tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15059535032142703372024-02-07T18:51:55.264-07:00Syncline Cross Country Ski AreaSCaT - Syncline Castle Trails Association, is a group of hikers and X-country skiers. As a group we maintain the existing 15 km of beginner to intermediate trails at the Syncline-Castle Cross-Country Ski Area. With membership contributions (as well as grants), both financial and sweat, we maintain the trails.Ms. Fischbuchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09819597186303073946noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-30039680258428840882016-01-25T22:01:00.001-07:002016-01-25T22:01:52.360-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">SCAT trails just got 3-4 of new snow in the last 2 days - should be a great</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">covering.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">On Friday - 4 of us x-c skied to Castle Falls from the West Castle road when</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">it was so warm out. The snow was very wet but with the no wax skis we had no</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">problems.</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-14715018836981912082015-12-26T22:37:00.001-07:002015-12-26T22:37:18.913-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Skiing is just fine on the Syncline Trails, but there is a log across the trail between junctions 12 to 13. It's about half way up the hill after you leave jnctn 12 on the way to 13. Not so bad if you're going up, but it's a slightly awkward surprise if you're going downhill, coming the other way. We are working on clearing it ASAP.</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-75579353612264760312015-12-21T20:21:00.000-07:002015-12-21T20:21:58.180-07:00<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Packed the Syncline Cross-Country Trails for the first time this 2015-2016 season. There is actually a reasonable amount of snow out there with the Lake Loop being nicest. Must have got some recent snow. Done are the truck box, , racers loop, backlink,upper racers, mine prop, lake loop,front link and chinook. Left lower river, meadow and roller coaster. There are no slippery sections. Just nice snow. With 2 inches more it should be excellent. </span></div>
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I understand skiing at Beauvais Lake Provincial Park is also very good.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-65632654405534569562015-12-17T21:28:00.001-07:002015-12-17T21:28:15.323-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Snow has been scant on the Syncline Cross-Country trails so far this winter season, and a friend tried the Lake Loop on trails, this morning, said it was very enjoyable, but still needs another 15-20 cms to make packing the trails worthwhile.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Keep your fingers crossed</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-69690967946321937932015-03-05T21:26:00.004-07:002015-03-05T21:26:39.701-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">This report is a little old and with this warming weather, therefore, not quite as accurate anymore, but a friend was out skiing the Syncline Cross-Country trails on Tuesday and found them enjoyable, 6-10 inches in the open, but very little under the trees.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">And from Chinook-Allison a report from another skiing friend - from yesterday: Two days ago (Tuesday), Gary reported having a great ski on the recently packed trails at Allison-Chinook. I went this morning (Thursday) on the 4.8 km of Tecumseh back trails trails of Allison with Sassy and had a good ski on un-packed, cold, light snow. I skied a bit cautiously; if you would be a little out of control, you might find the occasional protruding rock somewhat troublesome. Sassy had a great time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">And I was out in Wateron yesterday, skiing up onto Forum Ridge and the conditions were very acceptable, not as much snow as you would expect this time of year, but more than enough for a good ski.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Overall though, I wouldn't be surprised if the season is ends all too soon.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-10892400105996580832015-02-27T19:31:00.001-07:002015-02-27T19:31:16.900-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Skied Beauvais Lake trails today and I have to say they are in good condition. Packed, track set for one. Some old snow under the new.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Recommend it if you need a hit of skiing or snowshoeing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Some new snow on the Syncline X-C Trails, and actually skiable/snowshoeable, but with care - you'll probably want to sidestep down hill.<br />No base underneath.</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-16820123739582689562015-01-28T21:02:00.001-07:002015-01-28T21:02:11.246-07:00<br />
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I walked some of the Syncline trails today. The conditions weren't particularly great for a hike; they certainly weren't any good for a ski or snowshoe. Deeper in and higher up the system, conditions might be passable but I didn't venture that far, so it's only a guess.</div>
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The only cure is snow and a fair amount of that.</div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-18231248589665871192015-01-15T21:03:00.000-07:002015-01-15T21:03:01.478-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was out skiing on the Syncline trails yesterday and they are holding up pretty well. Still a good base, but no new snow in a while, so they are hard packed. Good for skiing; I'm not so sure about snowshoeing.</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-18929701426945417632015-01-08T21:15:00.002-07:002015-01-08T21:15:18.017-07:003-4 inches of new snow fell over the last few days, over a decent but still wanting base at the Syncline Cross-Country trails. Nevertheless, the skiing was quite nice. The trails will be packed tomorrow.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-3622248686500638962014-12-30T20:49:00.001-07:002014-12-30T20:49:59.166-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">After about 8" (20 cm) of new snow last Sunday, the Syncline trails were packed and cleared of deadfall today. Parking lots are clean.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">So the skiing should be best conditions of the season so far.</span>Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-3058492489606134232014-12-26T08:57:00.003-07:002014-12-26T08:57:51.889-07:00<br />
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Friends were out yesterday on the Syncline trails and say they were very good: 2-3 inches of new snow on top of some hard pack. And since then we've had another 4 inches of powder.<br />So, take advantage of these sunny days, before the wind blows and try out your new snowshoes and skis.</div>
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Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-4635529291560495682014-12-15T20:23:00.001-07:002014-12-15T20:23:45.782-07:00A couple of weeks ago the skies gave the Syncline trails more than two feet of snow. A week later and the chinook hit and by this last weekend all we had left on the trails was a few inches of crust. BUT, then, on Friday night it snowed a couple of inches and the ski yesterday, December 14, was very good and quite fast (be careful on the downhill!). Still not enough snow for snowshoeing. Conditions will deteriorate with a lot of use or lack of snow, but for the next while they should be good.<br />
P.S. the trails have been designated by the Alberta Government to become a provincial park, though when this will actually happen is unknown.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-68766661114087327842014-02-07T19:36:00.002-07:002014-02-07T19:36:17.530-07:00<br />
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I haven't any updated reports on the Syncline X-C trails, but I expect they are in decent shape, though no new snow from the last report.</div>
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On the other hand, good news from a member about Beauvais:<br /><div class="AppleOriginalContents">
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i just chattted with CarolLee and she said the trails at Beauvais were being packed and even track set today!<br />i had only found one small trail that had been packed long long ago this season…. so this will be very nice!</div>
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Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-65110275125204739632014-01-30T22:20:00.001-07:002014-01-30T22:20:22.443-07:00A couple of inches (5 cm) of new snow over the last 24 hours at the Syncline X-C trails, so the skiing should be good for a little whileDave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-41293838914530248982014-01-24T23:23:00.002-07:002014-01-24T23:23:49.615-07:00<br />
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I went out on the River Loop yesterday and with the fresh snow it was really</blockquote>
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quite good. I used my classic skis with blue wax and even though it was</blockquote>
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around +1, I had no problems.</blockquote>
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I skied to the ski hill on the back trail and found that on the un-skied</blockquote>
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area it was the best snow/no ice. Yes there was barely any snow under some</blockquote>
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of the big trees 1/2 way to the hill by the river. There are some big moose</blockquote>
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tracks punched along the trail and lots of coyote tracks as well. Either</blockquote>
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wolf or cat tracks too. As this is a wildlife corridor, it is great to see</blockquote>
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the wildlife using this route. Closer to the ski hill there are the usual</blockquote>
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springs open on the trail - some I could ski over as there was a snow bridge</blockquote>
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but the last ones I took my skis off and walked in the water and carried on.</blockquote>
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It took me 2 3/4 hrs. pretty much straight skiing.... W</blockquote>
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Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-1813301255769249992014-01-19T09:32:00.001-07:002014-01-19T09:32:36.894-07:00<br />
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X-C skiing on the Syncline trails is not recommended. There's lots of snow, but it's old and it's hard-packed, fast and tricky, difficult going downhill.<br />We need snow.</div>
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Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-76414170605002601772014-01-04T19:58:00.002-07:002014-01-04T19:58:50.083-07:00<br />
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I've learned that there is from 6-8 inches of new snow on the Syncline Trails, the parking lots have been cleared, and tomorrow, Sunday, the trails will be packed - starting mid-morning if all goes well.</div>
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Enjoy yourselves.</div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-63971096945084501032013-12-27T21:02:00.000-07:002013-12-27T21:02:21.846-07:00Not 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.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-66457767992502118102013-12-10T22:51:00.002-07:002013-12-10T22:51:53.505-07:00I 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.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-62314864738915135642013-12-10T22:49:00.001-07:002013-12-10T22:49:24.057-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">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.</span><br />
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Also, the parking lots are cleared and easy to get in and out of.</div>
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Have fun.</div>
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Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-29386381106981318292013-12-05T10:55:00.001-07:002013-12-05T10:55:46.675-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">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.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">If anybody knows of good skiing in the region, including B.C., pls let me know and I'll pass it on.</span></div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-11649334926512076882013-11-28T20:56:00.002-07:002013-11-28T20:56:23.296-07:00<br />
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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).</div>
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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. </div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-47122903090275133872013-11-21T19:34:00.000-07:002013-11-21T19:34:16.443-07:00<br />
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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.</div>
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Don't forget the trail map available on the post of January, 2013.</div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-29399855903943494222013-11-07T19:38:00.001-07:002013-11-07T19:38:27.053-07:00We 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.Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1505953503214270337.post-54416208867270227932013-03-23T08:51:00.002-06:002013-03-23T08:51:35.620-06:00New snow!<br />
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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).</div>
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So, we've called out the packer and he should be working it today, Saturday. This on top of a deteriorating base. </div>
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Hopefully, this will give us more days of X-C skiing in the season.</div>
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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.</div>
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Happy Trails</div>
Dave Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471108037618977000noreply@blogger.com0