wow, this blog will sure be missed! I’ve only started cross country skiing this year but I appreciate all the work you (and others) have put in over the years. Also, meeting you on the trail and having my photo make it onto the blog was a special memory from this year – yes, I sent it to my parents because I think it’s a big deal! I’ve really enjoyed visiting skierbob.ca and I’ll be sad to not check this site every morning next winter. Thank you again!!!
Is there a more useful, comprehensive and appreciated xc ski blog in the Universe than the skierbob universe? I think not. Entertaining and helpful, principled and ethical. Thank you, Bob.
I feel as though a dear friend is about to pass away. The memories will linger on, long after a “new” initiative emerges.
Happy trails Bob!
Thank you so much for your enormous volunteer contribution to the XC skiing community. Your site contains so much valuable information. You will be missed, I hope to thank you in person soon.
Thanks so much Bob! My husband and I have Loved your blog and have viewed it for years as we love x-country skiing and find your blog to be so informative!
you will be sorely missed!
A heartfelt thank you. Your work on behalf of the skiing community is so greatly appreciated.
????
Its a very sad day to hear this news Bob, thank you for all you’ve done for our skiing community, I’m personally very appreciative of the tremendous energy you’ve put into Skier Bob, awesome, awesome job
Wow you will be sorely missed! This blog has been such a benefit to all of us who love cross country skiing… hope to meet you on the trail someday and thank you in person.
Thanks for all you have done Bob. I have enjoyed reading your blog for years and I appreciate the huge volunteer commitment you have provided.
If you’re looking for somewhere to ski without the extreme cold, I suggest Mars. The latest weather (Feb 4) from the Curiosity Rover is sunny with a high of -6C! You don’t have to worry about wind chill because of Mars’ minimal atmosphere. Because Mars has only a third of Earth’s gravity, getting up hills will be a breeze (without the breeze). Great views everywhere! (Unfortunately Mars is a bit too far from Earth to spot MaSid’s East Elk Pass wind wall.)
I recommend skin skis with a Teflon base. As an extra bonus, a Parking Pass is not required. Safety Tip – Get back before dark; the overnight low is -74C. – https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/. Hey Bob, how about adding this link to your Weather menu?
The population of the Calgary/Southern Alberta region has tripled since the 1980’s.
Except for the creation of the Canmore Nordic Centre and the addition of new trails by West Bragg Creek volunteers, the actual amount of XC ski trails in Kananaskis Country has decreased. There has been no comprehensive plan in the past 30 years to address the increased demand for outdoor recreation that results from this regional population increase. Successive governments since Don Getty and Ralph Klein have cut funding for trails. The NDP did create the Castle Parks and invested in trail and infrastructure upgrades in Kananaskis.
The UCP governments helpful plan is to have Australian companies remove mountain tops and sell the coal for nothing to China… and to turn the rest of the public lands over to OHV users.
Peter Lougheed would be ashamed of the lack of leadership and vision.
In PLPP we also lost part of Boulton Creek due to the flood. This were subsequently replaced, though I preferred the original. Sunshine used to groom and trackset trails up in the village on a regular basis and even had a nordic lift pass that allowed a ride up the gondola and one ride up either Strawberry or WaWa. There was one loop above WaWa, a loop in the meadows beyond Strawberry and a loop below the village. I don’t know what the total km was. Last time I was at Sunshine it looked like the loop below the village was groomed for skating, though without a season pass you’d have to pay the full lift price to get up there.
This morning I observed a couple of ice flows starting along Mountain View West in WBC. I suspect there may be a few others lurking and slowly growing.
Before your time Bob pre 1988 Ribbon Creek had almost 68 km of groomed trails. The trails around the Nakiska ski area like Stump Meadow, Timber Trail an extended Coal Mine and Ruthie’s were some of the best ski trails in Kananaskis.
According to the latest news and weather the empire’s assets will be frozen this weekend.
Very little tracksetting at CNC. Some trails were groomed. Quite disappointing really.
Hello – I have had a number of hip surgeries and walk with a cane, however I have been able to do some limited skiing on nordic trails. As part as my rehabilitation I would like to get back on x-country skis. I need flat trails as even the slightest incline can throw off my balance. I did ok at the East Village Loop in Calgary and I have read that the Wedge Connector may be good for me in Kananaskis. If anyone has any other thoughts on where to find very flat tracks for me to practice and get my confidence up — please share!!
Many thanks
Thanks again for all these links and resources. When the Pandemic ends I will have to quit my job so I can explore all these gorgeous places on skis!
It’s good to know that there’s more detailed information on the grooming in PLPP. What puzzles me is that Amos, Wheeler, and Woolley were last groomed on Jan. 17, while Braille, Lodgepole, and Sinclair have been groomed 3 times since then (Jan. 19, Jan. 26, and Feb. 2). Blueberry, Elk Pass, and Patterson were last groomed on Jan. 20. I thought that there might be more of a regular rotation in the trail grooming, as in past years.
Great way-back referencing! I’ve got the revised ed. in my library aside David Rees’ xc compendium and Savage’s Ski Alberta. Question: what of these old gems? Whitehorn Loops; Sundance & Sunshine nordic trails; Johnson Lake Loops; Chester/Sawmill & Kananaskis Golf Course networks —some easy light touring trails that a new generation of skiers can explore.
Thank you Helen, Doug and Roy- I appreciate the information and look forward to checking out those sites– and those trails eventually. Enjoy the bounty of snow you are getting!
Kevin
Kevin: I am partial to Yoho area and they have a smaller hotel in Field, BC called Truffled Pigs which I believe has 12 rooms and is complete with a very funky restaurant. Prices were very reasonable and a month ago hubby and I stayed there and were offered a discount for being members of Kicking Horse Ski Club ($50/yr). Trails available at that end and within 12 kms are: Lake O’Hara Fire Road (11 kms up one way), O’Hara end of Great Divide which one can ski to Lk Louise (11 kms.), Yoho Valley Road (5 kms or more if avalanche danger LOW), Tally Ho (right from Field Info Centre) takes you to The Connector (7 kms) which then takes you all way to Emerald Lk., and at Natural Bridge can ski Kicking Horse Fire Rd (7 kms). and scenic winner of all: Alluvial Fan at end of Emerald Lk. (8 kms starting at parking lot of Emerald Lk). Only problem is after a BIG storm, sometimes Trans Canada can be temporarily closed for avalanche control. They also have a CANSI level xc ski instructor who lives in Field, who is active in http://www.KHSC.ca above.
Kimberley has the best Nordic Center between Rossland and Canmore. It is also halfway between the two towns.
http://www.kootenayxc.com
This website appears to have lots of info about xc skiing areas in the Kootenays.
I trust every one in The Domain is hoping for some early sunbeams tomorrow morning so Balzac Billie’s prognostication will be for 6 more weeks of “Let Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow.
Hi Bob,
It is so fun to read these precious articles. Really appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
Those are Pine Marten tracks!
TFKIR
Thanks For Keeping It Real.
Peter Lougheed was the only quasi decent Premier in my life time who expanded Alberta owned oil and gas infrastructure to generate non tax revenues. Back in his day as Premier oil royalties were at least 43% higher which enabled Albertans to have so many more government services with less oil production. Today, with oil prices higher than the Lougheed days, most of the royalty reduced public oil wealth is being funneled to supporters of the Conservatives rather than the owners of the resource- you. This is one of the reasons why there is a reduction in the quantity and quality of ski trails in Alberta today as compared to the last century.
If we lived in a real democracy where you are given the legalized right to vote on government bills as well as having citizen-initiated legislation, you can bet Albertans would utilize their resource assets in a superior way to the neo conservatives and we would have an expansion of our parks not a decrease. That is why we need to Make Alberta A Democracy- for the betterment of Alberta and our future. Ski trails not pipelines to no where.
And now, thanks to our latest version of politicians, we have parking fees at trailheads, a closed Barrier Lake Information Centre, etc. Time does not always improve matters.
Wow, so different from the current crop of Alberta politicians, who do not give a hoot about the environment unless they can make money from it. Can you imagine the Jason Kenney Provincial Park? I can’t!
I met Bill Milne in a professional capacity in his later years when he sat as a member on the Calgary Planning Commission. I didn’t know at the time his involvement in the protection and creation of kananaskis. It would have been fantastic to thank him personally and directly for the immense value it has provided.
Excellent bit of trivia Bob. Including Sandy McNabb, WBC, Mt. Shark, and PLPP, there are approximately 200kms of groomed trails in Kananaskis today.
I thought everyone had a copy of this!
Great photos, thanks, Skier Bob!
Agree with all you wrote Skierbob-trails were in fantastic condition ( even enough snow at the underpass near Lake Louise to ski through) and sunny blue skies made for the perfect temperature. And after all these years of following your blog I finally saw you on the trail. You passed me about 2km from my finish at Castle Junction and asked if I was doing the loppet and wished me luck. Wished I had stopped to chat but I was stunned by the celebrity siting and bonking from low sugar. Highlight of the ski!
Congratulations to all who did this one. Great stamina.
Hello. I’m looking for trails that are the next step up from “Beginner Trails 101 – The easy trails for raw beginners”. I’m comfortable on the intermediate trails at West Bragg Creek and I’m looking for somewhere else to ski for a change of scenery, ideally not too far from Calgary. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you! Rachel
What a beautiful day! Thanks for helping us with waxing Tennessee’s skis 🙂 As beginners we are really loving the sport, the warm community, and this site. Thanks for all you do, Bob.
-Nathan
Skied Ribbon Creek 10:30-12:30. Still good track-set with some fresh snow lightly falling as I started & bit heavier towards the end. It must be wet snow as I really had to scrape off snow packed on bottom of boots when I finished. I skied Kovach-Aspen-Kovach-Terrace.
Took a break at the picnic table Kovach/Aspen & had to scrape snow build up off my waxless skis, otherwise it was fine.
Please buy a pass to support tracksetting so it’s continued next year!
Mt Shark: there was more snow overnight and all morning/early aft. Some icing around the lunch/early aft period, then better when it cooled off again. Enough travel to pack it all down for good tracks tomorrow. Didn’t notice any overhanging branches along green loop at all.
Great shots.
Here’s one I have of a bighorn bidding us adieu on the last day of skiing up at Highwood Pass one year.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jQve2ZmPva1zNYoX6
Thanks for the early report Bob. Now I know what to do today.
Can you connect West and East Elk Pass or is EEP just an out and back?
I’ve skied WEP to both couches there and climbed back up the power line.
I’ve also connected WEP to Blueberry.
Trying to picture this new area I haven’t explored yet.
Anybody got a map of the whole area, couches and routes all labeled?
They say the East Elk Pass Wind Wall is visible from outer space.
Couch H2.0 is where it’s at in good weather. A bit cooler than west elk pass normally, unless a pure west wind. East elk better protected from west wind than west elk. East elk exposed more to south wind, hence the large wind wall. Best done when completely clear for the long view to the south. Unfortunately there was cloud down that way today, obscuring the far off peaks.
It is always exciting to see a moose on a trail, even if they ruin it.
Hello, I am an advanced skier, however due to a head injury I am very limited as to what o can ski for now. My limit is about 8km on a good day, but usually only 4 or 5 km. Elevation is difficult, can handle only about 100m. I am from Jasper and will be visiting the Banff area for 3 weeks. Can anyone recommend some dog-friendly trails that fall within my limitations. Thank you so much for your help.
Skier bob! You’ve made my parents Doug and Sandy famous! They have been published on the renowned skier bob website. Thank you for the great content and giving them their internet fame.
Hey there! Just wondering if you think Cascade Valley is a viable option for someone who has only ever cross-country skied Mt Shark/Watridge Lake and Castle Lookout to Baker Creek. Endurance is not an issue, but general technique/confidence with going uphill and downhill still needs some work 🙂
Hi All;
I’m going to head out for my first time tomorrow and try the “Great Divide/old 1a” trail. I was planning to stop at the Lake Louise visitor centre to pickup some winter trail brochures so that I have my own copies to keep in my pack. It looks like the visitor centre is closed tho.
Would anyone know where else I can pickup copies of the brochure maps?
Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you.
The Cuthead cabin saga looks very tempting but also a bit daunting for an old timer, I just need to convince a friend of mine to accompany me! Thanks for sharing this adventure SaraM , Chuck , Mike W and MAAD
I remember a post from Chuck (correct me if I am wrong) from a couple of years ago of an extraordinary trip of 80k to where bisons have been released, this would set the bar higher….
Just wanted to note that the final part of the track I set to the cabin differs from Chuck’s description. Instead of heading north at the 23.6km junction and then cutting through the forest to reach the cabin, I turned left towards Flint’s Park and then took the trail the branches off to the right at Cuthead Creek to the cabin. So if someone wants to do a little more trail-breaking, Chuck’s route from the junction is still available!
Without doubt Tyrwhitt is the most beautiful and skiable trail in the skier Bob domain. I was there as well today and was awestruck.
I checked the alberta parks online library, no sign of these brochures yet. Good grief, you’d think if they were in money saving mode that’d be the first place they put them.
The elk skeleton was Chuck’s photos of the year for sure. This is what wilderness looks like.
Dang! Double Super Secret Couch didn’t stay secret for long.
Re Chuck’s “single track right of way”: I thought that if there was space for two tracks that the “right hand rule” still applied. Skiers often get out of the track anyway on the downhill sections to better perform a snowplow or to obtain a wider stance for stability.
Good to see you yesterday Bob, if only just to say hi as we went down the hill! And thanks for stepping out of the track, much appreciated!
I love reading your posts and often get excited about trying many of these trails, which are new to me. What I would really enjoy is if you would let us “out of towners” know where these locations are. Just a thought.
Bob- your wish is my command! A couch picture:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix2021/i-LpQbXGr/A
After clearing the fresh snow and stomping the area a bit, we enjoyed the panoramic view and lunch in the sun. Thanks, MaSid!
We passed by again later on the blue loop (pipestone#20) at around 3- the couch was still catching the rays. I will add that the sometimes challenging hills on the blue loop were in possibly the best shape that I can remember for skiing downhill, while leashed to an eager retriever.
Thanks, Steve. I’ve added the photo to my update. -Bob
It is more than frustrating. It is dangerous. On December 30, I was going downhill on Trappers heading to Sundog and the tip of my ski got caught on a “pothole” like the one on the first picture. I hit the ground so hard, I developed a hematoma on my right lower leg (not just a bruise). Still swollen and sore.
It is an unwelcome surprise to see the potholes and deposits left by horse riders on the set tracks at West Bragg. In my innocence I thought that the horse crowd was somehow more aware and considerate of other users than the usual targets of XC skiers’ frustration, rutting bikers and trampling hikers. I will never look at a horse train at WBC the same way again. Most disappointing.
Hi, Everyone,
I am an intermediate skier new to kananaskis area thinking of do a loop starting from Ribbon creek parking lot along ribbon creek, link, and kovach back to parking lot. Just wondering whether there is any really big hill/tight area along the route. Thx
Speaking of Emerald Lake, every year them I ask about the Woodies, every year I hear crickets
Hi everyone, can anyone describe for me the beginner-friendliness of the trails that are marked as Green from the Pipestone area (Hector, Drummond, Merlin?) This is my first season but I’ve been out a lot and had some instruction, I can manage long gradual hills or steeper short ones but I would prefer to avoid longer, steeper hills or hills with turns.
Wait, did I read that right?
“An expert is a beginner who has done anything once.”
Hi West Bragg Creek Skiers,
Had a number of close calls when yesterday when coming down steep hills and almost running into dogs. I know they are allowed to be off leash. But if they are really playful and friendly this can be super scary for those who are not confident skiers. I know it is great to let them run and they look so happy. Please just be mindful to call them back, especially before slopes.
Hi, brand new skier here. I’m wondering what the proper etiquette is when the trail is only a single set track? Who is “supposed” to get off the track to allow a faster skier to pass, or another example would be when one is coming down a hill in the tracks while someone is coming up.
Any feedback regarder proper ski etiquette in general is also welcome 🙂
Thanks!
Thanks so much for this! It’s also a great list for pregnant ladies like myself 🙂 Up to now I’ve been using Confed golf course, which is another great start for beginners!
Outstanding! Very good selection, in my opinion.
Thank you thank you thank you for the info to beginners. I really want to experience skiing in the . mountains, but have been Uber reluctant to head out and end up on a track beyond my limited ability. This blog was sooooo timely. Thanks!
Hello skiers
One thing I would like added to the recommendations is where to park (for example north side of lot) and where to start the trail (example -once you park on the north side, the trail starts on the far east side of the parking lot). I was a beginner fairly recently and would stand looking stupid in the parking lot until someone helped me out.
Thanks for this website as it is very helpful to all skiers.
I hope this guide includes “things not to do”, like that first bit from the Goat Creek parking lot on the Canmore side down the hill to the start of the trail! I went down it Saturday, and the same couple of rocks were there from when I did it ~3 years ago, the path was just as narrow right beside the [running] creek. and it is still all around sketchy! I’ve skied all my life, and was again amazed I didn’t mangle and/or soak myself before even getting started!
Happy trails,
H.
Thank you again for your efforts into confirming dog-friendly trails, we responsible owners/skiers appreciate it!
Is the PLPP maintenance compound forecast from Weather Network Boulton?
This coverage reminds me of a quote I heard recently upon meeting Kevin & Leslie on the Goat Creek trail. Leslie said “When I retire, I want to become a SkierBob reporter”.
Well, I don’t know if I should pass on this photographing secret just yet, but I just say “Wanna SMILE for Skier Bob!”. It works, at least until they realize that I am not Skier Bob!
Thank you for the positive comments on the Redearth trail. It’s really nice to see people out enjoying the park and this trail in particular. I am currently responsible for the grooming which has been done up to this point, and am pleased to see that people are enjoying the most recent work done on the trail. Let’s hope the snow continues so we may keep the trail in good shape for all users. Thank you to anyone who has provided feedback, both good and bad, please continue to offer your comments, but try not to be too harsh 😉
I would like to thank you so very very much the groomers and the volunteers. Could enjoy Pocaterra and Ribbon with tones of joy. THANK YOU
Even walking on the flat part in middle beside tracks on ups and downs is dangerous for skiers as shoe imprints make holes that cause crashes as skiers ski down hills. So many hikers now and walking by twos and threes beside each other rather than single file on the outside edge of tracks. Definitely need better signage for ski only trails and tickets. But if it’s not government groomed trails who is going to give out tickets?
Do hikers need some of their own hiker only groomed hard packed trails? Some snowshoers also seem to like groomed hard packed trails as well (maybe easier for the less strenuous working
snowshoers?) This way they can all get on board with helping chip in on parking passes to keep trails groomed and trails accessible!
Thank you for posting about this important conversation Bob. These are unprecedented times for new people heading outdoors. Sandy Mcnabb has always had some crossover, where people would walk on the ski trails, but nothing close to what I’ve seen this year. I think having clear signage at all trail entrances is important, but also maybe using social media to spread the message? People new to outdoor winter activity are going to need to hear this message more than once. I think if we are kind, and if possible add a bit of humor, it might make the message more palatable. Try not to let the few ‘entitled’ folks wreck our attitude for the many many who just haven’t thought about it and don’t realize.
If any groomers read this message, I have a question. Is it technically possible, to create a hardened trail (like the trackset area) but just flat, and off of the ski track? I’m not sure if I’ve described that well…. Like one of the previous posters noted, the hardened ski track area is very enticing. I’m trying to think of future solutions moving forward, and I don’t have the knowledge base for how ‘grooming’ works. I just know I love how the trails turn out at the end of it, and can see how inexperience hikers are drawn to them.
We skied Hummingbird Plume today. Someone had driven a 4×4 for about 700m along the Skogan Pass trail just as it heads North from Mount Allen Drive (Nakiska Road). Now if that doesn’t mess up a trail. My wife fell on part of the ruts left behind. Wish there was a big enough sign or stick!
In some cases signage is indeed ambiguous. For instance yesterday when I skied the entire network south of Ribbon Creek I noticed that it often depends on where you enter the trail. In one case one junction indicated skier only and the very next junction (coming the opposite way) was signed “share the trail”. Even if the signage is clear as is the case for some WBC trails (the yellow ones, not those blue skier signs that Tanya mentioned) or most trails at PLPP it does not seem to matter to some entitled users. I find that WBC is particularly bad, perhaps because of the sheer number of users. I think that parks need to enforce the rules and ticket people. If it becomes expensive to walk on groomed trails, people will stop doing it. You almost never see dogs on cross country trails in PPLP because when that rule changed it was enforced.
I feel like some signs just aren’t clear enough. For example, some of the WBC signs say that they are for skiing, but they don’t say that you can’t hike on them. The signs tell a hiker that he may encounter skiers on this trail and that he should share the trail. The signs need to be more similar to the ones at Kananaskis Village where they actually say “no hiking.”
And then I’m still seeing the “share the trail” sign on trails I know are supposed to be for skiers. Wedge Connector for example. No good reason to walk that trail. We shouldn’t be sharing the trail.
I noticed some new signage the other day on Great Divide. There was the added element of the dogsled track! I thought that the signs looked nice and were quite effective, and I hope that people will check them out.
I find the signage at Bragg Creek to be very effective. As you can see in the photo Bob posted (man skiing with lovely Golden Retriever), you cannot miss or misinterpret the signs. We also ski at Sandy McNabb. Their signage for both multiuse and off leash areas for dogs (I have whined about this before) is terrible. I try to always approach people kindly as I can see why there is confusion. Although, when I see the same people repeatedly each time I go skiing walking on the skier tracks, well, my practically perfect manners go to hell in a hand basket! Back to the main issue. I do feel the areas that suffer the worst damage are areas where signage is lacking, or open to interpretation, or, for some reason, easily ignored. All signs should be universal so that no matter where you ski, they are the same color, same wording, same meaning, and same dollar fine amount (money often changes people’s perspective) for breaking the rules.
FREE BEER!
AT SIDE OF TRAIL
From my experience walkers are the main issue, as they don’t snowshoe I believe groomed trails are very inviting to go for a walk…In PLPP there are no shared trails (from what I know), hence less risks to get it wrong. In Ribbon Creek the permanent signs / summer map just show trails name / distance and unless you look at the small paper winter map that is below the main map, you will not know what is allowed / not allowed. The winter map from Alberta Parks (https://albertaparks.ca/media/6496176/kananaskis-ribbon-creek-winter-map.pdf) is also confusing with just different shade of blue to differentiate xcountry only trails from shared trails. I could not find winter trail map for Skogan pass area, are all trails (Sunburst, skogan loop, etc.) shared or not? Personally, I believe a big sign on the trail and at junction (whatever the colour) stating xcountry ski only would be best.
Crystal-clear signage first so that no one can pretend they didn’t know. Then enforcement for the ones who pretend it doesn’t apply to them. If they can fine me $1,000 for having a couple of friends over in my own house… okay, let’s not go there.
maybe Bob won’t move this post to the delete bin so here goes; “sign sign everywhere a sign blocking out the scenery breaking my mind”; thanks to the Five Man Electrical Band for this song “Signs” circa 1968. OMG do i ever wanna see more signs cluttering the landscape.
I’m finding almost every trail in West Bragg Creek gets trashed despite the ski only signs. I always ask people to kindly not walk on the track set. Some people seem to purposefully walk on the tracks despite having 3’ of flat track beside it. Do people feel they are that entitled that they won’t read signs?
I was wondering if that was you, Bob. I just caught a glimpse of you as I was coming off the bridge. I was paying more attention to getting lined up for that tricky little hill that goes down into the campground. Just curious, what were you using for wax? With the varying temperatures along the trail, I found I had to re-wax a couple times and never really found the perfect combination.
I applied two layers of VR45(-2/-8) and covered it with two layers of VR40(-4/-12). -Bob
What is the distance of this loop? About 14km?
I think people forget how much time, resources, people and relationship building it takes to effectively lobby the government. Especially true with this government who doesn’t want to listen and just marches forward.
Those who feel lobbying the government is the best method are often unwilling to take up and lead the fight. Sure, most people will sign a petition or put up a lawn sign, but are less willing to put in all the work behind the scenes that makes lobbying effective.
There is still time…you have a year until next XC season to start lobbying the government to reverse this decision. You will also have a plethora of data collected by Nordiq about use. Are you willing to lead the charge?
I fear that if a group like Nordiq didn’t step up, then there would be no track set trails this year in these areas.
I don’t think this means they made a choice for user pay for all Albertans I’m every situation, they simply stepped up to the plate when no one else was willing.
I will happily display my pass and volunteer to support groups that are willing to work and provide activity options for all Albertans.
(3700 x $50) + (500 x $10) + $16000 = $206000
The government had better not cancel grooming for these trails; they are a huge asset to Calgary and the cost, especially with the paid parking program, is minimal even if it doesn’t quite reach 210000.
As I see it, buying and displaying a pass is a way to help these trails survive: it is giving credit to Nordiq Alberta for working hard to save the trails, rather than to the government for being jerks. Besides, 50 bucks a season for some of the best trails in North America is pennies. It’s less than a tank of gas. Compare it to other ski trail pass costs!
Hi Bob. We didn’t cross paths again because … after we met on Wedge, upon reaching E-T parking lot, I came to my senses and simply backtracked to ski that outer loop clockwise not CCW for the second lap – got the same miles logged in but avoided doffing skis and walking the E-T parking lot twice. Nice tailwind to Ribbon. Strava said 26.8 km. See you next time.
Good job. You did double my mileage. -Bob
Love your page and love the reports.
I know it’s not possible to have these pristine ski conditions without Kananaskis grooming but to imply that we wouldn’t have grooming in Kananaskis without a user pay system is a stretch. The government threatened and the nordic community caved to the threats and set a precedent on behalf of all Albertans. I still think we could have lobbied the government in other ways to pressure them to maintain the grooming in Kananaskis. Now that the precedent has been set, I fear there will be no end to user fees going forward.
Our government is inept (as clearly seen in their covid response / leadership, plan to de-list parks and protected areas, opening up the eastern slopes for coal extraction, undermining our health care workers at a time of crisis, giving away billions of dollars to corporations with nothing in return…and the list goes on). I’m grateful to be skiing on nicely groomed tracks but I think we let the government off the hook way to easily.
I do appreciate the grooming efforts of staff as well as the volunteers that come out for various events, etc. Thank you very much for this!
I do not appreciate that we’ve gone down a dark rabbit hole without proper engagement, thought and discussion of all Albertans on the matter.
BTW – I bought my parking pass but I will not display it. I don’t need to give this government any more support for their poor decisions.
There isn’t a skijoring club specifically, but there are a few groups on Facebook for all dog-powered sports – check out Kicksled Calgary or AB Mush for Fun. They occasionally hold events, including races and learn to mush clinics.
As for trails, anything dog friendly has worked for me. I love Bragg but also find it more difficult because of the the prevalence of off-leash dogs – mine always wants to say hi so my quick release gets a lot of use, hah.
I skied Glenmore Reservoir tonight. There is no formal track setting I am aware of. The tracks which have been layed down are by skies. Many on east west part are wind filled. The ones parralel to North Glenmore Park are deeper. The same can be said to those by Heritage Park H. The crossing tracks are filling in with snow. I have not expored by the sailing club or the south side yet.
January 4th – Excellent conditions today on the Pipestone Loop in Lake Louise. Soft snow and smooth gliding in the tracks. Great day!
And Fairview track set Saturday morning.
I did some digging to find the full version of that pamphlet:
http://www.parkscanadahistory.com/publications/banff/cross-country-skiing.pdf
I was running 40 Mile Creek this summer and noticed some Parks Canada nordic styled signs. What an area that would be to ski!! Carrot Creek as well, so many gems in there. I also can’t imagine how wonderful Middle Spray River would be if it was still properly maintained. Might need to invest in some LT skis next season…
Dean – technically the Glenmore Reservoir is Closed from Nov 1 thru April 30, however I don’t think I’ve seen any enforcement except when people are being really dumb. Be cautious – the reservoir water levels can change resulting in ice well above the level of the water, or resulting in slush on top of the ice. If I were to ski on the reservoir I’d stick close to shore and preferably along the east shore near Glenmore Landing. Be aware of where the river flows in at the west end, between the canoe club and Heritage Park and by the causeway as all those areas have unpredictable ice
3 pins won’t fit in the tracks at the Nordic Centre, but you can always ski outside the tracks on the corduroy which should work fine for wide skis.
Yes! That is what I was thinking. I realize the unprecedented interest has led to strain on the current trails and parking, but what if this enlightenment of the masses leads to a bigger voice for this wonderful activity and MORE trails get funded, and better parking solutions are found, and all the other great things mentioned in the above post!
Who’s this guy? A young Steve Riggs?
https://photos.app.goo.gl/y7tVoPLgH8FfWEum6
Skier Bob asked what the future of XC skiing will be like. Lets look at ski sales to predict it.
Well if the lack of choice for ski equipment continues at the many shops I have visited in the last couple of years, skiing may not occur for a lot of people. I have not been able to buy a decent durable reasonable priced pair of ski poles for years. My size does not seem to be available by the time I can make it to ski shops after harvest without paying more for the poles than my skis. The Rossignol poles I bought 3 years ago were junk as the thin straps broke and the tips fell off. I feel like I am living in the old Soviet Union Dictatorship (I wonder if they were short of XC ski poles?). I am on my” back up back up pair” of poles and the tips are nearly worn to the baskets. I can only ski soft trails as a result. I will likely not be able to ski hard spring snow with these poles. I will likely have to resort to being stuck in COVID downhill ski line ups at Lake Louise in late winter rather than cruising on my XC boards.
I won’t get into how I can’t buy the super narrow high camber metal edge waxable skis I used to be able to buy years ago. UGHHH!
On Kijiji there are a lot of people looking for XC equipment- the most I have ever seen. People can primarily only buy old junk from way back in the last century. I really don’t think bamboo poles will last more than 5 minutes for me before splintering and leaving dangerous debris on a ski trail for someone to crash into and get all slivered up!
If ski shops can’t supply equipment demand, a lot of people may never get into the sport or leave it. Some of the local shops are just too small to store gear so I can understand that they run out quickly. But bigger shops have no excuse to run out of equipment selection by the 3rd week of November. They are missing sales and profits as a result. If a “want a be beginner” xc skier can’t buy gear as late as January 31, then they may never get into skiing nor advance and buy better gear as they get better at skiing. This is a potential huge future profit loss to the ski shop industry and ski equipment manufacturing industry. Then such “want a be skiers” won’t introduce 2 friends to skiing and those people won’t introduce 2 friends to skiing and so on and so on. The is what XC opportunity ski equipment sales losses look like not only today but in the future.
The ski shop and ski manufacturing industry really needs to understand the marketing concept of “Just In Time” supply chains, like other industries do. Imagine if a car parts store only brought in parts the way the ski shops do. You would not be able to get an air filter after the first few weeks of November.
A lack of XC ski equipment supply also means fewer than the maximum possible amount of new skiers entering the sport. This has negative economic spin off effects on the local economy as well. Just imagine if there were not enough cars for sale on the market or enough gasoline or electricity to supply cars on the road. Similar negative economic spin off effects would occur.
Lets hope the ski shops in the future better match equipment demand with supply for the benefit of all skiers, their profits and more. If they don’t Amazon may and that will kill a lot of ski shops along with parts of the local shop economy.
Bob, I managed to dig out my copy of the booklet whose cover you displayed. Here’s another booklet cover from “the olden days” – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VoE9CdMxpJYsC2T0PFjQpYqItzsaRLWG/view?usp=sharing
Colder temps in Bragg creek (wishful thinking); proper tax base funding for grooming given the demand and benefits (or a tax/health credit for user fees); expanded trails and grooming; winter roadside camping options with weather protected cooking facilities; more skis available and snowshoers/walkers embracing this efficient way to travel in winter; a new generation of younger skiers so demand/grooming continues; more seating options in good places; better connections between trails for more continuous ski options; more rapid or strategic parking lot plowing after large snow events, and; Bob finds an apprentice with equal talent.
The snow remained cold and firm later in the day. That’s for Iron Springs, Elbow, and Crystal. It was +1C at 3pm and zero at 5pm at the parking lot.
Happy New Year Bob. I reported on Emerald Lake on the 29th, and on the first half of the Kicking Horse trail – both good with soft silky snow in groomed tracks. I’m happy to report that today there was no sign of doggie damage in the tracks on the Yoho Valley Road as reported by Wally yesterday, must have got skied and snowed over. Snowing lightly all day today and if the forecast comes true, all of these reports will rapidly get outdated!
Thanks, Chris. Now that you mention it I did read your report. My memory is failing me. Bob
Skied Yoho Valley Road on Dec 30th. It was snowing lightly so the tracks were getting a bit soft, but still in pretty good shape. Lots of fat skiers go up that route but they were staying clear of the set tracks. Unfortunately, near the end of our return we met a couple who were letting their exuberant labradoodle jump all over the tracks. He said he was “trying” to keep the dog out of the tracks, but his efforts seemed feeble at best.
Hey Bob,
Glad you had fun on South Iron Springs/Elbow. Boomer Groomer Jeff set those tracks as people kept asking and we thought it best not to wait any longer for AEP to get back from holidays.
Take Care Groomer DNA
That photo by Jeremy is just fantastic. Inspiring, and a pretty good Christmas post card with its perfectly placed “ornament”. And my favourite place to ski on a sunny day of course. Happy new year Bob et al! See you on the trails or at a couch. (-:
Ok,
Thank you gentlemen very much for speedy responses.
…much appreciated!
Good to know they are not altering the glide performance of the more popular and common type binding. I really like my 3 pin setup but I guess I will have to tolerate the lack of glide efficiency. It did seem to bother hubby more than me. Thank you to Track setter Jeff ,,,I am also curious if a different machine was used on the Bill Maline vs the Wedge pond to the Evan Thomas stretch. I just didnt feel nearly as much drag on the binding on the Wedge trail!
Also Bob, I was trying to find a link you previously provided by a lady speaking on waxing techniques. Looks like my old skis are a hickory base. Just used a liquid glide rub on wax and was pleasantly surprised they had any glide at all lol Guess I need a kick wax on the center areas now.
Bob…love the last name,,, my Father and Brother are both Truman’s!!! Cheers to 2021
To Lots of snow !!
Hi Skier Bob!
Thank you so much for your amazing web site and wealth of information. Truly a wonderful resource and I love your spirit of enthusiasm.
Hubby and I are not seasoned xc skiers, to say the least, but are enjoying these wonderful conditions and workout, usually after a 1/2 day on the down hill at NAKISKA.
We have bought, second hand, ole school 3 pin bindings skies and have very comfy, warm 3 pin boots which were bought new.
Our issue… yesterday, on the Bill Malign, we were experiencing quite a bit of drag with the wider binding but noticed a nice difference coming back, as drag was less due to them already broken through the side walls and do they damage the track for the more common style binding?
Can groomer machines not accommodate these style bindings !??
Margaret, I’ve passed your question along to Tracksetter Jeff. -Bob
I’ve been skiing at night by headlight or moonlight and it’s been fantastic, both Elk Pass and Skogans recently! Although I’ve been THE ONLY PERSON out there in the empty parking lot. lol. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s been lonely by today’s standards, peaceful for sure.
Outstanding Bob! Glad you had such a fantastic day!
Hey Bob, so good to run into you in the parking lot! You arrived at prime time, it was pretty chilly out there early morning. I was looking forward to a lovely ski after volunteering in Boulton Creek parking lot, but unfortunately was suffering from a bad night sleep, combined with a stupid fall the day before. Such a disappointment to not take advantage of those wonderful conditions! Wasn’t that cloud amazing?
Thanks for your website AND thanks to Nordiq Alberta!!
You’re never going to get a better deal than $50 a season for these exceptional trails. My kids pay more than half that for one day of skiing in B.C.
I skied the lookout loop as a side trip on the way back from Skogan Pass today, and encountered 3 more avid subscribers to “Postholer Quarterly” magazine. In all honesty- the divots were annoying to see, but didn’t really affect the skiing for me. I did have to remind the one young woman to “please stay out of the set tracks”- I think it was just a momentary lapse on her part, as the track setting remained in good shape on descending Sunburst. High Level is still pristine.
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix2021/i-5n73QtV/A
Where is hayfields trail please. Love reading about it but can’t find directions. Desperate to find an off leash ski for our pup,
Many many thanks – and a very happy new year!!
We skied Wedge Connector today, my son and I. It is his … second time on Xcountry skis, and this trail was perfect. Loved to get into the mtns and have an accessible trail to ski.
My understanding was that the fire lookout (gazebo) was built by the POWs who were “incarcerated” at the Barrier Lake POW camp, which was where the UofC Field Station is located.
Hello Bob,
there seems to be a new temp reading at Wunderground.com
it’s located about ~200 m south of William Watson Lodge, and ~200 m west of Kananaskis Lakes Trail at a private home on Lake Shore Dr.
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/ca/kananaskis-improvement-district/IKANAN3
however, the coordinates shown on the above link are wrong by 18km, there is only one house over there and it should be 50.6603, -115.1252, elev. 1674 m is likely OK
hope this area gets re-trackset tonight .what a mess ! ! be nice if parks puts up some newer educational signs for the walkers and starts an enforcement campaign in this area ,now that we have to personally pay to have tracks set.
According to Gillean Daffern, the name was given in the 70s by Don Gardner, who designed the original Ribbon Creek trails (as well as the original PLPP and West Bragg trails). The building on top isn’t a gazebo, it’s a fire lookout that was staffed by POWs during World War II when the summit was open following the huge fires of 1936.
Isn’t that High Level?
Correct. It’s where it passes under the power line. -Bob
This is nearing Skogan Pass. Power lines always a clue.
I knew the power lines would cause confusion. -Bob
Does anyone know what trails dogs are permitted on in ribbon creek/kananaskis area?
I have seen the post regarding the misprint in the brochure, however on the site it states no dogs allowed.
In the brochure it says no dogs allowed on groomed trails, does this mean trackset trails but multi use ones would be ok?
Thanks!
Thanks for the shout out, Bob! I am flattered! I hope more readers listen to your “Death Bridge” warning ??. What would we do without this blog!
“Live To Ski Another Day” sounds like a James Bond film title. I hope they include an action sequences with Daniel Craig as Skier Bob!
There are no death bridges if one skis under control. If a skier requires metal edge skis to prevent a ski or die accident, they should get a pair to maintain control and know how to use them.
The Goat Creek trail requires the control of a Mountain Goat most of the time, particularly at the confounded bridge. A bridge too far- if you hit it hard and have to get back home- up hill.
Skied at Nipika Mountain Resort on Christmas Day, amazing conditions for classic or skate skiing. Beautiful trails and views made it for a lovely ski. Fantastic place for anyone looking for a dog friendly place to ski with a furry friend! Just Fantastic
Skied Banff to Goat Creek return today. Came across a couple who broke a binding in a collision with the 7km bridge and opted to post hole the 11-12 km to Banff including at least an hour in the dark. Heed Bob’s warning on the steep downhill followed by sharp turn on to the bridge!
Hi Bob!
It was so nice to finally run into you on the trails yesterday! What a beautiful X-mas ski! Thanks for the lovely photo and writing this blog! Hopefully I will run into you again on another ski trail in the “Empire”!
Meeting you was the start of a fabulous day on Goat Creek! -Bob
How is the parking at Spray River West trailhead? Do you have to arrive early to get a spot?
Great to finally meet you Skier Bob. Woogie is a celebrity snow dog now. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to his head. Thanks for maintaining this awesome site. It’s always great to know if trail conditions are naughty or nice before heading out. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the pic of me at the bridge. I wondered if that was you when you were taking pictures! Would have loved to give thanks in person for all the great information!
Skied Cascade Fire Road to the bridge first thing this morning and it was in great shape! It has been double track set at until the bridge and single track set beyond the bridge. Not sure when the grooming happened but it was recently after the last snow fall. We saw lots of wolf paw prints and we are pretty sure they were not too far: we saw fresh scat and urine markings on our way back up from the bridge that weren’t not there as we descended to the bridge a mere 15-20 minutes prior!
Friends did Cascade to the bridge today and enjoyed it so I think it must be good!
Merry Christmas Bob to you and all your contributors. As a former skier now an arm-chair one I really appreciate and enjoy your Blog. So many people I know read and learn from it. Many thanks and I’m sure you will all continue on with a great season. Cheers!
I think this post was totally directed at me, new to skiing and have been reading so many old posts and gathering as much info as I can hold. Loved the waxing post by the new mom, I’ve slowly purchased my equipment and everything involved to wax my own. I’ve looked at many other sites but absolutely nothing comes close to this site so special thanks to Bob and everyone involved here. Thanks, happy holidays, and happy skiing to all.
Hi:
That’s a lovely shot of Debbie.
My sister and I skied Silver Springs golf course this aft. It was glorious. Might as well ski in town when you can!
Merry Christmas,
Herb
Thank you also to skier bob for our skiing updates!
Stay healthy everyone for the remainder of 2020 & 2021.??
A big thank you to the track setting team…you’re cross country skiers’ snow angels thank you! thank you! thank you!
Thank you to Nordiq Alberta for keeping track setting in our parks, hopefully this will be successfully supported so it continues!??
Oh! Forgot to ask – is it possible to ski the loop? We have enjoyed skiing Evan-Thomas – Wedge Connector – Bill Milne loop in the past, relying on some bridges along the way.
Merry Christmas Bob – and Merry Christmas to all the volunteers, tracksetters, groomers and others who are making it possible to enjoy our amazing ski trails!!
Are you saying that the new bridge over Evan Thomas is gone already?? That is rather disappointing, if so.
Kudos and many thanks to all those who have been out track setting the trails throughout the season – you do great work so that we can have a great time out there!
Fyi, I just called Strathmore golf course (“pro desk” still open). Day passes of $5, or annual pass of $50 required (ie. not by donation), and dogs must be on leash and off the groomed tracks. Looks like WBC is still the only area with some off-leash xc skiing. :-/
There is a lack of xc skiing “riches” in Banff to date. There is no ski access to the Ink Pots this year. Brewster Creek, Healy Creek and Redearth have yet to be trackset. Hopefully that will occur today, but I will not bet on that with my skiing life.
I will likely investigate Brewster Creek tomorrow and ski pack the short cut trail, if my legs can tolerate doing so.
FYI that the CNC trail report indicates that Grassi Lakes and Hwy 742 above Canmore are closed due to avalanche risk. Apparently avi control is scheduled to start tomorrow Dec 23 at 10 am… Always fun to watch the slides that are intentionally triggered!
My wife tore her ACL downhill skiing last winter. We want to start cross country skiing. Could you suggest a flat area that would be good for her to start on
New Environment Canada iPhone App!
The new EnvCanada weather app for the iphone is excellent. V1.5 is much improved. Saved locations, radar, highway alerts and more
The other day I skied West Elk Pass past the couch, past a second snowfort, and on to the hydroline in BC. The logging operations I heard earlier in the year have expanded now, and there is a fresh clearcut right beside the powerline. The road underneath the powerline has been plowed out. I returned the way I came rather than skiing up the powerline to Elk Pass as I had planned. In all, going to Elk Lakes Cabin via Elk Pass and the powerline would be a muddy, noisy and ugly mess. Something to consider if anyone has booked the cabin over the holidays.
That drag renovator looks like they stole somebody’s garage door with a Ski-doo!
I see my car in the parking lot, but I don’t see my cat!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI4nCW_J4C7/
Bob,
I missed you on the trail today, and as you describe the snow/tracks were good, albeit a bit sticky.
I encountered a skater at the Elk Pass / Patterson junction, and was disappointed (but not surprised) that he had been crossing both tracks all the way up from the Hydroline junction. I guess it is inevitable that folks will skate on these narrow trails, but perhaps it is time for a gentle reminder of both etiquette and places where skating is appropriate.
Was thinking about Bob’s comment about use of a “butt bag” equating w/ not having emergency supplies. I just got a new BB and here’s what i fit in: wax of the day & mini cork/scrapper combo (which i’ll ditch when i get my skin skis), 2 energy gel packs & cliff bar (blood sugar emergency), car key, micro 1st aid kit w/ lighter & duct tape, & emergency refective blanket thingie. Cell phone now goes on arm band thingie, figure this way i’ll stop missing great photos because it’s in the BB and i don’t want hassle of fishing it out. Lashed on to my BB is a windshell. When i no longer need the cork & wax i’ll probably sub in a pair of over mitts, maybe a hand warming pad. And of course, there’s a 600 ml insulated bottle that has luke warm water. And….wait for it….Bob’s your uncle.
And Thanks Baker Creek Chalets for grooming in early season conditions
Re. Pocaterra Hut: hate to be a spoil sport, but Pocaterra Hut should not remain open at all, unless they choose to leave the indoor bathrooms available. Even Lake Louise Ski Hill is not allowing backpackers to eat indoors. As per most recent guidelines:
Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 8
All indoor and outdoor social gatherings – public and private – are prohibited
Pocaterra also had superb track setting from Whiskey Jack junction down to Packers. North of Packers, it was roller packed/groomed but not track set, as was Lynx, Amos and Wheeler. Very good conditions on all of those.
Did you stop by pocaterra hut bob, still open? Another Hellenic moment: “the hallway”. Enjoyed the storey of the passing of the speed demon , J-F. Supports the notion of the right glide wax, and/or shoulder surgery.
Bob, did you or do you know if it’s possible to ski between Pipestone and the Town Trails to the Campground/Bow River trails?
Cheers!
Snowmobile single track-set trails through the trees are such a treat — an increasingly rare feature in an era embracing the development of safe, multi-use, big machine grooming. Both means ARE great, and I hope both can coexist. Some other faves are Telemark, Upper Macabee Loop, Hostel & Telephone Loops, and the ‘Hiking Trail’ in the Allison-Chinook Wonderlands ….
Did you manage to check snow depth over the ice on the river? I’m guessing not enough yet, but worth a visit given the trail conditions for some initial compacting.
I skinned up the ski out to Goats Eye and skied alpine from there…no line ups on any chair I took…we must have arrived in the parking lot just as everyone else was getting there
Does wax have a shelf life? It seems like my green and blue waxes have stopped working – like maybe they dried out.
Please, PLEASE, wear and advocate proper respirator and/or ventilation whilst hot waxing. The science is VERY conclusive on damaging health effects on not just melting fluoro but ALL hydrocarbon wax vapors. Sorry, but NOT sorry! for being a kill joy.
https://www.swixsport.com/us/about-swix/sustainability/waxing-regulations/
https://fasterskier.com/2012/12/waxing-safety/
That’s well and good but let’s hear what Baby Tim has to say about all of this!
Thanks for the videos! I’ve been ironing in green as a base kick wax for a long time, but never thought to give the zone a light sanding after cleaning to improve adhesion. Learn something new every day!
My observation is that many skiers could benefit from improving their grip wax application, based on the number I see herringboning up every uphill.
Dasha and cooperative 2 month old Tim, thank you both so much for creating these videos. I love your “Home Hardware” scraper approach. I use one of my old irons but always wondered how soon after using the wax solvent (I use Bio Citron KUU) I could apply my Kick wax. I generally prefer to leave an hour or so in between. And because I hate to go fast, my technique at Glide waxing has been almost non-existent. I love these videos you donated to Skier Bob’s site and will watch them again. Your pitch to SkiGo just tells me I need to learn to “trust it more”.
Thank you so much for the info Dasha and Bob!
Thanks so much for this Dasha and Skier Bob for posting!!! It’s very helpful and clear.
If Dasha waxes her skis, she is going to ski on them! 🙂
In a galaxy not so far far away, Fast Trax has a steady supply of SkiGo wax It’s great for up here in Edmonton, too.
Skier Bob, I will try to put some humor into the reports but when you have had as many concussions as I have had which have destroyed the humor cells, that could be a pretty tall order especially after an 8 to 10 hour ski or so. The old worn out brain just has enough cells in it to make me stand up on skis.
PS
Anyone skiing up Healy Creek, keep an eye out for a potential crashed skier off the trail that I may have missed skiing at night! Not likely you will find one but just in case.
We skied Elk Pass on Friday to avoid crowds so I’m surprised that it wasn’t busy on Saturday. I guess they were all out on Hwy 68. We were near Sibbald on our annual family xmas tree hunt and picnic, which we do in the area every December. Crazily busy- far more so than usual. I heard that Hwy 66 was the same with hordes of people taking advantage of the weather.
As for MAD’s reports- I enjoy them, they offer useful information, and if someone can’t handle the political spin- just don’t read them. As was brought home to us last spring- politics does affect xc skiing.
I don’t know about those nocturnal adventures though- I’ve skied WBC under headlight or moonlight and it is a wonderful experience, but those are very familiar, relatively easy groomed trails. Descending Healy after dark- no thanks!
Ah sorry I read your comment too quckly. Agreed it’s great for aging joints and chronic injuries and I’d use it in a pinch for an acute injury if I had no acetominophen.
Thanks for clarifying.
Interesting as I was coming down whiskey jack alone this afternoon and was thinking I should get a pair of metal edge touring skis for situations like this. Also I do have an inreach but didn’t bring it with me as I tend to have it for backcountry trips, but that also crossed my mind. It was a great day and the trails are holding up but more snow is required.
You do not need metal edges (this accident proved that). You need focus, determination and sheer fuc… sorry, and braking. Lots of braking. Lower your speed to safe value every time when going downhill first time of the day in every potentially dangerous location, try it first. It’s never the same it was yesterday.
Edges may not help in some situations and make you dangerously overconfident (hello mr. democracy) but low speed always works.
As MaSid says Vitamin I, along with a first aide kit.
We carry that and down jackets, extra gloves and mitts, toque, buff, Warmup pants or wind pants. when out of Cell phone range (K Country ),I carry an InReach and a VHF radio.
Most of this sits all season long in my pack.
Hi Bob:
Have enjoyed your site for years. Good work
I’m the skier referred to in that post, waiting for surgery in Foothills to repair a fractured ankle.
My group was well prepared and did a fabulous job. I’m proud of them all. I was kept cosy until the toboggan arrived.
I’m an experienced skier with quality gear, including metal edges. This was a moment of inattention on a hill that I usually do easily, icy or not.
Just thought you might want to know.
I lived in LL in ’97. Pretty sure I was enjoying a car-free 1A on return journeys from Ross Lake mountain bike rides.
But when was it closed in winter? I first skied there in the mid ’80s so definitely before then.
While I would usually prefer to be on my regular light and fast xc ski setup- also having a pair of metal edged light touring skis for those conditions can be invaluable. Even better is pairing those metal edged skis with the more supportive NNN-BC boot and binding, if you can afford to run two systems. A bonus is that this sets you up for off the groomed trail exploration as well.
And- ditto to Peter’s comments about being prepared- it sounds like this group was.
I really urge people to ski on safer, better controllable, metal edge cross country (xc) skis and know how to use those metal edges on the snow. As an advanced xc skier, that is all I ski on although with my ability level I could ski on faster plastic skis. Being an expert downhill skier, I just hate the feeling of unsafe plastic ski edges. Metal edges allow for more safe hardcore ski fun.
As I do not wish to have hundreds of dollars in skiing assets sitting around doing nothing for most of the year, I find metal edge xc skis to be the best all around alternative if you just want one pair of good xc skis. Metal edges allow you to carve up the icy slopes at a superior level as compared to dangerous plastic edged skis that can not carve into hard or icy snow.
If you want a faster pair of metal edge xc skis, buy the most narrow pair available with a high camber, like the Madshus Fjelltech M44 skis available at Norseman or Life Sport. If you can find even more narrow metal edge xc skis, buy them for the speed and let the Skier Bob nation know where you got them from.
With metal edge skis I do not have to worry about what kind of snow conditions exist on the ski trails if I happened to forget to check out the ski conditions on Skier Bob. That is a big bonus which allows for overall better and safer skiing days.
Metal edge skis allow me to travel at any speed I wish. If I want to go 100 kilometers per hour down a hill in a tuck position, I will knowing I can stop quickly with metal edge skis, pretty much similar to my downhill skis. On groomed trails or hard smooth spring snow conditions, I can also cut turns similar to slalom downhill skiers.
Also metal edge skis extend your ski season. When people pack in the XC skiing in spring because of hard spring snow conditions, metal edge skiers can keep on skiing with safety. This is the time of year when metal edges really shine. Just look for smooth hard spring snow conditions, which are often best off trails in the higher country.
If you are not a good XC skier, it is a good idea to take lessons on how to become a better skier. Also, you can take your cross country skis to downhill ski hills to practice turns, snowplowing and stopping. You will need safety straps on your skis to meet the ski hill standards for run away skis though. Good ski shops can help you with that.
It would be a good idea for a section on this website to promote XC ski lessons to encourage more safety on the slopes. There seems to be a few too many accidents occurring out there as the above story suggests.
Ski or die (- an old hard core extreme skier saying- if you crash then their is potential for death from smashing your head into a rock or tree or getting taken out by an avalanche).
Keep your ski bases on the snow and your ski tips up.
Ouch! (((Shudder))). Another useful item to have is some anti inflammatories, not so much help for severe injuries of course, but can get you home safely sometimes. Good value for weight.
On Tuesday my wife and I skied Elk Pass and she skied out Trywhitt and Whiskey Jack. Conditions were rather icy and the trail could use more snow and some grooming. Earlier in the day we meet a group of older skiers (like us) on the trail. Later in the day my wife encountered the same group with one skier having fallen on one of the steeper downhills of Whiskey Jack and having suffered what appears to be a severe break of one of his legs. The trail was very icy and fast. The group had moved the skier off the trail, had him wrapped in a space blanket and one member was sent off to summon the SAR team as there was no cell phone coverage in the area. We met the SAR team heading off with Ski-doos at the Boulton Parking area about an hour after the incident. The lesson here is that conditions are quite icy and accidents can happen at any time. The group seemed well equipped with warm clothing and some safety gear. They did not have a way of communicating and as I was coming down a shorter route from the pass, I was carrying the InReach, so I could not help. But would have this been faster that someone did by skiing out and driving to find the Rangers. I often see skiers who have nothing more than a little bum bag with a water bottle and Powerbar and no extra clothing or safety gear. Luckily it was not to cold on Tuesday, but having to wait an hour or several hours for rescue could be very uncomfortable or dangerous. Carry some extra clothing, some safety gear and a way of communicating such as an InReach or a Spot if possible. PS, when my wife asked if they needed any more help, the skier asked her for Whisky, which she could not provide at the time.
I was able to find this:
Adams, Jeff. “Tourists vs. Nature: Five-Year Plan Must Serve Two Masters”. Calgary Herald. 29 May 1994. B6.
“As for closing the 1A Highway west of Lake Louise, the new five-year plan says the summer-only road is so rough it will soon be dangerous for the average 500 motorists a day who use it each June, July and August.”
So it sounds like the road was open in the summers up until the mid-90s. I clearly remember driving the road as a kid in the 80s (well, I wasn’t driving: my dad was). If memory serves me correctly there was a gas station where the current parking lot is now.
I think it was 1999. I’m pretty sure that it was still open to traffic in early 90s.
I have worked at the Chateau for a few years, and remember taking this shortcut a number of times.
There was a popular tourist attraction at the Continental Divide. A creek that forks, with one side draining east to Hudson Bay, and the other side draining west to the Pacific Ocean.
Are you talking about closed to vehicles in the winter? It is still open in the summer, isn’t it?
The road closed in the mid 90s. It was deteriorating really fast.
Lint collected from a dryer lint filter is an excellent fire starter with twigs. I always take off the (lithium) batteries of my headlamp, in case it gets turned off while in my pack; it happened to me twice! Carry bear mace in winter ski season until early January and starting mid-March. A spare tuque is good on long trips, especially for long and warm spring ski days, in case of an unplanned overnight.
Are users required to purchase and display a Couch Pass?
Besides trying to bring cookies for the various locations of groomers, I am a bit of a “Candy-holic” so as soon as I see those Dark Chocolate BRANDY BEANS on the shelves before Christmas, they are in my pack!
After an incident where someone was injured and lay on the snow for a while and getting extremely cold before being airlifted out I always carry space blankets. Better than hypothermia from laying in the cold snow. Besides the items everyone has suggested I also have a whistle. We always ski on weekdays when there weren’t many people around, may be different this year. I will include duct tape in my pack from now on.
Thanks for this. Is it bad etiquette to ski with 65mm skis at a nordic centre?
Reading the list of risks laid out by MaSid, it got me thinking ”outside the trails”. Considering that cross-country and light touring skiing will be far more popular this winter, in part due to the pandemic, it might be appropriate to have a string of suggestions about equipment to bring along for safety purpose. I am thinking more for those less experienced and beginners. The lack of snow at WBC will bring a flood of Calgary skiers into PLPP, where conditions have been stellar for 5-6 weeks. A couple years ago on this site, many of us with lots of ski experience provided useful suggestions as such. If those prevent some unfortunate situation on the trail with proper planning for less experienced, far away from a parking lot, that would be good. Maybe add a section in the Resources tab. My two cents worth.
Not skiing related but another neat outdoor option if it gets cold enough is the planned Ice River Skating Trail
New for 2020: North Glenmore Ice Trail Pilot
Coming soon: a new Ice Trail pilot project is launching at North Glenmore park in late 2020.
This ice trail is a free and fun destination for Calgarians during colder months, and another way we’re helping to keep Calgarians safer as they stay connected this winter.
You’ll be able to skate over 730 metres of connected track, through North Glenmore park, with an attached skating rink located in the centre. Benches, picnic sites and portable washrooms are available on site. This pilot is part of The City’s ongoing commitment to delivering value for Calgarians’ investment, creating exceptional experiences in public green spaces, and further activating parks during winter months.
The ice trail and skating rink will be open from 11 AM – 10 PM daily.
The North Glenmore Ice Trail is expected to open towards the end of December 2020.
There are a few risks in the west elk pass meadows for those venturing off track with narrow skis:
1. falling over due to soft snow/track, blown in track or an unintentional deep pole plant, and can be hard to get up in the ungroomed stuff
2. getting lost if enough fresh new snow and no visible track to follow, can also sometimes be an abundance of tracks wandering about with no apparent destination at some times of year. Having some knowledge of the landscape and navigation skills is key in those times. If in doubt, just reverse course. But probably good travel conditions for the next few weeks until the above average snowfall arrives (unless it gets too warm).
3. sun burn: it can get intense back there some times, especially at the couch if hanging out for a while (particularly the non-covid version of other years as it’s a big parabolic reflector that generates solar heat)
4. addiction: its gorgeous throughout the meadows when the weather is nice, and if you brought a foamy to sit on at the couch, you might just stay too long and develop meadow narcolepsy (see #1 above).
Guessing Running Rain Lake and the west ridge :-).
As an addendum to Bob’s Tyrwhitt report, both Elk Pass and Pocaterra parking lots had about 30 cars each – and approx 50% had parking passes – which is about what you’d expect for this early in the new “parking season”. Only 3 or 4 cars in Boulton. Staff at Visitor Centre (aka Discovery Centre) were busy prepping to open tomorrow.
SkierBob! We must have just missed you this morning! We met 2 friendly skiers along Tyrwhitt who said they had parked at the back door and were one of the last cars to get a spot. Have always wanted to meet you on the trails! Perhaps we did see you in passing somewhere along the way…..we had a great ski, glad to hear you did too!
After a week where it is CLEAR that we should actually be having much more strict rules than the UCP government has decided upon, and not having a province wide mask by-law yet, please be diligent.
Please for 2-3 weeks even be more careful about car pooling. If you listened to CBC last week, a gentleman said he was cautious for 8 months, only to let his guard down ONCE, carpooling with an Asyptomatic friend… unknowingly.
Given we now get to PAY $$ to XC and PAY$$ for track setting, the last thing we need to do is PAY with our mutual health!
Hope everyone who follows SKIER BOB stays healthy and well for the duration of the ski season.
Merry Christmas is coming!
Alberta Parks:
Tyrwhitt
Some rough or uneven surfaces remain but generally in good condition. Groomed only for the first 1 km south from Lookout Junction.
Groomed: Nov 27 Track Set: Nov 27
I learned of cases in Canmore starting by 4 people carpooling from Calgary to Canmore. One fellow who was asymptomatic spread it to 1 of the others. The other 2 in the car stayed negative. I don’t have details re: masks, distance in car, etc…but I find people get caught up in the details to justify their own risk tolerance, and lose sight of the big picture that we are in unprecedented times requiring really tough decisions, and sacrifices by all of us on a variety of fronts.
The “2 friend rule” is interesting. If you live alone, you are allowed to not go crazy through lack of social interaction. Not sure that applies to driving together as a none household unless it’s the only two you ever interact with, as if they were a household, and no interaction with anyone else. Solo days aren’t so bad, but I won’t stop skiing.
BTW – The town of Banff has declared a state of local emergency and the Banff, Lake Louise area has the second highest rate of infection in the province. Please stay away!
https://www.rmotoday.com/banff/update-banff-council-considering-limiting-operating-hours-occupancy-for-some-businesses-2911256
The idea is to limit your exposure to other people as much as possible. The virus doesn’t care about climate change or politics and will take every opportunity to spread, regardless of what the rules say. I always ask myself if what I’m about to do will increase my risk of exposure, not “will I get a fine if I get caught”? Like I said, the virus doesn’t care.
I think the intention of the restrictions are that your Bubble or Cohort are the same two people if you live alone. So not one for skiing then another one for restaurants, etc. I realize it is not that environmentally friendly more safest to have so many people driving, but this is one of the sacrifices we must make or stay over to reduce your times on the road.
Suddenly the environment is no longer a concern. Burn gas and pollute all you want.
The intent of the restrictions is to minimize unnecessary indoor gatherings. If you are not in the same household, taking more than one vehicle is going to be safer, and possibly more enjoyable as you won’t have to wear a mask. As others have said, this is only for three weeks and if we all try and stick to the intention behind the restrictions they might work and be lifted at the end of that period. Trying to bend or stretch them will almost certainly mean that we are faced with more restrictions. In the spring we lost access to the Parks, and obviously we don’t want that again.
The restrictions are currently only for three weeks – winter in the Canadian Rockies lasts months! Please stay home if you cannot adhere to the restrictions, and please don’t try to ‘stretch’ or ‘bend’ the new regulations to suit your immediate desires. The snow will be here all winter.
I believe the cohort/bubble rule has changed with these new restrictions. As of November 24, 2020, close contact must only be with members of the same household. Indoor social gatherings – even among members of the same cohort – are not allowed. It would be logical that” indoor social gatherings” would apply to vehicles as well. Check out Alberta.ca for the newest update on restrictions.
I have 1 friend (other than my husband) who I will share a Vehicle with and thankfully she is my ski buddy. If we stick to the cohort /bubble rule I think we’re fine.
Seems like a good question but we can still travel by public transit, taxi and aircraft, without limits on seating, provided all occupants are masked up. Maybe the same holds here?
Hey there, I’m trying to find a up to date trail report for Calgary so I know where I can ski & can’t seem to find anything. Your help is greatly appreciated.
A potential “resource” article suggestion bob: some kind of waxing primer for beginners, understanding the different types, varieties, do’s and don’ts, fluorocarbons, synthetics, and acronyms (brand naming etc: VR vs “special extra”). When is best to use fishs scales, skins, or wax. I’ve always used fish scales for cross country gear, being daunted by it and not wanting to bother (and never really cared about maximum speed or distance). I have used wax on my AT gear but have only had real success with polar wax temps. Anything warmer seems to be more art than science. There may be many new users looking for a similar overview and additional resources.
I had never skied the Upper Lake – Elk Pass connector before, so today I parked at Upper Lake and started from there. I skied through Elk Pass meadows to the hydroline going into BC, where I could hear noise from heavy machinery. It sounded like a logging operation is going on just on the other side of the hydroline. Something to be aware of for those skiing through to Elk Lakes cabin.
Fat bikers….
What’s lower?
Their IQ or their tire pressure?
Based on the above, we can see that grooming is expensive, especially to achieve the high quality Pisten Bully grooming. On Friday, we skied with a group of friends on the marvellous fresh grooming on the Elk Pass and Blueberry trails. Everyone had a great time and most certainly enjoyed the grooming.
PLPP is the closest location to Calgary with a reliable snow pack for a long ski season.
In the past years, there was no charge for this grooming at PLPP and this year there is a very modest charge for parking. There is no reason why the users should not cover the grooming costs.
Many users would be happy to pay for more frequent grooming with examples such as at the Golden Nordic Club (Adult $12/day 35 km of trails), the Sovereign Lake club (at Vernon Adult $19/day 50 km of trails), Canmore Nordic Centre (Adult $15/day 65 km of trails) and others. Note that Golden grooms about half of the trails daily and Sovereign grooms all of the trails daily.
At PLPP we have witnessed MANY happy skiers so far this year. This large group of skiers should be able to fund more regular grooming of more trails daily at PLPP, especially this winter of high demand for ski trails.
Thanks to the groomers, Nordiq Canada and the volunteers who helped to retain grooming at PLPP. We are indeed fortunate to have these trails groomed this winter.
Also a shout out to the excellent work done by the volunteers at West Bragg! They are also seeking a bit more funding for their proposed new smaller Pisten Bully equivalent (Sno Rabbit). We should all help with their funding as well.
Perhaps I should have offered some wax….
Several facts: 1) A small portion of PLPP contains the only high quality classic ski grooming (Pisten Bully) in South Western Alberta.
2) There are very small signs at the start of the trails in PLPP stating that skating is not allowed since it damages the classic track. The tracks are too close together to provide room for skating.
3) Many people are not aware that skating is not allowed in PLPP, but will copy other people that skate, since it is of low probability that they have read the small signs.
4) One person skated over much of the groomed classic track up Whiskey Jack.
5) One person was skating on Tyrwhitt. There were no groomed classic tracks on Tyrwhitt.
6) Yes, I was irritated.
Note that the only trails currently available in this area for skating are at Lake Louise (MLR and GDT) and Frozen Thunder.
Perhaps Brews did not remember that he skated much of the way up Whiskey Jack as wel as skating on Trywhitt
Appreciate the informative article.If a trail is packed and not track set eg Tyrwhitt this weekend , what is the etiquette regarding skating ?
I found it difficult in places to maintain glide & was switching between classic diagonal and skating . A gentleman stopped to tell me it was extremely rude to skate on a classic trail . I don’t see the issue on an uncrowded trail with no set tracks to damage but willing to consider other viewpoints
Hi Bob, we skied down Packers on Saturday not realizing the condition it was in, happy to report we survived! But yes, it was very dicey. It was a veritable roller coaster. Great day nonetheless!
Easiest way to look at grooming is to think of it like making a snowball. What is required when the snow is cold and dry? What happens if you make a snowball when the snow is wet and it freezes?
The answers to these questions is the basic principle of all grooming.
I concur with Mike W. This article is most useful and should make a lot of people think about the crew and all they do for us ( I know it certainly made me appreciate even more what is done for us). This article is good for both new comers to our sport but as well to people like myself who have been using the area for many, many, years. Thank you Bob.
I would also like to pass on a huge thank you to all the folks who sent in emails etc. to the government. Without the pressure we put on Jason Nixon and others and without Nordiq Alberta the wonderful service described here would not have happened.
An excellent article, Bob! How about listing it under Resources, so it’s readily accessible into the future?
Good idea, done! -Bob
Bob, you mention “There’s been lots of concern about there being no Live Grooming Reports. Nobody seems to know anything except for the fact that it’s not functioning.” Does anyone presently know any further? As a retired IT professional, is there anything that I can help with in that regard to investigate?
Great to meet you Skier Bob! We had a great day out!
-Lindsay and Mitch
Thanks to Skier Bob for the Upper Lake parking tip. We were the first vehicle in the Upper Lake lot at about 9:40 this morning. When we finished at 1:30, the Elk Pass parking lot was completely full, including vehicles parked on the side of the short access road into lot. Upper Lake had probably 15 or 16 vehicles and my buddy commented that the massive Upper Lake lot is a much better option than the crowded Elk Pass lot. We also enjoyed having that nice little 0.9 km connector stretch to casually ski after coming down to the Elk Pass lot.
A month ahead of normal schedule, including travel in the meadows! Happy days. As I have no cross country gear currently, unlikely to be any couches on pipestone or Fairview this year. So couch HQ is it, for now. Bring a foamy to sit on.
We arrived at 10:30 today at Elk Pass parking and were the last to squiz in
I was one of the skiers who told you not to ski down Packers, and we only realized it was you after you left!
Do you know if Cascade valley is trackset yet?
Please add me to your email list. Thanks!
Mailing list? News to me. I don’t have any such list. -Bob
I rode down the Kicking Horse Trail this summer and was blocked well before the Ottertail river by an ever growing number of large fallen trees. Much thanks (and maybe even a KHSC donation) must be given to the maintenance crew in getting this trail (and all the Yoho trails) in tip-top shape!
I only discovered these “hidden” gems last year around the time of the loppet -also a hidden gem of an event. And, COVID notwithstanding, really hope to see it go ahead. Well worth the trip, even from Edmonton (and we have snow!)
MaSid looks hardcore.
Thank you for your wonderful reports and dedication to the nordic skiing community! I reluctantly bought my parking pass today…not because I believe we should be paying the UCP government twice for this but because I didn’t want the hassle of explaining to volunteers how I feel this shouldn’t be a user pay facility (we already have one in Canmore). People should know that the pass is actually $54 because of the “processing” fee on Zone4.
I encourage everyone to write to Jason Nixon requesting that the live grooming be re-instated. I’m not sure why it’s “no longer functioning” which sounds pretty final to me.
You can submit your feedback using the offical contact form https://www.alberta.ca/contact.cfm#forms
Anyways, I think I’ve made my point known so now it’s time to try and put all this behind me on the trails. 🙂 I’ll try to be less grumpy in the future (but this government is making it very difficult)
Happy skiing!
Cindy, the Live Grooming Reports were operated by a private individual who seems to have disappeared. There was no government involvement. -Bob
Thanks for information Mike W and Masid.
I share most of the sentiments you’ve expressed and am surprised more details are not available.
That’s good news about pocaterra warming hut. Surprising even. Thanks Bob!
As for the Cooperating Agreement itself, it isn’t available to the public, including on Alberta’s “Open Government” website. This was confirmed with a phone call to the Alberta Environment and Parks FOIP Office. I looked into making a FOIP request. It costs $25 just to file the request, at which point a FOIP representative will give you an estimate on the fee to process the request. The government should have released the Agreement to the public to begin with. If I’m going to donate money to the government, whether or not it’s through an intermediate organization, I want to know exactly what’s going to happen to my money. Withholding this information is counter-productive to public trust and buy-in.
I bought my pass this morning and am good to go, but its still a bit unclear to me how the funding is going to work? I presume my payment will go to Nordiq Alberta, but will they then transfer all or some of the payments they receive to Parks or general revenue or even some other account? If the amount of funds raised exceeds or falls short of the cost of grooming what then.
Maybe this has been explained in detail somewhere and I’ve missed it, so if there is a link to that information I’d appreciate it.
Hi there
Snowshoeing with a dog off-leash – where is that available, and do you report those kind of updates in your website (which is a very useful site; kudos!)
Should be a good chunk of new snow in Louise tonight for a little refresh before the weekend, perhaps allowing some grooming expansion, maybe….
Just wondering where I can get a map to find out where all the groomed trails are.
No update on live grooming so far.
I always figured that AT stood for Aging Telemarker, given how many of us have gone over to the dark side, often due to aging knees.
Hopefully Steve was able to contain his joy and move off to the side.
Tickets are being handed out if you park on the road at the Back door. Over 40 cars were ticketed on Sunday November 15 from the CO people. Not a pleasant thing to come back to.
CW (clockwise)
CCW (counter clockwise)
KNP (kootenay national park)
YNP (yoho national park)
Ski Pen (penetration, depth of trail breaking)
HS (height of snow, total snow depth)
Couch HQ (couch headquarters, west elk pass)
It’s so underused they have to ticket people so it’s less used!
where is that parking lot exactly? The fire lookout parking lot I mean
By the way… AWESOME website. Please keep it work. Thank you for the great work 🙂
I think your question has been answered but the vehicles were encroaching the driving lane. I’m not sure if it would be possible to park completely on the shoulder. The advice the CO was giving was to seek out another trail when the parking lot is full.
I was at PLPP today via backdoor. When we returned to our car there were conservation officers putting tickets on the cars parked on the road. Might be worth warning people.
Trip report Fire look out/pocaterra/tywhitt
Not sure how you submit these. Been planning on a back door trip for a couple of weeks, knowing it can be good early season. Don’t think about checking site this early in season. We were third vehicle to arrive at fire look out parking lot. Arrived to a fresh dusting of 10cm of light and fluffy snow. Only 1 set of touring tracks heading up to Elk Pass was before us. Temperatures and wind were perfect for the 7.5km climb. We saw no one on the way up to the Elk Pass arch. Skier track was solid and the glide up was fantastic with the new BC skin skis picked up this summer.
Way back was significantly different. Lots of people out enjoying the fresh snow, and everyone happy to be out of the city. 51 cars parked in the lot and on the road when we left. Busy for Nov! But nice to see so many people out enjoying the trails we almost lost. Hopefully they all purchased a pass for what promises to be an amazing season in PLPP!
Based on MaSid’s Nov 11 6:33pm post in the Trip Reports section, we need to add:
AT Alpine Touring (skis)
LT Light Touring (skis)
SUBARU
Sanctimonious Urbanites Bumbling Along Roads Unpaved
Found on the SkierBob website:
BNP Banff National Park
CNC Canmore Nordic Centre
GBCTA Greater Bragg Creek Trail Association
SBFPM = Skier Bob For Prime Minister
Loved that photo of the skiers observing a moment of silence at 11am on Nov 11 that I posted it on my book face page. It gives credit to Chuck and Bob. Thanks.
Rhonda
Nice one Steve, great photos. That’s a brave sheep, hunting season and all? Or maybe he knows he’s not legal yet.
So far Kananaskis remote weather stations aren’t showing that much new snow (highwood and mud lake). So maybe Bragg is lucking out. Assuming if enough they will roller pack it to help prepare the next base. At least temps will be cool.
What is with the UCP discrimination against cross country skiers?
Mountain bikers in the Provincial Parks are not charged fees for riding on trails, particularly those nice paved ones! Cars are not charged fees for driving in the parks. People putting garbage into garbage cans are not charged a fee. People using toilets are not charged fees so why is Premier Jason Kenney charging cross country skiers fees to park? This is a Keystone XL pipeline money grab by a Premier who is discriminatory .
Unfortunately due to Covid we will be seeing a LOT more trail users out there… of all types: Walkers, classic skiers, s’shoers, skate skiers, fat bikers and skinnier-tired-fat bikers. Since so many of them are relatively new to their respective sports and perhaps don’t crossover much, they will require patience and education. Many will end up on some of the wrong trails, some by accident and others by ignorance. Education starts at the shops they buy gear from, from trailhead signs, from other infrastructure users, and from being open to conversations and education. So I would ask the question of how can we include the local shops in the educating process? So if we go looking for conflict it’s pretty easy to find it, whereas if we go looking to share and educate you will most often find friendly reception.
My grinds with fat bikers is only with those who run down track sets which is exceedingly rare, those that do not stay to the side of the trail on blind downhill corners and those that bike illegally on trails closed to bikers.
Other than that, they are ok on limited trails as bikes do far less environmental damage on snow covered trails as compared to dirt trails- ie ruts from bikes that lead to more erosion and debris entering fish bearing streams and rut erosion harm to trails which make hiking more difficult and increase trail maintenance costs.
Technically, Parks Canada should limit the speed of biking in the parks, like the City of Calgary does, on the bike trails to a maximum of 20 kph for safety purposes. The bikers are more of a hazard to hikers on certain hiking trails with blind downhill corners than skiers as they can move much quicker on solid ground than typical winter snow. Speed can be used in court cases involving accidents to help determine negligence or fault.
If Parks Canada does not have a biker responsibility code, it better move it’s butt and develop one for legal liability purposes. Parks Canada could be held legally responsible in the event of an accident on its trails which it controls and permits bikes to be utilized. We don’t need Parks Canada wasting more money on court cases than it already does because the Superintendent or Minister of Environment is too ignorant or lazy to develop a biker responsibility code for within Park boundaries.
As a hiker who has been highly injured in a crash by a bike going to fast downhill around a blind corner, I believe a biker responsibility code would be an excellent idea as it would simplify any court cases involving such accidents and educate people to be more careful riding. Making court cases simple also means less lawyer costs for the injured or crash victims which is greatly needed to keep money in the pockets of the injured.
If you ever do get hit by a biker, take pictures immediately for evidence purposes.
Keep on biking and skiing as safe as possible to keep the fun for all out there.
Where is the Great Divide parking lot? Are you referring to the one on north side of the highway? If so, do you then cross both the highway and the railroad tracks to get to the ski trail?
Thanks,
Matt
According to the Parks Canada trail report today, the Great Divide Trail is multipurpose, including fat bikes, so where is Charles coming from?
A few years ago, when switching to studded bike tires, all the local shop had were 2.2, which was much narrower than the 2.8 stock tires. Because I had already switched our SUV to narrower winter tires and noticed a significant improvement, I decided to give the narrower bike tires a try as I normally bike on plowed roads. (Plus the price of studded fat tires is eye watering). However, you do end up biking on seasonally closed roads after large snowfalls that have not yet been plowed, or ones that are still not too deep such as the dog loop at the end of the golf course road in Banff. It became apparent that I was able to keep a straighter line, and proceed through unpacked snow better than fat bikes due to the narrower tires that do not push a wall of snow up in front of a fatter tire that pushes back. Fat bikes do require a packed surface because they can only sink so much before they cannot be controlled and require a huge amount of effort to push the wall of snow. That’s why you see them favoring ski trails – up to a point. You’ve probably seen signs of this: evidence presented by spaghetti tracks that they tried for awhile biking on a groomed trail and gave up and turned back (as I did last year early season on the Great Divide Trail when all there was were 2 tire tracks from a truck). I get the impression that someone that’s new to the concept of Fat Bikes does not fully appreciate their limitations, and discover that they are largely also limited to plowed roads, or packed ski trails. Hence it is likely that packed trails will see an increase in this type of use every year, with the bikers being forced to find some sort of packed surface to ride on. And if there are no other alternatives, the track, or the skate lane, may be the only options for the determined biker (or snowshoes).
Is a Snow Rabbit a cheaper alternative to the Piston Bully?
Managed to swing by elk pass parking lot on Saturday. Only a few inches on the ground at the trailhead, barely covering gravel. Snow amounts at highwood dissipate rapidly below the elevation of the pass. The snow that fell has also settled very quickly in that area.
I also had a very pleasant chat with that young fellow and certainly echo Charles’ comments. One important detail I would add is that his fat bike was not affecting that firm surface in any way at all. Zero damage to the skating track.
If you are poor do not worry about buying a parking pass and just keep on xc skiing like usual. Don’t let Premier Kenney ruin your winter again.
Kenney’s election slogan was oddly “strong and free” yet he is eliminating what is free. Be strong and keep skiing for free if you don’t have the bucks to pay for parking in our parks.
Be sure to vote out the United Corruption Party, also known as the UCP, at the next general election and support a skier friendly party.
Nice to see parking lot fee payments will be voluntary as they should be. Poor people can continue to ski for free if they can not afford Kenney Parking Lot Fees in our Parks.
Once Joe Biden eliminates the Keystone XL Pipeline, Kenney can stop building the pipeline to no where and shift tax dollars back to our Parks where there are better returns on investment for our tax dollars rather than wasting them on subsidizing American oil companies with cheap ass discounted below market value environmentally unethical heavy Alberta bitumen.
If the unintelligent Conservatives would have been less American influenced and built value added oil refineries in Alberta decades ago, rather than foolishly exporting our raw crude oil then the discussion of Parking lot Payments in Alberta Parks would not be an issue today.
Viva live poor XC skiers in Alberta Parks free of costs. Keep on skiing and keep your ski tips up!
Word has it that The Saskatchewan Avalanche Rescue Team has just gone to DEFCON 2.
10 cm of new already at highwood pass today.
Theme is all the trails are in Kananaskis and were in danger of not being groomed and trackset this season. With the work spearheaded by Nordiq Alberta, we will once again be able to enjoy these trails on groomed/tracked conditions at bargain rates.
Congratulations, Jan. I’m glad to see someone figured this out. -Bob
So far looks like this next system is coming in wet to start. Raining in Banff and Louise and not turning to snow until morning. Blast! Saw some pictures from ramblers up at picklejar lakes and three lakes valley last few days. Still pretty snowy in places, but gaps in between depending on wind and sun exposure.
$50 for a pass is an amazing deal, given the range of trails and quality of grooming you enjoy. I’m pretty sure anyone who doesn’t live in your area realizes what a gem and privilege you’ve had for so many years and at no cost to users. I’ll buy a pass gladly. I live in BC and visit every year for a week of skiing and this is a true bargain.
Mike W, Jim, Bob et al. Know that your comments and questions are being read and considered. But there are legal and ethical issues here , and FOIP legislation of course. I am only a volunteer here, like many others, and certainly not at liberty to release documents without approval. Please be patient.
Goals are always a better way to motivate people.
If we are looking for 200k how about we have a counter on the Nordiq website?
I mean technically there are 7k members of that club alone…
Thoughts?
– Yes btw I already bought mine.
In a perfect world, where everyone is buying a pass, what would happen to excess $ raised above and beyond the cost of grooming? Does it all go back to Alberta Parks (government) or does Nordiq and maybe other ski clubs benefit from monies raised?
Hi Bob!
Piggy backing a little on “Friends” post. What trails work best for pulling a chariot ski pulk? My wife and I are intermediate skiers, our daughter is 10 months and our son who is 3 has already been skiing since he was a year and a half, but when the little man needs a break we are hauling about 60lbs plus the sled. Thoughts? Just wondering what you and the community think.
Thanks,
Darren
I was 5185 yesterday at 5:30 pm
How does this affect people who use the nearby snowshoe trails? Will a pass be required? Just wanting to clarify so I know what I need before I head out.
Hopefully they will open PLPP Visitor Centre for shelter for people. This is a safety issue.
If you are missing either your receipt or pass, check your Junk email box. My receipt and pass ended up there.
That will help solve the mystery of the odd missing pass. Thanks John. I updated my post to add that reminder. -Bob
If I’m not mistaken, Kyle and crew perform the ski trail grooming and trail maintenance in Sandy McNabb AND the south Elbow trail from Fullerton day use parking lot. So, technically speaking, parking for xcskiing there for that trail may? warrant a pass too …ABParks and GBCTA should clarify this, or better yet, just implement same for their agreement area. Happy Skiing!
Always partial to a bit of chocolate. Direct deliveries only. Critters will find any stash.
Is nordiq Alberta a charitable corp or whatever? Does payment get you a tax credit, seeing as it’s meant to augment government expenditure?
First of all, thanks to Ken Hewitt, Nordiq Alberta, Bob, and everyone else who contributed to this effort. If the Kananaskis trails were outside Alberta Parks and groomed by a non-government organization similar to West Bragg, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend $50 for a pass. But I’m uneasy about doing so for Kananaskis, because I’m then implicitly supporting the government’s decision that the best way to save $200,000 is by eliminate grooming, rather than cutting back on other expenses like its Energy War Room and Corporate Tax Cuts. The War Room is a complete waste of money. It makes sense to spend money to create jobs, but why spend billions of dollars in corporate tax cuts hoping that a fraction of it trickles down into job creation? A program that rewards corporations specifically based on the jobs they create makes more sense. Rather than contributing $50 to Kananaskis, I’m considering increasing my West Bragg donations by $50 instead. I’d appreciate any thoughts others have on this issue. Specifically, how can I contribute to Kananaskis Grooming without implicitly condoning the government’s actions? On a related note, what happens if the money raised by Nordiq Alberta exceeds the grooming costs? I certainly hope it doesn’t go into the government general coffers!
I am thrilled and thankful for the hard work of putting this proposal together! We are more than willing to pay for the grooming. We go regularly to Sovereign lake. Due to the worry about our own access to tracks near home, we have 2 X 2 week stays booked there. We could consider cancelling the interprovincial travel now. A question: is there any plan, or consideration for more frequent grooming? Sovereign Lake charges much more, but has Daily grooming. We would support higher fees IF it meant more grooming.
Great perspective in comparing other provinces (they also have a PST/HST) $50 is indeed a bargain! Count me in. I am relieved that a reasonable solution was found. Thank you to all the people that put in the effort.
However, on the political side of things, please note that the Alberta government is planning to close 20 parks and remove 164 from the Alberta Parks system. A total of 175 parks could lose protection and Albertans could lose access.
https://defendabparks.ca/maps/
The receipt has a pdf attached that you print.
I was #5135 and I thought that I was quick to “sign up”! I’d like to hear how many annual passes have been purchased already.
Does this fee apply to hikers as well? So this year because it is voluntary, you don’t need to buy a pass and will not get ticketed?
It really is only reasonable to expect the people who use the XC ski trails to pay for the excellent service provided by the hard working caretakers of the trails. I feel it was not something that XC skiers could have felt would last forever to have so much hard work and cost borne by the general taxpayers for a treat enjoyed by a small fraction of the population.
Lets pay up and be grateful for the ability to cohabit with nature on beautiful trails, enjoy the whiskeyjacks, stare with unadulterated one at the views and see people we know travelling on these peaceful pathways of snow.
I look forward to paying for the trail makers, and hope that the experiment works and that we can go on enjoying “paying to ski” as we should.
Thanks so much to everybody who helped make this happen!
Lucky us to get to pay for something that was free a few months ago. Does the government seriously expect a pat on the back for this?
Great initiative! Looking forward to enjoying the great trails this winter. Thanks for your work on this project – Nordiq Alberta, Ken and your team and Skier Bob.
It would be nice to have the option to add both my cars plate #’s to the pass so I’m not stuck having to pick only one.
Thanks to everyone who made this possible!!
Thanks to Bob and Ken Hewitt and Nordiq Alberta. I was skiing at WBC last Sunday – what a crowd! Folks were just glad to get outside and enjoy our wonderful backyard.
Looking forward to Pocaterra!
Great news! Thanks to everyone who was instrumental in making this happen, especially Nordiq Alberta! And thanks Bob for promoting our great sport. Now let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Great, Great News!!!!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this project-making process.
Great news! Pass bought already w/ donation.
Thanks for all efforts facilitating this! Looking forward to a great XC season of 2020-2021, especially in the crucial pandemic.
This is excellent news. Bought and printed the pass already. Special thanks to Ken Hewitt for all his hard work in putting this program together. Looking forward to another visit to Masid’s couch! YIPPEE!
BRAVO NORDIQ ALBERTA, Skier Bob and all 4600 emails and letter-writers sent in and T-Y to government officials who read and responded to them (Ministers Jason Nixon, Miranda Rosin and other elected officials). I read about this on Bob’s awesome website on 2:45 pm, and had my Parking Pass via efficient Zone 4 purchased at 3:17. We can celebrate this great news and hope Zone 4 gets overwhelmed with eager responders. Now let’s bring on the next big dump and colder temperatures.
* Online purchases require payment of supplementary credit card processing charges – approximately $2-$3 per transaction. Processing charges do not apply for cash payments at retailers.
this is a rip off on $10 charge to a credit card
Thank you Bob! That’s indeed an awesome news!
Just bought my pass. Ready to play “Guess the date when Elk Pass Trail is trackset” 🙂
First good news we’ve had in a long time. Next stop, season pass. And I’m so excited to find another volunteer opportunity – shall be putting my name in immediately as a parking lot volunteer.
Thanks so much, Bob, for the work you do.
And thank you Nordiq Alberta.
Well done, all.
Can’t wait to see you ut on the trails, and let’s hope for a fantastic xc ski season!!
Thank you Bob for the information. I appreciate all your hard work and your obvious passion for the sport. See you on the trails.
Thanks, Bob for keeping us informed. You are so on top of anything that has to do with XC-Skiing. I know I am stating the obvious, but I want you to know that you are super appreciated.
I’m so disappointed that people in the cross country ski community capitulated so quickly and easily and fell right in the current government’s trap to privatize and offload their responsibility onto the backs of Albertans.
Thank you to all that made K-Country happen for grooming this season!! <3
This is great news.
I will bite my tongue before I say something I regret about the useless penny-pinching mavens in government who thought that cutting this program was a great idea.
For backcountry users on a multi day trip to BNP or Assiniboine that do not have an annual pass, the best solution would be to purchase 2 day passes, one for the day in, and one for the day out?
That’s great – from the sidelines it appears that people put serious effort into making this happen. We don’t use the trails, but we certainly understand the importance of them, and did write to our MLA who sits at the cabinet table.
As someone who buys both a national park pass and a ski area pass, plus day tickets when we go to other resorts, a user-pay system seems extremely fair to me. Our province is fighting for its economic life and if we want recreation areas to exist, we may have to pony up. It is unfortunately present day reality.
Fantastic,
I feel we pay enough taxes this should be available regardless but obviously this was cut from Provincial services so…awesome work getting a solution figured.
Got Mine Already!
Wonderful, thanks so much to everyone who got involved in making this happen!!!
#12 is Pocaterra, just past the Lynx junction heading west
And here is the news about it:
https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx
I am not sure if this is a done deal or not and i dont want to discourage anyone but this looks like a very expensive groomer toy. There are many, many winters in wbc where the snow is thin at best and a machine this size will be of no use. Better to get more light weight equipment and train more people to use it. I am very happy to make my donation but I do not think this is the right direction.
#1 Bill Milne
Correct! -Bob
#12 is the only one which hasn’t been guessed. I thought it would be one of the easiest. -Bob
#1 Skogan
Nope. The unique mountain you see when you look south should be a giveaway. -Bob
Kananaskis trails
I think I got most of them but I did have to guess a few
#1 Terrace
#2 Whiskey Jack
#3 Elk Pass
#4 Tyrwhitt
#5 Mount Shark
#6 Hay Meadows
#7 Ribbon Creek
#8 Lynx
#9 Skogan Pass
#10 Pocaterra
#11 Packers
#12 Lynx
Good job. 10 out of 12 correct. #1 and #12 are incorrect. #8 is actually “Link” but you have the right idea. -Bob
#2, Whiskey Jack/Pocattera junction
#4, Tyrwhitt
#7, Hydroline
You’re off to a pretty good start with two out of three correct. -Bob
My understanding from talking to staff at WBC is that the new machine effectively allows all of the necessary snow work for the local conditions and excellent track setting in one pass, vs multiple passes doing multiple stages given the limitations of the current machine relative to the snow conditions. This saves much time and labour as well as maintenance hours on the machine and the product is better for the conditions that have to be dealt with and the amount of use the trails get. Sounds like a wise choice, especially with 65+ km’s of trail. I’m sure boomer or Alf could add more if need be for people to understand the need. I always thought the track setting was great and never realized it could be better, or faster. Thanks for educating me on what it takes to make it great for our use and enjoyment.
The donation links are kind of buried in there. So here they are:
https://www.braggcreektrails.org/donate-now/
or directly:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/13948 (one time or recurring)
https://donorbox.org/gbcta-trail-donations (recurring only)
Check out Snow Rabbit manufacturer’s site: http://www.snowtech.co.kr/en/company/greetings/ “Snow is God’s most beautiful and romantic gift to man”.
Thanks, Peter. I updated my story with some of this info. -Bob
Donated!
Hi Bob!
My wife is pregnant and is a beginner skier who just learned to snow plow. We are planning a day to ski in early December. Do you have any flat ski area you would suggest? We live in Calgary. It would be nice if the dog could come too. Thanks for all your services with the ski community.
LOST: a pair of men’s black ski gloves (eau claire?) at Little Elbow on Monday. Last seen on top of car parked just before the closed gate.
We were out on Sunday too – on AT skis to test out new boots.
The classic track on Moraine looked good, but the skate area had been thrashed by walkers and fat bike treads. Would be nice if they can either designate a section for them (nor why you’d want to walk that road in the winter anyway…) or at least strongly discourage walking/fat biking. It had decimated all the grooming work – and it’s one of the few places with a great skate track. And in places, I think the tire ruts hadn’t quite been flattened out.
As to the gate- that would be that gate after the parking areas, and that’s always shut all winter long. Doesn’t interfere with the normal parking. It sounds like parking on Lake Louise Drive is not permitted — not safe. Getting out of the parking area on Sunday was scary given how people were parked every which way. Get there early or park elsewhere, but don’t make it a gong show for people to get in and out!
Three of us from the Seniors Outdoor Club were out Tuesday morning. Snow was soft but skiable with either softer than violet wax or my fish scale skis worked very well! Started at 9:00 and off trail at 11:30. A good morning for a short ski on East Crystal and Sundog and back.
Have you been to Mt. Shark? Do you know what the conditions are like today (October 27/20)?
Chinook has arrived! +7 to +9 C already by 7:00am. Bring water skis, if you are coming out to WBC.
Found on MLR today – gloves and thermos in one location and vest in another. Gloves and vest are at the LL Visitor Centre but I had no room for the thermos it’s still up there.
FOUND:
Pair of Rossignol Skis found this morning at Mount Shark trailhead.
Call or text 4068991568
With respect to the Live Grooming Reports, I’m wondering if the company that provides the service has gone out of business. The security certificate for their website https://skitrails.info/ expired 2 months ago and their home page doesn’t even display their map. I tried phoning them, but the call gets forwarded to another number with a generic “no one can take your call right now” voice mail prompt. Perhaps someone from West Bragg or the Nordic Centre can clarify what the situation is?
You have created an incredible resource Bob! I have followed you for years. Anytime I meet someone new who xcountry skis my first question is -where do they love to ski? My second question is always-do you follow SkierBob?
Thanks for all the work that goes into this-very much appreciated!
Jenn
Thanks, Jenn! I’m glad I could facilitate creating this awesome XC skiing community. -Bob
Contribute to the WBCTA campaign to raise $25K to finance a Snow Rabbit (aka BabyPiston Bully). Given the 1000+ people there today, this should be a short campaign.
https://www.braggcreektrails.org/winter-is-coming-lets-get-grooming/
I skied Moraine Lake Road yesterday and it was being trackset by snowmobile from about 10- 11:30 am. Great conditions!
Ah yes, the neighbor in the white house… I too have felt his wrath. Maybe he should take up woodworking or some such.
Thanks for the update. My golf clubs are still in the car, in anticipation of this weeks’ heat wave. Pathetic, eh?
We did Moraine Lake Road today. It was crawling with various ski teams, including two male national team members, who I had a nice chin wag with. I am always in awe of these people, and their willingness to (delight to?) push themselves to the wall over and over again.
My Nordic comrades…
Fantastic day at the Spring Creek Trails in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
-12 and sunny. Skier packed. Great to see so many friends out so early!
Courtney
I’m looking to hire an instructor to teach my friend and I how to skate ski. We’re hoping for a few lessons in Calgary. Any suggestions on who to reach out to?
I discovered my love of cross country skiing in Kananaskis. Going to Mount shark area and skiing with my friends and our dogs on a sunny winter afternoon is my little slice of heaven. I remember going there for the first time and thinking… all of this for free!? It’s the greatest gift we can give Albertans and visitors to Alberta – groomed access to this winter wonderland for free. It’s such a low cost way to get people outdoors in the winter. It’s a gift to our health and wellness, and should be prioritized at times like these.
Hi Bob,
“The final sentence on the notice doesn’t make sense to me. “The Moraine Lake road traffic gate will remain closed during the seasonal winter road closure.” I hope that’s a mistake.”
That just means that the Moraine Lake road will continue to be closed to vehicle traffic for the remainder of the winter season (after the improved gate is installed), as usual.
Was wondering if cross country ski conditions at Cascade Valley in Banff are posted anywhere?
Does life get better than this? Fantastic conditions amd beautiful sunshine at Bragg Creek today!
Apparently (from a friend’s post) there were vehicle ruts on Moraine Lake road Friday from lodge staff trying to drive in. Hopefully those will fill in quickly.
Heard from a friend that the groomers arrived at Divide trail as they were finishing their ski Friday afternoon.
Thanks for the great early season grooming!! Thursdays conditions were great compared to Tuesday especially on Mountain Road leaving the parking area which was a miraculous improvement.
PLPP is my favourite place to ski. We skied there for years when the kids were small. They still talk about the echo where grandma did a face plant one Christmas. Now they choose to ski there with me, and come home to Calgary for the specific purpose to ski there with me. I’ve also skied there many times on my own, either for the pure enjoyment or to decompress from life. It’s a spectacularly beautiful place with fantastic trails and grooming. Winter would not be the same without it.
I like the variety, accessibility and long season of sking in Kanananaskis: Ribbon Creek, Peter Lougheed and Mt Shark.
Ribbon Creek has three different areas: the trails close to the village with lots of loops possible, the calorie burning trails towards Skogan Pass and the scenic Bill Milne and Watridge Lake area. Ribbon Creek is close to Calgary for a quick spin around some trails or to spend a day at a more leisurely pace.
Peter Lougheed is amazing with plenty of rolling loops on the valley trails with access via Pocaterra, Visitors Centre, Boulton, William Watson Lodge and Elkwood. The tour over Elk Pass and Trywhitt is an all time favorite with endless possibilities to start, end and do side trips such as Blueberry Hill and Lookout. Also don’t forget the trails on the other side of the road that are great to do on their own or in combination with the valley trails: Lodgepole, Braille, Meadow and Sinclair. I first discovered the newly developed trails in Peter Lougheed in the mid to late 1970s and have been back many times every year since. I have many fond memories of bringing the kids out for Jackrabbit lessons here, many a short and long tours, helping out with the Cookie race and more recently skiing out of William Watson Lodge.
Mt Shark has the long season and lots of variety in the easy to hard loops plus it gives great access to day trips into Bryant Creek hut and the upper Spray. Again fond memories watching my kids race and helping out at Sharkfest where the final races of the year were once held.
These areas are a treasure for all to enjoy and continued grooming and track setting whether it be free or for a fee is something the Alberta Government needs to maintain for the health and well being of thousands of people to enjoy both now and well into the future.
Super parallel!
Thanks Boomer!
Wow! Thats awesome.
Trails are still listed as multi-use this early in the season aren’t they?
Just prepping for the inevitable discussion on what trails we are reserving for skiing and what trails we can fat bike and snowshoe on…
Any thoughts from the grooming staff on how they would like to see the trails shared?
I grew up learning to ski here at the age of 7 and I still love skiing here many times a year. I love the variety of trails that are all available for free, with such a wide range of terrain and always neatly trackset. Everyone on the trails is so kind and polite, and the views always make for a magical day. It truly would make our province less to lose this wonderful space.
Kananaskis provides fantastic skiing for everyone, every ability and every ambition, from family picnic adventures at Nakiska to elite athlete at PLPP all set in incredible scenery and amazing snow. Its the winter jewel of Alberta and would be a crime to Canadians and our tourist industry for it to disappear.
Yesterday (Oct 20), near the end of my Telephone Loop circuit at West Bragg Creek, I walked down the steep hill on Moose Connector because of debris on the snow surface, along with a possibility of rocks hidden just under the snow surface. To my horror, another skier blasted down the hill at top speed, but fortunately came to no harm. (Perhaps he had previously climbed up the hill and was able to determine that there were no serious hazards.)
In any case, contacting a rock on XC skis at even a striding speed usually results in a head-first fall. At speed, it could cause serious injury, especially since I’ve yet to see a XC skier wearing a helmet! Take extra care when conditions are marginal, even for XC skiing.
I can’t wait to get out again this season. Isolation sucks.
How beautiful the mountains are in the snow ?? it gets us out to enjoy the outdoors all winter!
I like that I have an amazing outdoor hobby for myself and my family (my 5 and 3 year old included) to keep us active in the winter and enjoy our amazing landscape!!! Also I love the feeling of working hard up to fly all the way down!!
The cross-country ski trails in Kananaski are world-class and are a big part of what has drawn my husband and I back to the region from Ontario most years since we started visiting on nordic ski trips in 2011. The trails are amazingly well-maintained, the mountain vistas are wonderful, and everyone is so friendly. There are lots of funding models that the Alberta government could follow to keep this wonderful system in operation for local Albertan skiers and the many folks who keep returning to visit this Western Canadian gem. We were skiing at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in March on the last day of our trip and were shocked to hear the Alberta government announce the plan to stop grooming in Kananaskis as we drove back to Calgary to fly home. This year especially underlines the need to get outside and to be active to stay healthy. We wholeheartedly support Bob and this whole group of people who are passionate about skiing and the importance of maintaining access to these spaces.
My favorite place to go to get away from it all in the winter. Stunning scenery, amazing conditions, peace and quiet. A much needed escape. Well worth the drive.
Cross country skiing in Kananaskis is special because there is no commercial privatized feel to it – it just feels like you are taking yourself, family, and friends to wilderness that is so close and convenient to Calgary /such an unique attraction that can be shared by all, young or old, poor or rich. I always want my out of town/province/country family and friends to experience it. We built very strong family bonds and memories on the groomed trails!
Having groomed trails has been so important. There were many years when I did not have the money for other winter pursuits and it was so vital for my peace of mind to be able to get out in nature to and recharge from a taxing routine. It is a absolutely essential for our mental and physical wellbeing.
Honestly, xc skiing in Kananaskis is the only way to get through our long Alberta winters. I love that you can drive one hour from Calgary and leave the stress behind.
It truly is mountain therapy.
I am soooooooo hopeful that something can happen to arrange the grooming on the trails, and am more than willing to pay for using it!
I have spent the last 3 years getting my whole family into cross-country skiing. Now my wife and 4 kids ranging from 13 down to 4 love it. When we are in the mountains we are at peace. Kananaskis is our favourite place. In the summer we rock climb and backpack and in the winter we ski. I would be heart broken not to be able to ski the wonderful kananaskis trails. Without these trails there will be six very sad skiers.
If government officials want a compelling reason to keep grooming PPLP trails, healthcare costs is one. I rarely use the healthcare system, hardly ever need to go to the doctor. Skiing in PPLP is great for physical and mental health! I’m convinced that getting out and skiing there weekly makes me healthier and thereby saves the government money.
The beauty of the area and the thrill of outdoor activities.
Creating family memories
Free FAMILY Fun and FITNESS
The chance to discover the beautiful province of Alberta in all its splendour.
World class trails with excellent grooming and amazing scenery. Ideal for both beginners and experienced skiers. A great winter outing, whether you ski fast or slow, for an hour or the whole day, with friends, family or alone.
The groomed xc trail network in Kananaskis should be treasured for generations to come rather than being consigned to the memory banks as something we sacrificed in 2020 – to allegedly save a few bucks. It’s beyond belief we are even talking about this during a pandemic – given so much else has been taken away from us.
As for memories, there are many over last twenty years living here, and many more for my wife who learned to ski here with her Dad. One specific thing sticks out from last winter – that was being soundly beaten down Whiskey Jack by my laughing 10-year old as we made our way back to the parking lot at dusk after an epic family ski over Elk Pass, on the same day as she and her 7 year old sister did their first Cookie Race. The end to grooming was announced the next day…..
Any idea as to expected grooming frequency at Morraine Lake Road or Great Divide? Do you think there will be further grooming this week before the weekend?
Every time I ski at Kananaskis I think of 2 things:
How wonderful that I can make use of my tax dollars by skiing on these amazing trails!
Why would I ever want to go anywhere else to take a XC ski vacation when a short drive from Calgary I can ski on some of the best trails in the world?
It would be a shame to lose the grooming on these trails. Most of us would be prepared to pay a reasonable user fee to keep them. During covid, people need every opportunity to get outside to exercise where transmission is minimized. There was a huge explosion in biking due to covid – maybe the same will happen to XC skiing. How bad would it be if the best location was no longer maintained?
I skied Great Divide on saturday, prior to the roller-packing; and was very surprised that I think I was the only one who did. Got there at noon, and there were no other tracks, other than a couple of non-fat bikers who made it all of 5m past the gate before giving up and walking their bikes back to Lake Louise Road.
Snow depths were about 15cm to 25cm, of fairly moist snow, with a bit of a slushy/icy layer at the bottom where the latent heat of the ground was still keeping things wet.
Had to break trail all the way out (on skinny track skis), and then came back following my own tracks with mixed results.
Outbound the snow was deep enough that even on the hill down to the arch / picnic tables I had to stride down (not even double-pole-able)
On the return trip, there were a few places where my own weight had packed things down to the slush layer, and a fair bit of time I was still compressing soft snow. I never broke through to bare ground though.
Overall, still phenomenal conditions for mid-october. I suspect that the roller-packing might have squished things all the way down to the slush layer, but if the week stays cold and we can get another storm or two, it should form a very nice base for the rest of the season.
What I love about skiing in Kananaskis is the great variety of trails for various skill levels and the phenomenal views. I visit Kananaskis Village, Peter Lougheed, and Mount Shark trails each season, though I am definitely a repeat visitor at the latter two. PLPP and Mount Shark are my favourites: Mount Shark for the fun hilly trails and Peter Lougheed for the trails up to and around Elk Pass… it is so beautiful and such a fun way to get outside during the long cold winter!
Often I stop in the village for food or a drink after skiing, and, if there is an occasion for it, enjoy an overnight stay along with my xc skiing!
Having groomed trails in Kananaskis is a wonderful benefit to the many skiers in the Calgary region and beyond. More than ever we need options for people to stay physically active, fit and healthy.
Given the current situation with Covid-19, we need groomed trails more than ever. This year I have never seen so many people using the trials in Kananaskis and Banff. Please continue grooming the trails.
We at have missed each other again!
Sounds about the same time as I was there too
Met that group of hikers later at higher elevation. They were working their way to the lake single file keeping right on the shoulder.
Good to hear. – Bob
We truly need as many ways to keep healthy and stay positive this winter, especially this winter. K-country ski trails are incredible. Please, please , please continue this grooming program.
That’s fabulous, but Cypress Hills is not in Kananaskis.
Let me explain it to you. The fact that Alberta Parks has made the decision to continue grooming in one of their jurisdictions, bodes well for the Kananaskis situation. -Bob
For me, groomed ski trails in Kananaskis are irreplaceable. The setting, the amount and quality of snow for cross country skiing are unsurpassed. It is a magical experience.
As a family we ski Mount Shark, Peter Lougheed and Ribbon Creek. Kananaskis provides a healthy outdoor sport, relatively close to home, affordable for families. Track set trails are much easier for beginner skiers and for children who are learning to ski, are necessary for training, and are an integral part of cross country skiing.
Thank you, Bob, for your reports and updates. It sure looks like a great day!
I love the easy climb at Ribbon Creek with a beautiful view at the end. It is so quiet and when the tracks are set, I get lost in the flow of motion and stride. Surfing back to the parking lot, I take in the sound of wind, birdsong and the creek. I soak in the sights of the forest. Such a beautiful drive to enjoy with a couple of friends. We visit the village after for a beverage. It is a wonderful day trip.
As our society seems to become more unhealthy and health care costs grow every year, I find it incredible that the ucp government would eliminate a healthy activity for Albertans. This article says it all:
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/life/health-and-fitness/fitness/the-jaw-dropping-benefits-of-cross-country-skiing/article6747824/
Please give the government some encouragement by emailing your MLA. Now is the time to let them know how important skiing in our parks is for the well-being and mental health of Albertans.
Skiing in the Kananaskis forest is the best! Your body gets a great work out, your soul gets to soar with the mountain peaks and your imagination takes you bsck to this place until the next time you are there.
The vehicular bridges over Lost Horse Creek and Redearth Creek were removed about 40 years ago. Our crew sure had fun replacing them with the hiker/horse bridges. They and others still standing in the Banff backcountry have stood the test of time.
Does anyone have any info on the New Iron Creek Bridge in Alf’s photo? I’m especially interested in what it cost and how it was built and funded.
My local ski trails in Muskeg Creek Park in Athabasca has (had) 3 bridges all of which were severely damaged in flooding last spring to the extent that only one is now usable. The local municipality has gotten what I think are some ridiculous quotes for replacement; $500 000 per bridge and $65 000 per bridge for engineering fees alone. Our club doesn’t have that kind of money and the municipality isn’t offering anything. These bridges are crucial to our trails but they just need to cross a small creek. Bridges about the size of the New Iron Creek Bridge should be about right.
Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Blueberry hill! The grooming is always pristine and the effort is always worth the view at the end. And then the descent tests all the muscles again. It’s always a magical winter wonderland
I love taking my classes out to PLPP to learn to cross country. I love sharing in the kids successes when they hit the open spots on Wheeler for the first time spotting the mountains rimming Upper Kan Lake.
I love booking LowerLakes group with my classes in the winter and having the remoteness, and the true winter wilderness experience for them.
I love the silence that comes from skiing in Kananaskis. When there’s a fresh snow it absorbs any sound and it’s the purest form of nature. I love that I can go to Peter Lougheed or Mt Shark and ski a little ways back in the trails and see no one for hours or see families out being active an healthy together.
Umm… “obey themselves”? I meant “behave themselves”. Type, PROOFREAD, send…
H.
I’m with you on Tyrwhitt, Bob. As weird as it sounds, when the track on a certain slightly curvy downhill section heading south (?) to the hydroline is a bit icy, one can hip-steer (I just made that up) through it. It’s exhilarating; try it! Just swivel your hips to keep them square to the tracks, and your skis will obey themselves. As I said, sounds weird.
Fox Creek and Moraine sure are purdy, especially when there’s a fresh dump.
There’s a short stretch along the Kananaskis River I just discovered last year (Sinclair?) that was a nice surprise too. Done now.
I’m looking forward to getting on the skinny skis again!
I rediscovered cross country skiing in PLPP in 2013, and it was a game-changer to my well-being. I went from being depressed in winter to loving it. From couch-potato to a fit, active person. PLPP gave me a place to escape life’s stresses and replenish my spirit. I then put my kids on skis, and it became our place of choice to enjoy time outdoors together. It would be such a personal loss if this resource were lost to us.
I can think of ten reasons at least why I love PLPP:
1. The groomed trails are accessible to everyone, young and old, beginner or advanced.
2. It’s BEAUTIFUL there.
3. PLPP retains its snow long after many other parts of Kananaskis are ruined by Chinooks.
4. It’s not too far from Calgary.
5. The trails are designed to take you places – you’re not stuck accumulating kilometers by skiing in circles.
6. The trails are busy enough that I feel safe there, even when I ski alone.
7. Speaking to safety again, the groomers keep the trails in great shape, and this adds a layer of safety.
8. The trails are not so busy that it feels crowded (except during the Cookie Race :)).
9. Every skier that I meet on the trails is always smiling.
10. I often meet people visiting from outside the province or Canada who tell me what a gem we have here.
I’d add a further shout-out to the visitor center and warming hut, but due to Covd-19, they are unfortunately closed. It would be such a shame if they were closed permanently though. I love that there are always lots of people of all ages in the Centre, enjoying a hot chocolate and admiring the view – it’s a happy sort of place in winter.
Would I be willing to pay for all of this? You bet. It would be such a tragedy to lose this incredible resource for our well-being.
Fresh air. Rosy cheeks. Natural beauty. Sparkling snow. camaraderie. Rejuvenation!
this area is beautiful and used and loved by many every year. it s cruciall that everybody spends as much time as possible out doors this winter due to covid. this area MUST be groomed for x country this winter.
As a newbie to the sport last season I bought my own equipment literally the day before the announcement that the province was going to stop grooming the Kananaskis trails! Talk about gutted!! I was so excited that I would finally be able to head out to K country whenever I wanted, be it for the day, or just a couple of hours to practice what I learnt in my lesson and just enjoy our beautiful backyard. So important for our mental and physical health at any age but even more so as we try to cope with the new ‘normal’
Peter Lougheed is a winter wonderland with beautiful scenery of snow covered trees, mountains and perfect ski conditions. The amount of snow this area gets allows for some of the earliest season skiing as well as well into spring. The diverse terrain allows for so many abilities and our kids are now starting to enjoy the trails we’ve loved for years. This is our primary ski area for so many reasons and are obviously loved by so many!!
Our Winnipeg-based cross country ski club has organized an annual trip to Alberta during the first week of March for over 30 years. 20 to 40 of us stay in Canmore for a week, and ski every day. Typically, we ski at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and/or Ribbon Creek on 3 of those days. It’s something we look forward to every year. We hope the club doesn’t have to consider an alternative trip this year if there’s no ski trail grooming in Kananaskis.
I love the trails in K Country, especially the PLPP trails – the combination of fabulous scenery, groomed trails with a backcountry feel to them that actually cover distance and reach destinations like hills, passes and viewpoints, a long winter season and easy access on good roads close to the city just can’t be beat anywhere. It would be a major loss not just to Alberta but to the entire western North American mountain system if these trails are gone (it certainly wouldn’t help to “improve the quality of life for Albertans” to eliminate them). If I’m going to live in a climate with long, snowy winters I want to take advantage of it!
Kananaskis – my favourite place to ski! The breath-taking beauty, many kilometers of trails, the peacefulness, and the impeccable grooming and tracksetting by experienced Alberta Parks employees always make for a great day. Since we live in Alberta, where the winters are long and cold, the best way to really ‘live’ in winter is to embrace your inner snowman/snowwoman and get out into the wilds! We are winter people! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Exercise, fresh air, peace and serenity!!
I learned to ski in PLPP, and its been my favorite ski area ever since. There is a wonderful variety of trails for both beginners and advanced skiers, and often long trail sections between junctions. Blueberry Hill is mesmerizing after a big snowfall. Even when the parking lots are full, the trails don’t feel crowded. The other ski areas in Kananaskis – the Village trails and Mt. Shark, are also exhilarating. I love the wildness and tranquility of skiing in all these areas, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of a day on the trails. I’m looking forward to another winter season there.
Love the peacefulness, scenery and the swish-swish! A day xc skiing in kananaskis offers a mental refresh and a workout!
Easy drive from Calgary to some exceptional skiing terrain. Whether a beginner or a veteran skier there is lots to choose. The scenery is outstanding, the people you meet are wonderful and the occasional tracks or sighting of wildlife is exciting. This place is a treasure that should be enjoyed year round.
X-country skiing is our family’s favourite recreational activity, and it is also our children’s main competitive sport. Kananaskis Country is a gem for all mountain activities and especially x-country skiing. We love all 3 main areas of Kananaskis Country for x-country skiing. Mt. Shark for it’s consistent snow and classic and skate trails, Ribbon Creek for it’s proximity to Calgary and Peter Lougheed for it’s great variety of classic trails. Also the Pocaterra Lodge at Peter Lougheed provincial park makes it possible to ski in the mountains with young children. Losing the trail maintenance at these areas would be a great loss to us and other Albertans. We love the fun, the affordability, wildness and tranquility of cross-country skiing.
Cross country skiing is how my family gets outside together over the winter. We can’t afford downhill skiing so cross country helps us to stay active and look forward to winter rather than sit around and complain about the cold. Kananaskis is our go to place to ski. When the kids were especially young, we would always ski in the Ribbon Creek area close to the lodge so that we could warm the kids up. We arranged regular lessons with Kananaskis Outfitters along with some other like minded families. Now, we are part of the Foothills Nordic Club and I , at the age of 40, participated for the very first time in a loppet (the Cookie Race at Pocaterra). Cross country skiing is our lifelong sport and will help my husband and I stay fit and active into our old age. The trails in kananaskis are world class (told to me by a Canadian Olympic team member who has skied all over the world) and should be maintained for generations to come. The cost of grooming is a drop in the bucket compared to the overall provincial budget, but the rewards are long lasting and significant! I hope that not only I, but my kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this amazing sport in such a beautiful locale. Thanks for reading.
I love to spend a day out in the mountains with my family. We love winter activities but we are not die hard backcountry enthusiasts (nor prepared).
Groomed trails allows us to enjoy the #1 reason we even live in Calgary, which is the mountain trails that make us feel connected to nature and connected to each other. I moved to Calgary 20 years ago. I met my husband in the mountain parks, and we have been bringing our kids to the mountains since they were born. Skiing lifts my moods, keeps my body healthy, and my family off video games too.
There is so much negativity in 2020, and we are all facing challenges of a different flavour, surely cross country ski maintenance is a small price to pay for such massive rewards. I don’t know if the healthcare system can manage the physical and mental repercussions, either.
When x-c skiing in K-country I love the fresh air and scenery – great views atop Blueberry Hill and Lookout. It is an exhilarating way to get your exercise and stay fit. We need those trails groomed.
Xc skiing in Kananaskis is something I look forward to every year. The peacefulness & magical beauty of the snow glistening on the trails, makes my heart sing.
This is an Albertan pastime that needs to be cherished & looked after. It is an activity that is affordable, that brings out people of all walks of life & results in happy, healthy Albertans. Let’s not lose sight on the forward thinking of Peter Lougheed & his legacy that he left Albertans to enjoy nature & the many activities associated with it. Please continue to groom & track set our trails for years to come.
Cross country skiing is my favourite activity, and I would be devastated if the trails were no longer groomed. It’s also an activity that improves both physical and mental health, and saves a fortune on health care costs. It’s very short sighted to think that stopping the grooming will save money.
Have been enjoying these wonderful Kananaskis trails with my friends and children for 20 years. Just started bringing my grandchildren. Such a fun and healthy activity, mentally and physically. Can’t imagine not having access to these groomed trails.
I have made over 18 years of memories skiing in Kananaskis (since I first moved to Calgary!). What I love most is sharing all those memories with my children (ages 7 & 10) and creating new memories XC skiing together. We ski in Kananaskis so much every year and reflect on how lucky we are to have access to such amazing XC skiing so close to home.
Kananaskis has the best selection of trails for all abilities. Flat trails like Bill Milne, Meadow, Woolley and Amos plus trails with elevation, like Kovach, Elk Pass, Tyrwitt and Blueberry. Many other areas have limited low elevation trails for new XC skiers. Not the case with Kananaskis. Multiple parking lots means lots of entry points for skiers to keep distance and enjoy the trails. Groomed trails in Kananaskis are low avalanche risk. Keeping these trails groomed for skiers means inexperienced skiers won’t go exploring for terrain unknowingly in more high-risk areas.
My kids have enjoyed these trails every year of their lives, from being pulled in a pulk, to getting to put on their own skis and explore on their own steam. It is an affordable way to keep us active as a family and having fun all winter long. We love these trails.
I love teaching my kids to ski and being outdoors for some dedicated family time away from the city.
Blueberry Hill when grooming and track setting has been completed with good snow is a great run.
Awesome place to xc ski, and for families on a budget it is ideal for exercise, Vit D, and family time. Keeping Kananaskis xc trails groomed and user friendly, especially for less experienced folks, should be a no brainer. Only the small minded UCP types who think the $ is everything would disagree.
Our absolute favourite family activity! We are so fortunate to have access to such beautiful wilderness, practically in our backyard. The kids are a bit older now, and we can really enjoy some wonderful family adventures on the multitude of track set trails…everyone has so much fun that no one thinks of it as exercise! Time in the mountains, and on these trails, has had amazing benefits for our family – both physically and mentally. I can’t imagine an Alberta winter without cross country skiing!!
We love cross country skiing as a family. It’s an affordable sport that keeps us moving all winter. There’s much excitement in my house when we head out for the first few trips of the season.
We climb to fire lookouts on our skis and have a blast skiing down, we ski into backcountry lakes, and we get out for big tours where we get to enjoy the fresh air, frosty trees, snow covered bridges, and beautiful mountains towering over us.
We like downhill skiing too but there’s something more relaxed and natural about xc skiing. Less people, less crowded, no having to show up at an exact time for first lifts, and no packed day lodges.
This is the year we need xc skiing!! So many families are struggling financially and can’t afford expensive sports like downhill skiing. Xc skiing is perfect for physical distancing too and there are no high touch points. Just people spread out throughout the woods outside with space for kilometres in all directions. For mental health alone so many people need this sport this winter!
Cross Country Skiing in Kananaskis provides thousands with enjoyment and enhances their mental and physical health. Groomed trails and available warming facilities dramatically increase the safety for all and make cross country skiing accessible to a broader spectrum of the population. I would propose we transition to an all Kananaskis annual pass for teams, individuals and families that covers the Nordic Centre, Mount Shark, Ribbon Creek, and Peter Loughheed Provincial Park.
XC Skiing allows people to get out and enjoy the benefits of nature. It reenergized the soul. The second part is allowing people to get exercise to stay or become healthy so that they can deal with the stresses of every day life. Allowing users to pay to cover the costs is a far better answer than just stopping the grooming process.
It’s great! Beautiful way to get exercise.
When I get on my skis, put them in the track and set off, I forget that I am on my skis. I feel quiet, peace and the mountains all around me. XC skiing in Kananaskis is where I find my mental and physical health, and what helps me get through the 6 months of winter ever year. One of the main reasons I have chosen to live in Alberta is the amazing recreation opportunities we have here – xc skiing is a big part of this.
I discovered the joy of cross country skiing in my early 20’s as a complement to the running and cycling I did and haven’t looked back in the 30 years that have ensued. For me the trails in PLPP are a true treasure that offer diversity, beauty, connection with nature and with like minded people while being active. The benefits of physical activity and social connectedness are well documented, as are the benefits of unplugging and being in nature. In addition, facilities like William Watson Lodge and adjacent trails foster access for persons with disabilities and mobility challenges.
With a winter of covid restrictions ahead – xc skiing in PLPP is a beacon of hope that will enable many to stay mentally well.
For years I’ve thought that when I pass on, I would love to donate a bench to the park, or picnic table so people can pause to drink in the beauty, feel the gratitude and rest a bit with a thermos of tea, as I have done so many times.
I’m grateful that both my teens know skiing – and hope we can share more outings like our ski to Blueberry Hill on Family Day 2019….
Here’s hoping….
We live pretty far away from nice, groomed ski trails, so we come up to Kananaskis area at least twice in the winter and stay in hotels, pay for food at restaurants etc, contributing to the local economy of Canmore and Kananaskis. Without these groomed runs, which are world-class, soothing to the soul, and a solace to surviving long, cold winters, we will be taking our winter vacations elsewhere. We do not like skiing at the Nordic Centre, it is too busy, trails are limited, and does not offer the same attraction that the Kananaskis trails do.
I know the mental and physical benefits of xc skiing. As I age and fight to keep healthy and out of old age homes, xc skiing during the long winters become so very important. I dont have the strength or skill for breaking my own trail. Having Kananaskis allows me a place close to Calgary, an affordable outing that gives me joy! I’d be lost without it. During COVID it is the one healthy thing I can do with friends and stay safe! Physical, social, mental health and benefits- this in turn helps all residence of Alberta.
Having PLPP and Kananaskis Village machine groomed for xc skiing isn’t just necessary for enjoyment but also required for safety. People will venture there regardless. The user evidence in Kananaskis this summer is proof that this winter will mimic. Not everyone that skis needs or can be in close quarters at the nordic centre as they cannot handle that kind of user pressure nor is that location in any way the same sort of experience. People should have the opportunity to safely recreate and have unanimously declared support for a user pay system to that end. Options exist that can be implemented facilitating safe trail use, supporting a diversity of entry/exit points whilst observing safe distancing protocol. Albertans: elected officials working with bureaucracy and citizens, must find an equitable solution to continue this in-demand service.
The health and well being of the society depends on the health and wellness of its individual. The ski trails in Kananaskis are treasured asset to the people of Alberta. The varied terrain, stunning beauty, well groomed trails are great for all skiers!
The XC skiing trails in Kananaskis are world-class, up there with the best in the world. There is no better way to get a dose of nature therapy, proven to positively improve one’s mental health. What an amazing area for peacefulness, beautiful scenery, disconnecting from media (social, TV, etc). Add in the fitness benefits and this is a region that is vital to protect and maintain. The maintenance and trail grooming pays for itself many times over – keeping the population that utilizes it healthy physically and mentally, decreasing utilization of the healthcare system.
It’s “snow” amazing!
As a senior, hoping to stay healthy, I enjoy the quiet glide of my skis on the snow. Fear of falling on the icy streets and breaking bones or getting a head injury in the winter curtails my ability to walk in the city in the colder months. Breathing the clean fresh air, feeling the wind in my face, getting covered in snow by a snow bomb from the evergreen trees and just the freedom of being outdoors are some of the joys of cross country skiing.
With the pandemic, I feel there will be a much increased demand on the ski trails this winter as new converts to the sport hit the trails in search of healthy ways to get entertainment and exercise.
It is an affordable sport for families, that benefits all ages. My parents introduced their seven children to cross country skiing back in the 1970s, and all of us children have introduced the sport to our children in turn. Dad and Mom would stay in Kananaskis every winter (coming from the Edmonton area), and go skiing with their grandkids. Lots of fun family memories have been made this way. Dad skied into his 80s, which shows what great exercise it is for seniors. When my kids were younger, I would take them out almost every weekend to ski in Kananaskis because of the superb trail system. Now that they are adults, they go on their own with their friends. It is such a gem in the provincial park system, and draws tourists to the Kananaskis area.
Alberta Parks are our treasured recreation spaces that provide escape and reprieve from the stresses of life. Skiing on groomed trails is truly the ultimate winter outdoor activity, for mind, body and soul. They are one of the key features that drew me out west from Ontario as a young adult looking for richer outdoor rec experiences!
The feeling of cool wind on my face, the challenge of each different trail and the bringing together of unique people. Who wouldn’t want to spend time in a place that brings so much positive energy to everyone. I hope to get out more this winter, and I will do as much as I can to make sure that is a possibility. 🙂 There is nothing better than the freedom of a glide…!
In Kananaskis I love to ski
Afterwards enjoying my cookies and tea
Great for the heart great for the soul
Ski a short way or reach a new goal
Scenery is exquisite, beauty to behold
Variety of trails so incredible it never gets old
Trails up and down with views everchanging
Skiing big loops in Kananaskis is amazing
Striding and gliding and feeling so free
Kananaskis is a sacred place for you and for me
Skiing in the PLPP is hard to beat: the beautiful scenery, the varied terrain, and space enough to find solitude even on the weekends. My all-time favourite is the Whiskeyjack-Tyrwhitt-Elk Pass-Fox Creek loop.
I like the terrain and vast selection of areas form beginner to most challenging cross country ski trails. I also love it’s proximity to Canmore.
The quiet solace of being outside amidst mountains, trees and other like minded people. The beauty of the outdoors, the heart rate surge, and the post ski invigorating feeling. We are so lucky to live near the mountains and should take advantage of exploring them and appreciating them. Thanks for all you do Skier Bob to bring the community together.
Cross-country skiing is what I do in the winter to get outside and exercise and that’s critical to my mental health and I know this is true for so many others. This winter is going to be tough on all of our meant health with COVID. Having groomed trails and access to an affordable outdoor winter sport such as cross-country skiing seems like a no-brainer when it comes to efficient ways to use government funds.
Kananaskis is my favourite place to cross-country ski. The groomers do a professional job that I have not experienced elsewhere. Skiing is essential to my well-being in winter. I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and being able to get out into beauty and solitude and move my body vigorously on safe trails is the activity that gets me through the winter.
Cross country skiing is such a peaceful, healthy, and active way to enjoy the winter, great for all ages and many abilities, especially when groomed. The equipment can be reasonably affordable and makes for a great way to enjoy the mountains with family, friends, and on your own. We are so lucky to live in a place with the opportunity to enjoy such a diverse set of trails and activities in our area, and I hope it stays that way!
Skiing to Elk Pass from the parking lot via Fox Creek, Elk Pass trail and then on Tyrwitt and Pocaterra trails is a healthy, visual treat. Hopefully Pocaterra Hut and the Information Centre will be open to allow for warming up before continuing on your ski day. Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Village area trails are also in the same category. With any luck we will be able to continue skiing in what has become one of the best cross country ski areas in Canada!
Skiing in Kananaskis, particularly around PLPP is my favourite winter activity! It is beautiful and it is great for exercise and for mental health. I love that so many of the trails are family friendly! With so many families who are experiencing financial stress due to the pandemic, it is great that we have so many amazing trails and a lodge to bring picnic lunches to. This will help families get out, stay active and help their mental well-being. Please don’t take this away!
Skiing in Kananaskis Country is the best part of living in Calgary, and without it I would probably want to move away. The beautifully groomed trails provide excellent exercise in a safe setting, which is particularly important for seniors and families.
There is often good snow, especially in PLPP, and the variety of trails is fantastic. There is something for everyone!
I truly feel alive when cross-country skiing, and hope to be able to continue for many years.
Ribbon Creek and Mt Shark are two of my most favourite places to ski and some of the few that are accessible for Skijoring. The cessation of grooming will limit my skiing to very infrequent instead of the multiple time’s a week that I normally ski. I am hoping that a change in decision comes about so that we will still have a cross country season at these 2 amazing areas! Yet I understand it costs money to do, so why wasn’t a user pass system evaluated? I don’t downhill ski anymore for physical reasons but when I did i knew that it meant paying for a pass, whether it be daily or seasonal. I was always surprised that we didn’t have to do similar for cross country skiing. It makes sense to me that it would go a long way towards operational costs.
Last year, for my first ever time on the Bill Milne trails, I really appreciated the excellent track setting that made gliding along in the crisp air and glorious sunshine a truly wonderful experience.
Last year, and over the years I have also skied on and appreciated the amazing network of groomed trails in the Kananaskis: Ribbon Creek, Elk Pass, Pocaterra etc.
Cross country skiing has been an important part of my winter fitness program and I hope to continue that in the coming years.
Skiing in Kananaskis has given winter purpose for me. It is the most beautiful area and has a variety of terrain for all levels. I learned on these trails when the W. Bragg Creek system was too difficult for me. Now that I’m more skillful, it remains my favourite destination due to the scenery and the services provided by the visitor centre.
Skiing in Kananaskis is my favorite winter activity and it gets me through the long winter season. It’s good for mental and physical health! It is an activity that my family and I can do together and we go almost every weekend because we look forward to it so much.
Kananaskis is my favorite place to ski because it is close to Calgary, but once you get on the trails you hardly see another soul. It’s so vast, beautiful, wild and has good snow.
The trails at PLPP have provided these senior ladies with a wonderful and safe place to ski. We love the scenery, the quiet and the variety of trails that provide a constant challenge but are well within our abilities. Having these facilities within an easily driveable distance from home makes our weekly trip there something we all look forward to.
Fresh air
Reliable snow
Quality trails
Family friendly
Varied terrain
Proximity to Calgary
Natural beauty
Sport for life
Clear mind
Physical fitness
Rosy cheeks
Hot chocolate
Gliding downhill
Frozen fingers
Frosty eyelashes
Struggling uphill
My children laughing
These are all the reasons I like skiing in PLPP.
Skiing in PLPP feels like home and happiness. The beauty and fun brings our family together every time we go out. We have two boys who are in their pre-teens. When we hit the trails, their tech goes off and within a km or two, they open up and we ski and chat. I have yet to find a family activity that brings them out of their shell the way xc skiing in PLPP does. It’s one of my most favourite places and activities in the winter.
The trails encourage physical and mental well being in a very difficult time and this reduces the burden on the health care system… And it’s fun.
It preserves my mental and physical health being outdoors skiing in a winter wonderland of PLPP.
I love everything about skiing at PLPP! The beauty everywhere I look, the sense of achievement and health when I get to the top of Whisky Jack or Blueberry Hill, the visitor’s centre and Pocaterra hut for a warm and quiet place to get myself ready, and if course the reliably great trails. I’ve skied there on many occasions and I’ve never had a bad time! (Except for one time when it was very sticky snow and I brought the wrong skis…)
Skiing in PLPP is always one of the highlights of the winter. My 6 year old daughter joined an XC ski club that held lessons out in Kananaskis. This program has been put in jeopardy. The governments decision is so short short sighted and frustrating. The XC ski network in Kananasksis is important for many people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
I love these trails, especially starting from Pocaterra or Elkwood, a little warm up before heading towards more daunting hills, but I could go for several hours, with so much variety
I love skiing in K Country! Its beautiful, close to Calgary, fantastic exercise and easy to access. My mother skied these trails, I grew up skiing these trails and now my kids ski these trails. They are gems and we can’t let them go.
I love how Kananaskis is so close and yet so remote and wild. Groomed trails makes cross country skiing accessible and family friendly.
Skiing Kananaskis is good for the body, mind and spirit. No other place in the world could be as beautiful as K-Country for x-county skiing. It is one of the best things about living in Alberta! This year we need it now more than ever.
I’ve never skied Kananaskis, but in fact I am seriously considering moving to Calgary so that I can. The potential for challenging but accessible cross-country skiing is a huge priority in my decision making.
While skiing, watching the sun rising higher and highlighting different views of the snowy landscape around me is a joy.
Kananaskis is our favourite cross country spot. It has a perfect balance of up and downs and several openings that let you see the beautiful mountains.
My son likes when we stop at the new gas station after on our way back home for some snacks.
We cross country ski every Sunday. It’s a great family activity.
Skiing in Kananaskis is the highlight of long Alberta winters!
PLPP whats the word for track setting ? I cannot get anything from parks ;and i tried to phone k counrty office but I just got the phone run around have you being able to get any info ?
Last year Mount Shark parking lot was always full. I wrote my MLA and received a “form” email back. Very disappointing. With COVID and financial burdens cross country skiing remains one of the cheaper options for many. And I agree there is a danger of people going off and not knowing where the trail is, heck even I could get turned around in PLPP. LOL and I’ve been skiing there for years. I’m wondering if Kananaskis search and rescue could make an argument with the government? I’m too old to break trail anymore so I do hope we get grooming back. Fingers crossed.
The snowfall we received last night in Canmore (15-20 cm wet snow) should provide a good base for the Canmore Nordic Centre. Colder weather and more snow is in the forecast for the week-end. When I was up there this afternoon, snow for Frozen Thunder was being trucked onto the trails at the West end near the biathlon stadium.
All this sudden excitement (or dread) about snow… any word / photos yet of Frozen Thunder at CNC?
Judging by the XC ski sales at the Norseman this Autumn, I think XC skiing will be the “go to” activity this winter!!!
A great point by Jamie. Will be interesting to see how the increased demand experienced this summer translates to winter. Although anecdotal info, the above is very useful. Documenting what happens this winter, regardless of grooming outcome, also probably useful. I’ll be adapting my reports to include such if experiencing different participation levels on the trails, groomed or otherwise. One thing I noticed this summer, that is a testament to the number of new users, was the number of people I ran into (at least one every time I was out) who were quite off with their navigation, starting in the wrong spot/parking lot or taking the wrong turn and generally not knowing where they were but keen on going to some specific spot. Definately more than prior years. Hopefully that will not result in issues this winter with lost people, but Kananaskis public safety will be busy is my guess, especially if no grooming (more chances of wandering off route or just following some skier set track). Maybe a lot of the anticipated savings will be taken up with rescue resources. So regardless of any immediate decisions this season, let’s keep at it for future seasons and safety.
If that’s the case, then fee revenue should cover cost of grooming, all other things being equal, e.g., availability of machinery, etc. Suggest contacting Nordic Alberta and getting involved.
If the effort to preserve trail grooming in Kananaskis is successful I certainly hope it will not be limited to PLPP. This summer and fall’s huge spike in trail use would suggest that grooming at Ribbon Creek and Mt. Shark – in addition to PLPP – will be vital to meeting demand.
More than any previous year, access to abundant, reliable and safe winter trails will be essential to the health and well being of Albertans.
A note on bears: seems to be a bumper berry crop this year with many bears in the area still actively feeding down in valley bottoms and open areas. Just got back from a week of camping and saw 4 bears over that time (none of which were in the back country), including a big fat healthy one that walked right by my hammock one eve without making a sound! Two weeks ago managed to spot 8 different grizzlies beside the road just on the drive to the trail head (two moms each with 3 cubs). More than usual, but good to see a healthy thriving population. With the fall crunchiness, you can at least hear them in the bush when moving around if paying attention. Be on the lookout, especially if biking open trails as they don’t necessarily associate the sound of a bike with humans and may even be curious about the odd noise.
I love you man. Thanks for advocating for all of us! What more can I do to help?
New bridge at the far end of Moose Loop?
That’s no fun!
Hi Bob
Did you see any other cyclists on the trail? I’m thinking of doing the same trail you did and solo. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few others but not more. I enjoy solo rides and skis.
Thx
Rhonda W
Rode this section over the summer on my way from Canmore to Sparwood. So beautiful up there. We didn’t see a bear, but lots of “evidence” of bears. Thanks for sharing Bob!
Thank you for your advocacy! On an interesting note, after camping in Kananaskis last weekend I received an Alberta Parks survey which was different than in the past. One of the questions related to ‘ranking’ activities that I enjoy in the area, which would influence my decision to re-visit. Nordic Skiing was one of the options…pleasant surprise.
Olds?
Shoot! I was waaaay off!
Was guessing Millarville/Priddis.
Isn’t Olds like all Redneckistan territory and what not?
Good to know there are skinny ski underground operatives in these areas.
Thanks for filling us in on the hayfield bob.
I can report that it was snowy and below zero on the trails today in the Kananaskis lakes area down to about 6500 ft. 3-4″ at 8000 ft. The uppermost
golden larches exposed to wind got blasted with the wind events of the last week. Still some needles on the trees in protected areas below that, but not quite as prime.
I sent an email to my MLA Jeremy Nixon and to the Environment/Parks Minister back in March, in reply (four months later) I got a boilerplate message from my MLA about improving the efficiency of the Parks system, with no specific comments about tracksetting.
After the announcement from Nordiq Alberta I followed up and asked if they were considering the proposal from them or Fortess.
Here’s the reply:
Minister Nixon has received your email and requested that I respond on his behalf. Thank you for your patience in awaiting a response.
I recognize the significant value of cross country ski trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Kananaskis Country to many recreationalists such as yourself. I acknowledge that they offer a unique skiing experience. Alberta Parks has received many proposals and submissions about our parks system and alternative options are being considered for the services that were reduced.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns and thoughtful remarks.
Kieran Maxwell | Issues Advisor, Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office
Parks Operations Division | Alberta Environment and Parks
Bob, I have been wondering about the Hayfields which looked pretty sweet in your photos, Happy New Year
What would be the penalty / fine for those parking without a purchased pass? A volunteer group would have no authority to issue fines and collect. Would they just leave a note asking them to pay next time?
Not everybody who uses the parking lots are part of the ski community and would have no knowledge of a pass required.
Thanks to Nordiq for taking the positive step of putting together this proposal as a possible solution.
All members of our household are in favour of user fees in some form or other in this instance.
How would they know if you are there to ski or to hike? Is it for hikers too?
What would be the cost to enforce this and pay for the administration / technology required? That on top of the money needed for operations. I’m surprised people are so quick to offer to pay but won’t hold the government accountable for giving away millions to corporations…
I just read that the government is going to spend 15 million dollars in Kananaskis. Does anyone know if any of this money is going towards grooming?
$43M to parks – think they could afford tracksetting?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/parks-money-investment-environment-alberta-calgary-fish-creek-provincial-1.5724810
I encourage everyone here to write a letter to their MLA about this. A good template can be found at https://mailchi.mp/.www.kananaskisgrooming.ca/nordiqalberta.
In writing mine, I found the 2017 Alberta Recreation Survey at https://bit.ly/3lZGnaI. It finds that 9% of Albertans participate in XC skiing, same as the percentage playing ice hockey, so around 400,000 people. As an analogy, imagine what would happen if you closed half the hockey rinks in Alberta and made people play hockey on gravel parking lots.
I recognize that there are issues in charging a fee for groomed XC trails, but it is the only hope for a long-term solution for tracksetting that is not subject to the whims of politicians.
This campaign is getting lots of volunteers and attention. Consider donating to get a lawn sign, using the template to write to your MLA or even joining as a volunteer. We need every body when can help!! https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/defend-albertas-parks/
I am in favor of user fees. If one can afford the cost of a vehicle to travel to PLPP or other far flung areas then a nominal fee to cover the cost of grooming the trails is completely justified. I have paid to XC ski in many areas in BC and even in Washington State, so implementing a similar system here shouldn’t be difficult to instate by the government and be supported by those that enjoy the trails
User fees for parks creates a barrier to the park. I’m all in favour of a trail fee for skiing but people should be able to hike or sight see for free. This country is for all of us, not just those can afford it.
Our taxes (both business and personal) should buy us something.
I feel this email should be forwarded to the respective Canmore businesses, perhaps cc’ing dear Miranda Rosin.
VOTE GAÉTAN TURMEL in 2020-21!
Totally agree with you Gaétan , I am living Calgary and from Beauport Qc and right one there we pay roughly 20$ a day for nice cross country center , you are welcome back but yes if all we pay a cheap pass we can maintain a grooming !
Very valid point about revenues. I’d like to also caution people on jumping to the “I’d have no problem paying for use of the trails”. There are many Albertans right now and even during boom times who do not have a lot of money and I’m concerned that a demographic who may be more well off (do we have stats on who uses the trails, who would like to use the trails) will speak on behalf of all Albertans. Especially those who would want to cross country ski but cannot find the means to do so. So I’m not in favour of putting user fees on every single activity that occurs. I’m more in favour of 1) diversifying our economy and truly building resilience to the boom and bust of resource base industries 2) implementing a prov sales tax (let those who like to buy a lot of stuff, which has a direct impact on the sustainability of the planet pay proportionately and 3) perhaps implement a small entrance fee to provincial parks / recreation areas that gives enough choice (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, annual rates)
RMO article on fee survey: https://www.rmotoday.com/kananaskis-country/alberta-parks-gauging-support-for-recreation-user-fees-2661026
Unfortunately, “the questionnaire on user fees is part of an online survey for campers who book campsites on reserve.Albertaparks.ca.“ — Hopefully they open up the questionnaire more generally to Albertans.
Hi, Ken,
I’ve sent 2 letters to my MLA, 1 letter to Miranda Rosin, 2 to Jaosn Nixon and to Premier Kenney. The only response I’ve received is a form letter from Miranda Rosin telling me that economic times are tough and everything has to take a hit.
Interesting comments here … but most of them are irrelevant. At this point, the Alberta government is not even entertaining proposals for new funding sources, new groomers or ideas. How many of you that have commented here have actually written to your local MLA?
where can I sign the petition
All over the province there are people eyeing their particular favorite government program and crying “Oh no, don’t cut me!” What’s a poor debt ridden government to do?
I think under the circumstances the more realistic path (ski trail?) is to find some more creative solution than whining “don’t cut me” to the government. Some solution that doesn’t cost the government money (or even makes some).
Hi, everyone – I received the following update from Nordiq Alberta in my email today. Does anyone have an idea of what this means? It seems to imply perhaps that the Fortress proposal was rejected, and that the GOA is not planning on holding any discussions about user fees etc. Does any one have any information about this? It is all concerning to me.
This is the email I received:
August 20th Update
It has recently been brought to Nordiq Alberta’s attention that as things stand currently, the complete cancellation of grooming within Kananaskis Country is going forward as planned. Additional concerns for cross country skiers relate to the potential of additional operating budgets for next fiscal year. Sustained economic impacts due to COVID-19 continue to put pressure on public funds including Alberta Parks which involves areas such as Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. This reality is saddening as more places we love to ski run the risk of ceasing operations.
It is now more important than ever for us to make our voices heard and broaden the message to our constituents that these funding cuts affect many Albertans who access these trails. We urge you to continue contacting your MLAs and ask them to advocate for a reconsideration on these budget cuts. It is also vital that we share this campaign widely within your network in order to maximize the response from all constituencies across the province. United we have the ability to affect change with our Government to ensure that access to winter trail networks remains possible in our beautiful province.
Nordiq Alberta is committed to communicating any and all changes to grooming as we become aware of them. We also recognize that there is more work to be done and are working to expand our network of contacts to ensure our voices reach a larger audience.
Thank you all for your support thus far, without the help of each and every one of you these conversations would not continue to occur.
I’m a bit skeptical. The Fortress “operators” have for years been promising a new resort, but all that’s materialized so far is some Hollywood blockbusters, a few car commercials, and some bottled water using their snow-making water allotment. Oh yeah and some cat-sking too, on windblasted slopes. Meanwhile backcountry skiers like myself are shut out from this publicly owned area. So, will they really come through and groom these trails for us? Or will they sell off access rights to some movie producer and put up gates to keep out the public?
Opening the door to “non-ski use” goes against all that is pure and good about winter.
I like it! I have no problem with paying a user fee. It hadn’t occurred to me that Fortress Mtn could be an operator but it makes perfect sense. Of course it should be a contract up for review every few years. Maybe RCR (Nakiska) could also be interested. Maybe Alberta Parks should put out a request for proposals ASAP.
Who The Hell Were These So Called Kananaskis Stake Holders? Corrupt Conservatives with lots of money?
I would be shocked if any cross country ski shop was in favor of eliminating free cross country skiing, because they would be shooting themselves in the foot with greatly reduced sales. Conservatives charging fees for cross country skiing will reduce the amount of cross country skiers in Alberta. Reducing the amount of skiers will put some shops out of business while many ski trails will lose skier visit- (all things being equal other than the increased cost of skiing). Any Conservative idiot who thinks otherwise does not understand economics. The Conservatives are harming jobs in the Alberta cross country ski industry with their cut and slash policies.
We the people are the stake holders in Kananaskis as the Park belongs to the people not greedy corporate profiteers. We the people should decide how our parks operate, not corrupt Conservatives.
There should be a referendum on Park fees in Alberta as that is what real democracy looks like. We can’t let the anti-democratic Conservatives dictate how our Parks will be shaped or formed for play grounds of the predominantly rich.
The Conservatives never had an election mandate to cut cross country skiing in our Parks. It was not an election promise and to cut out or charge for skiing without a mandate is politically corrupt. Conservatives just want to charge park user fees so they can subsidize another stupid raw oil pipeline to the USA so they can sell below market value oil to the Trumped up Americans to generate wealth in the USA and for there supporters who hold shares in American refineries. The Alberta Conservatives are highly American influenced and are destroying the Alberta Advantage with their piss poor economic policies that reduce the wealth of Alberta for the benefit of the American controlled oil industry. It is time to crush this government and the American influence in Alberta politics.
If some moron Conservative wants to charge me for using cross country ski trails which I utilize to access the back country because they are in my way, they will have to pry the money out of my dead hands first.
If we lived in a real democracy, Albertans as a whole would determine if Albertans will pay fees in parks, not corrupt anti-democratic American influenced Conservatives.
Support the Legalization of Real Democracy where you are given a right to vote on government bills and introduce citizen-initiated legislation. This is how our skiing will be maintained at no cost for all no matter your income level. Real legalized democracy is what the real Alberta Advantage really looks like. The Advantage of People in control, not a corrupt government.
Make way for real democracy and continued free skiing.
I believe user pay is not the way to go for the cross country ski trails in Alberta.
The people who advocate for user pay likely are amongst the privileged. It is important to make sure that recreation opportunities such as these are available to all Albertans, not just the elite who can afford to pay.
Instead of user-pay, I advocate that the parks system claws back the privatization of Kananaskis country campgrounds, and then use that Revenue stream to pay for winter operations and enhance summer operations.
I have been told that other parks in Alberta have taken back the privatization of their campgrounds and turn use that revenue stream to pay for their winter operations.
The parks decision to stop grooming in Kananaskis country on the Nordic ski trails was hasty, ill-advised, and not thought out, very likely a similar case to the last time this decision was made when the manager actually lost their job over it.
This decision to stop grooming of the Nordic ski trails in Kananaskis country has happened before, and that decision was reversed eventually after a lot of public outcry.
Word on the ground is that parks and the Alberta Government and The Minister’s office don’t want to hear any more about this, that means the public pressure has been annoying which is good.
It is very important to keep up the public pressure especially to the MLA to Bounce Town more and to The Minister’s office as well as to other Ministries wish this effects such as tourism.
Research needs to be done through foil tape and other means, of the actual numbers of visitors in the winter to Canada asked his country for Nordic skiing.
It is my understanding there actually are not any demographic statistics of the above-mentioned aspects which if my information is accurate, that is a grave error of judgment on behalf of parks and the tourism Ministry of Alberta.
Hi bob, can you do a little story about those hayfield trails, where they are, how to get there, any trail map links, who grooms them etc. For if and when other facilities are unavailable next season. Always nice to check out a new location regardless.
Interesting and positive development, something will surely result. The fee based concept has made me curios about a scenario such as this: Let’s imagine that some backcountry skiers are heading into Mt Assiniboine or Bryant Creek shelter, and starting from the Mt Shark trailhead on AT skis. Would they be subject to the fee system? Conversely, would the fee system perhaps be a deterrent to people walking in the tracks and leaving post-holes? How would it affect the fat biker’s? (Personally, as an AT skier, I’d be more than happy to pay a fee even it it was just to facilitate the first part of my backcountry trip, and even happier to pay double if it discouraged the latter two groups).
Spray Lakes Sawmills recently released their 10 year logging plan for public input. It includes cutblocks that would cover almost all of Ranger Hill including every trail on the hill as well as large parts of Elbow and Snagmore, and another block that would cover most of the east slope of Moose Mountain. The input period ends July 21.
Here’s the GBCTA post about it:https://www.braggcreektrails.org/sls-public-input-2021-forest-management-plan/
and the ArcGis link showing the logging area.: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=a8a918bd3f564cf795c681d1aac49735
Does anybody know if people are associating to, privately, groom on PLPP? It could be in form of a concession or similar (similar to West Bragg Creek)? Thanks
Who can I contact or group who is advocating ski trail grooming in PLPP.
Evidently the trail was misnamed.
Someone should step up and give that cougar a lesson on trail etiquette.
I saw a cougar crossing Hwy 546 in Sandy Mcnabb between the visitor centre and the campground turnoff in October. They’re definitely out there…
WOW, that is so cool, what a great sighting, congrats Alf!
Oh wow! Was out on a portion of bobcat trail also yesterday. No sighting, but maybe it saw me? Surprised enough to run into Alf on return, let alone a cougar! Thankfully the family with small child jumping about in mud puddles on Fullerton didn’t make it that far.
Nice AT Skiing pictures. Now that the Parks are opening, have things changed with respect to messaging with respect to possible calls for first responders from the Visitor Safety teams, or is it still unclear at the moment?
Great shot of Assinboine! And lucky enough to catch a Harlequin too.
Maybe some spring skiing options from high parking lots close to divide with AT gear, especially if BNP opens. Timing might make for some busy places in Kananaskis as the melt slowly peels open the dryer options. Significant potential for roll backs depending on use and users.
Hi Bob, yes, such great news! If you go to the actual provincial website, it states May 1 for vehicle access to parks. It also states that “no washrooms or garbage pickup will be available within provincial parks at this time. These services will be available as soon as Alberta Environment and Parks brings staff back.” With hope, people will behave responsibly and leave no trace.
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70217037B8E9C-C319-32CC-240D33487895E4F7
Thanks, Kinga. I’ve updated my story with the link you provided. -Bob
Right you are Sid! I’ve been out on the bike quite a bit lately, mostly on city pathways in the NW, which are far busier than normal. Funny (actually, not!) how the powers that be think that squeezing city dwellers into tighter spaces is a better strategy, than having at least a proportion of them spread out in our so-called public lands.
On a positive note- two sure signs of spring yesterday: I rode comfortably in shorts, and spotted my first crocus of the year on a sunny Bowmont park hillside.
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/SkiPix19-20/i-TgDc7cD/A
Yep. On a plus note, the bike riding season is afoot (-:
It’s time to isolate the vulnerable, and let the rest get back to work(and go camping).
You did leave a trail of bread crumbs and I found it easily! Yup. Nice secret.
That question is not from me!!
Hello, where are Hayfield trails? Thank you!
Glad you found somewhere to ski.
Cycling is about the only thing keeping me sane and not becoming obese and asthmatic.
I like this quote from Fridtjof Nansen:
“You are one with your skis and nature. This is something that develops not only the body but the soul as well, and it has a deeper meaning for a people than most of us perceive.”
Nice one bob. Seems like a goood place so looking forward to more details next season (only 7 months away!). Enjoyed the outdoor council reference, especially the immunity and exercise link. Gotta keep moving to combat uncooperative joints.
Thanks for all your hard work! We had a great winter!
Thanks for all the tracks, they were awesome!!
Thanks for all the great grooming this season!!
Thank you so much – you will be missed greatly.
To all the groomers – Thanks for the great work you tirelessly do at all hours of the day to bring enjoyment to so many people!
This is a great post to see Bob. I’m extremely grateful for the work the groomers do at all hours of the day to keep the tracks in great condition. They all deserve a BIG THANK YOU!!
Many thanks to everyone who works so hard to give us safe trails to ski on!
Too bad a bunch of them are about to lose their jobs.
As one of the groomers out in WBC I would like to thank all you skiers,snowshoers, fatbikers and snow sport affectionados for your support and enthusiasm. Without all your smiles, waves, hugs (pre covid) and occasional cookies we wouldn’t be able to do this. It’s pleasure to groom those trails and see all the use we got and all the fun we can bring. It was our best year ever and it shows what we can do. Hopefully we can continue to groom the trails and bring enjoyment to thousands of snow folk.
I am away at work and I missed the end of the season but I’ll be back next year to do it all again!!
Groomer Bill
Thanks for increadible dedication to this great website/blog of yours, Bob. Have a nice summer, and stay safe and healthy.
Thanks for the site Bob it’s much appreciated in the community. What a great season, looking forward to some biking now we can’t ski. Nice shots Steve!
Yes, despite the early closing, it was one of the best. Certainly at WBC, which we skied so often that we rarely went anywhere else to xc ski. Piper the retriever would agree!
With all the great skiing close to home- we didn’t do as much local backcountry either- I’m missing those longer alpine and glacier tours that usually get done in March and April. We were lucky though, to get in two weeks of amazing skiing at the Campbell Icefield Chalet, NW of Golden B.C. Our usual mid-February trip, with a group of friends (which included several other SkiHere! reporters), had an unbeatable combination of skiing and weather:
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Campbell-Icefield-February-2020/
Pity we can’t take advantage of this late season snowfall today.
Thank you Bob for all you do and add to our lives.
Is there something about “all vehicular access to provincial parks is prohibited” that’s confusing? You realize these precautions are in place FOR YOU, older people? This attitude of the rules not applying to you is pretty selfish and disappointing. If everyone disregarded the rules it would be mayhem…totally irresponsible.
Was in the area same day, skiing back to the car along fox creek (between Patterson and north hydroline junction) on the right of the downhill ski track (on AT gear) as the tracks were a little tight together. I was struck by size of the banks having skied right beside them, only inches away and being careful not to hit a blob. A bit droopy, overhanging and with icicles given the large snow pack and the heat of spring. The tops of the banks were at shoulder and head height. I don’t recall experiencing that amount of snow before, or just never noticed it on a spring day with track skis.
Bob or for anyone who has answers! 2 questions for you, when you headed out for the last ski, did you check the grooming report? I was at Pocceterra because some trails around were the latest to be groomed in PLPP. I left Calgary around 1pm and checked the grooming report but nothing popped as groomed on the 26 or 27. I wish I had done blueberry instead but still nice to get out since it’s all closed. 2. What wax did you use? I did a poor mans purple wax (some blue and some red) but it wasn’t gripping all that well and then it would clump up after every herringbone.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed the excerpt below, found at the bottom of the final live grooming update from PLPP:
“While the first few months of 2020 have challenged Alberta’s Cross-Country Skiing Community, we appreciate your continued support and hope to see you out on the trails again in the future.
Please practice social distancing and stay safe everyone. If you have any thoughts or photographs to share, we will happily receive them at the following email address: kananaskistrails@gov.ab.ca“
Worth letting them know how much we appreciate the grooming.
Bob, apologies if I’ve missed it elsewhere but has anyone organized a petition of support and/or plan to privately fund track setting next year? I would happily donate to such a cause. This resource is too valuable to lose! Thanks, Shawn
Writing to the Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon, and your MLA, is about all that can be done right now. -Bob
Great news! I had tossed Chickadee Valley out with the bath water. Guilty.
Back on the list. Thank you.
I read about a family in Italy being allowed to walk 100 metres from their home and that’s it. We should count our blessings.
Hi:
That’s a lovely photo of Briony and Lyen. I don’t know them from Adam, but wow.
WKR,
Herb
P.S. My last ski (last Sunday) was the Moose Loop/Mountain Road/Crystal Line West and East (East was a beeatch, being tired and with slippery skis) loop. Still a Grand Day Out, mind you.
I didn’t identify the last one – is that Whiskey Jack coming down through the campground …?
It’s Moraine at the Whiskey Jack junction. -Bob
The Crag & Canyon article with the suggestion that visitors “may access front country, backcountry and accessible green spaces, but are responsible for their own safety” sounds enticing, but really requires clarification directly from Parks Canada. Otherwise we skiers are left in the grey zone as what we’re still allowed to do.
Hi Bob. Love your blog and thank you for being such a central and objective voice for the outdoor community. Why do you say possibly forever??? I’m kicking myself for not getting out more this past glorious winter and if this pandemic teaches us anything it will be not to take what we have for granted. I had just found a pair of waxless skis for my husband and was so looking forward to getting out today. But of course we don’t own a helicopter and can’t get to the trails. I’m hoping we can convince our government the importance of connecting with the outdoors. I know economically it will be a challenge but one silver lining from all of this will be the recognition of importance of connecting with nature…and the ability to get people out in a way that is affordable. Hope all is well.
1 and 2 are on Whiskey Jack
4 is looking down Pocaterra from the Pocaterra-Whisky Jack junction
5 is at the North Lookout/Pocaterra/Tyrwhitt junction
6 is looking back down Pocaterra from said junction
7 is just entering the meadows on Tyrwhitt
8 is looking back to the entrance to the meadows on Tyrwhitt
9 is my favourite picnic table near the end of Tyrwhitt
10 is Elk Pass looking towards Mt Tyrwhitt
11, 13 and 14 are Elk Pass along Fox Creek
12 is the start of Blueberry Hill with a nice view of Mt Fox
15 is Boulton Creek?
The south end PLPP trails are my favourite ski trails and I’m really sad to see them go. There’s something indescribably magical about those secluded snow-covered subalpine forests. I always have the sense when I’m skiing there that it can’t quite be real.
All correct. I thought the Boulton Creek photo might be a tough one. Since there’s only one left, #16 is Moraine at the Whiskey Jack junction. -Bob
People have a tendency to express their restricted sense of agency in different ways.
Now, more than ever, the benefits of exercise are incredibly important, including mental health.
Thankfully, this has not gone unrecognized by some policymakers. In the UK, where enforcement of social distancing is now being strictly enforced by the police. The recognition of the importance of exercise and ‘getting out’ is reflected in the policy that allows people to go out for exercise once a day, even in dense urban areas.
It seems that the motivation for the subsequent policy closing provincial and national parks is not to prevent solitary x-country skiers, but instead to get ahead of the peak season that sees thousands of people hanging out in the recreation areas near large parking lots and the risks that that traffic creates for communities such Canmore . It’s understandable, but unfortunate that this has had the side effect of removing a very low risk option for personal exercise and introspection.
Whether we choose to come out the other side of this as a society of responsible individuals who look out for one another a little more, or a society of tin pot tyrants, is up to us.
So, Chuck, ignore the detractors. You were doing nothing wrong and risking the health of nobody.
Stay safe.
Thanks for the great insights Bob!
Jeremy – you comments are completely misplaced and you are playing into media sensationalism. Please get off your high horse. We are all following AHS guidelines and will continue to do that. There are a few bad apples out there like any cross section of a population. Rules and laws need to be enforced, but don’t paint everyone with that brush. I was out in PLPP last weekend and the vast majority of the people I saw were genuinely out for exercise, spending time with immediate family and following the social distancing guidelines. Unfortunately as these closures continue we confine people into smaller and smaller areas.
In a time like this exercise is critical. Mental health and the perpetuation of fear are real problems.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with individuals getting out and getting exercise in a responsible manner while following AHS guidelines, no one should be shamed for this.
Taiwan, South Korea, etc. are great examples of what can be done with a little common sense and some basic protocols. (BTW – both these countries have significantly denser populations than Canada)
Contrary to what you may believe it’s not necessary to lock yourself in your basement…
Brad’s admittance was still appreciated, nonetheless.
Chuck thanks for the inspirational trips reports and photos all season. You do a great job of getting off the beaten path to show us places further into the backcountry. Good to see you are still getting out as this activity doesn’t pose a risk to anyone.
Potential unintended Kananaskis consequences: 1) carpooling drop offs when people were driving solo before; 2) people going for a “drive” and if they can’t pull into gated parking lots to turn around, u-turns on roadways, random roadside stopping, etc., like peak summer tourism in banff kind of mayhem; 3) people driving further to ski with no place to stay overnight and driving home tired in the dark; 4) parking overload on adjacent roadways/neighbourhoods (and a stay out of my hood/park response, fish creek for example); 5) concentration of people in municipal parks; 6) people living/working in parks accessing trails and getting slammed for it; 7) more police/CO/peace officer resources necessary to manage the above.
I was listening to Jason Nixon at his news conference and he stated that the trails are still open just the access point facilities and parking areas are closed. He said you could still access the trails if you have someone drop you off near the trailhead. Did anyone else hear this?
Good question, Tom. I believe there’s some truth to this. I talked to the head groomer from Canmore and she said the CNC trails are still open but you would have to walk or, as you said, get someone to drop you off at the nearest point that’s accessible. I don’t know where Hwy #40 will be closed, if at all. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. -Bob
Sigh- was at PLPP yesterday. It was beautiful and we saw only 6 other people the entire time. This keeps me sane, it’s perfectly safe when used responsibly. Any chance you can suggest any xc trails that might still be accessible without prov. park road access? Here’s hoping.
Great to see you out there tonight Bob! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your ski. Conditions were spectacular, if that’s our last ski for the season we have gone out on a beauty! Grateful for what we have been able to enjoy this season and am looking forward to the next with optimism.
Go Bob!
Fyi: Prov. park roads now closed – I’m not sure which exactly though. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/provincial-parks-deena-hinshaw-jason-kenney-banff-jasper-1.5513246
I too will be very sad if these trails are not groomed next winter.
These photos bring back fond memories as I sit at home in 14 day mandatory isolation after returning from out of the country. I was so fortunate to be able to ski on those winter wonderland trails. Those images will stay with me for a long time!
Many thanks for sharing Bob.
I’m with you on this, Bob. Kudos to those who have posted their opposing views here without resorting to the near hysteria and shaming that I have seen on some social media. Jeremy’s post in Trip Reports is especially thoughtful.
Yesterday at WBC, we parked well away from others, saw about 10 skiers out on the trails, everyone was careful to keep their distance. Only stop coming and going was for fuel on the way home- self serve with gloves on, sanitized before and after, at a nearly deserted co-op gas station. Being pretty much retired now- we have the luxury of going out in off-peak times, and will not be using the popular trailheads during busier periods.
By contrast- we walked the dog for a hour and a half in Bowmont Park this morning, encountering at least 40 others, but here too, everyone was keeping to at least the prescribed distancing.
Since you are quoting Dr. Hinshaw, she also recommended against travel to the provincial parks, or travel at all. We may be safe from the virus on the trails, but if anything happens to someone, on the trail, or on the road, we are adding stress the health care system. I had a close call on the road just last week, merging off of Three Sisters Drive on a quiet day – really got me thinking.
This is a link to her message on Monday, March 23. Go to 8:40. Take care, everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eNZMiFX9Pc#action=share
Agreed fully Bob. Dr. Hinshaw exudes competence and I’m prepared to follow all her recommendations.
I was at CNC both Saturday and Sunday– conditions were superb and I saw zero social distancing violations even though the parking lots were about 80% full.
No need to even stop anywhere else in town. No need to touch anything. Riding in the car by yourself or with housemates is very close to full home isolation except you’re not going crazy.
Going to buy groceries must be many times more risky. Obviously getting food is essential but mental health/exercise is also very important to our recovery.
“Going outside and being active should be encouraged.” – Dr Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health. “
Bob said:
. I wish people at the grocery stores were as responsible as the skiers I’ve encountered lately.
agree with the above, you can get coronavirus as easily at the grocery store or walking around your neighborhood, very unlike while skiing, last time I was in WBC, I don’t remember anyone being close to me, I was skiing, not hanging around with others
Wow. Cascading effect now……probably guess the result.
Hopefully the Canmore Nordic Centre keeps vehicle access open for locals with no car-pooling except for people who share accommodation. There is plenty of space on the trails for safe spacing. Its a long way to walk across town carrying gear, and I certainly don’t want to ride a bus anywhere. This is an outdoor exercise town with more than enough safe open space for resident population. I applaud the Mayor for telling drivers to stay on the highway and keep going.
West Bragg Creek, the GBCTA
lack of grooming won’t stop people from coming
Unfortunate about WBC. Must have been a busy parking lot over the weekend, if it was anything like Hwy 40 areas. Will the parking lot still get plowed?
It’s time to thank Parks Canada for their balanced decisions to facilitate our outdoor recreation in these trying times. Supporting the mental health of Canadians is an essential service. If we all remember to practice cleanly practices, we can get through this together. Carry your hand sanitizer with you, and use it.
I was surprised to see the public washroom was open at Lake Louise today. Parks Canada website says all visitor services are closed and I read somewhere that meant “anything with a door”. In my opinion a heavily used public washroom breaks the ‘social distancing’ rule – there is too much possibility of contact. Also the outhouse at MLR is open – not sure if there is hand sanitizer there.
Sounds like a good plan.
I would pay if it was not too expensive.
Mark
Sat, March 21st. Arrived to West Bragg late & started skiing 4pm…started on Moose outer loop but a ways up a woman advised that there were some icy/dicy sections so turned around & had a good ski on west & east crystal.
Lots of folks were driving away as I was driving in…the lot must have been full at one point as there were vehicles parked on one side of the road…I guess if the government doesn’t reverse their decision to stop grooming we’ll have overcrowded parking lots & ski trails to look forward to. #protectskiingparksalberta #protectourparksalberta
Disappointing folks not picking up dog poo right bedside the trail!
Got interviewed by Global News & made a plug for ski grooming…might have made the 11pm news but I don’t get the news so let me know. Cheers
Exercising outdoors is an acknowledged route to improved physical and mental well being and increased longevity.
Any reduction in the opportunity to exercise will lead inexorably to a reduction in the benefit of exercise.
It is therefore depressing that the Kenney government is intending to discontinue track setting and grooming in a number of provincial parks.
Skiing in most of its forms is one of the few outdoor winter sports accessible to seniors. For them track setting and grooming is almost a necessity. Without it they are less likely to participate and cross country businesses will decline. Meanwhile, and for a short time only, business at the unaffected locations will increase. But these facilities will become overstretched and customers will start to shy away.
The decision to summarily stop track setting in some parks smacks of thoughtless haste. It was thrust upon us with no attempt made to explain the cost benefit nor, so far as we know, to assess the upsides of a user fee.
Mr Kenney, please help us to stay healthy and revoke the decision to discontinue track setting and grooming in Kananaskis, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Ribbon Creek and Mount Shark Trails.
Thank you
EJSB.
Okay then . . . can someone puhleeeease tell me how to properly pronounce Tyrwhitt??
Is the “R” silent? Tyyyywhitt?
Is the “Y” silent? Trrrrwhitt?
Are neither silent? Tyyyrrrrwhitt?
Or should I just keep calling it . . . “That great trail in PLPP that I don’t now how to pronounce.
It was courteous whatever it was.
Found – Adult skating poles found at Canmore Nordic Centre parking lot on March 18. We left them at Trail Sports which is closed, but you can call them.
In Alberta, everyone who operates a snowmobile on public land must: … Wear a safety-approved helmet
C’mon man!
Budget has been passed as presented: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-legislature-approves-57-billion-budget-in-race-against-covid-19-spread-1.5501220
Does it not seem absurd that Alberta has to cut recreational funding for its residents but is still obliged to send revenue East in the name of Equalization?
I’m in the process of drafting another letter specifically addressing the issue of trail grooming and maintenance, responding to several replies from UCP MLA’s including my own, who of course toe the party line, with little or no understanding of xc skiing. Yes- with the current economic and Covid-19 situations- parks funding may seem to be of minor consequence, but normal life will resume eventually. We can’t let this get swept under the rug!
I’m in agreement with the GBCTA proposal for the most workable solution to funding trails, both winter and summer- a public lands recreation fee sticker or pass, available online, at visitor centres (oh, wait!) or along with your vehicle license. Yearly for residents, weekly for visitors. I believe that some American states use this approach.
A question to anyone belonging to one of the many local outdoor clubs: has your club sent out a general e-mail alerting the membership to the “Parks Optimization”? The club that we associate with has not, surprisingly, and I was talking recently to a member of another outdoor focused club that has also neglected to inform it’s members. Shame!
Finally- it would be a good idea to also include the opposition party in any correspondence:
NDPCaucus@assembly.ab.ca
As part of my letter writing, I also wrote a letter to Miranda Rosin, MLA Banff Kananaskis. I got a reply today which, to be frank, was rude, and the ‘cut and paste’ section of it actually was clearly cut and paste because it accused me of things I didn’t even say in the letter. It did not address any of my concerns about the incorrect usage statistics at some of the provincial recreation areas, and did not address my safety concerns about closing Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. Anyway, beyond that, there was an interesting part that was added in about trail grooming in Kananaskis. Her office staff wrote:
“The decision to cease trail grooming was a difficult one, but I am confident we will find a solution that does not require tax funding.
I have had conversations with the Minister and his various staff members about this, and the decision to cease trail grooming will not be reversed. This being said, we need to find a solution to ensure that our trail network is still groomed and operational for next ski season and all seasons after that. I am hoping to help lead the charge on finding this solution.
Since the announcement to cease grooming, I’ve already had one local business express interest in taking over the duties in Kananaskis country, and have had many other businesses and recreators suggest trail fees. I’ll be speaking with industry professionals from the Kananaskis/Bow Valley area to brainstorm ideas of how the government can move forward while ensuring that trails are maintained and that local rental businesses are not harmed.
I will be looking to host a round table to coordinate this effort when the current environment allows. We will find a solution! But the solution to everything can’t be to throw more tax money at it. That is what got our government into the difficult position it is in now, unfortunately.”
So it sounds as if they are not reversing the grooming decision, but are looking for other formats. I do hope they host that round table – or perhaps several – I would definitely want to hear more about that.
A good friend and woman passionate about Alberta Parks came to visit me last night. Since Barrier Info Centre will no longer be utilized after April 1st, could Hwy 40 be diverted through that Barrier parking area where one could show a Pass both for Alberta Parks and for all ski areas to continue to be utilized and groomed. I realize one would need to have a similar “gate” for those travelling in winter on Smith Dorrien but in summer it poses two more entry points on the other side of Highwood for those coming from Longview and Elbow hwy. This Pass would include X-C skiing at Bragg Creek, Ribbon, Skogan, Shark, and PLPP areas where grooming (and removal of hundreds of trees) is rather critical.
Second suggestion: people must pay to park all over the State of Arizona and likely other States to utilize any parks for hiking and other purposes. Everyone just knows they have to pay to park their vehicle and it is a relatively minor fee. This might encourage more car-pooling benefits as well.
Third suggestion: Incorporate the cost of Canmore Nordic Centre Pass to include PLPP and all those other areas. For downhill skiing, people choose to buy a more expensive pass if they want to ski in 2-3 different resorts all winter.
Lastly: write personal letters to your MLA and Jason Nixon and remember who you vote for at the next election.
I know they’re not always successful, but I wonder if a fundraising drive would be of value. Avid skiers could consider it akin to a pass, but without needing to additionally fund personnel to police it.
Note: The UCP is threatening to push the budget through which may mean a very short turn around time for pushing changes.
You might want to add the tourism minister, Tanya Fir.
Welcome back to sunny Alberta snowland, Bob and Cheryl, and best wishes of full, prompt recovery to Cheryl.
Thanks! -Bob
These trails are “under-used”, huh?
Don’t forget to not stop protesting the end of grooming. We still need to be lobbying…
So happy to see you on the trail today Bob! Both glad to see you after some elusive sightings by others in the past and also to know you are back in your element. Every day is a GIFT.
Best to your wife. Stay strong. Physio is as important as the surgery. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage.
Ellen
They had better not stop grooming these trails.
Ditto – Ribbon Creek and Bill Milne today were superb – it just doesn’t get any better than that. We were surprised that there were so few skiers in the area given Jeff’s notice to the SkierBob empire last evening. Kudos and bouquets to Jeff et al on the quality of the grooming done Mar13/14 – it set up beautifully for a double bluebird day today – most memorable of the season.
Best wishes for a fast recovery to your wife, Bob. Glad you are both back.
Thanks! -Bob
Bob and Cheryl,
It was great meeting ya’ll and getting to know you both.
Thanks for having me assist with the hotel and medical transport needs during your stay
If anyone is in need of surgery and tired of waiting in line, have them reach out and I can put them in touch with Dr. Kassman asap for discussion
Stay warm and healthy.
Sincerely, Ellie
Thanks! We will be happy to recommend you and Dr Kassman. -Bob
Welcome home! We are happy to hear your good news, and hope to see you on the trails soon 🙂
Thank you! -Bob
Welcome back! We’re so happy you had a positive experience in resolving a difficult problem Health is everything. Good for you for being so proactive.
Thanks! -Bob
Bob – are you aware you should be self-isolating for 14 days after returning from AZ?
Great to here the surgery went well.
I’m well aware, and thanks! I returned to Alberta on March 10 when the self-isolation requirement was not yet in effect. XC ski trail grooming is perfectly designed to provide the recommended safe spacing and “social distancing.” -Bob
Welcome home!
Thanks! -Bob
An excellent response and a good starting point. One caution though given my past experience with public consultation. Best to define what “meaningful consultation” is, or what the purpose or goal is, or when it is achieved, so that it doesnt end up just being a few meetings to “inform” rather than consult, with the outcome being the same (consultation achieved in the eyes of government leaders). The goal of consultation should be to find and review ALL options and alternatives that allow grooming to continue (Plus the facts to support the notion that it has value and is worthwhile to support in the long term), including the unique issues/sustainability of a volunteer/donation model at WBC, especially if it becomes the only groomed location in Kananaskis.
Dear Bob:
There are 2 organizations who are taking on the provincial government over the parks privatization issue; if you go on their home page you’ll find a petition to address this very delicate matter and that involves you area MLA, not that these individuals are going to give any consideration to our concerns but is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.
There is something else about the decision procedure of this government, first they drop the bomb and then everyone has to adapt, a responsible leadership would have found an alternative first and then announce that it would be privatized, this is what is occurring in Europe, the tracksetting is no longer a responsibility of the local government but rather a consortium of local businesses who want tourism to flow efficiently.
So, the 2 organizations are:
CPAWS and LEADNOW ( Jolan Bailey)
I apologize for the lack of computer skill.
Take care: Paolo
With a few hours free at mid-day, the timing was right to get out and enjoy the sun and excellent skiing conditions of the core trails at WBC. Sundog W-Crystal E-Sundog E-Loggers-Crystal W-Mountain View-Mountain Road-Moose Connector-etc-finishing off with the seemingly overlooked by many, fun curvy downhill of Middle W Crystal. It occurred to me when encountering the fresh grooming on MV that ironically- could it be that this amazingly long and consistent season (the best that I can remember in 30 years) at WBC has put more demands than usual on the financial and volunteer grooming resources there? Other than the skiing, a highlight was encountering a busload of happy teenagers on xc skis- kudos to their teachers!
This is an excellent piece. Great thanks are due to the GBCTA for their out-sized contribution to our lives.
However, we are all dreaming thinking that K-Country skiing is coming back. Our family will head out to PLPP this weekend for what we expect to be our last ever ski there, ever. It was great while it lasted and we can all be happy for that. We will tell our kids about it when they are older and they will not believe us that we had paid government employees grooming tracks in the middle of nowhere. I’m just as sad as you are about it, but this is the reality.
The more important question is, how will we ensure the GBCTA gets the support they need to continue their work? If we as skiers want at least one other place to go, WBC is the most viable option that we have and we need to find a better way to support them and their sustainability.
An ecotourism professor in Calgary says the government is the best steward when it comes to managing provincial parks, and calls the Alberta government’s plans shortsighted.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mount-royal-university-joe-pavelka-jason-nixon-ucp-1.5489515?fbclid=IwAR0vSeIDvZ5dD8LO_WQLyqxD_aRCfTTX92wk2P0CZT19WP4bLzPsNTSoIs0
This confirms just how ill-considered the “Optimizing Alberta’s Parks” plan is- if you could call it a “plan” at all. I’m still wondering where the specific cost-cutting measures originated- were they decreed from on high by the ministry, or selected by Parks bureaucrats? Either way-it’s pathetic there was no informed consultation with park users, the tourism industry, and the very group they cite in an apparent effort to add some legitimacy to the decision to end grooming (GBCTA).
Now, in an ideal world- free general access to our parks would be recognized as a benefit to the health and well being of the populace as a whole, and funded accordingly- a much better use of tax dollars than that ridiculous “War Room”. As xc skiers though- I don’t think that it is reasonable anymore to expect that taxpayers fund grooming, while at the same time wanting other users banned from these trails.
Keep up the pressure- don’t let this issue fade away!
Frustrating that so many are “for” user fees. What about those whom can’t afford it???!!! One person mentioned if the Government took back the privatized campgrounds in K Country, their suspicion is that revenue stream alone would pay for winter ops in K Country and to their knowledge possibly operations costs all year ’round!
Thank you GBCTA for your very thoughtful response to the UCP proposed cuts to our provincial parks. You are certainly in a position to directly address the problems associated with a not for profit organization attempting to take charge of tracksetting and trail maintenance in the areas PLPP, Mt, Shark and Kananaskis Village area. For the most part, it would appear that most users of these areas are not opposed to a user fee in order to maintain parks and services as they are now. This issue is much bigger than just the tracksetting and trail maintenance in the winter, it involves the trails and park services year round. I sincerely hope the government will listen and at the very least engage in public consultation.
This is a very constructive and thought-provoking contribution to the discussion. Since the last attempt by the Alberta government to cease tracksetting (2001-2002), and an abandoned attempt in 2004 to institute fees, K-Country skiers have been happily fooling themselves that they can continue to be the only high-quality XC ski area without some sort of user fee. If this idea can be discussed with government reps, surely some solution for free or reduced fees for Wm Watson Lodge users and low-income families can be worked out. In light of the last paragraph, we must not under-estimate the costs of winter and summer trail maintenance and be prepared to contribute what we can.
Thank you for the update, Bob. Hope you and your family are doing well, and will be back with us soon 🙂
I mostly do skating and when I came to Pocaterra first time with skate skis only I was very disappointed to see the sign which is very hard to miss. It is even harder to miss that the tracks are done for classic only, they are nowhere near wide enough, even if they would be only packed and not trackset. So it’s not only stupid, it’s just not enjoyable, there is no point in skating there at all. I did double poling that day. Some people are just assholes, don’t forget to remind them.
Please continue to groom trails at PLPP, Mount Shark and Ribbon Creek. These three areas get well used by many skiers.
I would definitely pay a user fee or for an annual pass to keep the grooming up.
Cross country skiing in these areas is a joy. These trails are perfect terrain for this type of sport. Cross country skiing is quite affordable, great for fitness, and so much fun for many people.
Thank you
pole to his midsection as he skates by.
Love your story!! Nakiska was amazing last weekend too!
Fabulous Photo.
Love your spirit.
Ellen, I have to admit that I “borrowed” this photo from the internet. I tried to find one with snow to no avail. -Bob
Peter Lougheed had a concept of the “public good” when he created these parks and services. Should we let a new political party, whose leader wasn’t even born and raised in Alberta, destroy this legacy?
All I have seen so far of the UCP government is the financial rewarding of plush political appointments to boards and high-salary inside jobs to their cronies. The $30 million dollar/year ridiculous War Room is a good example of a waste of money paid out by Alberta taxpayers. It has made Alberta a laughing stock across Canada and beyond. Corporate tax cuts to billion dollar businesses is another, with very little evidence of any jobs generated from that.
For single income families like mine, cross country skiing has been a viable sport when so many others are out of our price range. Now that the kids are grown, they still come out to ski as often as they can.
As for a park fee and user fees, we have several National Parks right next door already competing for those same dollars. That is why Alberta’s provincial park system has been fee-free all these years. How many Albertans can afford to pay for both, especially now? Personally, I think it is high time we get off the unstable royalty roller coaster that pays for basic services and infrastructure, and start paying a PST like every other province. If we had done that years ago, we would have a generously sized Heritage Trust Fund today.
That’s a nice prediction, but we still need to be loud about it.
I wonder how this person would feel if someone spoiled something they had just spent 10 hours working on, something that hundreds of people were relying on for their safety and enjoyment.
Hey folks, can we incorporate hashtags into our posts such as #protectalbertaparks & #protectourparksalberta & a hashtag to support grooming in our parks for the health benefits maybe #groomingbenefitshealthab
I was introduced to the wonderful trails of Kananaskis years ago by someone who taught me that what was important was just being out in the mountains. I used to often see skate skiers in PLPP (this was 10 to 20 years ago) and honestly never thought too much about it. I chuckle when people talk about conditions being “fair” when it’s a glorious day…there’s fresh snow but the tracks aren’t perfectly set. Maybe expectations are changing. It’s bad enough that we’re getting so divisive in our politics and now we seem to be getting divisive in our cross country skiing as well. I’m not a skate skier…but I also remember a friend of mine skate skiing on the Sawmill trails (this was over 20 years ago) while I was diagonal striding in about 20 cm of fresh powder…she could do it because she was tough and fit…and we both had a blast. I remember the fight between snowshoers and skiers…until both were educated…now they have their own trails (thankfully many of them were built before our current government came in) but if push came to shove both can be accommodated. What I would like to know is what’s happening with the recent planned changes to the provincial park system? Is anyone lobbying to maintain these services? I’m hearing from many that they would be happy to pay user fees…but have we studied the cost benefits of both options? I think we have bigger issues to worry about at this point. Has anyone proposed a meeting to discuss actions to take? I’ve seen a few links to petitions but I’m thinking a better idea is to come up with an actual plan for cross country skiing in the region. Where do we see the sport 30 years from now? (I know the government should be somewhat responsible for long term planning but no sign of this these days). When I say sport…I mean all aspects of cross country skiing ranging from hard core racing to backcountry exploration…and all things in between. I personally don’t care about having perfect track sets although I appreciate them when I find them.
I think I wrote about that dude a few weeks back wrecking the Ribbon Creek track.
Bit of a loudmouth, had a friend. Pick up.
Hi Bob,
It’s Jason Proche here. Further to Rhonda’s post. I was also out was also at PLPP today enjoying the amazing new snow, blue sky, and fresh tracks—that is until I came across the skate skier Rhonda mentioned. I came up on him from behind on Pocaterra as he was destroying the newly set tracks. I was friendly and simply mentioned that there are no skate lanes at PLPP, but told him areas where he could go. He played ignorant. After our friendly exchange I thought he’d turn around but kept climbing. I turned around and told him on behalf of the few hundred classic skiers that he should g9 and get his classic skis. He told me to call the RCMP. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED. So in jerk fashion, he continued his ski making divots in the fresh tracks. I’ll send you an email with his picture.
Cheers
Jason
Ps I was thinking a letter from all your sponsors to the Minister of Parks would be a good way to get attention—UCP May actually listen to the business operators.
Wow… I had no idea the effort was this extensive.
I have used WBC alot this year for xc classic skiing. It is a great facility.
For the record, I would not be opposed to paying a seasonal fee to ensure these trails are well maintained.
Avalanche control work happening Sunday affecting roadways, in all the usual spots (whymper, Dennis, field, borgeau, etc), possibly continuing Monday. Likely EEOR/spray lakes hill to get added to the mix.
Followed Jeff the groomer up Skogan Pass and it was terrific conditions! Decided to go around Sunburst & High Level as we had caught up to the groomer tracks. With the recent snow it was a nice down to the parking lot.
Thanks Jeff!
For those who think it is a good idea to charge fees for tourism and health supporting cross country skiing think about this:
Would you want to pay for tolls on roads?
Would you want to pay the full cost of your health care?
Would you want to pay for the cost of putting out your house fire?
One for all and all for one. It is better for the economy and all involved.
As a lot of trails in the Parks are over growing with trees and the trails have become narrower over the years as a result. Trails like Elk Pass and Watrdige Lake use to have nice wide ski skating lanes but now they do not for the most part. This has had a negative impact on the ski skating industry of course along with the associated economic spin off effects.
As many of the ski trails now do not include skating lanes, the use of snow cat grooming machines is over kill. Trails that just have one or two tracksets could easily be groomed by snowmobile grooming equipment like what occurs at Shaganappi in Calgary or Banff. This would require a little more labour but it would reduce the capital and or operational costs of using snow cats- greatly.
There are ways to reduce xc trail tacksetting costs greatly while the existing ski trail system and maintaining Provincial Parks controlled services while not charging people for xc skiing. The benefits outweigh the negatives from an economic spin off effect point of view to maintain free skiing.
Furthermore, a number of trails have been closed down over the years, like ones that where accessed from the Chester Lake parking lot area. Alberta Parks has cut the cost of cross country ski trail grooming over the last decade or so. They can still make cuts without cutting back universally free skiing which boosts the tourism industry. Universal free skiing allows all Albertans to enjoy the sport including the poor, families and laid off workers.
When you are laid off from work, it is nice to know you can still enjoy a cheap day of xc skiing to get your mind off of the corporate rat race society we live.
Its cheaper to keep ‘er.
Thanks for the important links. Vive la resistance!
Keep them coming. Power to the people.
Imho the grooming cancellation was just a distraction from the “sale” part of the announcement that was quietly removed from the website later. Those 164 sites listed for “partnership” is their main goal. I am guessing some of those sites were “promised” to “partners” who helped UPC to get back in power. Time to repay…
Risto posted this yesterday, but in case it got lost: xc-specific petition: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis
Its not xc specific, but these are events regarding the overall parks changes:
YYC Protest: https://m.facebook.com/events/568391263765367
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/protect-our-park-flash-camp-protest-tickets-98552472097?fbclid=IwAR06nZJQhiK0ESGYPiUZDp8_88wg-dBujOOBnrvNOcAJ19QhKKFzfhnQ9sQ
YYC Townhall (limited seats): https://m.facebook.com/events/670529613694476
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/emergency-town-hall-defend-albertas-parks-tickets-98303677947?fbclid=IwAR1f76uo7fqS1rM9j0Xdln16adS2IAWB4ksYV8TBbVY9HhTYijuhl_VpWXA
I’m unclear if there would be value in a xc ski-specific townhall – maybe to discuss options if our dear government doesn’t retract their $200k cut…?
Hi Skiers. Im with a snowmobile club that been grooming our trails for years now. In 2000 the Alberta Snowmobile Association brought in a provincial trail pass to assist clubs with the cost of running a trail system. Groomers drags, trail maintenance, fuel, other equipment, all covered by trail pass and a HUGE amount of other fundraising. Raffles,bingo,casino rallies etc. You will do good as a group and self fund your activities and maybe do a better job than what the government has been doing for you. It has been over 15 years since the government groomed any snowmobile trails. We pay a fee for registration and get nothing back. Its time for a provincial trail pass for all users.
Parks cuts petition:
https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/
K Country winter trail maintenance cuts petition:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis/details/?fbclid=IwAR1C2KKl57yDAB0WVVYzTsrHgL8eWF_6WBnRrmYgv6exairuf1Xt1V4hyzs
Hello there
I totally disagree with negotiating/starting discussions moving toward a non profit or for profit taking over the running of winter operations in K Countray as a first tactic.
Once a strong minded individual (or in this case government) sees weakness/any signs of acceptance, all is lost.
I feel a smarter first tactic is strong condemnation by all is the best first approach, and I am very disappointed that some Nordic Ski clubs and associations have issued arguably weak press releases and public statements on this matter.
Cross Country Alberta is assembling a round table sort of collective to address this decision to end winter trail maintenance in K Country who likely will be meeting in the next few weeks.
I have firsthand information from a 2+ hour phone discussion this week with an Alberta Parks insider on how this decision came about to begin with, and also all the work that encompasses running nordic ops for Parks. The last time this decision was put forward years ago, there was strong public pushback, and in the end, the manager lost their job.
It is not reasonable to say volunteers can take Nordic operations in PLPP over for so many reasons. In the next few days I will share some of the data and facts and figures and reasoning behind this statement that I have from firsthand information.
1) Most grooming and track setting must be done at night in PLPP and in a graveyard shift because due to safety reasons grooming and tracksetting can not be done during the day in PLPP because it is so busy.
2) Since the death of a West Bragg Creek Trails volunteer, volunteers in Alberta are not allowed to do any chainsaw work unless certified to do so alone through a strict certification process and it is nearly impossible for people from a volunteer organization to get certified due to the strict requirements which make a tonne of logical sense. It is my understanding that the West Bragg Creek Trails Association (WBC) has to pay contractors whenever there is chainsaw work to do on their trails. There are many occasions in which there are trees across trails in K Country, and the past 3 years have seen winds over 100km/hr resulting in hundreds of downed trees.
3) Volunteer organizations tend to be fraught with problems keeping skilled volunteers as the friends of Kananaskis Country can attest. The Friends of Kananaskis Country did a survey asking volunteers about volunteering and a HUGE amount of respondents said the demands of the job were too much work. Volunteer organizations such as WBC have been fraught with troubles and strain over the years some due to background issues behind the scenes so-to-speak and also funding challenges and WBC keeps facing funding challenges, according to my source.
Please, I beg you to not cave and then put on the “we/somebody else can take it over” hat as a first response.
Someone recently mentioned when things like these budget cuts happen, this is when some people choose to put on the greedy hat and figure they can turn this into a money maker for them.
Please pause, protest, and protest loudly!!!
Online petition about cuts to Parks: (please try to ignore the rhetoric and sign for the common good…)
.https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/
Online petition specific to cuts to winter trail maintenance in K Country:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis/details/?fbclid=IwAR1hTC0-Mvz4_TAaWTA8p9991u6By39G01gkeSamInq0ZG6gEXCGa-afzoo
Outdoor protest rally for Calgary:
https://www.facebook.com/events/568391263765367/
Please consider a few phone calls and written approaches:
Write letters (I hope of strong protest and condemnation) to the following 8 parties and cc the official opposition in all correspondence to the government:
The official opposition (it is important for the official opposition to be cc’d in on these letters to have a somewhat accurate gauge of how many letters of protest the government is receiving.)
NDP Caucus
5th Floor Edmonton Federal Building
9820 107 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E7
780-415-1800
Email: NDPCaucus@assembly.ab.ca
The premier
https://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_contact&rnumber=16&leg=30
The minister of the Environment
https://www.alberta.ca/AlbertaFiles/Includes/DirectorySearch/goaBrowse.cfm?txtSearch=Office%20of%20the%20minister&Ministry=EP&LevelID=14799&varExpandID=-0
The Finance Minister
https://www.alberta.ca/AlbertaFiles/Includes/DirectorySearch/goaBrowse.cfm?txtSearch=Office%20of%20the%20minister&Ministry=TBF&LevelID=74276&varExpandID=-0
The minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
https://www.alberta.ca/AlbertaFiles/Includes/DirectorySearch/goaBrowse.cfm?txtSearch=Office%20of%20the%20minister&Ministry=EDT&LevelID=128021&varExpandID=-0
Your MLA
To find your MLA, go to the web address below, and slowly start typing in your street address:
http://streetkey.elections.ab.ca/Index.cfm
Nordiq Canada
info@nordiqcanada.ca
Cross Country Alberta
cca@xcountryab.net
manager@xcountryab.net
My very unsolicited two cents but for things this important, I don’t give a d#*n!
Thank you.
Linda
From the outset I found it hard to imagine that there would be no grooming at venerable PLPP next year, however, how that will be accomplished remains in question. I’m wondering if there is going to be a coordinated response from clubs and groups and what will be the best way to provide input.
Myself for example would most like to see grooming preserved at PLPP and if that means sacrificing Mt. Shark and perhaps Ribbon Creek then so be it, however I recognize that others will see it differently. I’d also be willing to accept fees but as a more frequent user I’d favor a season pass that covers both CNC and PLPP and other provincial areas. I also think it is important that there be areas like west bragg creek and confederation where no fees are charged to avoid discouraging beginners.
I think there is a case to be made for maintaining the status quo, but I’m not sure in the current fiscal and political climate that will fly so I think the community that enjoys the trails should be prepared.
They removed the word “sale” from their announcement on Alberta Parks.ca. I think the petition actually worked. Now they are trying to convince us they’ve never planned to sell anything… Good manipulation Kinga!
I can concur with the initial surprise/disappointment upon seeing that our beloved winter trails will no longer maintained for xc skiing. But there’s a lot of potential for a good outcome here. We have 8 months to figure this out before the next season and there are many options to consider. But we need strong spokespeople such as ski and other recreational clubs, parks people, themselves, and forums such as this – Bob, looking forward to having you back in the empire as a trusted voice for the xc ski community (and best wishes for your family).
As for the parks issues, the government has proposed to close or reduce funding to a number of parks that are often very difficult to access due to their isolation and are thus underused, which makes them relatively costly to maintain (see the list and google map them). This doesn’t mean people can’t continue to use some of them, they just won’t be serviced with amenities that sometimes have to be helicoptered in. Not that controversial a move. They have not indicated that any public lands will be sold but, rather, that services/facilities in those parks may be leased. This is already happening today. Many provincial campgrounds have private leases for their maintenance or to operate facilities. I used to work for a campground maintenance company, family-owned, back in the late 90s in the David Thompson area. The people that hold these leases are not making millions, they are often retired people looking to enjoy the outdoors and keep busy. They provide care and vigilance of public lands, a great service and more than what the government can afford. Hardly the image of a “profit-making private corporation” as stated in the Leadnow petition. The Leadnow and Y2Y petitions circulating in response to this issue contain misleading and incorrect statements (e.g. “fire-sale of Alberta’s provincial parks”) and should not be further promoted as they’re just playing off people’s initial emotional reactions to the headlines on this issue. This article in the Calgary Herald helps set some of the record straight on the government’s proposal.
https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/corbella-alberta-parks-are-not-for-sale-not-one-centimeter.
Strong emotions and divisiveness make people feel like victims. We don’t have to play the victim card when it comes to our winter trails. Albertans are truly lucky to have access to such exceptional, world-class parks and trails in our back yards, winter and summer. Perhaps it’s time to show our love in different ways.
This decision will affect thousands of Albertans. I would be willing to pay an entrance fee to keep grooming the trails and to maintain the visitors centres.
Compared to Health and Education I understand that Parks Alberta are not the top priority, but I question the provincial government approach to eliminate the deficit. They are still using the boom and bust approach. The stability provided by a provincial sales tax and user fees would be a more realistic approach when facing economic downturns.
HI Bob. Is there somewhere we can email to comment directly to the government about this decision? I agree with the reader’s comment about being willing to pay a user fee to use the trackset trails, but am also wondering if their decision might be influenced by a large number of protests (offering suggestions for what can be done to continue tracksetting) directly to them?
200K, eh? That’s not “millions of dollars!” as claimed by Nixon!
Tourism is hardly a major mandate of this government. They claim it is, but they aren’t acting on it. They’ve been doing their best to keep the Castle parks under the radar, will do nothing for Bighorn Country, and are now launching this attack on existing Alberta Parks and the “signature destinations” in Kananaskis Country. I don’t mean to sound glib or anti-Conservative in general – I’m not anti-Conservative, most parks in Alberta were established by Conservative governments, and the original champion of Kananaskis Country was none other than Peter Lougheed – but this government is following a very anti-parks policy.
I’m concerned that these “cuts,” which produce only a small decrease in spending at the cost of much economic benefit elsewhere, are part of a subtle larger plan to reduce low-impact parks use and erode our parks system.
So much enthusiasm for user fees here! I’ll sign up for that when I get back my share of the subsidy given to the Calgary Flames…
Is that $200,000 track-setting cost specific to one area or all of K-country? I’d gladly donate to help support track-setting if that’s what it takes to keep the area alive.
Re: Fundraising for continued grooming in our parks. If only we could get a few days of the money allotted to the UCP War Room. 3 million / 365 = $82,191. Seriously. I don’t want to get political but just a small fraction would keep Albertan families active in the winter months.
Wondering how many you who read this website voted for the UCP and expected these cuts which were raised before a few years back..? User pay is NOT the answer when we share and care for our fellow Albertans and guests from elsewhere!
Wondering how many UCP MLA’s have ever skied or camped in PLPP?
Wondering how many NDP MLA’s have ever skied or camped in PLPP?
Wondering how clients of William Watson Lodge who XC ski in the area BECAUSE it is track set and safe will now no longer be served?
Wondering how many children of UCP MLA’s XC ski, and/or will when they come to an age of understanding ask their parent what in the world they were thinking… why doesn’t my school take me out camping, skiing, etc…
I would support trails that are open for all regardless of economic status, and grooming funded by fundraisers or suggested donations from those who can afford it. We would gladly chip in. The $200,000/ year does not sound insurmountable for our active community.
Petition to voice your opinion can be found here:
https://yellowstonetoyukon.nationbuilder.com/abparks?utm_campaign=aa_03042020_ab_parks&utm_medium=email&utm_source=yellowstonetoyukon
Here’s the petition:
Albertans love parks
Dear Premier Kenney and Minister Nixon,
I love Alberta’s parks. Your government’s decision to cut the budget and close or deregulate almost 200 parks in the province will affect Albertans and visitors looking to experience our amazing landscapes and recreation.They also ignore the environmental value that many of these areas provide towards a healthy, functioning landscape.
Please stop this short-sighted move.
Signed,
$200k/year? So options are:
– insist government keep funding this chump change
– have YYC nordic groups organize an annual fundraising drive (ala $50 across 4k people) – means still free for low-income, etc
– get govt to implement park/trail fees
– have volunteer-run groups try to organize to trackset trails (which is tough in the cold, dead of night when it often happens – I believe confed struggles with volunteers already?)
– ???
– break out the AT skis for the lucky few, and practise dodging snowshoers and fat bikers, but since WBC is closer, it’ll be much less busy at PLPP and Mt Shark, especially if things start to overgrow (see: Sawmill trails…)
Why should we pay user fees when corporations are getting $4.7 billion in tax relief? We are spending $30 million per year on an embarrassing and ineffective “war room.” Jason Kenney is picking our pockets to pay for golden handshakes for his friends and political insiders. That’s just wrong.
There is a cross country ski trail specific petition now.
Let’s share it as widely as we can.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis/
There is a cross country ski trail specific petition now.
Let’s share it as widely as we can.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis/
Btw, I did some math
The AB budget is $42,600,000,000 (last I checked)
These trails cost 0.00047% of the budget.
There is no economic argument for these cuts.
I would take trail fees over a shutdown too, but trail fees would invariably lower casual usage, and a more sedentary population could lead to higher health care costs, which already make up a whopping 40% of the AB budget.
IF you want to comment on the recent changes to Alberta Parks …
Which are as follows…
1. Barrier Information Centre and Elbow Centre Closing
2. End of winter grooming in Mtn. Shark, Peter Lougheed, and Ribbon Creek (Kananaskis Village ) Area in 2020-2021 Winter Season
3. Fee Increases to some Campgrounds
4. Closure of Some Dayuse Areas (washroom facilities, and garbage removal) Eg. Sibbald Meadows Pond
Follow this link :
Scroll to the Bottom to write a comment to our premier.
https://www.alberta.ca/contact.cfm#forms
Hi folks,
There is a cross country skiing specific petition now.
Please sign and tell your friends.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/minister_of_environment_jason_nixon_keep_trail_grooming_and_track_setting_alive_in_kananaskis/
We’ll gladly pay our way too. Perhaps xc-skiing is a want – not a need. But we want it!! So sign us up!
Yes, so grateful for this blog site at a time like this.
Thanks for the cost breakdown. With those figures, they sell an annual pass for $200 and the costs arr covered with the first 1000 skiers! Sign me up!
Thanks so much, Bob! I’m so glad your forum exists during this announcement. I hope that skiers can rally together and come up with an amenable solution.
Rocky Mountain Outlook reported that grooming the trails in Kananaskis costs $200,000 per year. I don’t know the accuracy of that figure, but to me it sounds like pocket change when you’re a government who generally speaks in millions of dollars.
And I can’t think of a single area in Alberta (outside of the national parks, which I’m not sure how they’re figured into Alberta’s economy given that they are federal) that has the same draw for winter tourism as Kananaskis, yet tourism is supposed to be one of the UPC’s big mandates for the next ten years.
And I think most of recognize we’ve enjoyed a free ride (glide?) in Kananaskis for years but massive fossil fuel revenues are history, and we’d be willing to pay user fees like most other places.
Makes no sense whatsoever to me, so I’m inclined to expect the same as Bob, that Kenney and Nixon decided to present us with the worst case scenario so that we’d readily accept the lesser evil of user fees. Let’s just hope they make them reasonable and/or provide an annual, multi-area option.
It’s very satisfying to tell a real human about your opposition to the funding cuts for Alberta Parks! Call AB Environment and Parks directly at 780-427-2391 on your lunch break, and keep those letters going too!
I would love to hear the exact annual cost of grooming the trails. So far, all I have heard from Nixon is that he doesn’t know the actual numbers. He tosses around that Parks cost 86 million and make 36 million. What of that 86 mill does this cost?
A way too easy solution…user fees. And perhaps friggin’ 5% provincial sales tax.
I thinks this all solidly smells like privatization. I sure hope the current grooming quality can be maintained with that plan!
Am I mad? Yes. Am I sad? Yes. This is so backward. Good thing they took Progressive out of their party name!
Seems like many XC ski areas in BC do quite well with user fees. Dawn mountain in Golden is $12 for adult day pass – not bad eh? Having said that, where is the line drawn then on user fees? Why single out XC skiing only? What about trail fees for OHV and horse riders? (Costs $ to maintain their trails too). But maybe pay per use is avoided with year round day passes like national parks and most provinces have? Time for open and informed public discussion on all this. After all, don’t the parks belong to all Albertans, not the current government?
Nixon’s claims that these trails are “under-utilized” and that pouring “millions of dollars” into these trails is a “waste” are shameful. These trails aren’t under-utilized and they don’t cost millions to maintain.
We had a lot of snow at CNC also! Expect 15+cm of fresh snow on trails groomed prior to today. Take caution on Rundle and Silvertip as they were groomed whilst it was still snowing heavily leaving one side of the trail covered in more fresh snow than the other and a ridge near the middle, this will be rectified tonight. The team will also work to get Banff natural, Bow and Meadowview along with the regular manmade rec trails done tonight too. Banff trail, Banff Loop, Olympic and Centennial were all redone after the snow finished last night so should be in good shape. Manyt Biathon trails will have a fresh cover as they were done prior to the snow finishing.
Good morning everyone. I am reading the comments about this topic and disagree with almost all of them. The Province is broke. That is a fact: not oil, not money. As XC skier and as a citizen I want to see cuts before in recreation and Provincial Park rather than having those cuts in Health Care or Education (where there are also cuts). The main resource of the Province is oil, and without it, there is nothing (thinking otherwise is lying). I agree with tax relief to corporations, if they leave the problem will be even bigger. It is very sad the Province wont groom anymore Kananaskis, disgrace for all of us. We, XC skiers and normal citizen, should partner and try to maintain the tracks in partnership with AB Provincial Park, the same way is being maintained in West Bragg Creek. Quotes, membership fees, entrance fees,… are possible ways to finance the maintenance (notice that I have not idea how much is the season cost). My 2 cents. Thanks
I never thought the leopard would eat MY face, sob the xcountry skiers who voted for the Leopards Eating Faces Party.
Dear Bob:
Very briefly; I honestly think that it is time to send a letter to the federal government asking them to declare Kananaskis and Canmore, part of the Banff National park system, bypassing all the junk that this province is experiencing, this would address not only the tracksetting of PLPP , Mt.Shark and Ribbon Creek but also issues like poaching, ATV ‘s and ensuring a vital corridor to wildlife for migratory purposes.
Cordially: Paolo
The honourable Peter Lougheed will be turning in his grave this evening. Shame on you Kenney. I am reticent to use the word holistic should it be construed As a left wing conspiracy but hey, let’s keep people healthy and out of the doctor’s office and hospitals and get the f**k skiing!
I fear there is a push for either a non profit or for profit group to take over Nordic ski operations in PLPP (what about Ribbon and Mt. Shark?) with people thinking it’s easy, anyone can do it. That statement is very far from an accurate statement.
Suffice it to say my opinion has gone back to keep it in the hands of Parks staff, and goes further to say keep campgrounds in the hands of Parks, as they are HUGE revenue generators which translates to offsetting if not completely paying for Parks operations year round!
Privatization arguably means lower standards, and definitely means lower wages that are usually minimum wage, not a living wage.
Many Parks in Alberta have taken back the summer operations from private operators because of the simple fact that summer operations are revenue generators.
Notice in the budget cuts that summer campground operations are being scaled back in the campgrounds Parks still runs!
Lastly:
There is a chance the “Optimizing Alberta Parks” is a regurgitation of information from the “Rationalizing Alberta’s Parks” document which was the Conservative government’s Parks Management cutback plan that was created a long time ago (possibly decades) which I was told was then voted down at the time by their own party.
Facts and figures, and also dollars such as tourism impacts will speak volumes. Stats from hotels in K Country.
Funding cutbacks? There also is the argument the oil patch can be given tax breaks and yet the gov’t can’t spend some money on Parks?
Discussions are under way around the idea of forming a collective to weigh-in on the government’s decision to cease all Nordic operations in Kananaskis Country and also to Nordic operations that are closer to Edmonton.
This group is collectively so far different user groups (aka Nordic Clubs); Nordic operators comprised mostly of non profit societies, some with paid staff and others which are all volunteer run; Cross Country Alberta, and Nordiq Canada.
If your group wants to take part, please email me: shagnordicATgmailDOTcom
Linda M
I fear there is a push for either a non profit or for profit group to take over Nordic ski operations in PLPP (what about Ribbon and Mt. Shark?) with people thinking it’s easy, anyone can do it. That statement is very far from an accurate statement.
Suffice it to say my opinion has gone back to keep grooming and track setting in the hands of Parks staff, and I will further to say keep campgrounds in the hands of Parks, as they are HUGE revenue generators which translates to offsetting if not completely paying for Parks operations year round!
Privatization arguably means lower standards, and definitely means lower wages that are usually minimum wage, not a living wage.
Many Parks in Alberta have taken back the summer operations from private operators because of the simple fact that summer operations are revenue generators.
Also notice in the budget cuts that summer campground operations are being scaled back in the campgrounds Parks still runs!
Lastly: It is likely emotions aren’t going to change the direction the gov’t has taken this. Facts and figures, and also dollars such as tourism impacts will speak volumes. Also the argument the oil patch can be given tax breaks and yet the gov’t can’t spend some money on Parks?
Linda M
A couple legislative documents of interest:
One is the Kananaskis Recreation Policy under Klein in 1999, the other is Provincial Parks Act dated December 15, 2017.
A section from the Provincial Parks Act states: under Section 3 (d) Purposes of Parks:
“to facilitate their use & enjoyment for outdoor recreation, education & the appreciation & experiencing of Alberta’s natural heritage, and
(e) to ensure their lasting protection for the benefit of present & future generations.”
The same idea is under the Purposes of Recreation Areas, so I fail to see how this government is adhering to this current legislation!
I am by no means an expert but to my understanding our parks are protected lands…
I sent an email to the Environment Minister, I signed the petition & shared the petition on fb with outdoor groups, if anyone has any further ideas or can draft a letter referencing this legislation, please share so we can further support our opposition to this governments’ plans.
Also: “Groomed and track set cross-country ski trails will continue to be maintained in Peter Lougheed
Provincial Park and at Mt. Shark in Spray Valley Provincial Park. ”
Has there been a subsequent act passed that takes away these protections and objectives?
Further included in the below document:
‘The proposed management objectives in order of priority are:
Preservation: to preserve or enhance naturally occurring ecosystems including
especially rare or uncommon species and to ensure that natural ecological processes are allowed to occur.
Outdoor Recreation: to provide opportunities for recreational uses such as camping,
hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, boating, and fishing.
Heritage Appreciation: to provide opportunities for visitors to experience, understand
and appreciate the natural resources of the parks.
Heritage Tourism: to provide opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy high
quality natural, cultural and scenic resources through provision of appropriate sustainable tourism facilities and services. “
This document dated April 2006 by the Alberta government concerning the management of Peter Lougheed Park and the Spray Lakes Provincial Parks:
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/11f0ff98-4da4-4e17-a410-2a8c6ec901f8/resource/7e769544-3ef0-4793-ae07-5d31f3992ca4/download/2006-plppsprayplan-webversion.pdf
It mentions that “The Peter Lougheed/Spray Valley Provincial Parks Area Management Plan provides a long-term
vision and day-to-day guidance for stewardship of this Protected Area. The plan was prepared
within the context of existing legislation and regulations. It outlines the type and extent
of outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities, facilities and services including the delivery
of heritage appreciation programs that assist Albertans and visitors to understand and appreciate
our natural heritage while ensuring its ongoing preservation.
The Management Plan was prepared with extensive public input and will be reviewed and revised
periodically to reflect the current thinking of Albertans about how our natural heritage will be
preserved for present and future generations.
The Minister responsible for Parks and Protected Areas has authorized the implementation of the
Management Plan and retains the authority to amend or interpret its provisions.”
It clearly states that our natural heritage is to be preserved for present and future generation, that there was extensive public consultation and it is a Protected Area!
I have to delve into the document, however, wanted to share this as I am under the impression that our parks were created to protect them from the ideas that this government is implementing….
XC POLITICS AND GROOMING COSTS
Do you know that some American states spend millions of dollars per year to groom snowmobile and cross country trails? But Alberta’s Government no longer will.
I have for sometime being advising people on Skier Bob’s website that the blizzard of XC skiing cuts was coming. When the citizens in the last Provincial election voted in Kenney, I knew that Park XC skiing cuts were coming for sure. When Kenney cut corporate taxes by over $4 billion and increased the deficit more than the last government, “the writing was on the snow” as to cuts to XC ski trails.
Kenney slashed corporate taxes by over 4 billion dollars which put the Province into a declining structural economic situation that economists were warning against. Yes, we needed to reduce the deficit but Kenney made it worse by bringing in corporate tax cuts at the worst possible time while not wanting to generate government revenues in other areas. The pro corporate Kenney government had other non tax and tax revenue options but they chose not to take them for ideological reasons and ignorance.
Kenney wants private management of the Provincial Parks. He suggests he would like First Nations or municipalities to take over the Provincial Governments job of running the parks but that is just not very realistic when the Parks were not meant to be revenue generators. Municipalities are having a hard time with debt as well these days due to many factors which the Provincial Government forces on them, such as the inability to collect taxes from oil corporations who fault on tax payments. Kenney may very well privatize all the parks which must be stopped if all Albertans, no matter their income level, are to enjoy the Parks universally. Our Parks belong to the people and are a form of a universal social program. They are good for our health, the environment, the economy, flood control and much more. Our Parks must not be privatized so only wealthy people can afford to play in them, like what is occurring in our National Parks like Banff. All people must have the opportunity to use the parks, not just the wealthy. This is an Albertan right not a privilege. This is the true Alberta Advantage which universally benefits all Albertans.
GROOMING COSTS
Now as for the above mentioned costs for trail grooming equipment, it seems a little high for the cost of leasing a groomer at $85k per year when a new one can be bought for $300k per year. Leasing is always a poor investment compared to buying. There are ways to get deals on snow cats to reduce prices, such as cooperative buying with ski resorts or other industries. Volume purchases mean cheaper costs. Also, there are different options for snow groomers in terms of size and brands. Tucker Sno Cat machines tend to be the cheapest on the market. They are also the easiest to service traditionally.
Buying used makes more sense than buying new. Ritche Bros Auctions often have snow groomers for sale in Alberta in December at the Edmonton/Leduc auction site. The oil industry tends to use these up north to maintain ice roads. These machines often make it to the auction.
Now big snow cat groomers, like Piston Bully’s make great trails for cross country skiing. However, in recent years these cats have become “over kill” on trails that do not have skating lanes. Many trails have had the ski skating lanes eliminated as trails have become overgrown by trees. There is no need to use big snow cats or groomers for trails when the trails are only track set for classic XC skiing. Snowmobiles work fine for this. Big snow cats are ideal for skate skiing XC trails. The one advantage of big snow groomers is that there is less grooming labour involved, usually, and they can make better trails with poorer snow when compared to snowmobile grooming equipment. Snowmobiles use much less fuel and are much cheaper to maintain. Used snowmobiles that can be used to groom the classic XC ski trails are very cheap. That is all Parks Canada in Banff uses.
Snow groomers and snow mobiles can be used for potentially a decade or more depending on maintenance. The snow groomers used in Peter Lougheed Park do not get the same kind of hard use as at ski hills. At the ski hills, the snow cats work much harder pushing around hard man made snow.
One way to save money on fuel for snow cats is to use bio diesel. Used frying oil from restaurants could potentially be obtained very cheaply or even free. Skiers may smell French fries as they ski behind such snow cats which might make them fell very hungry. Bio diesel drops could be made by skiers. Also, cheaper natural gas could be used to displace diesel as well potentially.
One last comment about XC skiing politics. Our political system in Alberta is stupid and archaic. Voting for parties that offer you limited or no real options is so old school it is ridiculous. I am sure many XC skiers voted for the UCP without knowing that funding for XC trail grooming would be eliminated. Kenney did not come out and say he would cut XC skiing, nor did he say he would cut corporate taxes by over $4 billion. In a modern computer era, the people should have the legalized right to vote on bills before the Legislative Assembly along with the ability to introduce citizen initiated legislation. This would enable people to stop legislation they don’t like that a party wants to bring in, which is what real democracy looks like. This is democratic choice. The oligarchy parties do not offer choice like what a democracy does. Furthermore the people would also have the option to introduce legislation and form the government in any way they wish. People could get rid of political parties if they wanted to for example.
If we had the legalized right to vote on bills before the Legislative Assembly, the corporate tax cuts and cross country ski trail cuts likely would not have occurred and our Province would be in much better shape financially today with less debt. There would be no undemocratic risk of our parks being privatized and made expensive to use.
Bill voting rights for you ends the same old same old corrupt political system which benefits the 1% mainly. Nothing else will This is what real democracy looks like.
Ski it up while you still can. Contact your MLA and tell them to reverse the cuts to ski trails and corporate taxes. Tell your friends and family to do the same. We have the cheapest corporate tax rates anywhere in Canada and one must ask why as it does not create more jobs or make for an Alberta Skiing Advantage.
Politics- if you don’t participate you collaborate with those in power. Silence can’t be heard. Demand Bill Voting Rights 4U.
To be honest with you folks, it doesn’t surprise me, I have been suspicious about this government ability to manage the future and the present of this province; my strong believe is that they are so skilled and obviously opportunistic, that it was quite obvious that they could count on a substantial amount of Albertans to believe indiscriminately to all the B.S. that was fed to the public about bringing back the fate of this province to the once claimed bonanza of the golden days.
The reality is that we are getting deeper and deeper into debt by diverting every penny subtracted from all the programs being cut, to support and subsidize an industry that is all about waste and massive devastation but many nostalgic of that philosophical line of thoughts, are not aware that more and more private funds have been invested towards the real future of this province and employment has been steadily increasing.
Perhaps the people of this province needs to experience real grief to determine that it is time to turn the page for good and have responsible people to take responsible decisions for everyone; the chance will come in 3 years so prepare for more ugly news because this is not the end , there is more to come and it is going to be even more outrageous than the end of tracksetting in Kananaskis, it will make you wish that the coronavirus will land to every UCP politician and do the job quietly, so we can finally think about enjoying this land with all the treasures, all the creatures, all the fun and make a living in compliance with Mother nature.
Paolo
I am devastated at the governments’ move to close parks & stop grooming our beloved ski trails in Peter Lougheed & Kananaskis.
They suggest that CNC & West Bragg will suffice. I’m not sure West Bragg consistently has good conditions & I don’t think those 2 areas alone will support the population of skiers especially when you include snowshoers, walkers & fat bikers. I love the variety of trails that we have & would rather pay an annual pass (ski/hike) to maintain & groom the trails then have those areas closed. Could the staff at Barrier etc provide any stats on the number of users? Could the businesses indicate how much revenue they will lose by these measures. Beyond economics, outdoor activities & cross country skiing are excellent forms of affordable exercise which promotes better health improving the provinces health expenses. I think it is short sighted & greedy of the government to undertake these plans without any consultation with the stakeholders. Families with young children are sharing these activities with the next generation. Beyond economics & health benefits, we have a treasure, our parks that have to be protected!
We need a petition specifically for the ski trails and not just for the privatization/park deletion idea, which is a separate problems (which Nixon denies exists-see his Facebook page!).
Speaking of Facebook, we need to be bombarding the social media accounts of Alberta politicians, especially Kenney and Nixon, with comments informing both the politicians and the public of our disapproval of suddenly terminating these decades-old ski areas with no consultation and no middle ground.
Early today someone posted on one of the blogs –
Trip reports or ask a question- a List of Politicians address is to send our comments
I can’t find it anywhere? help please- I want to send things everywhere
I think the important thing is that the pressure stays on.
Letters, twitter, phone calls, petitions ( facebook).
The government has to provide other alternatives like user pay. I bet most skiers would gladly pay for the quality skiing we have in the park.
Press Release by Cross Country Alberta:
http://www.xcountryab.net/provincial-government-decision-to-cease-grooming-in-kananaskis-country/
It is time to write your MLA, the minister of Environment and Parks and Jason Kenney. Here is the email address for: The Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks, 323 Legislature Building, 10800-97 Ave. Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 aepminister@gov.ab.ca
I sent a note to CBC Eyeopener last night. They did an excellent piece this morning:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-5-calgary-eyeopener/clip/15763713-reaction-to-alberta-parks-closures
I sincerely hope you can find some great articulate people to meet with these reporters. What about the fact that an active lifestyle that the trails promote keeps people out of the health care system?
Statistics on Nordic skiing in Canada in 2015
https://www.skicanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2014-15-Facts-and-Stats.pdf
try Hugh Burton – he is One of your followers very knowledgable Of the cross country skiing
issues- history/ And politics
Our family would definitely pay a fee to use the trails! We will be losing out on so much if they discontinue keeping these trails open to the public. It’s important for health, tourism and family enjoyment. U bet if you check with the hotels and restaurants in the areas they will also suffer. Please reconsider and like I said a fee would even be worth looking at. Debi Lowther
XC skiing and exercise in general is how I cope with all the other terrible things happening in this province and world. I’m sure I am not alone in this.
It doesn’t matter what side of the debate you are on in regards to oil and gas, or the direction of the province at this point in time, these parks are what ground us all. The lack of consultation or consideration of how to move forward is concerning and unfortunately quite a common occurrence as of late. I hope we can unite together as exercise and recreation lovers to make the necessary changes to save our beloved parks. I am unsure who the best person to contact is as my MLA has been quite dismissive of other issues I’ve brought forward. How do we all move forward in a collective way that is meaningful?
I wrote both a “snail mail” as well as an electronic letter to Jason Nixon, Environment and Parks Minister as soon as I learned this today. CC’d it to Kananaskis lodge, as the tourism argument was valid.
It was almost too good to be true that we had access to this for decades, all for free.
Does anyone else remember back in the glory days of the late 80’s/early 90’s where there was a hot tub, pool and sauna at the village, free for anyone to use?
The Nordic centre was also free for years after the Olympics before they wised up to fees.
There also used to be a minimum security prison nearby and it wouldn’t be uncommon to see inmates shovelling snow. I think the Conservatives got rid of that too.
Collecting $5 or $10 per person at a gatehouse would be a great alternative. That’s the way it is in pretty much every other province. I’, surprised they didn’t go that route.
Hopefully enough of us get in touch with Mr. Nixon to make them change their minds.
I want to correct an earlier comment that I made. Gatineau Park, outside of Ottawa, has a lot of similarities to Kananaskis Country. It serves as a recreational haven for locals, and offers facilities for biking and hiking in summer, and for cross-country skiing in winter. There are numerous areas for people to enjoy picnics, and at least one lake where a private operator offers canoe and kayak rentals. It is the heart of outdoor community in Ottawa, just as Kananaskis is dear to the hearts of outdoor-loving Calgarians.
A few years ago, the governing body for Gatineau began outsourcing trail grooming and instituted a trail-use fee. I earlier suggested (incorrectly) that this was free. I’ve since asked a few locals, and cost is $20 for a one-time use, or you can buy a season pass for $200. I’m told the condition of the trails is excellent. It seems to me that the model works well for Gatineau. I see a similar structure at the CNC (as someone else pointed out). I’m wondering if it can work well for K-Country.
Everything for the parks over the past 10-15 years was paid for by oil and gas revenues. Now it is coming home to roost for the anti-energy people. Time for trail fees. If not then then those people can drive in their electric vehicles, put up a blockade at Hwy 40, and have a temper tantrum. People pushing Leadnow as a vehicle to a solution? They are the anti oil and gas clowns that caused the loss of revenues and hence the park budget cuts.
Here is a start:
https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/
Make sure you call and email the Environment Minister:
Jason Nixon
780-427–2391
aep.minister@gov.ab.ca
It is not unusual for governments to make a bunch of unpopular announcements at once. Then they monitor the ones that get the most blow-back and save face by reversing those decision. So make a Ruckus everyone!
If anyone would consider chatting with CBC Calgary News, please let me know, as well.
david.bell@cbc.ca.
Cheers, Dave
I will gladly support any petition, and will write letters, but based on their actions over the last 12 months, I expect this government will be tone-deaf. I don’t think that they care about the well-being or health of this population, and we would be seen as a small special-interest group and not really worth their attention. Their interest is in the bottom line and this is how we should approach this problem.
I agree with Bob, that we need to look at practicalities and costs. WBC have done a tremendous job and it would be good to determine if that model can be applied to other areas, such as PLPP. It would be good to have the WBC people provide some guidance here.
How much would people be willing to pay for trail fees and would that even cover the cost of grooming?
What type of governance process would we need to organize and what is the best way to approach the government if we want change?
If it comes down to it and we could only pick one area for grooming in K-country to consolidate our efforts, which of the three would that be? PLPP? Mount Shark? Ribbon Creek?
The decision is appalling in so many ways but let’s put lack of consultation or consideration of cost saving alternatives(including user fees) near the top of the list. As an aside, I hope they haven’t been spending $250k annually leasing the cat. A brand new Pisten Bully 600 with accessories(way more than is needed for XC grooming) is under $400k to purchase.
This is very sad news, but not surprising from the UCP. There is money for corporate handouts, tax cuts and the embarrassing ‘war room’ yet little money for public services that make life worth living in this Province. We need to demand better. This is our home. It is all about priorities.
I wonder if the Mt. Kidd golf course will be impacted at all by the cuts to Parks?
Trail fees should be a non-starter. Jason Kenney is giving a $4.7 billion tax break to wealthy, profitable corporations. Why should we pay to subsidize their bottom line? Governing is about priorities, and the UCP has demonstrated their priority is corporate welfare over the wellbeing of Albertans. If we’re in such dire financial straits we should start by cancelling the plan to lower corporate taxes even more.
Whether it’s cuts to healthcare (thousands of frontline jobs being eliminated, doctors contract being torn up), cuts to education (15,000 new kids per year and no additional teachers), cuts to post-secondary (500 jobs lost between NAIT and SAIT alone), and now cuts to ski grooming, the UCP has sent a clear signal where their priorities lie.
The Kenney Regime, I would assume, has fewer supporters in the Nordic skiing community than in other winter sports such as snowmobiling. What annoys me is how there was zero public consultation around introducing user fees for groomed ski trails in K Country and other provincial parks. I hope this isn’t a step towards opening these areas to snowmobiles and other ATV’s (that might be conspiracy thinking so I will remove my foil hat).
I think we need to accept that the days of the Alberta advantage are over and that our provincial finances are in lousy condition. I fully support a user fee for groomed trails at Shark, PLPP and K Village. Ideally, less than the $15 for CNC… maybe $10 for adults $5 for kids. Tickets could be sold at electronic kiosks and volunteers could monitor that people skiing on groomed trails have trail passes. An annual pass would give access to all three or perhaps an option to combine it with a CNC annual pass.
I don’t think we should waste our breathe trying to convince the Kenney Regime that the health benefits of Nordic skiing will save the province money over the long term in savings from healthcare. I propose a digital petition to get AEP to develop a strategy for user fees to maintain groomed ski trails, and to do so quickly so it’s in place for the 2020-2021 ski season!
Perhaps the Calgary Flames, through the Flames Foundation, could finance this activity, as an acknowledgement of the largesse recently shown them by the public sector?
Also: there was ZERO public consultation on this matter.
YES! Remember, the government is employed by US. Let’s make ourselves, heard, loud and clear by our elected representatives. MLAs do take letters (especially hard copy) seriously and this is our time to flood their mailboxes. WRITE LETTERS! PHONE YOUR MLAs OFFICE! If you have time: SET UP A MEETING!! Let’s protect our public spaces!
Sabrina,
I think it is a valid analogy. Moving forward things have to be financially sustainable from the perspective of the overall population. As time goes on we all expect more government services, yet whine when taxes go up. Sadly something like grooming XC trails is at the bottom of the list that taxpayers are willing to pay for.
I stand by my point that the government should not be in the business of providing recreational facilities or support (grooming, trail maintenance) as they clearly suck at running something without sky high labor costs, management costs, etc..
What about the downhill skiing areas? Can you imagine what a financial disaster that’d be if they were run by the feds in the National Parks and the province outside of the parks?
I look at it from the perspective that it could be so much better if it was run with a collaborative effort of volunteer groups and private business.
Sorry AUPE..
The UCP spends 30 million for the energy war room, no money left for provincial parks. Sad to see what the new Alberta advantage has become.
Is the Provincial government open to user fees in K-Country instead of outright elimination, or is this a done deal? What will they do with the grooming equipment that has already been purchased and used in those areas in K-Country? That is not an inexpensive amount to just let stand idle and rust. How does this fit in with the Province’s wanting to double tourism in Alberta? And, eliminating groomed areas in the front country will place increased pressure on the Banff area cross country skiing, which already is not a priority for Parks Canada (Parks Canada has put most of their resources into Lake Louise’s x-country skiing).
I think WBC is not a good analogy here because Kananaskis country, in terms of services and maintenance is not catering to that small of a population. I think we are underestimating the footprint of K Country. In 2017 (the last year we have Visitation Statistics for), domestic tourism (so not counting out-of-Canada visitors) accounted for 5.24 million person visits. 60% of those visits were overnight visits in hotels/resorts/motels or other commercial properties. After summer (which accounted for 39% of visits), winter is the second busiest season (23% of visits – that’s about 1.12 million person visits in winter alone). This is a substantial portion of Alberta’s overall tourism (which was about $36.9 million person visits total). Honestly, it does not make any financial sense to let K Country be run entirely by volunteers. It’s a bad business decision, and will have economic impacts.
Welcome to nu-Alberta. Live by the sword die by the sword.
I’ll go a bit against the grain here- although it’s disappointing this is really no surprise as our Province is functionally bankrupt. I don’t believe the Province should be in the business of providing recreation facilities and support as they can’t figure out how to run any department without massive overspending and inefficiencies!
I believe a more sustainable model is something like the WBC Trails association (which we should all have to buy an annual membership for!!) Give this group and others the legislative authority to charge an annual membership. This would enable a few key paid staff, a solid volunteer support staff and a more steady revenue stream.
This would be a much more sustainable solution than the Government hiring Government workers to maintain trails for the few (in % of overall population) that use these trails in the winter months.
I would really like to hear what Skier Bob has to say about this once he’s back from his emergency. I believe he’s a staunch supporter of the conservative government. I think he’ll probably say he supports paying a fee to keep them open. If this was the NDP government proposing this I imagine people (and probably Skier Bob) who say they would pay a fee to keep them open would be more upset and wouldn’t be willing to pay a fee. Just saying.
Wow! Surely the health and tourism benefits outweigh the cost to groom? If grooming does actually stop next season, the snowshoe/fatbike/ski/Walker mayhem will be unbridled, if the parking lots remain plowed. ACC hut traffic at elk lakes will be interesting. Maybe they will groom (as we also await what happens at shadow lake lodge). Time for friends of Kananaskis and WBC trails association to expand as a form of protection against private development/industry. Probably a good deal on a piston bully coming up. Couch HQ in PLPP will remain open! (If one can get past a maze of downed trees that won’t get removed during the winter season.) Trails like fox creek might cease to be maintained at all. The only real reason for any maintenance in PLPP will be the fire lookout, the hydroline and the elk lakes ACC hut. And what, decommission the pocaterra warming hut, vs. Keeping it locked but still heated to prevent water damage? Interesting times. I’m glad I have light touring and AT skis, if I’m allowed to set a human powered track wherever it is possible to do so.
That’s really sad news. Especially when we should be encouraging active lifestyles that will lower health care costs later. Especially in the winter!
I live in S. Ontario and if you want tracked trails you have to pay, even at the provincial parks. Although I’d love to ski for free, I’m happy to pay a nominal fee (usually 10 dollars at the parks) to support grooming. Good grooming is worth it. I’m even fine paying 30 dollars at Hardwood as their grooming is awesome, meaning you can ski much earlier and later than at other places. They do amazing things with small amounts of snow! Even there, XC skiing is still cheaper than most other sports.
Now I’m sad I didn’t get to ski there the last time I was home and went skiing. Canmore was fun, but the K Country is the best!
I agree completely with the comment that providing some kind of fee that would enable track setting to occur. After all we pay an annual national park fee. I would not be upset to pay an Alberta provincial park fee in return for trail grooming and other services.
Here is a link to the list of MLA’s in Alberta.
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_report&memPhoto=True&alphaboth=True&alphaindex=True&build=y&caucus=All&conoffice=True&legoffice=True&mememail=True
Write them ,phone their offices. Get your friends, relatives and buddies next door to phone and write letters.
Groomer Bill
So this is the three places I would suggest STARTING. Contact info included for your convenience.
Miranda Rosin MLA Banff-Kananaskis.
403.609.4509
Banff.Kananaskis@assembly.ab.ca
—————————————
Dave Rodney executive director for Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
1 855 678 1295 xt 701
dave@tourismcanmore.com
—————————————-
Rocky Mountain Outlook
https://www.rmotoday.com/submissions/letter-to-the-editor
This is heartbreaking. Cannot sleep well this night. A big chunk of my living in Alberta is amputated.
Ugh, this is simply awful. I’d be more than willing to pay meaningful trail/park fees ala the national parks. Even the parks delisted and for private partnership (which will mean what exactly??) are well loved hiking areas. And closing Barrier Lake visitor’s centre?? I thought Kenney wanted to boost tourism not cut it. For those interested:
Petition: https://act.leadnow.ca/dont-let-kenney-privatize-nature/?fbclid=IwAR1seP82bMjM0B6FuNNIT-xEWHXpy1BRls6TytJRU9YZfzQzhAx1CmEfQQ4
Sample letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTqzeMo8yEyGAVA1GufuSrJZtDYNzwCyxxNMiVcUMu30pQatMetAwB5nJtL_jDc973RLFCRQYeUl5c2/pub?fbclid=IwAR0PFnm6notLwULMlWRtxRWhsybBn8VqVEd5mORyWaBmchg_Iw-wpcPgKSs
Contact email: https://www.alberta.ca/AlbertaFiles/Includes/DirectorySearch/goaBrowse.cfm?txtSearch=Office%20of%20the%20minister&Ministry=EP&LevelID=14799&userid=14800#14800&varExpandID=-1
I’m unaware of legislative petitions, but would be happy to sign.
Hate to say but I think this is part of a larger plan to force a drop in user numbers. If they can show that, then they have an excuse to flog these areas off to industry. If you approach 10 people in Alberta and ask them if they support cost cutting measures like partial closures in provincial rec areas and parks, half or more will most likely say yes because they don’t ever use them and have no idea what they are saying yes to. Turning campgrounds over to for profit outfits would go largely unnoticed, and with the exception of people like us, killing services like track setting wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow.
This is so sad… My spouse and I were just starting to explore all the trails in these areas and we’d definitely be okay with paying to keep having access to them. It’s incredible that they don’t even bother asking the population before making changes like that. This is not a democracy…
Teachers, nurses, doctors, and concerned public citizens have written thousands of letters to this government about cuts to vital public services and have been ignored. I’ll join a petition and write another letter regarding XC ski trails, but this government isn’t interested in the public good, only the bottom line.
Do give your head a shake if you didn’t see this coming last April. Kenney has clearly demonstrated his inability to heed public discourse so don’t expect things to be much different than what Klein did to AEP services 25 years ago -remember what tracks at PLPP were like then?
Here is some important information for a letter:
Our parks provide economic benefits to surrounding communities. Revenue from Alberta Parks from 2018-19 was $33.4 million. However, when looking at the economic impacts of Alberta Parks on surrounding communities, the results are far greater. In 2011, Kananaskis Country supported a total economic impact of $202.5 million to the region. Tourism in Kananaskis provided wages and salaries that exceeded $125.4 million and in the same year $117.2 million in tax revenue accrued to all three levels of government. Ensuring provincial funding for quality public services, sufficient front-line staff, and conservation of species will continue to support tourism and provide economic benefit.
Wow. This, and the closure of the Barrier Lake visitor centre, are probably the most unbelievable in the full list of proposed closures and delistings of Parks and Recreation Areas https://albertaparks.ca/news-events/
K Country’s ski trails are a jewel for quiet winter recreation. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about trail fees etc as the platform-promise Trails Act surfaces in coming months.
I’m more than happy to start a digital petition if other users feel this would be helpful?
Written letters are great, but a digital petition allows for dissemination amongst the user group and its supporters – this is likely the best way to drum-up the most unified opposition to the cuts.
Let me know!
Write letters! I’m amazed that the government didn’t even try to impose a pay-for-use system.
I hope there will be a transition period in which the government is willing to work closely with special interest groups to sustainably transfer care of these areas (not just skiing) over to responsible groups.
Unbelievable – there will be almost nothing left! WBC will probably end up so crowded it’s not even enjoyable.
I agree I would be willing to pay a park user fee like for federal parks- to just get rid of everything like this is crazy.
Bob, do you know how much the government actually spends on these trails? That could be useful information when writing letters etc.
People come from far and wide to ski these trails. This is going to cost Alberta tourism revenue. What a stupid, shortsighted thing to do.
This is a real shocker! The Kananaskis area is vital to the Canadian Rockies as a whole. It gives us all options throughout the winter and keeps the skiers spread out. To condense us all into fewer areas would take away from the outdoor experience. The remaining cross country areas would become overcrowded much like the downhill skiing resorts. We already have to fight for parking spaces during the summer months to do some of our favorite hikes because of heavy tourism. The infrastructures need to be maintained to provide quality of life.
My comment: WRITE LETTERS! This needs to not slip under the radar.
This is an interesting read.. check the third bullet. Cross country skiing as we know it is going to change. Mike S
https://albertaparks.ca/news-events/?fbclid=IwAR3qV-tiIJTiGMmGDjcAtQ955FARlyd7Rjm9fYi62awwbIfR5cNCgRUz25k
Say it isn’t so ?
“Beginning fall 2020, there will be no groomed cross-country track setting in the three main areas traditionally groomed by government staff in the Kananaskis Region. These areas are: Peter Lougheed, Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Village area. Grooming will continue to occur at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Track-setting will continue to occur in the West Bragg Creek area, done by the West Bragg Creek Trails Association.”
So just read the new plan by provincial government to no longer trackset anything not in a national park or Nordic center. So I guess this is the end of this race I suppose?
Part smile, part grimace. Trying hard to pull cap off an old sticky (melted) wax tin 🙂
Wishing you & your family well!
I hope everything is ok! Thank you for all you do.
Hi Skier Bob!
Thank you for all that you do, We all appreciate the time and effort you put into this fantastic website! It was nice to chat with you the other day, you’re right that Mountain View had great snow! I found some of your pictures with Tessa on the website too… What a pretty girl she was, she looks like she loved to ski and be with you and your family!
Odd question (and I understand you may not have time) but could you forward me that photo of Luna and I? I don’t have many action shots of her and I together.
Thanks again for all that you do!
Cheers
That groomer was Eduard (Ed ) Meyer his company is Able Demolition and he does the grooming as a community service. He purchased
The equipment for the purpose of grooming the golf course. Of course his ulterior motive is that him and his wife Tina and son Erik love
skiing.
Thought you like to know that there still unselfish citizens around.
EDEL his mother.
Nice photos!
Any tips on skiing with a dog? I’m dog sitting next weekend but of course I also want to ski!
Regarding slamming in ski poles to test ice strength, you need to slam them REALLY hard. I fell into a creek up north once after testing it with my ski pole!
Lets look at the mistake this skier made when skiing on this creek.
If you notice in the photo there is a little dip in the undisturbed snow to the left of where the ice broke on the creek in which the skier fell through. This undisturbed snow dip is in the lower centre of the photo extending to the edge of the photo These little dips in the snow on top of creek ice generally indicate an area of thinner and weaker ice.
Always look out for the dips in the snow on creek or river ice. Ideally never ski in these snow dip areas areas if non snow dip areas are present elsewhere on the creek or river.
If you must cross a snow dip on creek ice, slam a pole or heavy dried solid tree trunk into the dip as hard as possible in numerous places to test the strength of the ice before proceeding forward. Continue to slam the pole or tree trunk as you move forward until you are in a safe area. If you can break the ice back off. Have any lighter weight friends follow the ski track after you have crossed if you were unable to break any ice.
On major rivers it is a good idea to tie up with a rope to a tree or friend if you suspect weak ice.
I have fallen through ice several times on major rivers and beaver ponds up north. It is scary as hell when you drop through ice. You immediately wonder if you are ever coming back up through the hole.
You can never be sure about the strength of ice unless you drill test holes. If you fall through ice and get wet by yourself, you are at great risk of getting hypothermia and dying.
If there are major ice chunks on the river ice surface, I do not recommend you go out on the ice. I know people that crossed such ice and hours later all the ice broke up and flowed down river. It really makes you think about how you gambled with your life in such situations.
Please note that you will not always see snow dips on weak ice. Wind may fill these in. Crossing ice always involves risk and you must ask yourself “do you feel lucky punk?”
Close one! Bridges were starting to sag a few weeks back when things warmed up. Lots of flow in spots. Needs some colder temps and another dump.
I have discovered that Sovereign lake has a dog friendly section of its hill. Dogs are welcome on leash on the corresponding marked trails. I have a photo that I could upload to provide greater clarity. Happy skiing with your furry buddies.
Mount Shark conditions are spectacular! Fresh snow was falling all Saturday afternoon making the downhills an absolute delight!!!
The grooming dudes at West Bragg Creek would like to thank all the folks in the Skier Bob universe for all your support, love and kind words. It means the world to us to see your enthusiam for skiing, love of nature and a smile on your faces.
What a beautiful Valentines Day Poem!!
Happy Valentines Day,
Jeff, Dave, Bill, Peter, Dan
Thanks so much everyone, from Chris, Peter & Kazzy!
Panorama allows dogs.
https://www.panoramaresort.com/while-you-are-here/ski-bike-and-equipment-rentals/nordic-ski-rentals
Thanks for the feedback Bob and glad you enjoyed your ski! Just a heads up to anyone keen to ski at CNC this weekend that we are hosting the Alberta Winter Games which will be racing XC and Biathlon Saturday, Sunday and Monday but only on the inner / shorter competition trails so the rest of the trails will be open as normal.
Hahaha gotta love autocorrect
Hi Bob – We skied Banff trail beyond the meadow Thursday night and it was trackset then.
Good to know, thanks. I guess they haven’t updated the Live Grooming Report to reflect that. -Bob
“Canadian Bikebiner?” Is this the summer version on bicycles?
Oops
What at great photo! Looks like a nice night to be out. Lucky groomer! (He’s probably also a boomer).
What’s the roads like out to Bragg from Calgary?
That wind slab on moose was quite the ordeal. An hour of shovel work by the groomer in order to get the track set through it using the equipment they have. And apparently they may have to truck snow to mountain view west to fix the wind stripped sections. The amount of work to keep things up to expected standards is huge when “blips” in weather happen. And they also do a fantastic job of it given what they have to work with. Clearly they are passionate about it and love what they do. Admirable. Kudos.
I wouldn’t recommend classic skiing on the Mountain View West trail at WBC. Most track setting has been obliterated by the wind and there are a few hundred metres of trail with ice as well as dirt blown over the snow. I’m quite surprised they permitted logging within 100m of the trail.
Hope they don’t eat skiers….could be bad for business.
Did a night ski this eve at WBC with my buddy TD and can attest that it sure got a lot colder than expected!! Wasn’t quite ready for that. Have to remember it’s often about 5 degrees cooler than Bragg Creek itself.
Trails had lovely fresh snow and seemed to have been well enjoyed this afternoon and evening by lots of dogs, classic, and skate skiers. Tracks definitely need another refresh however with that hard pack right under that could be tough.
Still it was great skiing under the stars and I highly recommend everyone try it. For night skiing it’s very quiet out there so pack extra clothing, food, and headlights plus don’t expect to go as fast or for as long as usual. every now and then just stop. Turn off your lights. And look up to the stars…
2:20, 2nd of the 2nd 2020, skiing of course, what better thing to do ?
How do you know the temperature at PLPP maintenance compound?
About 10cm here in central calgary. The web cam on top of the west Bragg warming hut seems to show fresh grooming in the vicinity. I’m assuming they are still working away on it. Hopefully they got enough to fix the icy conditions, and it bonds well.
Hi Bob and everyone. Carless vancouverites returning to Banff. We are going to be there for 7 days and last year we did Moraine Lake, Great Divide, Tramline, Fairview, Bow River Loop and other trails around Lake Louise and Yoho Park.
This time we will stay in Banff and were wondering what are the most relevant trails from a perspective of fun, beauty, physical challenge and uniqueness in your oppinion and the one of your readers for visitors.
I am a instructor of cross country skiing and we love day trips and all kind of difficult levels and thought about doing, in this order of priority, based on fun, beauty, physical challenge and uniqueness:
1- Spray River West Trail
2- Brewster Creek
3- Castle Junction
4- Cascade Valley
5- Goat Creek to Banff Springs
6- Redearth Creek
7- Healy Creek
Would you agree these are the top 7 trails? What would you add, subtract, change the order?
And, if I may, just 2 last questions:
a) What is the difference between the Goat Creek and Spray River trail, the Spray River West Trail and the Goat Creek to Banff Springs trail? Is one more interesting than the other based on beauty, challenge and uniqueness?
b) Is the Pipestone Loop worth a check out? We were also in doubt about Boom Lake, which we heard is beautiful but could not find any info on trail conditions. We are going to to Tunnel Mountain and to the Canmore Nordic Centre on two nights.
Thank you so kindly,
Rodrigo
That’s not just a couch – it’s a Chesterfield! Complete with recliner and cup holders.
I finally got an email response from parks about the lack of useful details regarding the pipestone partial closure. Ended up suggesting they post the closure map that chuck showed on the important bulletins page like all the other closure maps. Regardless, glad it’s open and the couch location is accessible. I’ll be visiting shortly to build an appropriate structure for plonking ones potato on.
Sort of a negative post. Lake Louise was fantastic today, thanks Banff National Park for all the terrific free grooming.
Negativity is in the eye of the beholder. If BNP improves their reporting, this posting will have brought positive results. If we don’t make them aware of their deficiencies, they’ll never do anything to correct the problems. Free grooming is wonderful, now let’s hope they can start reporting it accurately. -Bob
Thanks Bob. Might have just been the “no dogs allowed on groomed trails in PLPP” I saw that I was referencing too. There is a “Jor” icon on the brochure that I guess means skijor which would imply dogs allowed. Tough to skijor without a dog!
Pipestone tomorrow… Yahoo!
Pipestone
According to the Banff National Park Trail Condition report, most of Pipestone was trackset today!
Banff National Park is a joke. Their trail report sucks. Their grooming sucks. Now they can’t figure out which trails are dog-friendly. They need to get their *#% together.
What happened to the dog friendly trails at Mt. Shark? Both the grooming report and map now indicate that groomed trails are not dog friendly. When did this change?
That was an error.
As before, DOGS NOT ALLOWED has been reinstated on the Parks Website!
I guess Lake Louise is “going to the dogs”. Think I will be driving out to Field and O’Hara end of the Great Divide more often. Thought the current available trails were generous enough for those who love skiing with their dogs but turning Tramline (both Upper and Lower) and Peyto into “Dogs on lease permitted” to me is a HUGE disappointment and mistake. I know many will be in disagreement with me, but I am stating my opinion once and only once on this matter and that is now.
I also wish we could get a formal update on Parks website on Pipestone. Is it going to open for the season? When approximately? I think writing something on the website re. current status of the construction process is in order.
Forrest Gump, vs. Can’t see the “forest” for the trees? Approved by head office perhaps.
Kazzy will be ecstatic! Thanks for the update.
Great news for our K9 friends , now its worth making the drive out to Lake Louise with our best friends.
What a great idea ! Thank you so much, kids !
Cool kids! Very smart. Hope they ski hard too.
FANTASTIC work students – I tip my toque to you!!!!!!!
No winds yesterday at PLPP?
Lynx tracks are less distinguishing because of the long fur around their feet. These look like cougar tracks. Cat tracks normally do not exhibit the toenails (they retract like a house cat’s paws). Dogs/wolves would have their nails out and are more elongated than a cat’s track.
Perhaps lynx tracks? I’ve seen lynx in PLPP before.
Don’t even think of removing your skis while going under the highway bridge… would be a total waste of time… minor compared to skiing in the 1A ditches further along.
Enjoy… and see you at the finish!
Probably about -15 to -20 in the heally meadows and up on the rampart today (but it felt warmer, relatively speaking). -13 back at the car at 3ish, not cooling off on the return drive until past banff.
Thanks for checking in on the pipestone situation bob. I sent an email to a general parks address (rather than a specific person/position) and have yet to hear anything back. I wouldn’t be surprised if this cold weather has caused some delay to finishing things off, in addition to the normal unforeseen delays. Hopefully after the loopet is done grooming staff will be available to start on pipestone trail preparations. I’m guessing it will need some “flat packing” first, having not seen mechanical compaction at all this season.
You can quickly access some weather station data on Avalanche.ca and the parks avalanche bulletins. For the former, zoom in on the map and weather station icons appear for K-country including Mud Lake, Aster, etc. Strangely, none for the national parks, but the avi bulletins have a weather station tab that gives you all the stations in the parks. Cheers
Sunshine is currently recording -8C at the lodge and -13C on top of Great Divide
https://www.skibanff.com/conditions
More on weather stations. I find the site linked to below to be cumbersome to navigate through, but by selecting the “Environmental Data” layer and then scrolling and zooming in on the map, you will find a clickable icon for a weather station labelled as “Peter Lougheed Park- Fires” at the PLPP headquarters just north of Pocaterra. Select “Table Data” for most recent weather data upload ( which happens at intervals of a few hours, so not always real time). I can’t find a way to link directly to that station-it seems you have to go through the whole process each time.
Latest temp at 8 am shows -21 after a low of close to -30.
https://rivers.alberta.ca/
Data from this site shows -30 at Hay Meadow near Ribbon, and -17 at Vista View on the Skogan Loop.
http://giws.usask.ca/telemetry/?sfns=mo
From the menu at top left, select Marmot Creek to access individual stations.
If you’re doing a loop it really doesn’t make a difference. The Bridge parking is right off the highway whereas the other is part of the campground area, it’s much larger and there’s more direct connection to all local trail options.
Here in Quebec, I love skiing un-groomed ski trails with my “backcountry” nordic Fischer E99’s. I keep looking at skiing in the Rockies but it seems that, with a few exceptions listed by Bob elsewhere, everything is groomed for cross-country.
Might this be an opportunity to offer advanced skiers another place to do what we call ski de randonnée? Another option like the ski to Skoki, if I understand correctly?
Would need good communications, of course, and I don’t know the trails.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Boulton parking lot versus Boulton Bridge parking lot?
Looking at the PLPP trail map, there doesn’t appear to be a difference in terms of accessing the trails I want to ski when I’m there 6 weeks from now.
Skier Bob has a new ski companion, it is a fox 🙂
And cats don’t walk a straight line like that. But wolves and coyotes do.
Coyote? Too small for wolf. I think I see some claw marks, so it’s not a cat.
We skiied Meadow today from William Watson Lodge to the Information Centre. Not too cold, -25, beautifully tracked, and, as noted, not very fast.
In lieu of redearth getting track set past the campground this season, sure would be nice to see an updated opening date on pipestone trails, if not actually opening “mid-January” as previously anticipated. As far as ACC goes, one would expect parks advised a new owner/operator of responsibilities in the approval/leasing change process. I doubt such a facility can change hands without the blessing of parks.
From what Don from Parks Canada told me is that it is the “volunteer” responsibility of the Cabin owner to trackset Red Earth Creek trail beyond RE6 campground.
Ideally ACC should trackset the trail to maintain traditional obligations and for good marketing/public relations purposes. Skiers who attempt to go to the area for the first time may not come back if they find the skiing difficult and un trackset. From a marketing perspective, this would not be good.
The ACC could haul supplies by snowmobile up to the cabins that may be needed in summer, while tracksetting at the same time. They may need items like propane, tools, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, dried foods and more at the cabins. Tracksetting the trail will also give them better experience for the future.
I wonder if the ACC was aware that it was their “obligation” as cabin owners to trackset the trail before they purchased the cabins.
Good work on enduring outside. Even for a little bit, if properly attired and with tempered enthusiasm, the environment won’t kill you right away. Yesterday it was a (temperate) -25 but gloriously sunny to enjoy 90min around our trackset natural area at Laudan Park: https://www.okotoks.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/parks-recreation/Laudan%20Park%20X-Country%20Ski%20Trails.pdf . Après-ski beve of choice was a hot spiced cider!
I broke trail to Sundance Lodge a week or 2 ago. It was excellent skiing conditions with no rocks. I also broke and packed the short cut up to the lodge which should be in very good condition now with new snow on top of the skier track.
I also sent Don from Parks Canada an email requesting the trail be trackset.
I would hold off skiing until Friday when it warms up and a person can then enjoy the “beach deck” without worry of frost bite.
Agreed! Who do we write letters to for this kind of thing?
Don is the only guy that does tracksetting in the Banff area? That is Parks Canada lame. What would happen if the guy got sick or injured for a few months?
Parks Canada needs a back up plan. Cut the clear cutting and burning of Banff forests and shift the money to tourism enhancing services, like trail maintenance instead. The tourism economy will be better off along with people’s health.
Thanks all for weighing in! Survey says it was a wolf! Wonderful to contemplate.
Hopefully the people who encountered the Bobcat reported it.
If you focus on the heel rather than the claw marks, it indicates K9. As you mention ‘2 sets’ that may indicate a domestic dog because wolf tracks are typically ‘single track’ impressions because their chest is narrower than most well fed dogs. The only way to really know the origin of a track once it has a K9 determination is to have a look at the scat.
Definitely wolf! See the claw marks. A cat re-tracks it’s claws especially on smooth surfaces such as the ski trail.
No kidding, poor little lynx aka bobcat. They’re curious and harmless. No need to use bear spray. Nature is our friend.
Wolf. You would not see claw marks on a Canada lynx or cougar
A nice healthy cougar ?. A lynx wouldn’t leave such defined toe prints as their paws act more like snow shoes.
I’d say wolf
My wife and I saw the tracks yesterday on Ribbon Creek Trail and talked with a skier who just recently had an encounter with a bobcat. He said he had to use bear spray to make it run away. There were other skiers aware of this too.
Interesting article from U of A reminding us not to push it too hard in extremely cold weather. Or cover our faces. I find the thick merino “chutes” from Icebreaker are excellent for this.
https://www.folio.ca/exercising-in-very-cold-weather-could-harm-lungs-over-time-researcher-cautions/
Layering is what get me through the cold days. I’m hooked on Merino wool base layers and use gloves inside my mitts.
The cold, DRY air gets to me another way. As soon as my heart starts beating going up a hill and I breathe in that cold air through my nose there is a very high chance of a nose bleed. Not a big one, but just enough to look like I’ve been attacked by a cougar.
I have the humidifier going full at home every day but if anyone has any other tips on how to prevent this nuisance from happening I would love to hear it.
I can’t take credit for the saying about “No such thing as bad weather; just bad clothing”. That comes from some of my Norwegian friends. As a nation of active outdoor enthusiasts, the Norwegians exemplify that approach better than anyone.
The following comment was submitted by Kiley on my Facebook page:
Curious if anyone knows why the tracksetting in Banff seems to be such a low priority? Lake Louise does an amazing job with their trails. You would think with higher visitation in Banff as well as a higher percentage of locals looking for nearby trails that this would be done more frequently…
It looks like you were a few hours behind us! ? Great ski, but I’m also looking forward to doing it again with fresh, crisp tracks.
A note to say I like the new banner header, especially including Tessa this year. A suitable tribute.
Best wishes;
Bryce
Thanks, Bryce. I miss her tremendously. Life isn’t the same without her big smile and wagging tail to greet me every morning. -Bob
Thanks Bob for visiting Confed! We had the same feedback about the bridges yesterday and plan to put some signs about the hazard. We don’t maintain them as they aren’t meant to ski on but people like to go on them. The warming trailer is open Mon – Thurs 4pm to 8:30pm and Sat and Sun 9am to 4pm.
Because I live close by, I ski Confederation often. My advice about the bridges: Don’t go on them! You don’t need to – the groomed track goes around the creek at the west end. Thank you groomers and snow farmers! Confed has been amazing this year!
Looks like a great ski! Can’t wait to skate confed! And e book! looks amazing!
Great to read how the trails are maintained. It gives users a better appreciation of all the work and dedication that goes into this. In the case of WBC , I expect it will also provide an incentive for donations! I hope we’ll get more of this type of article.
Great job WBC trail crew, your hard work is very much appreciated, we know that section very well!
I just love seeing the happy faces of all the skiers you get pictures of on the trails.
Thanks for sharing the joy!
Always good to meet you on the trails, Bob. Twice in one day at that! After climbing up Bill Milne at the end of my trip to Wedge and back, and then meandering around the village onto Terrace for the homestretch north to Ribbon Creek, I was envious of your descent of all that perfect corduroy on the Bill Milne switchbacks. By comparison, Terrace was ungroomed but with an OK wobbly skier set track, and the Terrace downhill was rough and hardpacked from all the foot traffic. Easy enough, but not a lot of fun- like skiing on cobblestones! Should have done that side loop first instead of last, in the opposite direction. I would guess that the village trails are next on the grooming list…
There was fresh snow (4 cm?) on Bill Milne & the Wedge Connector for skiing on Sunday so the Ribbon Creek & Village trails, when groomed & trackset, should be good, even with the tree debris.
Bob-this is a beautiful post. There’s nothing quite like a dog’s love and nothing quite like spending a wonderful winter day on the trails with your best 4 legged friend. May you have many happy memories. Thank you for sharing.
Looks like a Lynx to me.
We saw two while skiing last weekend. Rounded a corner on Kovach and they both were walking calmly, looked back at us, and continued to walk. Very neat to see them!
Jeff, I must have just missed you on that day 35 years ago! Oh hold it, mine was 37. The single remaining firing neuron whispers to me that the road seemed endless.
Chuck, wonderful ski photo-journalism as usual.
Great pictures Chuck I skied that road 35 years ago. I found a pair of Head Standard skis and mounted cable bindings so I could use my telemark boots. It was crazy fun. I seem to remember more trees on it then.
We skied Goat Creek on Thursday , Jan. 2. Existing tracks were snow covered but quite good. Skied from Goat trailhead to Goat bridge. While resting at bridge we witnessed two skiers approach the steep downhill with far to much speed. One person baled out into trees ,the other hit the bridge hard knocking her equipment into Creek. Amazingly she said she was okay and her friend was able to pick her equipment out of water. We’ve only skied this trail 3 or four times but it’s the second time we’ve witnessed a major crash at bridge. Moral of story is heads up at Goat Bridge.
Really enjoyed those wonderful photos, thank you!
No… Patience!
That video is awesome! I had a picture that I can’t find now, in a group ski, there’s a person in front, the rest coming up behind and a lynx pops out to cross the trail between the two groups.
Pure luck picture!
feedback.albertaparks.ca
Barrier Lake Visitor Centre told us to provide comments there regarding the problem of walkers and snowshoers on ski trails.
Just to add my frustration to the growing list. I met with 4 groups of snowshoers while on Elk Pass trail this weekend. 2 groups were being “guided” and I was told they had every right to use the trails even though it is clearly posted where they are meant to come off the trail. A couple gals politely asked if I minded that they use the ski trail instead of the snowshoe trail as they were coming out of the Elk Lake Pass on their way back to the parking lot. The snow was too deep and they were getting tired they said…
Instead of just being frustrated, I wonder if there is a way to groom (sounds ridiculous) the snowshoe trails with the fat bike machines so the ski trails are less tempting.
I am a multisport athlete ( as I’m sure most of us are) that fat-bikes, snowshoes, Hikes, Ice climbs…and XC skis. I have no ill-will towards other user groups but I have no desire to need to be air lifted out of somewhere in the event that some one chops up the trails post-holing up where we are meant to ski.
Clearly there’s a financial restriction but maybe we have to start looking at a fee system so we can make this happen.
Someone complained you were blocking the trail WHILE helping an injured skier?! WTH?
Special place waiting for you sister, karma
Our group was amongst the first to ski Bil Milne and Wedge Connector today (Monday) and we couldn’t ask for a more beautiful day or better conditions….except for the trashed skate ski tracks from walkers, despite that it was JUST groomed. I politely asked a few walkers to please stay off the groomed and set tracks and in one instance was met with a definite no. Can Albera Parks PLEASE put up signs at all trail heads and junctions stating that the groomed ski trails are not for walking or snowshowing, in accordance with the information posted at the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. I heard Banff Parks is now fining people who walk on the groomed ski trails.
Also its well worth remembering when assisting an injured skier a long way from help place more clothing beneath the casualty than on top, insulating them of the cold ground.
Isn’t this Monday night update?
What a lovely tribute to Tessa. Her pictures show that she was much loved and adored.
Thank you, everyone, for the warm wishes and thoughtful comments.
“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. 🙂
Feeling your loss. We are on our third ski dog- Piper. It’s so tough losing them, but the good times and memories are worth it.
Such wonderful photos and memories, Tessa obviously loved her time outdoors with her humans. So sorry for your loss.
I’m sorry for the loss of your great companion Tessa. You have some wonderful memories of her in photos.
Dear Bob and Cheryl,
We are very sorry to hear this sad news. I’m sure Tessa had the best possible life with you, full of love and adventure. It is never long enough, and so hard to say good-bye.
Hugs to you both <3
Looks like Tessa had a happy glorious life. Flapping ears, tongue out, head in the snow (which was a great photo) or sleeping on the back seat after a good day of chasing critters and leading the way down the trail, making sure it was safe for you and Cheryl.
Love the photos. Tessa was one lucky dog to have such adventurous owners.
So sorry to hear Tessa is now over the rainbow bridge, we know it can be the hardest to bare, be thankful for the time shared together.
Aw That was a wonderful post.
I’m sure many can relate.
it looks like she had a wonderful life and helped you to have the same! It’s just so damn hard
I’m very sorry for your loss, Cheryl and Bob.
Thanks for the update… so sorry Cheryl & Bob for your loss.
Hi Bob, just a question on dogs allowed in the K -Village , Ribbon Cr , Wedge Pond, Bill Milne areas. The Ribbon Cr brochure has this quote “Don’t let the trails go to the dogs.Remember—Fido isn’t permitted on groomed trails. He’s allowed only on non-groomed trails, provided he’s on a leash and you remove his waste from the area.” We want to go out to Bill Milne with my son’s dog but as the trails are groomed right now we are not allowed it seems… thoughts. Thanks,
C.W.
It was really nice to meet you today Skier Bob at wedge connector! That really is a great trail for never evers. See you on skis soon!
It was nice to meet you and your friends! -Bob
Great pictures and thanks for the posts. Is there a section of the Bill Milne trail that would be suitable for novice skiers?
Learnt my telephone trail lesson the hard way on several occasions, slow learner or stubborn? Light touring is now my go to gear for that great trail
Hi Briony, indeed there has been a lot of grumbling about the grooming and track setting after the big snowfall.
Everyone does, of course, appreciate your team’s efforts, and understands that someone was sick. However, many users including myself are confused by how trails are prioritized.
For example, today (Dec 26) nearly a week after the big dump, the obscure and seldom-used competition and training trails (which I love) such as Wolverine, Bruin, and Cougar have been groomed and track set yet the primary recreation trails such as Banff (beyond the warming hut area) and Meadow have not.
What is the rationale for prioritizing these seldom-used trails while not doing the most popular trails that I mentioned above?
A suggestion: prioritize the main recreation trails (e.g., Banff beyond the warming hut and Meadow) after fresh snow and you will keep 90% of your customers happy.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the heads up on the categorization of Bow, I have adjusted that one now so it’s back to a natural snow trail. Banff past the meadow will be trackset tonight – it took a lot longer than expected to pack down those natural trails so our groomer didn’t get time to get that one down. Have a great day skiing everyone!
Beautiful photos! Curious, if you go all the way from ribbon creek parking lot to wedge pond, how often do you need to take your skis off to cross roads? (Or are they normally covered well enough with snow?) TIA
It was great to finally run into you after all these years of following your website!
Seyil, it was a pleasure to meet you! -Bob
Amazing photos, Bob, I love that trail for views alone. I think I’ll be trying it out on Boxing Day!
Hi Briony,
Dealing with 50cm of snow is a massive effort! Especially wet heavy snow. My hat goes off to you guys. That is a herculean task. You guys are awesome groomers!
Groomer Bill
Quite the dump! Snow stability is poor right now. Be careful out there.
It’s like Rogers pass level snowfall. Only other place I’ve seen more in same period. Perfect timing for the holidays: heavy trail breaking workouts, mid-thigh turns and feasting. Happy holidays!
Can we process all of this snow?
Yes.
If we work together it can be done!
West Bragg Creek
It got pretty warm and sticky at WBC later in the afternoon, then it started to rain. It looked like the rain was starting to turn to snow towards Moose Mountain, so hopefully that means fresh snow for tomorrow.
Coal mine at ribbon creek was trackset today according to grooming report. Presumably in the middle of doing more.
Kananaskis public safety reported on the Avalanche bulletin at the end of today 25 cm on the spray lakes road and anticipating another 40 cm tomorrow. Warm snow and winds are making for widespread slab development and high Avalanche risk as a result. Be wary of Avalanche run outs next few days.
Then they should put that on e the map so people know what it means! In case of a situation. Meh, maybr I’m gettin’ old
Skied Cascade Fire Road today. First few km have lots of debris and some filled-in spots in the tracks where the wind has blown the snow. Tracks are in pretty poor shape lower down thanks to the warm temps these past few days. Once you get to the top of the big hill it’s a different world – snow laden trees and the tracks are good all the way to the bridge at about 6.5km. However, 3 snowmobiles transporting a new outhouse (and associated staff and tools to install it) drove up the trail between the tracks beyond the bridge (to where we do not know) making the downhill on the way back somewhat sporty! We were on classic skis, and wouldn’t have fancied our chances skating in the snowmobile tracks! Won’t ski this again until the fresh snow (and the groomer!) come through.
Based on the Hill Pain calculation, Fergason comes in at an aerobic overload of 154! Horseshoe at 100. However, looking a little closer reveals that Horseshoe is much pitchier over its distance than Fergason which is only really super tough in the beginning. I’ve preferred racing up Horseshoe to racing up Fergason, but regardless I can’t wait to try both of them on skis! If only the snow were a bit more consistent. You’ve lucked out Bob!
Interesting to learn about ski venues away from the familiar local areas. We did a couple of summer family camping trips to Cypress Hills when our kids were young. They liked the beach, and I enjoyed some good mountain biking.
About that sign- the progression of numbers had me wondering where “20” was, until I noticed that the map is labelled “SCW(Spruce Coulee Winter?) 20”, located at the star on the map. So my guess is that the other numbers mark the locations of similar map. Do I win anything 😉
No idea about why 1-5-10… instead of 1-2-3….
Not to spoil the “surprise”, but Ferguson could definitely be on the Hill Pain hit list! From my data in the summer, steepest 1km is 10%, parts of which tickle 20%, and the avg. gradient for the 3.1KM is 7%. It’s no Alpe Cermis, but it’s in the top 5 toughies ’round these parts for sure.
According to the Alberta parks PDF winter trail brochure, there is a perimeter loop connecting east and west sides of the spring creek trail system that goes down and around the town site using horseshoe canyon trail (or ferguson hill), the shoreline trail and ridgetop trail. The map doesn’t show the ferguson hill trail or that it is a road that is closed in winter. Presumably one could do a big loop, perhaps with a bit of walking, and/or be able to access the spring creek trails from town without driving and getting more hill workout. Worth noting that the map transposes the colour labelling for snowshoe vs. Ski trails. I tried attaching the link to the brochure, but couldn’t get that to work. Perhaps there are more trails to the east also, in the direction of reesor lake? Certainly some on the Saskatchewan side. If enough trail distance for a multi-day stay, I’d go there for sure.
It’s great to see my old PB still laying down some nice track. I went up to Cypress a few years ago to train Darwin on how to operate it and set track. That system was just getting started then. I’m happy to see it up and running as it had lots of potential. Thanks for posting Bob.
Wow! Ferguson Hill is news to me! It’s great to cycle in the summer. If the snow stays over Christmas such top notch grooming just might warrant a trip from the Capital.
Thanks for the tip bob. Is it the “spring creek” shelter and trailhead, on the east end of the trails?
Wise choice of night time ski wax!
Cypress Hills is an amazing place. The sunsets looking over the prairies 2000 feet below are unlike anything else in Alberta or Saskatchewan. Picture perfect. Glad to hear about abundant snow there. That will be good for spring skiing.
If possible, whip up to the badlands north of Patricia for some spectacular ski shots on the way home. You will get ski shots that are out of this world which will send you back to the Cretaceous Period- well before the Hippie Period. Just don’t hit dinosaur bones with the skis as their teeth do a lot of damage to ski bases.
The Cypress Hills are the highest point of land between the Rockies and Labrador. Great photos Bob, and hope you enjoy yourself tomorrow!
A common theme to the snowshoeing saga is that many or most of these folks may not know the rules. Evidently there are new rules about trail use but where are they written down. Our seniors group both skis and snowshoes and our people try to follow the rules but they need clarity. A conservation officer told me that enforcement may take place this winter re: snowshoeing, walking, biking on ski trails. Our snowshoers stay off the ski trackset trails but they would like clarity. Perhaps PLPP people should take necessary steps to provide written and enforceable rules to the public? As a skier I would like us all to use proper etiquette on the trail system.
Thanks so much for inquiring about Pipestone – that is great news!
Hi Shabu,
I echo Nick’s comment where he recommends starting early or going later in the day. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the Bragg Creek ski trails and I prefer navigating the downhills when there are fewer dogs around potentially running across the tracks.
Hi Shabu,
West Bragg Creek is a great place for xc ski. The infrastructure and the trail system are well developed and maintained. Grooming and track setting quality is top-notch, and what I mean by quality is the depth and straightness of the tracks. Note however, that the snow in Bragg Creek is generally softer than in Peter Lougheed, and so are the tracks.
You may like the Crystal and Mountain Road trails the most. Technically they seem easier to me than Elk Pass and Whisky Jack. Crystal is double trackset with the wide groomed skating lane in the middle. Mountain Road is double trackset with the tracks on right side when heading west. The left side of the road is a multi-use lane. Crystal Loop is roughly 7 km, Mountain Road is 4 km one way.
West Bragg Creek is a very popular destination for many on weekends. To avoid the crowds, I prefer to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Cheers,
Nick
Hi, Shabu:
I enjoy the ~15 km (without adding it up) loop as follows:
Mountain Road/Mountain View West/Tom Snow/Moose Loop/Moose Connector/Mountain Road back to the parking lot.
It’s intermediate in my opinion, due to a downhill on Mountain Road, another one on Mountain View West, and a couple of rollers on Moose Loop. As I recall the track setter doesn’t put tracks in when he/she considers it too steep for people to safely stay in the tracks, which is normal in all the places I’ve skied. WBC is always weather dependent, being lower elevation than the mountains. If there’s snow, there’s great tracks.
If you are in Calgary, we like Maple Ridge golf course the best of all the local places. We went Tuesday night, and they had rolled it that day ( I think), with good tracks just beside the rolled part, probably from skiers out there before the roller went through for the first time.
Hope this helps…
Keep those tips up!
With kind regards,
Herb
Hey Chuck,
It was a pleasure meeting you on the trail Sunday afternoon. I posted part one of Evan and I’s little snowshoe adventure on my YouTube channel (Martyupnorth) in case folks are interested in seeing what it’s like to stay overnight in a tent when it’s -30C outside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmD2sO2bZHc&t=105s
Excellent news about pipestone, and all the additional tracksetting too. How to decide…..so many options. I’ll just have to ski them all. (-:
We skiied telephone loop in west Bragg creek today. It was quite nice, a bit soft, recently track set, but a fair bit of the trail was chewed up by a fat biker and their heavy and deep foot prints. What a selfish way to ruin a beautifully track set trail. Makes for quite dangerous down hill stretches too.
Based on our experience the other day, seems that “groomed” on the live grooming page means track set at sandy mcnabb, at least on the south side of the road anyway. Maybe the other groomers in k-country can lend them a track set “column” for the live grooming page.
Great photo Helen… worth 2,000 words!
Thanks
Has anyone been out to Peterlougheed (William watson lodge area) today or yesterday? I am taking a group of ladies out to learn how to cross country ski and was hoping to do some green trails. Is it track set?
Cheers
Jenna
Has anyone been out to Peterlougheed (William watson lodge area) today or yesterday? I am taking a group of ladies out to learn how to cross country ski and was hoping to do some green trails. Is it track set?
Cheers
Jenna
Nice to meet you today, Bob 🙂 great conditions at Confed, thks for this wealth of information that is your blog.
Glad you enjoyed the trails at Confed. Just a note on the parking lot and the 9th hole area being closed. We hope the parking lot will be plowed tonight and then we will be open the lot. It will open daily 9am to 9pm.
The golf course did a big reno on the 9th hole just south of the club house and it is surrounded by snow fence. This is area is closed as the work isn’t done and there are many hazards until the snow and may not be safe. We have had people crossing the fence as they are used to skiing over there but we ask that everyone stay respect the closure for their own safety.
Thanks for the update on Shaganappi Bob!! I live blocks from the golf course and feel so fortunate to be able to jog over for a quick ski so close to home. And so happy to hear they have a FB page-I was just thinking today it would be great to know who to contact to see how I can help out.
See any ski tracks coming from the helicopter? looks like the same one I saw last year up at elk pass, beside the hydroline on the BC side. I spoke to the pilot and guest last year. Brought a date out to go for a quick ski! So sent them to the couch and the meadows for a bit more romantic setting. I returned to the couch the long way around, and there they were. I didn’t linger, so can only speculate on the outcome, but perhaps they still go skiing together. (-:
Elk pass: the big hill up and down both ways was perfect corduroy. Excellent smooth fast turns on the way back to the car. Tracks and grooming set up well. No open water or bumpy undulating bits like tyrwhitt a week back. Fast tracks and probably faster tomorrow. Didn’t get much shovelling work done on the couch due to lack of snow for blocks, just more compaction and some biffy building. Next snowfall should produce some bench seating. And congrats to nick of course! Friday is the day to pick.
I remember the trail as Lionel, but I do not know the origin of the name. Perhaps there is an old timer from Alberta Parks who would know.
I have that book, sometimes I’ve had a quick look and when I’m out, I try to find old trail connections, which I believe I did, off the screamer. But usually I’m wrong…
Yay! Looking forward to skiing at West Bragg. Thanks to all the fellas for packing & tracksetting!
Which weather is more accurate for West Bragg…Bragg Creek or Kananaskis? Thanks!
It was simply perfect today. -20C start and then it warmed up to -15C. No wind, great track, shiny snow.
When I first read of a Kananaskis ski trail called Lionel right here on SkierBob I thought ‘great a new ski trail for me to try’, a Google search immediately took me back to SkierBob (what a surprise) http://skierbob.ca/2014/03/plpp-flashback/ and a trail map revealing Lionel hooks up with Pocaterra. In all the time I’ve skied PLPP how could I possible have missed this trail before realising, oh it’s the hwy! The trail map does however clearly show Lionel ski trail joining Pocaterra South.
I’ve never skied the Yoho Valley Road – how far up (like to what location, not what distance) is it trackset to?
Thanks to the good people at Strathcona Wilderness Centre in Sherwood Park who did miracles with the scant snow we had, I was able to skate ski there three times already this month. Hoping for some new snow now after last weekend’s meltdown.
New snow total at West Bragg Creek is now about 40 cm, and still snowing. Expect soft conditions, or deep trail breaking, if you want to explore any of the snowshoe or all-season trails.
Exciting!!
I was doing some work on the West Bragg Creek trails today. It started snowing steadily at about 4:00pm and around 2 cm had accumulated by 5:30pm. Hopefully, that’s an indication of good things to come overnight and tomorrow!
It’s difficult to expect snow shoers and walkers to go on the correct trail when all the maps in the system don’t clearly show where they are separate, nor is it super obvious when looking at the physical trails (if not well versed in the trail system). When a user is not armed in advance with research and topo maps so they know where to go, what it looks like and how to navigate, it’s hard to expect them to “detour” into a narrow bush trail, especially when it has fresh snow. Easier to just follow everyone else, whether for safety or ease of use reasons. Kananaskis has tried many ways to deal with this at Chester without much success. Perhaps the latest widening of the snow shoe trail has helped. If so, perhaps similar is needed in the elk pass area. But I’m not so hopeful given the basic nature of people and expect things will get worse. In the mean time I will try to remain calm and helpful unless my risk of injury increases.
Entries to the Elk Pass contest closed on Nov 17. We’re just waiting to see who the winners will be. http://skierbob.ca/contest-page-guess-the-date-of-first-tracksetting-on-elk-pass-2019/
West Bragg Creek
I would estimate close to 20cm and still snowing at West Bragg Creek, as of 10 pm.
Bob,
There was no “damage caused by warm weather and wind on Sunday/Monday”.
Conditions in Lake Louise improve daily!
Maybe 5 cm in Canmore. Stopped snowing this morning.
Hallo folks:
I have strong evidence to prove that Darcy is a petulant git, there is plenty of trails adjacent to Hwy 66, all the way to the powderface and beyond, we can estimate at least 250km. categorized as multiuse where horses , hikers, mountain bikers and so on have shared the trails for decades with no conflict whatsoever or very little.
I agree very strongly with Scott, what equestrians leave on the SKI trails speaks very much about how much respect they have for other users and I do not have any sympathy for them even if I adore horses.
About Groomer Bill’s comment, although I have an immense respect for him and the dedication for all the work, unpaid, that he has gobbled up for us all, I am a little concerned about his own self respect, to accept the theory of frustration form a jerk who has no consideration for his dedication is not a good sign, some people need to be told quite bluntly where they belong, it just takes a little more assertiveness and I hope, in the future, if he is confronted by another one of them disrespectful individuals, he would at least consider taking lic. plate and information to be reported to the authorities so a change of behavior would perhaps take place.
10 cm new snow at Highwood Pass.
I think that picture sums things up as to why equestrian users are being pushed out of numerous areas. The horses trash the trails for other groups and leave manure all over the trails – not a great experience for the majority of users
Looks like just over a foot of snow to me, maybe 14″. I measured just over a foot off trail further east at the MLR/Fairview junction (not enough for paradise). And p.s. The lower tramline parking tip is a good one. Not even a quarter full on return mid-day.
I did ski in Canmore (Frozen Thunder) today. I was impressed – I thought the track was in better condition than last weekend. Overall a good firm surface for skating that wasn’t too icy, and just minimal loose snow breaking down on some of the steep climbs. There was just a single classic track that was heavily glazed. I’ll be back tomorrow ready to play with klister!
At West Bragg today, I heard someone use the term, “dog jam” to describe the need to slow down for dog crowded areas. And for areas where groups of people were gathered to chat with Skier Bob, I heard the term, “Bob jam!” Fun times at West Bragg Creek! So great to see lots of people out!
I would have been there today, save for my tradition of attending services at the Cenotaph with an old friend. Hopefully, the temps stay low enough to sneak out with a headlamp after work this week.
Moose and both the Mountainviews were in great condition today as well. And yes- I used the good skis, and was glad I did. Such an amazing afternoon of skiing! Hats off to all the dedicated West Bragg volunteers.
https://steveriggs.smugmug.com/Moose-Mountainview-November112019/
So glad you said that about replacing the skins! I think I need to do the same! Thanks!
Groomers Dave, Dan and Bill were out roller packing West Bragg Creek this morning. It looks like we got about 10cm fresh snow. We will start to lay tracks later this morning and tomorrow. Pretty chilly out there, dress warmly!
West Bragg Creek- black ice on road treacherous!
We intended to ski West Bragg today but were held up by emergency personnel as there was a car in ditch due to crash.
After waiting & getting a boost from a couple of kind fellas who stopped to help, we decided to ski when the roads were better.
Sharon & Nancy
Awesome news Bob… and thanks for the photographic evidence Chris!
… I keep refreshing the long term forecast… would the Great Divide maybe be ready before MLR this year?
Hi Bob thanks for the update on WBC trails. What do you use to polish the fishtails to stop clumping up? Just got our first set of waxless. Always have used waxable.
Thanks Skier Bob,
I marvel at the great service that you provide to cross country skiers. Your report is always (as you know) the most up to date. So appreciate all you do to keep us informed.
Wow, I’m surprised how good the conditions looked on the 8th! I’ll have to keep an eye on the website to see if there is a day upcoming that I can ski. Thanks Skier Bob!
Does anyone know if the Sandy McNabb trail network near Turner Valley allows dogs off leash? I am assuming dogs are allowed there on-leash.
Awesome! Bob’s blog is back, meaning we’ll ski soon. In fact, I had my XC ski season opened last night, 5K classic on a soccer field nearby! Never before I skied in September :o)
Hi Bob! Glad you’re back at it & hope its been a good summer. Looking forward to all your great ski updates, and a great season ???
Hey Bob… this new website looks great.
Thanks for all your hard work during the summer.
Hopefully, it won’t be six weeks to ski season!
Only suggestion might be to expand the availability of the “Recent Comments” section (with maybe a “More… line) to facilitate those like me ensure they have not missed anything.
Ski you soon!
Cheers Bob, really loved following along with your ski journey 🙂
As you can see, many of us are still checking out your site almost daily for it is “our cyber ski community” and we all miss the ski season, especially seeing all those memorable photos again. I was encouraged to see that big snowfall so early in October up at Burstall; only 5+ months away. If Chuck ever writes his memoirs, I think the pic taken of him in the red chair with beer in hand, would make an awesome cover. Like Nancy and Paul, I tell people I am now in cycle mode and have been for the last month. It is all about the quality of the cold snow for me, so I can easily pass on Spring’s icy/slushy conditions. Give me -20 any day.
Thank you Bob for all the work you put into this blog. I pray you get to spend a wonderful summer with Cheryl and Tessa. Maybe we should post a random date to all meet for the buffet at Silver Dragon in Banff. We could enjoy the Legacy Trail to get there, before all the tourists come. I am already trying to figure out what my next pair of light touring skis will be. Hugs to all, especially after the tragic avalanche and crevasse deaths this past few weeks has brought to our heartstrings.
It was a good season, skiing a bunch with cheeky and Simona, an excellent fortuitous day skiing skogan pass in excellent conditions with helen as well as hitting a few spots I haven’t been to before and combining some camp fire cookouts with a ski day. Good times. Plus it was the year of satellite couches, bringing seating options to pipestone and Fairview. Definately worth doing again, especially the top end of pipestone.
To echo Bob’s comment about the bluebird days, we had some really great late-season skiing at WBC and Sandy McNabb this year after the deep freeze was over and before meltdown – some of the best I can remember.
A big thank you for another year of your website. It is always interesting and helpful to read the trip reports over morning coffee. We have had the bikes out frequently for a month now and we are looking forward to a great summer season. Cheers Paul
Bob, Yes that photo was taken in the upper meadow just below Burstall Pass taken on October 4 2018. Remember that early snowfall?
Thanks, Gord. I’ve updated the caption on the photo. -Bob
Many thanks to all the trail crews that have maintained our fantastic XC trails!
Not a very encouraging report, but other than less coverage- fairly typical conditions for later in April. As you say Bob- it’s been a challenging winter for the ski trails in many areas, but we are fortunate to have hard working crews both paid and volunteer, who provide us with so many options.
Skied there a few days ago. Icy in the morning, very soft in the afternoon. Natural snow trails are finished, so not many kms groomed which means doing laps to log a decent mileage. Surprisingly little debris. Sidewalls of the tracks were corn snow which softened quickly and were skied out by mid-aft. The bottom of the tracks consisted of ice granules but with some fresh snow mixed in, so there was grip to be had on fishscales, even in the morning. There is a magic period of about 2 hours between ice and slush – much better to get there very early to ensure you can take advantage of this. Forecast is for +12C tomorrow Thurs, but cooling off with some precip. on the weekend so maybe you will have a longer window with some more fresh snow tilled in.
Can you please tell me about the expected cross country ski conditions at Canmore Nordic Center for the Easter Weekend?
Thank you
THANKS to ALL the TRACKSETTERS
Thanks to your hard work and dedication, we had a great season.
Looking forward to the next!
Hello Paul here.
I am looking for possibly used cross country tracking / grooming equipment.
We are a small group here in Northern Saskatchewan, we ski mostly on Mintikwan lake and a bit of the surrounding shoreline.
If there is any equipment available with a limited budget we would be interested .or if anyone knows wher one could acquire such equipment the information would be much appreciated.
Thank you for you time.
Paul Pospisil
If you didn’t read the captions… Moraine Lake Road was trackset this morning… excellent conditions up there!
I’ve seen you on the trails a few times but didn’t put it together till this afternoon when you were checking the conditions…hope you had a great afternoon, it was a beautiful day.
Sorry to have missed you! But it was a great day! Great photos too!
unfortunate you didn’t stop by for some campfire action bob. Maybe the late shift was too late.
A pleasure to meet you today. Coco and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Sometimes Coco’s enthusiasm got the better of me! – but we are learning together. So fortunate to be able to get out and enjoy the snow and the mountains today.
The second report for Wednesday nearly fooled me, until I realized that you had only started skiing at 2:30 pm Bob… I was back in Banff by then, despite chats with so many happy skiers!
Nice play on a good day for Grooming. If we were talking today, I would wager that the Cascade valley is being groomed right now (8 am Thursday).
With temperatures not forcasted to go above zero here, the Cascade should be excellent… and another social day.
Skee you there!
12 cm at West Bragg Creek
Nakiska is reporting 5 cm so I would assume Ribbon Creek is the same.
5 cms in Banff
Thanks Mike and Bob for the update on grooming at CNC. I did notice something different on Sunday, but was not sure what it was. This is it, the cordoroy was finer. And yes I agree it will be safer. I thought it was just me getting my ski caught in the grooves while screening down hill.
Thank you, skating has been excellent lately at the Nordic Centre. Now skaters, please don’t skate across the classic tracks!
Well done! “Every maintained track”, i.e. two passes on every double-trackset trail? 😉
Had lunch there yesterday. Suspected MaSid was behind the creation.
That looks like a magnificent edifice!
I am very sorry to have missed it, and to have missed skiing at Pipestone entirely this winter 🙁
Unfortunate about pipestone closing. Wanted to get in there today and see how the couches have faired over the course of the winter. Sounds like they have been user maintained well, although there wasn’t really a big dump after they were built. If anyone was there today and can share a photo or some info, that’d be great. Worthy of doing again? Other/better locations? Thanks in advance.
Thanks Bob for highlighting the tracks at Strathmore (and thanks to Ed for the hard work!). We had a lot of life changes this past fall, one of which was moving to a farm north of Chestermere out of Calgary. Farm life and 3 busy teenaged kids means there hasn’t been much time to get out to our usual haunts for skiing – even WBC is a longer haul now. I have been missing the quick trips to Confederation Park so I was delighted this morning to be able to head out to Strathmore for a quick ski before the kids’ activities start up for the day. What a hidden gem!
Thanks for the kudos Bob.
It was great to finally meet face to face. Glad you enjoyed your time out.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I swear there’s a group of people determined to ruin any kind of cross country skiing at Sandy McNabb
Even if we acknowledge that the eastern slopes have been horse country a lot longer than ski country this is extremely inconsiderate.
Thanks for highlighting these memories Bob.
My vote goes to Kevin Dowler for that amazing photo of the Grouse on Dauminique’s shoulder. At first I wondered if it wasn’t trick photography, but then I found the original article here:
http://skierbob.ca/2017/03/saturday-night-update/
And the Oscar for amazing wild-life photography goes to ……..CHUCK!!!!
Thanks for posting-one never tires of such incredible postings. Thanks to ALL nominees. Wolverine-quite the moment to capture.
Hey Bob,
I have also wondered about this. Can you please post the answer on your website? Thanks!
Train derailment: wow! 20 cars off the track (grain cars and empty car carriers), no injuries. Was thinking about the possibilities Monday skiing alongside the trains near protection mountain, and dismissed the thought based on a relatively flat and straight track. Wouldn’t be surprised if BNP contemplated a re-route of the ski trail to the north side of road further east to avoid the rail right of way, or a closure of some kind. There is an easy crossing point at the big meadow between “the hallway” and where the trail turns to run along the track. This would also avoid the CP maintenance vehicle crossings. But probably just trading that for AltaLink crossings instead.
Where did you acquire the fat wheel M/C? I had one (76 Yamaha) and sold it now would like another one.
Thanks.
Guy
We’re always looking for volunteers to help with snow farming. Regular sessions on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Sign up on the Calgary Nordic Alliance website here: https://www.volunteersignup.org/EHBPL
We did a bunch more snow farming last night (Wednesday) to build up the base on some of the areas that get the most wear and tend to melt out faster. Things are in very good shape now!
Can confirm the great conditions on Skogan today. Saw Bob just as he was coming down top of the Screamer as I was heading up for a late start. The snow did get a bit softer later in the afternoon due to the warm temperatures and there were couple of snow bombs as well. The Skogan Loop was super fast and in the best shape overall. If you want to access from the Stoney Trailhead, the Troll Falls trail under the power line is actually trackset and not obliterated by footprints which is pretty rare. There’s one good track on Hay Meadow but the other track has a lot of prints and pole holes in it already. It was my first time up this year and completely forgot how fast of a descent this is. Made it super fun after all that climbing up.
Never realized that about hidden, I guess it really is….hidden.
Glad you enjoyed the efforts of our wonderful volunteer groomers and snow harvesters!
I skied it last year and it was trackset nicely the day I did it. Your description is exactly as I remembered it: a long slog uphill and a scream downhill. It’s worth doing at least once in your life just for the fun ride down (if you dare).
The great part about it is you can usually get some powder on it as it’s not well used. The scenery, meh, it’s a total downhill rush.
February 1936 might have been colder, or at least it was in the Edmonton area and Environment Canada’s website does not have data for Banff for 1936 so it is hard to say. I would like to show Banff’s temperature trend here, but I can’t post a pdf. The annual extremes are converging with annual highs tightly clustered around 30C, rising about 1C over 130 years, and annual lows, with much more variation, rising 3C over 130 years. The lowest temperature was -51.1C in January 1950, which is the only sub -50C I could locate in the records for Banff. I expected sub -50C to be more common.
Iron Creek really is a “Great Trail”, since it is part of the Trans-Canada Trail. It is a multi-user trail, so it is groomed with a single lane of XC track setting and a corduroy lane for all other users. The groomed distance is 1.6km and there is a 300m single-track portion that connects to the the Bragg Creek Hamlet portion of the TCT.
This list is awesome — thanks, Bob. A note about West Bragg. According to the Bragg Creek trail site, the on-leash area is a lit larger than the parking lot. It’s actually the Provincial Recreation Area which surrounds the parking lot in every direction. They show the area on a map here:
https://www.braggcreektrails.org/trail-etiquette/
bob –
I Encountered skiers on the Spray east trail today with the dog and Another group coming from goat Creek onto the east spray with a dog.
I spoke with the first group who said skier Bob said it was dog friendly
and there was no sign for the spray east trail head off of the golf course ..
they were right only the signs to share the trail with Bikes and hikers.
Do you know why there’s no sign ?
Intentional perhaps?
It was great to run into you in the parking lot at Sandy yesterday, Bob. My beloved made me back up (when I said, hey, there is Skier Bob) and I am surprised he did not ask for your autograph!! We live about 15 minutes from Sandy and, conditions permitting, have skied there frequently over the past 19 years. However, after reading your trip report, you taught me something I did not know. I had absolutely no idea that there was an off-leash area at Sandy! This information will be very useful the next time we take our pups with us. I do remember a large sign “suggesting” a $250.00 fine for off-leash dogs that was posted near the highway not far from ranger station so just assumed this was in effect for the whole area. I thank you and Bob the dog and Cooper thank you. We, too, were very frustrated at the large divots left by the inconsiderate person who decided to walk in the tracks. We did come across a pair of hikers but it was on a multi-use trail so they were in the right. Sandy McNabb is such a gem and, as you would have noticed yesterday, quiet and beautiful. Grooming is sporadic and while I would have loved to have kept Sandy my own little secret, if more traffic means more frequent grooming, everyone can consider this their own personal invitation to come out and enjoy this amazing area.
Very informative!
I’ve seen the live grooming pages, but what’s this about actually following the actual machine?? Is that true? How?
Congratulations Helen Read! As someone wise said to me the other day: “make tracks, not excuses!” Inspiring accomplishment indeed (and well celebrated!)
Suggestion: if you see one of those trails, start walking on it to prime the pump, so to speak.
This is for the next level of stupidity;
skidoo first and chuck wagon next, don’t expect any development for skiers, classic or skating, these trails will be dedicated to anything except x country skiing and if anybody wants to propose a dedicated trail system for everything but the kitchen sink, please come forward, it will be very interesting to find out how everything can be piled up on the same infrastructures.
Just one reminder: If by any chance there will be an encounter with some disrespectful or non observant of the obvious rules, based on common sense, please smile like donkey, just to encourage the endless flux of idiots who destroy what the taxpayer’s pays for, including those who don’t ski.
What about skate skiers? We do ski in the middle on the corduroy and avoid the classical tracks?
Great highlight reel of your ski. Parks has sure stepped it up with the bypass grooming, signage and such. Well done. And btw, your 3rd picture of the happy skier wearing the Finish touque kick-double poling is indeed a great photo capturing the all the elements and the essence of xc skiing in Kananaskis!
Ha Bob! Hardly a Herculean twelve labours, rather an annual
pilgrimage, though I felt as I was in search of a Golden Fleece it was so cold!
Hi everyone! I have a friend coming to visit and we’d like to get out skiing. One challenge is she’s got troubles with her knees and can’t do much for hills.
Can anyone give me suggestions for some trails that are flat or minimally hilly near Canmore, Banff or Lake Louise for this weekend?
Thanks for the help!
Lana
The Great Divide at Lake Louise would be perfect for your friend. -Bob
Hi Bob,
As per my post from last week, I also completed the Hummingbird, Skogan Loop and the Pass in one day. When I do Skogan (at least once a season), it has to be a full-course meal for me. 🙂
As a matter of fact I met you there on top of the Skogan Loop couple of seasons back. Your skis were much faster than my old waxless ones I use on descent to the main trail.
Thanks, Adam. I’ve added your name to this very exclusive club. -Bob
Hi Bob,
I skied that route (Hummingbird Plume / Skogan Loop and Pass today. It was a nice day. Somehow I missed Masid.
George (gh)
It was fun skiing with you, Bob!
From the PLPP grooming report today:
“The construction closure through Boulton Campground has now been lifted, and this area has been groomed and trackset, but there may be a few thin spots and some exposed gravel on some edges.”
And the cold is good for killing ticks too, which gives me a much better attitude about it.
This was our third day in a row skiing WBC. Its so good to finally ski our favourite trails again and today we did Iron Springs loop…those were our tracks you were skiing in, Bob. Yesterday we did Moose and overall we’d say the conditions are very good , but the snow is slow as you would expect. Glad to hear a bit if a warm up is coming in the next few days.
Happy Trails
Heidi and Peter
Aw shucks. For the record- it was Alf who got me started on SkiHere, by e-mailing a link to “a new website that looks interesting”. Thank you, Bob, for this valuable resource!
The groomers seem competing silently for who can make the best ski trail with whatever quality snow one may have at their disposal. These tracks and corduroy on the picture above look pretty awesome, the five stars job done!
I’m going to have a chat with Bill this morning and see how it’s going out there. From the Ribbon creek end. I know…maybe not the best end to start from.
Cold weather and ice jams have a lot to do with it too. the bow river in calgary has risen in places a foot or more in the last week now that things have finally frozen up. Lots of water and ice flowing where it doesn’t normally given that normal channels are plugged with ice. It’s almost spring flow levels in some spots. Up and down flow rates of water release from damns on Kananaskis river exacerbates the ice damning when its cold. Without the deep freeze, probably wouldn’t be as much of an issue.
my wife and I are heading to Banff for a wek of winter fun any am a regular visitor to this great website . Any suggestions for some must ski trails next week would be great Thanks hope to run into some of the familiar names I see every time I visit
I’m so sorry we missed seeing you today on the Bill Milne trail. Apparently we skied past one another going in the opposite direction. The Esso gang told us that you were on the trail and that we just missed you … not once … but twice. Six degrees of separation. My husband and I have followed your blog daily for years. It’s such a treat. We live in Canmore … just down the street from Helen Read. (-:
This years Canadian Birkebiener has unfortunately, but wisely been cancelled.
https://canadianbirkie.com/wp-content/uploads/News/2019-Birkie-Media-Release-February-5-2019.pdf
Cooking Lake – Blackfoot Recreation Area near Camrose was -42 this morning and forcast high -I believe, is below -25 for this Saturday. That’s 1000 ski enthusiasts affected but there is always another trail for another time!
That picture of piste heaven is unmistakably Norwegian!
Thanks for the update Bob. Looking forward to seeing Bill this week.
R
Kindness and sharing information on “how to” is what I will choose. I trust most people are simply not aware of the damage or potential danger. If you are not an avid outdoorsperson and have never cross country skied, how would you know? I too have come across this even with good signage Parks Canada has provided. I trust with a gentle word and simple explanation it will only happen once. In this time where so much hatred and little tolerance prevails, I choose kindness and compassion. We are so lucky to have all we have.
We lost a wallet on Pipestone today. Please text 7805304028 if you find
We got dropped off at the Goat Creek trailhead on Canmore side then after lunching in the side lobby of the Banff Springs we took the ROAM for $1 (senior rate) to the Hot Springs for a soak . From the hot springs we took the ROAM right back to Canmore for $3. Quite a deal if you can get a ride to the trailhead.
The Bow Valley folk group the Wardens have a tribute song to Dorothy Carlton called War Bride to Warden Bride. Check it out in this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giKxDelIHW0
Is it just me or is there less track setting this year?
The Parks Canada foldable signs along the trail say something like “Share the trail”. Below it is a schematic of a ski track with separate showshoe and walking trails. The schematic must be confusing, and walkers seem to heed the suggestion of sharing the trail.
Clearly this is not working. How about signs that say “HIKERS AND SNOWSHOERS: STAY OUT OF THE XC SKI TRACK” or something like that. It’s maybe not as gentle and nice, but grooming is expensive.
Wow photos Chuck. And thanks for continuing to report on his exploits Bob. You may need add another drop down menu titled as such. In other news, there were many Loppet heads to be accounted for at Nipika with -as I’m told, record setting turnout for the classic races. And that wasn’t the only record broken, the 30km challenging (to wax for) course record was also set by a well decorated Olympian (guesses?) Good hosts, great fun, outstanding skiing and spectacular scenery and camaraderie among all -young and young at heart!
Hi Bob, Missed you yesterday–we went up towards Ohara and it was fantastic! Denise did call Joe and he is out there today. You are right–no set schedule for us–Joe is a carpenter most of the time and we are lucky to have him when we can. Great photo’s you posted! That Connector is getting better as the days go on. Cheers, Marilyn & Bruce
Good to hear, thanks for the update. -Bob
Thanks for the update Bob. Do you know often they groom the alluvial fan?
bob
i also skied the pipestone today- it was -14 at
10 am but so sunny it felt fine. best tracks yet.
There were resent wolverine tracks from the trail down
down to the trail to the couch!
Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi now also operate Talus Lodge near the south-east corner of Banff Park. Helicopter access to Talus Lodge stages from Canmore and Mt. Shark Heli-pad.
Madeleine Williams is a judge in Edmonton
Chandra Chawford runs Fast & Female girl events
Perianne Jones works with Spirit North out of BC and also works as a Ultrasound extraordinaire
Thank you Bob! Very sweet of you to dig out the old pics from the history books. Thank you for the coffee too! 🙂
George Grey is a nurse in Rossland, BC. A fresh start for Olympian George Grey
Devon Kershaw: lives in Norway with his wife and child. Devon Kershaw retires after 15 years
Sara Renner and husband Thomas Grandi operate the Paintbox Lodge in Canmore. Olympic skiers open boutique hotel.
Ivan Babikov is now the Provincial Coach and Development Director with Cross Country Alberta. Members of the Alberta ski team represent the country on the international arenas. And Canada Winter Games in Red Deer are just around the corner.
Great coverage Bob! Thanks. Wasn’t able to participate this year myself but thoroughly enjoyed the trackset route from Morant’s to Sawback during my “before-the-loppet” ski last Saturday. Met & chatted with a few cheery volunteers hard at work as well as the Baker Creek grooming team doing a fantastic job as usual. Thanks All. Looking fwd to next year!
Hey Bob,
This was a first for my wife and I, first ever xc ‘race’ in fact. And boy what an experience! The going was tough heading out for Leg 3, and though we’ve never met you before in person, it was great inspiration to see you out there on the trail cheering everyone on. As newbies to this kind of endeavor, we were blown away by the great energy of everyone involved, both racers and the selfless volunteers throughout the course. It was humbling to meet these cheery folks at lonely road crossings giving us lots of encouragement and plenty of cowbell. Such a well organized event in the beauty of the Rockies. It was a day we won’t forget in a hurry! We might want to work on our double poling technique for the next one 😉 Cheers and thanks for all the great photos!
Bob
I met you at the finish, along with my two dogs Bonn and Tasky. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. Lovely to meet you at last. My first loppet. My first ever ski race. Im a runner and the running sections just made me smile. Fab event, loved it all even the last 6.7k section which was not really my definition of skiing. I’ll do it again for sure. Kudos to everyone involved. Will try to work out how I can help out for the event next year. Pretty special day for sure – I mean how many people get to start a race at a full blown Chateau and then drive to Banff for the presentations, only to see another full blown Chateau! Loved it all.
Awesome Loppet! Great weather and pretty darn good conditions! Shout out to the organizers!!!!
An awesome loppet!! Such beautiful country to ski in- thank you so much to all the volunteers for a great day! And that last leg going downhill on the split—so much better!
My second time doing it as a two person relay. Its such a fun race, always look at as more of an adventure race too. I hope it continues, so few opportunities to race with friends as a team in the loppet world. Big thanks to the organizers!
I recall getting the same “concerned “ look and comment one year. Insinuating that I should “get the hell of the public trails” during the race.
I laugh about it now.
My second time. I managed to do the last edition that went right to Banff in 2013.
I see this loppet more as an adventure on skis than a “race”.
The revamped Morants Curve meant a LONG time on the road!
There was a lot of roots and trees and branches on the last 20km… definitely not for your best skis.
I hope the race continues… would be a shame to see it disappear.
I have biked this trail during the summer, and would love to XC ski this, however how do you get back? Did you have two cars, so you could park at either end? Could you ski back on the trail?
Hi,
I was wondering if the trails in Yoho are groomed for skate as well or just classic?
Thanks!
Yoho Valley Road is wide enough for skating, but I don’t think it has been groomed for quite a while. -Bob
Thanks for the shout out Skier BOB!
I can’t think of a better person to contact for xc skier pictures than you Bob.
Hi, MaSid;
Yes, we make the PC snowplow drivers aware of the loppet, and we pray they’ll turn their blades AWAY from the track, if close by!
I’m bringing the rock skis! I hope some new snow covers things up..
The shoulder of the highway, srsly!?! Thanks for the heads up!
The forecast is calling for snow on Sunday! -Bob
Looks like I should have put the river couch a few more feet to the right eh.
Definitely snowshoe hare –
http://www.mynatureapps.com/snowshoe-hare-tracks/
The fifth impression is likely the tail apparently
I cannot see the tracks too well, but they do not look like a hare to me, unless it has five legs. Mind you, size on a photo can also be deceiving. I’d have liked to have an idea about possible weight and how deeply the tracks are impressed into the snow; that is, how firm is the snow surface?
Lynx maybe? Wolverine? Fisher?
Heck, I’ll go back to five-legged hare.
Yes, snowshoe hare tracks – great photo.
Yes, hare tracks, and remarkably well preserved. Don’t often see the toes so distinctly visible.
I’m not even close to being an expert, but some googling leads me to think that these are from a snowshoe hare. Initially, I thought maybe a marten, but hares leave tell tale little prints tight behind big prints. The snow looks fluffy enough that their small nails didn’t leave impressions.
Saw 2 grouse at lynx junction with Pocaterra.
One walked out from the brush 3m from my daughter.
Regarding signs on trails restricting walking or snowshoeing, they are likely not constitutional.
The National Parks permit travel by historical means which basically comes down to walking. The National Parks can prevent non traditional modes of transportation such as horse back riding or bikes on trails but not walking whether it is summer or winter- unless there are wildlife protection concerns. But there is no reason as to why Banff National Park can not put up signs to educate people about back country travel etiquette on ski trails. This would be up to the Banff Park Superintendent, who is responsible for operational decisions and budgetary spending in Banff. But the Superintendent is cheap when it comes to spending on trails in Banff.
My experience is that the Superintendent of Banff does not care much for trail conditions or spending much on the trails. The vast majority of backcountry summer trails are eroding severely making travel difficult and dumping sediment in fish bearing spawning streams. This is impacting ski trails as well as more snow or “snow work” is required to make these trails skiable. A number of the winter ski trails that were once double track set and or had skating lanes are now single lane only trails and they are getting narrower as trees over grow them due to a lack of maintenance. A cheap or out of touch Superintendent is why illegal volunteer guerilla trail work is done by skiers to keep trails skiable and why educational signage is not erected on the ski trails to keep them in better skiing shape.
If real democracy was legalized, where people make the decisions rather than politicians, chances are our trails in the National Parks would be in much better condition for those that use them. There should at least be participatory budgeting in Banff so that the park users make up at least a significant part of the budget- then maybe needed signs would be on the ski trails. A lack of democracy makes for worse ski trails.
Banff National Park Guidance for Snowshoers “Non-skiers and dogs must stay on the far outer edge of the track set and groomed ski trails”
There should be signage indicating this.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/raquette-snowshoeing
I find it interesting that the think before sink signage comes from groomed fat bike trails. I agree it would help for messaging but the reality is unless you are paying for skiing you just can’t stop walkers from using ski trails. Places like Lake Louise and the Kananaskis Village get visitors from all over the world who just don’t understand what a ski trail is. The best we can do is try and direct where they walk on the ski trail “ don’t walk on the tracks” “ stay to trail edge” type of signage works for the majority of users, unfortunately we tend to hear about that one person who walks the entire newly trackset right on the track. Personally I’ve never encountered any damage that made me have a bad ski day. You glide over it and move along enjoying one of the hundreds of KMs if groomed ski trails we freely have access to living here in Alberta.
Regarding the lack of advisory signage at LL this season: This Wednesday, tracksetter Jeff, who works for the Chateau, said that sometime last year a snow shoe user group (unnamed) had filed a cease and desist order with Parks. Parks complied and removed the signs. Any cross country loving lawyers out there willing to take on this issue pro bono ?
Yesterday we went up Tramline and around Fairview and back to the village in a loop. Glorious snow on blue wax with an inch of fresh on the track set. Coming down Tramline starting at MLR we hit fresh track set, yummmm. It was spoiled somewhat by a young fellow who had walked, in boots, all the way up from the Village on the new track set, sometimes in the track but mostly just where it had just minutes before, been packed. I was shaking my head all the way down.
We saw him consulting the trail map at the start of MLR with trail brochure in hand but we did not approach him. I checked at the bottom of Tramline and while the river side trail says multi-use and only has one side track set the Tramline going up the hill has no signs about useage. Are you supposed to be able to walk up Tramline in boots? Some signage would help people (likely tourists) manage their way around the system.
I suspect that the signs haven’t reappeared as they were not put there by Parks Canada. The trails that they were on are not closed to hikers or snowshoers and I suspect that Parks probably removed them. The guidance for snowshoes on the Parks website says “If you decide to follow groomed cross-country ski trails, please travel to one side in order help maintain them for other users.”
Appreciate reading about alternatives to the usual ski trails. Thanks, Bob!
Re WTH: Yesterday we caught up with two fat bikes being pushed, yes, pushed up Lower Tramline in the fresh trackset. Admonished them to stay off the tracks, they reluctantly complied, only to step back in once we passed. Turned around to… educate. Turns out Wilson Mtn Sports had advised the young Aussies, first time visitors to Canada, to go up Lower Tramline, even though it was so soft they could not get traction. So we had a friendly chat, and I advised them to take the access road to their destination, the Chateau, instead of proceeding on Tramline. Turned around at the road crossing, waited for them, saw them get on the road. First guy started up, yelled, “Oh God, this is so much easier!”, thanking me with a wave. Total coincidence, 4 hours later on the return trip, we were walking across the road, when the 2 Aussies came rolling down, waved “Hello Boss”. “Did you have a good time?” “Yes, thanks mate”, they answered. So in this case, all is well that ends well.
the trail report says pipe was trackset yesterday.
?
Dog Friendly Castle Junction
Hi Bob and fellow skiers-hoping someone can help clear up my confusion. I see here Castle Junction through to Baker Creek is listed as dog-friendly. On the Banff winter trail map brochure it shows Castle Junction to Castle Lookout as dog-friendly but no dogs Castle lookout to Baker Creek. My pup, Bodhi, and I are hoping the brochure is a mistake! Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Steve was looking at the text report above the map that indicates trail grooming where he read updated (Jan 4) info.
Where do I find the live grooming report like the one you mentioned above (about Ribbon Creek)?
Thanks!
It’s an remarkable piece of writing for all the
web viewers; they will take benefit from it I am sure.
Syncline Castle Trails (near Castle Mountain Resort). Just skied there last week with my dog. Signs posted at the trailhead and at synclinecastletrails.org note that the “trails are non-motorized and pet friendly, so bring along your companions.”
The Louise to Banff loppet is on January 20. The backup date is January 27.
Thanks, Doug. I’ve made the correction. -Bob
To clarify, Redearth Creek was only groomed to the campground where the snowmobile tracks clearly turned around. Nothing was groomed past the campground – no final km to the lodge turnoff, and nothing between the lodge turnoff and campground. Only the first 6km were groomed. If anything beyond the campground was previously groomed, there was no sign of that. The snow got considerably deeper beyond the campground.
Thermos and kids booties still on the lost and found counter at pocaterra hut. Along with a black Nintendo type unit that’s been there for a few weeks.
I thought you couldn’t access Whiskey Jack from Boulton because of the construction? I’m heading out on Sunday and would like to start at Boulton.
*confused*
I figured out it’s a male Spruce Grouse.
There is a northern region trail report by Edmonton Nordic that has conditions for the Red Deer trails and many other ski trails throughout central and northern Alberta.
http://www.stat.ualberta.ca/~wiens/TrailReport/TrailReport.html
Yo Bob,
You were wondering if any experienced Red Earth Creek skiers know why the trail has not been groomed to the end. Well I am an experienced Red Earth skier, but I can’t say. What I do know is the last time I skied it a couple of weeks or so ago, someone on a snowmobile had pushed the snow from the right side of the trail (looking up valley) and made a berm kind of on the centre left of the trail for quite a long distance. I was blown by the amount of snow that was moved. The trail at that time was only snowmobile packed to just before this digging location. The snowmobiler actually walked several meters from their sled and then commenced to digging like a wild dog. Someone moved a lot of snow by hand. I skied on the berm to try to pack it down somewhat. This is a location where I have widened the snowmobile trail in past years by ski packing the powder on the left side- in order to encourage wider grooming of the trail in the area for skating purposes.
The location where the grooming currently ends is likely where the trail was dug out on the right side. The only reasonable theory I could think of as to why the snow was moved was perhaps someone wanted a more level trail in that location- once it snows more to fill things in. The berm that I skied on was potentially built to prevent snowmobiles from sliding towards the left edge of the trail. The part that makes this a crummy theory is, I did not think the trail was that heavily sloped to the left and any good snowmobiler should be able to ride that part of the trail without dong work to it- unless they are maybe on an Alpine single ski sled as those old snowmobiles really suck to ride ( I should have looked at the tracks to see what kind of sled was being driven- all that I know is it was not Santa Claus’ sled).
So, there you at least have a theory as to why the grooming ended about 1 km from the end of the trail. Maybe ask the guy who drove the snowmobile if my theory was correct. Let me know if you do. I like to keep score of the accuracies of my theories.
Keep on Ski “Bobbin” down the trails.
Hello Mr. Bob,
I’ve just recently taken up skate skiing and really enjoy it. We were at Boulton Creek trail today near the Upper Kananaskis lake. We found the trail quite narrow and a sign directing skate skiers to go to Shark mountain, which we did.
My questions are:
Are there any skate skiing trails in PLPP? If so, which ones would you recommend?
What other areas in Southern Alberta support Skate skiing?
Thanks and Merry Christmas,
Roger
Sounds reasonable to make sure there are well laid out maps for the snowshoeing.
I’m a little torn about the grooming though. When I snowshoe I am looking for untracked trails as I then can use the shoes as they are intended. When the track is packed I may as well just have boots or crampons on…No need for floatation.
Just me?
On the topic of snowshoeing, myself and 2 others were at Shark on Wednesday (met the infamous Chuck in the parking lot), and we snowshoed the 5km red/black loop. I told my friends we were ok to snowshoe there only because the trail had not been groomed or trackset yet this season and it would likely be done soon because finally there was enough snow. It was done the next day. I’m wondering if our snowshoe tracks would have interfered with grooming efforts the next day? I assume not, but I’m a XC skier as well and want to ensure I don’t make more work for our beloved groomers.
Seeing as I had my trail breaking skis with me yesterday, I was tempted to ski up the snowshoe track. Not sure a ski track would help or confuse, especially when there might already be confusion on where to go. The specific locations of the snowshoe trails aren’t marked on the trailside ski map so nobody really knows where those trails go other than what appears to be into the bush away from the main direction of travel everyone else is going. And the web site says the snow shoe trail leaves the elk pass parking lot at the north end, when it’s actually at the south end. I’m sure we could help them out better.
I think I read that they will no longer be tracksetting Red Earth Crk trail due to the avalanche hazard?
Excellent photos. Tourism quality. Things definately look inviting in the lake Louise area. I have been convinced, right after getting the couch to a workable size. Are they still doing the fire by the skating rink these days? Might have to fire up some sausages after a ski. Happy holidays!
The little (2.7 km) #3 loop going E from Castle Jct. will be a pleasant ski when it’s trackset. Skied the snowmobile grooming yesterday & still enjoyed it.
I bought one of his old groomer snowcats last spring. This year we will be grooming snowmobile trails on the Trans Canadian Snowmobile Trail North of Edmonton between Athabasca and Swan Hills. He is a good guy. Gave us a good deal and included parts and extra oil with the machine as well as helped us load it onto a trailer. Grooming ski trails or snowmoblie trails it all makes for a more enjoyable experience for the user. Thanks for the snowcat ED
On behalf of Prospect and our Outdoor Pursuits team I’d like to extend our sincere apologies to Alberta Parks and any Parks users who were negatively impacted by our crew on Friday, December 14.
Prospect groups work throughout the year, all over Kananaskis, to act as stewards to the park; helping to remove invasive weeds, performing garbage clean-ups and working to protect the parks and help make them accessible to all.
When we headed out to Pocaterra we didn’t see anybody else in the area and didn’t think we’d be interfering with other recreation in the park, so we set off to enjoy a hike. It was not our intention to disrespect the trail or the people who use it, and we unreservedly apologize that our actions inconvenienced others and/or put a damper on their weekend.
Prospect has worked, and continues to work, to be positive users of, and contributors to, Alberta Parks. Our commitment to the environment and fostering appreciation of the outdoors is well documented. If ever you have questions or concerns about our operations in Kananaskis and surrounding areas, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly:
Mandi Parkin – Outdoor Pursuits Team Lead
mandi.parkin@prospectnow.ca
C: 403-835-6076
So where was this group travelling from.
They spent the night at the Elk Lakes cabin and were returning to the Elk Pass trailhead. -Bob
Isn’t it ironic that yours truly started the latest thread about offering a ride but I can’t join the group because I deleted my Book Face account a year ago. 🙁
Disappointing. For ACC not to have policy is surprising. Hopeful this is an isolated incident these days.
I would suggest you contact Prospect to let them know about this so on future trips they are better educated on proper etiquette.
I would be surprised if they are not receptive to this information.
We ran into Bob and saw this food too – unbelievable! It was just after 3pm when we headed back down Elk Pass with great conditions. Then we came across this group about ½ km from the parking lot. They walked all over the grooming that had just been completed for about 1km. All their boot prints destroying the trail. I stopped to speak to a member of the group and tell them they aren’t supposed to walk on the trail and I was told to “mind my own business”. I said this was my business because it is a safety issue. She was extremely rude. Then I told her there was a skier behind me and to take her sled off the track (as to not cause an accident). Again she told me off. As it turns out, my husband did wipe out on the downhill. Probably got his ski caught in a boot print. Destroyed his ski! I’ve never in 30 years of skiing seen a ski blow out like that or met rude people like that. I’m furious with this group, their arrogance and disregard. I will be phoning the ACC today. User groups like this should not be permitted to make future bookings.
So unfortunate that users decide this is acceptable. Masid ACC makes it on there site and when booking to pack all garbage out.
This should be given to AB parks, they will fine people with enough evidence. A Canmore resident was fine doe have her dogs off leash (one chased a bear) others happened to film it. AMD they were identified and later fined.
If we want to keep nature natural, we will all have to do our part.
The immediate issue is to remove the garbage. I’ll take it out Sunday if it’s still there and drop it off at the Canmore office. The least they can do is request more of their guests.
Definitely report to the ACC, but unfortunately they do not issue bans from booking their huts or penalties for this kind of behaviour, unless they’ve updated their policies. We stayed at Asulkan a few summers back. The people leaving did not pay for their entire stay and they left bags of food, which we all carried out so it wouldn’t be left at the hut. We reported the incident and the ACC advised me they don’t have any penalties or bans.
I’m hoping Conservation Officers in K-Country will track them down and charge them.
I have no words.
I agree with Barb, the ACC should be advised of this, hopefully they will contact the people at the very least, and they should be blacklisted from using the huts again!
this should be reported to the ACC ! They would be able to identify the group by the booking and Hopefully do some “education”.
Ideal by the first hand observer.
just an idea.
Thanks for digging into this story, Bob. It’s a treat to see this more personal side of skiing and one that illustrates the goodwill and enthusiasm of Albertans for the sport.
Having such a great facility at their back door, some enthusiastic parents may want to start a ski club for their kids. Cross Country Alberta can help with guidance, tools and programs.
I use a romper with legs/ boots attached, best thing since sliced bread! Made in alberta: see
https://www.ruffstuffk9design.ca
Thanks! I was unaware of this product. It could be the answer to lost boots. -Bob
Very VERY dissapointed that Pocaterra Hut now closes at 6pm! Come on Parks AB! WHY!?!?!?
We regularly use it after 6pm on weekdays, after long trips at the south end of the trail system. I’m sure it is used even more on weekend evenings. On one rare occasion, when we happened to be there on the weekend, we met a couple from Lethbridge who said they made that weekend trip at least a few times and year. A slow-cooker and the hours of the hut made that possible for them. Between 6 and 8 the hut is a place to change clothing before driving 2 (or more) hours, the chance to meet and celebrate/commiserate with other skiers. A place to lie down and stretch and gather yourself before heading down an arguably dangerous stetch of road — in the dark. I’d argue it should close at 9pm, as the doors are on timer-lock and there are motion sensors, etc. and that system seems to work just fine.
I’d like to clamor now for fire-wood be made available down at Lower Lake picnic area fire-rings which I suspect is now the ONLY place left after 6pm for a fire… outdoors by the windy lake.
Anyone here remember having a hot shower at Boulton for a loonie? What’s happened to us? Was it about carbon offsets? By the way, protesting a pipeline makes as much sense as a glutton dieting by murdering their pizza delivery boys.
Any news on pipestone this year?
Hi Bob
Our Springer, Bodhi, comes skiing with us as much as possible but inevitably suffers from the ice balls on the paws. We sometimes use his Muttluks but are so worried about losing one while he’s romping off leash as they are so expensive!
I notice Freddie has the balloon booties on-do you find these stay on the paws well? And any tips for getting them on the paws ( we find the tight opening quite a struggle to get on Bodhi’s paws).
Thanks!
Jenn
Hello,
I was wondering how long the loop is at Maple Ridge golf course is as well as if it is currently track set and open (Dec 6th).
Thanks!
I’m part of the Volunteer operations team for Confed through the Calgary Nordic Alliance. The conditions at Confed rely heavily on snow farming. A technical term for shovelling snow onto the trail. ?. If you like to ski at confed and like good ski conditions then please consider volunteering on a snow farming night. They are scheduled every Wednesday night at 6:30. Go to the Nordic alliance website to sign up!
https://nordicalliance.ca/get-involved/volunteer/
Hi Bob,
Too bad we didn’t see you today, Klara also just had her first birthday and today was her first xc ski as well. She did a good job staying out of everyone’s way and quickly decided that skis were somewhat scary and stayed away from the tracks. She was off leash most of the time and did not bother any other skiers, even those coming downhill toward us, or fat bikers. We practiced some on-leash skiing and she did a close imitation of Kazzy the dog’s amazing on-leash skiing style. It was a great day!
Thanks very much to the volunteer groomers and all of their hard work!
I picked the 4th, too bad I missed it by one day. Bob you’re living in Calgary this winter, I thought you always lived in Canmore in the winter. Hope your shoulder is recovering nicely.
Kimberley Nordic Center opened officially on Sat. and the skiing is pretty good, just a bit of twigs showing through, but so enjoyable to finally be out on the trails. Last year first day was Nov. 5th.
I was cleaning up the basement and I found some old receipts, including tools from Sears, craftsman. But I also came across my skis receipt from October 1991.
Asnes Snorre $104.
I think I used those skis until 2006??
Has anyone been near Ribbon Creek recently?
Skiied the Frozen Thunder trails several times in different directions yesterday afternoon. CNC crew has done a great job and we were pleasantly surprized by the snow quality. Be back today.
Fantastic photos!
Nice to see you enjoying the snow at West Bragg Creek, Bob!
The skiing should be OK on the roller-packed trails tomorrow… and maybe Sunday, if it doesn’t warm up too much on Saturday. Use caution on the hills!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7NV1prJXz96jJpd1A
Grizzly on Great Divide Trail: https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=34248&oPark=100092
Thanks for sharing, Bob; this is quite a collection. I understand seeing, and taking pictures of lynx and wolverine happens only on rarest of days.
I love these beautiful animal pictures!! Quite a few from Chuck 😉
As far as the Avalanche season goes, there is a nasty deep layer present in many areas in the Rockies (being referred to as the oct 26 layer) that is causing some unusually large early season slides. Probably requires more caution and assessment than normal and avalanche forecast professionals are anticipating it to become a “deep persistent weak layer” and an issue to be cognizant of throughout the season, especially as it receives more snow loading in the coming months. A number of our track set cross country ski trails are exposed to avalanche runouts and have seen large slides over the grooming in the recent past when these conditions exist.
Emerald Lake…Morraine Lake Road and 1A are nearly always the first trackset areas. The skiing community tends to focus on Elk Pass as the next skiable destination. But just when do the trails at Emerald Lake become skiable. If one drives all the way to Lake Louise only to find a crowded parking lot, why not drive the extra half hour to Emerald Lake and enjoy uncrowded trails and beautiful mountain scenery ?
The Yoho trail report indicates “Thin snow cover, not enough snow to trackset.” Emerald Lake tends to be about a month later than the Lake Louise trails. -Bob
Wow, 42 km/hr! That is fast.
Hi. How deep is the snow. Ie do poles hit the pavement
Poles are not hitting pavement. -Bob
How does that saying go ‘ the avalanche does not know you’re an expert’. BTW are dogs allowed in paradise valley and if so how would my k9 friend get to the trail head without subjecting me to a $25,000 fine?
The road crosses some hairy avalanche slopes beyond the end of the track set. Best not to encourage people to venture into places where death from above is a very real possibility.
Hey There,
I left my black, puffy KiXS jacket on the side of Moraine Lake Road, 250 meters up from the parking lot and somebody else picked it up. It has my name and phone number on the tag. If you know anything about this, please call or email me at marielle.ackermann@icloud.com
Thanks
Do remember to check out the captions in the link under Trip Reports, for details such as wax, temperature etc.
can you take dogs on the trail?
great divide today
sking was hit and miss skied in tracks & a couple cms overnight.
On return – at 12 pm – groomer appeared- packing.
then Andrew with tracksetter.
he said he hadn’t expected to trackset trail but was trying..
this was just 500 meters from trail head. so don’t know
how it turned out. BUT they were going to try setting
Moraine in AM tomorrow!!
Best to leave “found” items for 24 hrs, if they are still there the next day then good to pick up and try to find owner. Over the years I have “lost” a few items I left on purpose at various corners only to return an hour or two later to pick it up, only to find a good samaritan, or other, had retrieved it – and I never got it back.
Thx for the CNC update Bob -u saved me unnecessary mileage, though I should know better and dbl check their website for posted events! Great other news too. Keep it up.
Great info as usual, there is a group of us in Calgary that skijor a few times a week with our dogs and love staying up to date via your blog. If you ever want to join the Missy Mushers on our adventures just let us know.
Congratulations on getting back on the boards! Wish we could have joined you, but I’m sure we will soon 🙂
It was a treat to meet you today Bob. Thanks for all the work you do providing intel on trails and snow conditions!
Sweet dude!
Great leadership by example. There are all sorts of people doing things to make the trails a little better for others to enjoy. I hope Alf inspires more people to upgrade trails and the skiing will be even better.
Keep on rocking on by burying rocks on trails and snapping off over hanging branches.
Congratulations, Alf!
I would like to add my voice to the chorus of hearty thanks and appreciation.
You are such an inspiration, and delightful person too 🙂
Congratulation Alf. Also thank you volunteer groomers for your time and hard work. Last skiing season was excellent.
Thank you Alf for all of your hard work over the years. Congrats on the well-deserved regognition.
Well done, Alf! This is an amazing accomplishment that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. I, and certainly many others, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you and all of the other hardworking volunteers for your incredible efforts in creating this beautiful area for all of us. I can’t think of a better legacy than being part of preserving and enhancing our natural spaces ?. WELL DONE indeed!
Congrats Alf!
Congratulations on the well deserved accolade Alf. Your passion is exemplified by the good works and committed volunteering leadership in Kananaskis over a great many years. Thank you.
How long was the track groomed at ribbon creek? (Ie #ks) Conditions look spectacular!!!
Who remember’s Moraine Lk Rd closing this early (for good reason of course) in recent memory?
We’re heading to Banff Sept 12…so is the snow. Will anyone being cross country skiing….or just hiking carefully?
Omg. No comments after April 10. How did it go?.
All is well. I will be skiing when the snow flies in early November. -Bob
This is so awesome! I love skiing at WBC, but was always a little scared of that stupid ice flow 🙂 Thanks to the folks out there for taking care of it. What an amazing bunch!
Hi, would hybrids with front suspension work on Goat Creek from Canmore to Banff?
Thanks!
Doug
Awesome blog thank you
Was going to put the ski’s away this morning after 2 beginners skiing the Nordic Center Monday Good Conditionds and Lake Louise Wednesday and Tuesday sticky and fast depending on the time of day but overall good!! April 11 We are looking to take advantage of this little flurry coming down now and thought to check here?!? Bear warnings at LL ( just one bear) so they say groups of 5 or bear spray on The parks trails ?
Bob, I hope that your recuperation is beginning nicely. How does coffee taste from the left side?
I was trying to imagine what it would be like to receive a groomers update from you in your incapacitated condition.
Would it be something like this, typed at about half speed?
“There wass be na traed reqart taday becase A cant tyqe wet za raght fazd”
Sagved, Bab
It was and still is a winter for the ages. I hope for one more like it before I go on before. Thanks, Bob, for being part of the vibe that consumes those who worship the greatest season of all. Let’s pray for a short summer.
Don’t give those skis away too hastily. You’ll need them again there are no doubts – you are a tough guy. Good luck for a successful surgery and rehab. Patience will become your best friend.
THANK YOU BOB, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
Looking forward to next season///Emry from Edmonton
Thanks for all the kind and thoughtful wishes!
All the best to you in your upcoming journey Bob.Tessa will love the walk times with out any ski distractions.
Good luck with the surgery tomorrow! I expect you will get some interesting drugs to help with the pain! If we see some peculiar ramblings on the website, we’ll know that you’ve been mixing them with the Barracks Brown!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Nice to see you out for a walk yesterday. All the best for your operation. Thanks for another season of blogging. Love getting a coffee and reading about your adventures.
Excellent timing, coinciding exactly with the real end of winter, you’ll be skiing even faster next year, with your new and improved shoulder running on pure caffeine ! Thanks for an awesome ski season Bob 🙂
Best of luck with your recovery. Your are in great shape so I am sure it will be as fast as possible.
Have fun tying your ski boot laces with one hand, Bob. Hope your recovery goes well, and that you’re cruising down MLR early next November.
The fresh grooming at PLPP was good today – firm but not icy and never got slushy. My fish scales skis worked well again, +1 at 10 am, + 3 at 1 pm, all old tree debris worked into the fresh grooming. Saw a grand total of 7 other people – I wonder how much longer PLPP will keep up the grooming?? Good luck with your surgery, and especially the recovery!
All the best on your big day. Have fun after they give you the sedative -)
I look forward to some hiking updates as you strive to get into shape for next season.
best of luck and speedy recovery from me as well .
good news, can of beer weighs same as cup of coffee.
not so good news, you will miss all the May tracksetting.
LOL I’m partial to Barracks Brown Ale but it comes in a bottle. Might be too heavy. -Bob
Best of luck on your surgery Bob and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Another thank you from an avid follower! It was wonderful to see you and the lovely Cheryl at Pocaterra on Saturday, as well as finally meeting “Man of La Couch-a”.
Looking forward to meeting you on the trails again next season 🙂
UPPER BANKHEAD – April 8
Seeing is believing… but thanks for the heads-up Bob!
I just took my old Combi skis and boots and that worked beautifully… no sticking. Classic on the flats and downhill, and a little skating on the uphill when my arms got tired.
Lots of people enjoying today’s grooming, and they were mostly classic skiers.
Bob… you need a few photos:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!ApWd3WZ3ra9Nhh6T9-NTWrID-Q5n
Guess I’ll have to check out the Cascade tomorrow, early.
PLPP, whiskey Jack to Lookout 10-12:30. Warm at summit. Loose snow trail on Lookout. On trip back to Boulton Bridge, water dripping from trees onto trail. Awesome day.
Thanks SkierBob.
Hi Bob. It was so nice meeting you today. I just wanted to let you know that even though things were pretty warm when we started up Pocaterra around 3 pm, and almost turned back to head for coffee, the wax and skis cooled off within 15 min or so and we were able to get up the hills without too many problems. The clouds became thicker and the day a bit cooler….and so we had some fun fast skiing. When we arrived at the junction of Lynx, Amr said he preferred to do a loop rather than to ski back the way we came…and so on we went on Lynx which had fun hills and then onto the skier set Woolley…which was fabulous! At this point the snow started to fall lightly…getting heavier by the minute and around 530 pm we arrived at the Visitor Center. From there we skied on to Meadow on the west side of the road, and down the big hill under the hydroline. By this time it was snowing quite heavily. It was great to arrive at the hut with a nice warm fire already burning and some wonderful folks to chat with. We ate our “lunch” and then headed home, on almost empty roads that were fine despite the snow starting to build up. I imagine if anyone is brave enough to head out in the morning the conditions would be fabulous. By the way, I mean fabulous in that there is nice snow….to me having perfect tracks is just a bonus (although I want to thank the grooming crews for doing a great job!) If I didn’t have an orienteering session in the morning and then helping a friend to move in the afternoon, I would head out skiing again tomorrow 🙂
Bob, It’s always a real pleasure to see you on the trails and thanks for this useful and unique blog. The xcountry community is lucky to have you! Have a good spring / summer whenever they come….
Thank you, Bob, for your tireless and dedicated support of our skiing community.
Thank you very much for creating and maintaining this site. I got back into skiing this winter and this site was such a great reference.
Thanks again Bob for another great season together on the tracks – for supporting such a community of like-spirited people coming together on the ski trails and here on the blog. Kudos! See you next year.
I imagine there’s enough good-quality snow to make it skiable but there won’t be much in the way of ski tracks. Goat Creek hasn’t had any grooming for quite a while, and the initial 7K to the Goat Creek bridge sees a lot of multi-use traffic. No thaw-freeze cycles, and some fresh snow has probably prevented the trail from becoming icy.
Hey, Parks Canada! They have cat :]
They have a cat!?!?
I agree with Alf, beautiful mid-winter ski conditions in West Bragg yesterday! We classic skid with blue/green rode multigrade the entire ski and it was perfect grip. Thank you Bill and Dan and GBCTA!
Please note that the volunteer groomers and equipment are running on fumes after 4 months of ski grooming. If you’ve enjoyed the skiing this winter, please remember to donate, or top-up your donation.
http://www.braggcreektrails.org/about/donate-now/
Nice to see you today Bob, along with surprisingly few others out enjoying “February in April”. Conditions are so amazingly good right now – well worth taking a day off this week and sneaking out. Mid winter snow quality, full season snowpack depth, cold air, cold snow, warm sun.
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
Dang missed this again, and we were even out there, but based out of the Visitor Center. Can’t make it next weekend so will have to wait a year I guess. Thanks for all the photos, posts and info.
Bob thanks for the cookie , water and juice ! nice to meet you and a few other faces to the trip reporters 🙂
Hi Bob. I’m taking a couple of never ever skiers out today and after visiting the Pocaterra area last weekend I really felt it is not flat enough for never evers. There are many hills and rolling terrain…unless someone can recommend something very flat in the are, it’s unlikely we will have a chance to meet. Thank you (and the groomers) for all their amazing hard work this season.
Since the demise of “Old Pocaterra,” there’s limited terrain for a brand new skier in PLPP. Wheeler is about the only trail without any significant hills but it will have a ton of new snow on top. The Rolly Road practice grid and trail leading to it were trackset last night but it’s only a short trail. Good luck wherever you go. -Bob
question 22 was important as was question 30.
gave me the chance to share my thoughts/suggestions/complaints for Peter Lougheed
about the grooming , signage ,trail rating info, nonworking web cam ,damage to tracks ,inconsistent grooming reports ,daytime grooming ,user fees etc
Might that include the Ribbon Creek trails? SkiTrails live grooming says they’re done for the season despite the fresh snowfall.
Thanks for orchestrating this and putting it out there bob! Been working a lot lately so looking forward to a ski with new non-sticky snow, hopefully some sun for a pleasant couch visit followed by some social activity. If we can’t fill the hut, could at least fill the couch beforehand. (-:
I saw a lynx on the snow shoe trail by the Mcdougall bridge a couple of weeks ago, but it ran off before I could take a photo.
Happy Birthday Bob!
The rumor on the trails is you will be spending your next winter in Florida.
Happy anniversary! Live long Skier Bob!
Thanks for the excellent full synopsis bob, and happy belated birthday! Time to start thinking of a skier bob web apprentice, maybe. (-:
Congratulations Skier Bob,
Keep up the great work! Your excellent blog is most appreciated!
YESTERDAY, March 20th was Skier Bob’s 65th birthday!!! I had to get out my calculator to ensure I had the numbers correct. I only noticed this big statistic in my birthday book this morning. Perhaps a nice way to show our respect for this Senior Citizen, whose blog we all so greatly appreciate, would be to donate $65 to his website. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!!
Congrat SKIER BOB,
Hope you will keep it up …Emry from Edmonton
Hi Bob. Great post and on a timely topic.
Guess you were going too fast to see the snow fleas in and around the classic tracks on Banff trail, towards the Rundle riverside end. A sure sign of spring skiing!
I used my Skintecs today, probably my best day ever on them in these conditions.
Hi Bob:
I find this time of the year snow ideal for skies so called all around like the Salomon S/lab yellow or the Fischer speedmax 812 which is rated for -10 to +5:
I have both and very happy with them but waxing is still the best choice in my opinion even if it requires some sophisticated sorcery to be spot on.
I recently went to see Geret at ” The grinders” In Canmore and tested these very skies for camber ans suitability, his electronic method of calibrating the skies is accurate and also allows you to optimize the position of the bindings, which is rather important, therefore just pay him a visit with your skies and find out what you are working with, you may be surprised of the outcome; not all the time a slippery ski is to be attributed to the wax, you may have inappropriate camber for the snow type, perhaps too stiff.
I have mentioned this before: I ave been using Rex powergrip wax for the glazing conditions and it works magnificently; it is used as a base like a klister and then cover it with stick wax, you need a heat gun to apply it and just e few drops are sufficient: On the Rex website there is a video that explains the dynamic of it.
Good luck: Paolo
Great topic Bob!
I think you’ve hit the pros and cons of each category.
We switched to Skintecs two years ago. The best benefit is that we can travel anywhere and get good kick and glide regardless of the snow or temps without a wax box.
Coming from a teaching/coaching/racing/ ski rep background, I’d much rather have a properly waxed ski. However as a buddy mine says these new skin skis are like comparing a rotary dial phone ?? to a smart phone ? when comparing waxless to skins skis. Like any ski they need to be matched to the skier and their weight. BTW if using skin skis in the wet we use a ski skin prep used for AT skins to prevent icing. Nikawax has one as does Swix.
That’s an interesting topic. It touches on why sometimes I’ll use my AT Skis in the spring on a valley bottom trail just because that’s the only pair I have skins for. I’d like to see more feedback on the Zero skis as well. For example, how about wet, but freshly fallen new snow? Sounds like it may be time to add some arrows to the quiver.
I also noted with interest your sanding recommendation was echoed in an old NY Times article found via Googletron, which seems to be a pretty good introduction to this type of ski:
“The grip area may not need waxing, but it does need occasional sanding. At Madshus, Groenaas demonstrated his technique by flourishing a large industrial rotary sander. But he allowed that most skiers would probably prefer do the job by hand.”
I think Skier Bob must be of the industrial sander camp withal…
Holy crap! I was reading/watching uTube with Kirsten and thinking, jeez, that’s a long way even in summer.
Well done..
The glitch is still there for me, and it’s done it for me on Firefox, IE, and Chrome.
Wow! What an amazing trip report. And those photos are fantastic. Especially the lynxes.
A quick measurement at skier bob headquarters in the morning would be great. (-: Probably head to Bragg creek tomorrow aft, get on telephone loop, and maybe more if grooming occurs in the morning. Good timing for a reset for sure. Will have to dig out the couch again too this weekend, ready for the next high pressure ridge, and just keep skiing into may…..
Congratulations, Nancy! May you have many more blue wax/blue bird days in the future.
What surprises me is that you people feel this is a fatbike only thing. Have you never ran into a gaggle of snowshoers with their packs and gear strewn all over the trail on the bottom of a down hill? More often than not I have to make evasive maneuvers skiing down from Taylor Lake to avoid a group picnic in the middle of the track, I almost expect it now. Have you never skied down Blueberry Hill and encountered people re-waxing their skis and taking a layer off, grabbing a snack or drink in the middle of the trail? On a busy day skiing down Blueberry can be like a slalom run skirting around other skiers doing all sorts of things in the middle of the trail. Its just the way it is. It seems like when some people get out of the city and onto a wilderness trail they feel like they are the only ones out there, even if you and I think it is busy. And, well, some people are just stupid.
My point is saying “fat bikes are dangerous” is wrong. The people riding them in that instance may have done something you felt was dangerous but there is no reason skiers and fat bikers can’t share wide groomed trail. I personally feel if any two winter activities are compatible it is xc skiing and fat biking. They travel at about the same speed and the fat tires leave less of a mark on groomed trails than skate skis. Hey, settle down, I’ve skate skied for 25 years, I know what sort of tracks I leave behind and I know in soft groomed snow a fat bike doesn’t leave near the rut. The biggest thing fat bikers have to learn is that skiers have the right of way on downhills. In mountain biking the uphill rider has the right of way and it would be incredibly poor form to the come barreling down a hill screaming “track” and expecting everyone to go diving into the bushes.
I get that the xc purists don’t want to share their domain, I get that they are unhappy that snowshoers, winter hikers and now fat bikers have infiltrated their once private and peaceful paradise. I get that they are unhappy that there are just more people period. I track ski a lot less than I used to, preferring to go backcountry and get away from today’s crowds.
Fat bikers aren’t a bunch of roving thugs like some on here like to make them out to be. They are your neighbours, your school teachers, your physio therapists, your restaurant servers and maybe even your friends. They just want to do the same thing as you, get out, enjoy the great outdoors, get some exercise and have fun.
Re Fat Biking: There is a Facebook page that I created about skiing the lesser known trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre. I’ve rejigged my intro to the Page.
“Initially, I formed this page to promote the lesser used trials at the Canmore Nordic Centre. In the back of my mind I wanted to promote the use of these lesser known trails to show the CNC they are are of value to XC skiers and still need to be groomed. In the past few years Fat biking has exploded. This is an activity of which I approve . Fat Biking opens up new areas to biking in winter. My fear is that we, as XC skiers, need to use it or lose it. There is potential of losing XC trails to the FatBiking community at CNC and everywhere else. This forum is one place to show support for XC trails at CNC.
Fat Biking is here to stay so don’t piss and moan about it just go out and ski. post here”….. and on Skier Bob..
We had our first confrontation with a group of Fat Bikers at Bragg Creek a few weeks ago. When we encountered them, we politely informed them that they were on the designated ski trail and later at a junction sign pointed out the designated ski and bike trails. We were rudely informed that until there is a bylaw enforcing the skier only access to the trails, they would not abide by the closure. They also informed us that they are members of a Mountain Biking Club, they pay their dues and this gives them the right to bike wherever they want to. Later we spoke a trail volunteer and he said that this reaction to our request was the normal reaction when they inform Fat Bikers that they are on the ski trails.
On Monday we skied into Chester Lake. We were the only skiers, but we encountered about 40 snowshoers and a number of hikers. Most were on snow shoe trails, but a percentage were on the ski trail. The trail was quite icy from the high number of users on the weekend and warm temperatures. I have been skiing in the backcountry for over 40 years and Chester Lake is one of my favourite trails. I have skied it at least once every year for the past four decades. The big change that I am seeing is the massive increase in usage of this and other trails in the Rockies, both winter and summer. Until 5 or 6 years ago, you hardly ever saw a snowshoer on the trail and now they often vastly out number the skiers. I also note a big increase in winter hikers, but this is likely due to the increasing number of people on the trails. Skiing out on Monday, the trail had softened up a lot, but a small number of the snowshoers and a few hikers had walked out the ski trail, chewing it up in the process. and making it difficult and less enjoyable to ski This is almost the new normal on trails in the Rockies now. I long for the days when there were only small numbers of skiers on the trails. Thankfully there were no Fat Bikers on the trail.
We are only going to see more user groups on the trails and I think as skiers we need to stand up for ourselves and have more trail restrictions on some trails and more designated skier only, snow shoe and other users trails. I have written letters in the past to the Provincial and National Parks, the Provincial and Federal Parks Ministers and I plan to write more letters in the future. Thankfully Snow Pogo Sticks haven’t caught on yet and I hope they never do.
Bob,
First, thank you for your great website and to those of you who post trip reports!
It’s really unfortunate to hear that some Fat bikers aren’t following trail etiquette and just common sense on a multi-use trail! The last time I was on Moraine Lake road skate skiing I stopped a couple (clearly tourists) walking on the tracks and politely “educated” them and they adjusted their route. I don’t know why Parks Canada cannot post a couple of larger, legible signs – perhaps with a diagram showing who does what, where at the start of these trails…..Great Divide too!
I wonder if such diagrams could be posted in bike shops/stands which rent out Fat bikes. Clearly there are people are who are just clueless, perhaps first timers needing clear direction – like perhaps this group that Chip ran into (b/c cyclists know not to leave bikes in middle of trail!)
Anyone good at photoshopping such a diagram and posting? 😉
Thanks all!
Jennifer
I remember the Mt Kidd “spa”! I assume that’s the $2 a visit basement hot tub in the village centre. Wonder what became of that?
How ironic that this post was up because I was also skiing at dog friendly West Bragg Creek on Sunday with my family. I gotta say though I am absolutely disgusted by the amount of dog owners that do not pick up their dog waste. Or respect the “dogs must be leashes” rule.
I know it’s not all dog owners but seriously what the hell is wrong with people. If you can’t be responsible for your dog, I’m thinking you probably shouldn’t have one.
I feel like other dog owners (the responsible ones) should be policing the irresponsible ones. I feel like it has zero effect when a non dog owner comments on these matters.
Despite the fecal count we had a great time. Thanks for the outlet.
We must have been on different trails because I was impressed with the fact I didn’t see any dog poop. -Bob
My wife an I skied
Mountain Road an Moose loop and thought that it was fantastic for that time of the year. We started around 10:30 to ski.
Hey Steve,
Fantastic picture! That could easily be on a poster for West Bragg Creek.
Lucky you !
Great skiing with you yesterday Bob–for that first bit–you are just too fast for us! We think that must be lucky day # 4. Skee ya later eh?
My son got married there last month. It was spectacular!
Photo glitch is gone 🙂
I was wondering if someone could tell me how long it is to ski to the lodge and back?
No tree debris anywhere thanks to all the new snow, and evident from the pictures in my Trip Report:
http://skierbob.ca/trip-reports-march-2018/#comment-738927
Given Helen’s Wax advice for today, I used her first choice VR 40. Bob chose her second choice Vintage Green… and still won the race!
It’s snowmageddon in WBC today.
The groomers have been out for 40 “man hours” today trying to get on top of this gift from Heaven. Work will continue tonight.
All 65 km of ski trails have been roller packed and the core trails have been track set but it continues to snow…
The Alberta Youth Championships will be running on West /Middle Crystal Line Saturday and Sunday so expect a big crowd but there will be plenty of awesome terrain for everyone to enjoy!
Groomer David
I see Sandy McNabb was groomed Mar 1st, we missed it by a day! And it was needed.
Love your site! I check it as well as trail reports for trail conditions. Thanks for keeping us cross country skiers updated!
Maybe block the user to avoid receiving unpleasant emails.
Bob, I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do and for all the goodness you have provided people by developing this site. You are truly a great person and there are many of us out there that are extremely upset by reading the disrespect exhibited by this individual. People will always have different opinions but there should always be mutual respect towards one another. Shame on this fellow. Just know you have the support of many and we are all wishing you good thoughts.
I was skiing there on that day too and saw the fat bikers and the off leash dog and felt it was dangerous too. I am a dog owner myself and an avid mountain biker. The trails had been groomed and track set for x-country skiing so I am sure it meant they were open for skiing.
I use your blog all the time Bob and I love it.
Sophie
You will not be able to reason with someone like this. He is just trying to get a reaction. You need to block/ ignore him. He has problems in his life and he’s taking it out on everyone else. Feel sorry for him, but don’t let him get to you. Your website is great! Stick with the skiing information.
I knew it was you Bob (we talked a bit at the end of the ski day) :-)! It was our first time there, but we truly enjoyed the day. Great report! Love your site! Very informative! For newbies like us… fantastic! Thank you.
I enjoyed talking with you! -Bob
What do I make of it? I would say he is still really angry with you. And I think you’re stirring the pot. It looks like you want your readers to support you, hate this guy, and if they don’t, you get angry at differing opinions. You did ask us what we thought.
Three months latter and still ….this trespassing fat biker with feelings of self entitled for things that don’t belong to him…..is STILL at it ….needing something to hate for all the short comings in life….dude pull it together… for yourself and if you seriously want to be an ambassador to promote your sport
Corey Kruchkowski is right about one thing: he did play semi-pro hockey for exactly one season, as he’s “featured” on a website called “dropyourgloves.com”, which may partly explain his mental state.
Bob, thank you so very much for all you do! I’m so very sorry that you are a target for such bad behaviour! Please keep doing what you do so wonderfully!
Bob, I am so sorry you’ve been dealing with this horrible behaviour. It seems to be part of a continuum of bad behaviour we see online these days. Rotten to have to put up with this.
In all seriousness though, I wonder why not put up another category on Trip Reports? Call it Fat Biking. You could try it for a period and if it fails, then pull it. I realize this is more work for you, but as you know we’re all part of the same outdoor loving club.
Has anyone suggested this? I’ve read quite a bit of the posts on this topic, but definitely not all.
Lol.. did this Corey guy even graduate from elementary school? How childish and uneducated. Could it be an imposter trying to create some drama? In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Bob publicising the email if it really is Corey. At least if something really happens to Bob on the coming weekend we know whose door to knock. Also, the other benefit is if it’s an imposter, the real Corey (if he sees this blog) will be able to defend himself and clear his name.
Anyway I am amazed an adult would actually behave like that. Definitely mentally retarded.
“…they dispute not in order to find or even to seek truth, but for victory, and to appear the more learned and strenuous upholders of a contrary opinion…” (Giordano Bruno)
Hi Bob and Corey. I have been an avid cross-country skier, snowshoer, hiker, and mountain biker in this area for countless years. I have always been very appreciative of individuals such as Bob who dedicate their personal time to sharing knowledge and conditions of our trails, and to people like Corey who dedicate their personal time to volunteering and engaging people with our trail systems who may not otherwise have the means.
Have we forgotten the reason why we are all here? We all have a commonality: our passion and stewardship of an incredible network of trails. It is disappointing to see communities of people turned against each other rather simple miscommunications. These continual arguments and back-and-forth accusations are growing tiresome and rather embarrassing for our community.
May I suggest that we put an end to the scathing accusations, finger-pointing, and harsh words? Let us put our egos aside and recognize that reposting private email conversations is slanderous and can be damaging to reputations. Please keep private messages private. Things are getting out of hand. An individual made an erroneous decision, and has admitted to it. Let us forgive.
At the end of the day, we can agree from now on to do our due diligence to follow mandated trail designations. I’m sure all followers of this blog will be grateful to see an end to this. Let’s shake off our sour feelings and enjoy the this beautiful place together.
Anything on a public FB page can be reported, but I see it was an e-mail, too bad.
Curious if the second IP is from the Calgary Cycle shop…anyway to find out?
Three ways to find an IP address:
1. Ask them what it is
2. If the shop provides internet access to the public, you can also look to see what the IP address is.
3. If someone is posting defamatory or threatening comments, it’s possible to get a court order if you can convince a judge it is warranted. We’re not there yet, and hopefully won’t ever be. -Bob
I checked the Alberta Parks website for PLPP and it definitely is no fat biking period. Not sure what the not officially open for XC reference is supposed to mean as certainly doesn’t vindicate his actions. Fortunately this is not the shared opinion of the majority of fat bikers as per the Ride The Rocks Facebook entries.
michael
Just received this email from a reader. Police won’t do anything until a crime is committed. I thought the best protection was simply to post his email and make it public. I appreciate the concern.
Hi Bob,
I just read your post about comments from Cory and more comments from the same IP address. I would like to encourage you to file a police report. This Cory person doesn’t sound like a reasonable character, and is bullying you online well after initial incident. I’m glad you posted it on your website for all to see but I think I would take it a step further and speak with the police. His email is concerning to me that he “hope you meet again.” For him to be using his energy into harassing you is not something normal people do.
I’m sorry that this cyber bullying is occurring. I read your posts on the incident itself and my husband and I both thought you were levelheaded and fair, just and honest.
Hey Bob
I would be inclined to talk to the police. Just to understand what is and is not “Cyber Bullying”.
Stay strong. The people that matter stand with you.
Thanks. Now that he knows it’s public, I wouldn’t expect him to do anything crazy. If, on the rare possibility that he’s ready to go over the edge, there’s nothing anyone can do about it. -Bob
Hello Bob, missed seeing you on the trails this year! I want you to know how much we enjoy having your blog to read on a daily basis. We use the information that you and others provide on this site when we are skiing in the area. In light of this most recent disturbing blog, sometimes it is just best to ignore those who have obvious other issues. Thanks for sticking up for the cross country skiers and the trails. If these guys I believe by the IP address one of the same wish to be on these PLPP trails they should take up cross country skiing. I never saw skate skiing a PLPP Hang in their Bob don’t let this get to you!
Joanne & Allan from Regina
Hey Bob. I was there that day too and nearly hit them. If Cory thinks he’s right about trail closures, the fat biking page for Kananasksis (https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/activities-events/winter-activities/fat-biking/) describes PLPP as “Currently NO TRAILS approved for fat biking” whereas for other trails, closure dates are stated such as “Stoney Trail (Seasonal closure: April 15-June 15)” or for Bow Valley Wildlife Prov. Park: “Prohibited from December 1 to June 15 (including all trails above EKG East – Killer Bees, Ziggy’s, Nectar Noodle, The Backdoor, The Albertan) ” and “Restricted to designated trails only from June 16 to November 30”.
I see no dates limiting when fat biking is allowed or disallowed in PLPP
It was a great day out at PLPP yesterday with the silky smooth snow. Love your picture of our Jackrabbits! They were awesome yesterday.
Bob, You haven’t had your usual overnight outings to Emerald Lake Lodge and Nipika. I am off to Nipika tomorrow with 5 other women, was hoping to see a posting about it but n