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

An incredible winter. I was out on the Syncline Trails on Saturday on 10 to 15 cm of new snow (over trails packed a week earlier), then from Sunday evening through til tonight another 25 cm. Of course, it may all blow away by the weekend. Don't forget there's a trail up by Castle Mountain Resort being packed, to be found on the east side of the river, running north for about 2 km. We're coming close to the end of our annual budget, so I'm not sure whether all this new snow will be packed this time round or not.

This also a reminder that there will be a guided outing on the Syncline Cross-Country trails this coming Saturday, the 5th. Meet at the southwest parking lot at 10:30 a.m., bring a lunch and something hot to drink. We'll poll the group to see who is familiar with what on the trails and lead to the least traveled areas. And please remember this is a guided tour, not a cross-country ski lesson.
Hope we see you and friends there this weekend.

Unfortunately, last Saturday's rain then overnight freeze has made low level skiing, including those at the Syncline Cross-Country Trails, crusty and/or fast. Hopefully, this Saturday, the 19th, we'll have the packer out smoothing things down, getting rid of the crust. But without new snow it'll be fast.
You might try higher altitude locles, like in Waterton, or the well-groomed trails at Chinook-Allison.
Dave

From Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, the Syncline Cross Country trails received 12 to 15 inches (30 - 38 cm). This on top of a very good base, hardened a week earlier by warm weather, including a little rain, then a hard freeze. The trails were machine packed on Saturday while it was snowing and I understand they are good for skiing and snowshoeing.

Today on the Syncline Trails: after last Sunday's rain and recent warm weather, then freezing, the trails are pretty crusted up. Fast on the downhill.
Perhaps there's better snow at higher ground.

We were on the Beauvais Lake Provincial Park trails this afternoon. The conditions were perfect AND the Park staff has finally packed almost all the trails. Well worth the trip.

Snowing on this Saturday afternoon, January 8. We've got about 4 inches (10 cm), and it's still coming.
I was out Thursday at the Syncline Cross-Country trails. Conditions then were very slidy and I had trouble with just red wax on. Companions were on fish scale skis and it was a breeze.
With this new snow on top of a very good base, the skiing in this area ought to be worthwhile.

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.