Not surprising, but still disappointing, with all this warm weather the cross-country ski trails are very fast and icy, very tricky to ski. I'd look for somewhere else to go until we get new snow.

I should also mention that the latest edition of National Geographic has as its front page story the beginnings of skiing. I haven't read it, but it looks interesting.

The Syncline trails are in very good condition. There is some dense snow in the tracks that were exposed to the wind, but otherwise there's about an inch of new snow on top of packed trails.

Also, the parking lots are cleared and easy to get in and out of.

Have fun.

All the Syncline trails are groomed including the truck box. Only a few deadfall encountered and removed. There was a ton of snow (about 18") and conditions should be excellent. The parking lot is not plowed and is impassable. However the main road is plowed wide enough one can park on the edge. We're crossing our fingers the MD of PC will be out before the weekend to plow the 2 parking lots.

If anybody knows of good skiing in the region, including B.C., pls let me know and I'll pass it on.

Conditions on the Syncline X-C trails aren't particularly glowing: they are fast and slippery (and I expect snow levels diminished from my last report a week ago).

On the other hand, in Waterton National Park, news that they've been packing the trail from Little Prairie to Cameron Lake and the road up to Little Prairie will open Saturday, November 30. 

About 8" of snow in Beaver Mines yesterday, so we called out the packer and all the Syncline X-C trails were packed today, deadfall cleared away and they're ready for your skis to whisper by or your snowshoes to tramp on through.

Don't forget the trail map available on the post of January, 2013.

We might be pushing the season a bit, but we machine-packed the Syncline trails yesterday - that's on top of two snowfalls over the previous 10 or so days. Skiers have already been out and returned with positive reports. (Sadly, I hear, today it rained a bit.) The packing follows two days of clearing the trails of deadfall, mowing down the brush with our new tow-along brusher and fixing up the signage (though more needs to be done). Have fun.

New snow!

Lots of snow overnight Thursday-Friday: 6" at Beaver Mines and Pincher Creek, and it seems to have climbed to significantly more at CMR (28 cm).

So, we've called out the packer and he should be working it today, Saturday. This on top of a deteriorating base. 

Hopefully, this will give us more days of X-C skiing in the season.

Don't forget you can see and print the Syncline X-C Trails skiing/hiking map: just look for the link on the right hand side of these postings, a little ways down from the top.

Happy Trails

As of Sunday, March 10 - Fair conditions, firm underneath with places with little snow especially under the trees, some place with 2 inches of snow....

We skied up the River Loop and then did the Lake Loop (total of 7.06 km).  We left the parking lot at 10:30 and the day had already started to warm up.  Going in was fine as long as your skis stayed on the snowmobile track.  We saw very large cougar tracks, maybe a day old along the River Loop.  The snow was soft.  My friend used a red 'bubble-gum' wax and I used a klister (10 to -3 range).  Both worked well.  However, glide was intermittent through sunny and shady areas.  The Lake Loop had some bare patches that we had to walk through and the snow along the lake was very soft (our dog was sinking to his belly when he ventured away from the ski tracks).  At one point, it appeared that there had been a moose fight.....lots of deep randomly scattered tracks in a tight patch (we concurred that this time of year they might have been enjoying recreational sex :) We got back to the parking lot at 1:00 

 

The folks at the Beaver Mines store showed me a printout from an internet weather channel and it would appear that we could get significant snow in the coming week. 

Today, Sunday, starts sunny and cool. Some new snow at Castle Mountain apparently, but not likely at the Syncline Trails. It will likely be crusty for the first couple of hours.

Don't forget a trail map posted on this blog on January 26, 2013.

The Syncline Trails are quite good, a decent base with about three inches of new snow on top - now skied over somewhat.

Unfortunately, our trail packer is on a two week holiday. We are working on finding a substitute while he's gone, but if it snows lots in the next two weeks, it'll be the winter outdoor version of aquasize, i.e. snowasize.

Happy trails.

Regardless of how little it has snowed outside the mountains, our scouts say the skiing is very good on the Syncline X-C trails, about 4 inches of new snow over the last couple of days.
We've posted a trail map of the ski area today, so you can print and carry it as you go.

Syncline X- Country Ski Trail map

SCaT Map by cfischbuch

though the trails at Syncline could use more snow, apparently the skiing and snowshoeing are still quite acceptable.