It was excellent skiing today. It was still snowing as we skied through about 5 inches (about 12 cm) of new snow at the Syncline X-C Trails. That was on top of a packed base. No new packing, but it doesn't need it. Easy to drive into the parking lot, too. We did the Lake Loop, but I imagine anywhere was equally skiable. Have fun.

Skiers out yesterday, December 11, on the Syncline Cross-Country trails said they had a great ski. Two inches of new powder on top of a packed and substantial base. (A foot of new powder up the West Castle Valley at Castle Mountain Resort base, apparently). Get out soon that powder will disappear!

I was out on Saturday and Sunday with Judy. On Saturday, we broke trail to the Lake
bench (Lake Loop) and had lunch. (2.5 hours - round trip) Anywhere it was
open, we had snow over our knees!!! Snowshoers where also breaking trail on
the River Loop.
Sunday we were overly ambitious and took on the Truck Box loop via the
north parking lot to #10, 12, 13 and beyond to the Truck Box and we put up
more flagging as with the snow it is hard to see the trail. We came out at the lake and headed back on the Lake Loop #7, 6, 5, and Miners trial. (4.5hours) Other x-c skiers broke
trail as well and enjoyed what was already packed.
With the -18C weather it was border line keeping our toes and fingers warm.
It helped changing mitts and gloves.
There were more deer and moose tracks over by the truck box and we saw what
I would say were a wolf or a large cat, leaping/bounding impressions in the
snow. Both days.
As we had had no wind, the snow was still hanging on in the tree limbs,
making a beautiful outing.

Wendy

A reminder that it would be grand to have volunteers come out to a work day this upcoming Saturday to clear some of the trails for the upcoming ski season. We'll also be working on improving the signage, and depending on how many make it out, we've got a bench to build and place.
We were close to a dozen two weeks ago and got lots done on a beautiful day.
Meet at the main parking lot, bring a lunch, handsaws, pruners, chainsaws. Last time a couple came out on bikes and really completed a lot of work, so bring your bikes if you'd like.

Fall Trail Maintenance Schedule

Please mark on your calendars our Fall 2010 trail maintenance schedule:

Saturday October 30th
Saturday November 13th
Saturday November 27th
Saturday December 4th

We'll meet at the main Syncline parking lot at 10 a.m., for deadfall clearing, brushing, hopefully, with our new brusher and erecting of alternate trail signs. Plan to bring hand saws, chain saws, heavy duty clippers and lunch. Pack your skiis or snowshoes for the December work bee.

Look forward to seeing some of you on the 30th,

We hope many of you cross-country travellers will come to the annual general meeting for the Syncline Castle Trails Association.

It's being held Saturday, April 24, at 2:30 p.m. at the Beaver Mines Community Park, west of Pincher Creek, Alberta, about 20 km. 

Lots to talk about.

The skiing on the Syncline Trails is done, I'm afraid, unless we get a heck of a snow fall.

D

This from a friend who was out in the West Castle Valley, downstream from the old minimum security camp and Castle Mountain Resort, on February 25: 

today three of us skied to Castle River Falls today via the cattle corrals on the West Castle Road.  The
conditions where pretty good considering the lack of snow...we only had to
walk over dirt a couple of times and on the grass a few times.  It was fun
to go together and have lunch at the falls.  We walked out onto the beaver
dam ponds and over to the renewed dam.  If you are considering this trip we
took 4 hours round trip with breaks, chats and lunch.  A quick trip could be
done in 2.5 - 3 hours.

Otherwise, I think the snow is going fast on the trails, turns to slush by late morning, and lots of bare patches. We need snow.

Still skiing

Out skiing today on the Syncline Trails and though they definitely could use more snow, it’s still worth a ski. Bare in spots, where there’s a full canopy of tree branches overhead. Fast on the downhill. And there’s been a big troop of snowshoers out and about.

I was down in Waterton Park on Sunday, up the Akamina Parkway and drove as far as the road is open, then skied into Wall Lake. Much better snow there as you would imagine, avalanche conditions are generally favourable, but check it out at avalanche.ca before you go; conditions can change. I talked to a friend who had been out on Forum Ridge (on the way to Wall Lake) a few days earlier and he said the snow was crusty.

Lots of snow on the Syncline Trails, and they have now been packed a couple of times up to New Year's Eve. New snow since. It should be super.

We have finally found a good arrangement for getting the trails packed, though we won't have the resources (nor do we think it's the best thing to do) to pack after every snowfall. It's likely we'll groom those trails after 20-25 cm, but it's also budget dependent.

A few of us were also skiing down the Dipper Trail in Waterton last weekend (heads east from Little Prairie). That is a sweet trail.

Have fun.