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

Six inches of new snow on the Syncline Trails last weekend. But not over much of a base. Those cold temperatures are gone for a while, so it might be worth an outing now.

Out yesterday and looked at the Syncline Cross-Country trails, but there's still not enough snow, unless you're using your rock skis.
However, we kept driving to Castle Mountain Resort and though they don't have quite enough to open for alpine skiing, there was plenty in the valley bottom for cross-country. So, we skied up the valley to the first big opening, on snowmobile tracks, and put up with a little bit of snowmobile traffic.

We went out 3 weeks ago and it was great skiing but now we need snow again.
Our group has been out 3 times to clear the trails and put up signs. More signs have been ordered to replace old or missing signs.
New trail maps are being printed off and ready in a couple weeks – coming from a member in Medicine Hat. We will have them in the brochure box at the main parking lot and at the Beaver Mines store, just west of Pincher Creek on the way to the Syncline X-C trails.
With enough new snow, we'll be packing the trails throughout the winter.
Pray for snow.

There's now very good snow out on the Syncline Trails and more falling as I write. The trails will be packed tomorrow, Saturday.

Have fun

Alas, the ski season might well be over on the Syncline trails. I was out on Sunday last and there's close to no snow under the evergreen trees, sometimes a little ice. The rest of the system had good coverage, though if it rained there much in the last few days it too might be gone.
I understand the Chinook Allison trails are still decent and, of course, going high (like into Waterton's Cameron Lake) you'll find good snow too.

I managed to wangle the day off today and got out on the Syncline Trails this afternoon - after a 45 minute long blizzard dropped snow nearby.

Strangely, though about 3" had fallen in Beaver Mines, only half that at the Trails. Nevertheless, the skiing was very good: that new snow over a well established base. It should be well worth your effort to get out.

Not too bad

Out skiing on the Syncline Trails this afternoon, and it wasn't too bad: a solid base with an inch and a half of new snow on top. A little skimpy under a thick overhang of conifers, the downhill sections might get skied out too soon, but with caution they should be alright.

Have fun.

Let's all take a moment to mark the passing of a friend.

Good Snow is gone.

I have to admit I haven't been out to the Syncline Trails, but it rained in the morning at the ski hill today, according to a friend, and he said the snow was gone from the parking lot. I don't expect there's anything decent to ski on at the Trails, nor will there be until we get New Snow.

Out skiing today on the Syncline Cross-Country Trails. A good base of packed snow, but with the warm weather it's a little fast and nobbly. Another 10 cm of snow and it would be very good.

I managed to get out Saturday just before dark. Called it wrong for the wax, but limped around one loop anyway. And I can say, the ski season has begun. Not much of a base, but usually enough. The new snow adequately covers any ice or bare spots. I'm anticipating the weather forecast will be accurate and will drop another several centimetres in the valley through the week. Then it will be all that much better. If enough snow does fall, we're hoping to get a packing done before the weekend. Maybe it will warm up by then too.

Sorry for being so long in giving an update on conditions at the Syncline Cross-Country Trails, but the situation is dismal and has been for quite a while.

We need more snow.

With the 2011/12 ski season soon upon us, SCaT has decided on three dates for trail maintenance of the Syncline Cross-Country Trail system.

Here they are:

Saturday, October 22
Sunday, October 30
Saturday, November 12

Meet at the regular place, i.e. the west parking lot of the Syncline Cross-Country Trails, half way between Beaver Mines and the Castle Mountain Resort, at 10 a.m. on the two Saturdays, and at 1p.m. on the Sunday. Bring saws, loppers, etc. Plan to spend four hours clearing, and one extra hour for lunch on the Saturdays, so finish at 3pm. Plan to spend three hours clearing on the Sunday, so finish at 4pm.

We welcome any and all chain saws. We also found last year that cruising around the trails on a mountain bike makes the work go far faster, so if you have one you could bring that too, along with any bob, or trailer, to pull behind and carry tools or gear. Branch loppers are useful, hammers and mauls too.

It would be modestly helpful if all who are coming would phone Jay Allen (628-3048), for the first two, or Dave McNeill (at 627-3476) for the third, ahead of time. It isn't necessary but avoids waiting around in the parking lot.

I was out Sunday morning on the Syncline trails. Still lots of snow and the base is holding. Also, you can ski pretty well anywhere if you're inclined to explore.

The snow should stay for a while yet (especially if it snows as forecast overnight Wednesday!)

A quick little announcement of our annual general meeting. We'll hold it Saturday, May 7, starting 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a potluck supper and then a photo presentation of some pretty fun ski pictures taken by Edwin Knox who's done a lot of skiing in southern Alberta, both back country and cross-country. He's an excellent photographer also.

The meeting will be held at a private residence in Pincher Creek, at SCaT Director David Green's house.

Here is the address and directions on how to get there (plus a phone number if you're hopelessly lost!):

How to get to 724 Dundas Street, Pincher Creek.

Coming into town from the north: turn in to the left just beyond the Pharmasave Pharmacy as if you were going to the hospital (but don’t go there). Follow the road south-bound past the hospital (on Bev McLaughlin Drive), then take the first right onto Blairmore Street. Follow Blairmore to the end and then follow it as it swings south. Go one block…and there it is….724 Dundas Street….white house, black roof, cedar-sided kiln shed in the driveway.

Coming from downtown: turn off Main Street onto Hewetson Avenue (at the Legion intersection). Proceed north to Frederick Street (at the bottom of the hill) and turn right. Go one block east and turn left on Albert Avenue. Go one block north to Dundas Street, and turn left. Proceed almost to the top of the hill. You will see 724 perched on the edge of the hill on your left…..white house, black roof, cedar-sided kiln shed in the driveway. Either pull into the driveway or park on the street.

If lost, call 627-4831.

At the Syncline Cross-Country Trails after lunch today:

the temperature was a bit above freezing, and it was sunny. In the shade the snow was hard and fast on the trails, in the sun the snow had just softened up enough to give a little grip and you could swing along, very nice. In fact, I tested some off-track skiing and the conditions were excellent; the snow has settled and I didn't break through except in one spot, an open slope that faced south. So, if you have any areas you've been dying to see, but didn't have a packed trail to it, now's the time to go truly cross-country and get there.

(On another note, I was in Waterton Park, Cameron Lake, on Sunday with friends and the skiing was very good. Though the temps were above freezing, the snow temperature seemed below 0, powder snow and lots of it, and you could move all over.)

Lots of snow left everywhere.

Dave