Got Snow? Winter Sports 2022-23

SteveR

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
876
I wasn't too thrilled, after returning home from our October desert trip to find 10 cm of wet snow blanketing our corner of the city. That melted quickly though, and we were able to squeeze in a few final bike rides before winter hit again on Tuesday. This time it looks like we are in it for real, with more snow on the way and cold temperatures too. With close to 30 cm (that's a foot in American!) falling in the foothills, our local volunteer trail crews were able to get going on prepping the xc ski trails, and we took advantage:
P1000503-copy-2.jpg
The early season grooming process begins with passes on snowmobile only to start compacting a base.
P1000510-copy-2.jpg
Then after a bit of time to set up, towing rollers to smooth and further compact the light new snow.
P1000500-copy-2.jpg
Creating this!
P1000507-copy-2.jpg
A good first ski for this early in November!
Yesterday- back out with the whole family this time:
P1000516-copy-2.jpg
Heading west out from the trailhead.
P1000517-copy-2.jpg
Early season conditions, but nonetheless a great start to our ski season! If the forecast holds, it's going to be full-on in a weeks time.
 
Looks fantastic! Having only gotten into XC skiing last winter, I'm itching to get back out this year.
 
Wonderful! You've got me pumped to get back on my XCD setup this season. We've got snow on the way, but we'll see if it results in enough to get the XC season started in earnest.
 
A recap of the last 10 days:
P1000532-copy-2.jpg
Making our own xc tracks after a nice dump of snow.
P1000536-copy-2.jpg
A ski tour from our back door in a nearby park, on a frigid afternoon.
P1000535-copy-2.jpg
Cross country telemark turns on a hill near home.
P1000539-copy-2.jpg
First backcountry ski of the season, with great snow in a familiar setting.
P1000568-copy-2.jpg
A social day out with a group of friends.
P1000615-copy-2.jpg
Just the three of us on a perfect afternoon yesterday. After a great early start to the ski season, we are into a bit of a drought for the next while. Let it snow!
 
A solo trip from last week, as Jo was feeling under the weather for several days after getting a flu shot, which may or may not have been co-incidental, as we had been hanging out with snotty-nosed grandchildren a few days prior. Anyway, with the easy and quick "back door" shortcut to the Kananaskis Fire Lookout about to end for the winter as the highway over Highwood Pass closes- it was too good a day to pass up. P1000623-copy-2.jpg
Other than the short "back door" trail- my 17 km. route followed the cross country trail system. It's been busy here, with skiers tracking up recent new snow over a sometimes rugged snowmobile packed base.
P1000631-copy-2.jpg
Meadows (actually swamp in summer!) after climbing to a low pass.
P1000637-copy-2.jpg
Views to the west along the way.
P1000638-copy-2.jpg
After tagging Elk Pass on the Alberta-BC border, down the Hydroline trail which has been groomed thanks to the more abundant snowfall near the continental divide.
P1000643-copy-2.jpg
I left Hydroline after a few km, I put my head down and began the long climb up the ungroomed south Lookout trail. After 300 vertical m. of sometimes steep uphill (a black diamond ski trail descending the other way), the lookout came into view.
P1000646-copy-2.jpg
We've been here many times, but the panoramic view never gets old.
P1000656-copy-2.jpg
Looking south into BC and the Elk Range. Sharp eyes might note a temp of plus 1c. on the thermometer. With blue sky and calm winds- a perfect afternoon up here! I was missing my sun loving ski partner, though!
P1000659-copy-2.jpg
Tea time!
P1000647-copy-2.jpg
Looking north down the descent route, which although lees steep than the other side, is still an exhilarating run on xc skis. Especially today as it has been recently groomed and is hardpacked and FAST!
P1000663-copy-2.jpg
Back where I started for the final several km of my lollipop loop, with a quick return on the groomed and trackset trail. Although I've been less enthusiastic about the onset of our long cold winter in recent years, it's days like this that make me forget about thoughts of warm desert sun.
 
A great way to start the new year, with perfect conditions and weather for our first ski day of 2023.
P1000704-copy-2.jpg
Starting up the trail to Blueberry Hill. It's a bit of a long climb, but the reward is views at the summit, and an exhilarating (if chilling!) fast fun descent. A favorite!
P1000715-copy-2.jpg
A random skier who got to the top just after us volunteered to take our photo.
Happy New Years Day from Steve and Jo!
P1000726-copy-2.jpg
 
Snowy and murky weather dominated a week of great ski touring and powder skiing with a fun group of guests.

Not all murky! and that gig you have there is Really sweet!
Nice shots and excellent snow.
 
WOW - really stunning - what a fabulous time you must have had there!
 
An arctic front bringing extreme winds along with bone chilling temperatures, made for challenging weather, ski and avalanche conditions for the latter two thirds of our yearly "friends" week at the Campbell Icefields Chalet, but our strong crew made the best of it and we all got out for some decent skiing everyday, nonetheless. Myself- I was just happy to be there after a rib-cracking fall, several weeks previously in a hard crash on a lightly snow covered paved path while xc skiing on the golf course near home of all places, had put my ski season on hold for a bit.
P1010072-copy-2.jpg Our home cabin as custodians for the week, with the sauna at left. A closer look at the ridge shows all the wind-hammered snow in the alpine, along with numerous slides.
P1010078-copy-2.jpg
The main lodge.
P1010036-copy-2.jpg
The first two days were mild and snowy- with excellent treeline skiing.
P1010031-copy-2.jpg
Up for another run, with the lodge in the background.
P1010038-copy-2.jpg
Yahoo!
P1010058-copy-2.jpg
After an intense storm that raged all day Tuesday, where we skied protected glades deep in the forest, the sun came out on Wednesday at -25c.
P1010049-copy-2.jpg
Peekaboo view of the chalet from Saturday Ridge.
P1010053-copy-2.jpg
Preparing for another run.
P1010069-copy-2.jpg
A tour into the alpine on Thursday, with not much expectation of good turns in the wind affected snow. We did manage a couple of short "ok" runs.
P1010076-copy-2-BW.jpg
A look at the massive rockslide that occurred in late November off Thunder Mountain, unseen because the lodge had not yet opened for the winter ski season. It took out the intake for the micro hydro system which meant that I had to run the generator each evening to recharge the battery bank.
P1010064-copy-2.jpg
Our smiling crew on Friday, with sun, -16c, and very light winds.
P1010091-copy-2.jpg
Some did a longer tour higher up, but most of us were content to lap the wind protected low angle glades in the "warm" sun, which featured very good skiing.P1010086-copy-2.jpg
P1010096-copy-2.jpg
Last run of the trip, with some shenanigans at upper left!
 
Last edited:
One of my few trips out this year. At this point it's just been life support skiing to keep turns all year alive.

Capture.JPG

My best friend of nearly 13 years died unexpectedly at the end of January, and my wife wasted no time adding a new member to the pack. We picked up this golden retriever pup about 6 weeks ago. So it's basically been Puppy Lockdown around here...

IMG_1695 copy.jpg
 
One of my few trips out this year. At this point it's just been life support skiing to keep turns all year alive.

View attachment 119241

My best friend of nearly 13 years died unexpectedly at the end of January, and my wife wasted no time adding a new member to the pack. We picked up this golden retriever pup about 6 weeks ago. So it's basically been Puppy Lockdown around here...

View attachment 119244
Great Pyrenees?
 
Nice new family member! We are on our third Golden now. They are great outdoor dogs although being a bit of a heavier breed they can struggle in deeper backcountry snow (we don't do that with ours) and can overheat in hot weather (we chose more shaded hikes with lots of streams and lakes in those conditions). Ours have always loved xc skiing with us, and fortunately we have a great dog friendly area for that only 40 minutes away in the foothills, where dogs are allowed off leash on the 60 km of groomed trails. Yesterday on said trail network:
P1010192-copy-2.jpgP1010194-copy-2.jpg
 
Great Pyrenees?

She's an english cream golden retriever. Didn't know they made white ones! We've only owned shelties for the last 25 years. Now I have a 14 week old dog who weighs nearly as much as a sheltie, and still has about 40 pounds to go lol. I have never seen an animal grow so fast.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
SteveR Got Snow? Early Season Alberta Skiing Winter Sports 2
SteveR Got photo calendars? Let's see them! Photography 14
balzaccom Got interviewed about fly-fishing General Discussion 0
westy Got smoke? Trip Planning 6
P I got the campsite I wanted!!!! General Discussion 8
balzaccom We've got lift-off Trip Planning 1
balzaccom We got quoted... General Discussion 2
Parma Who got snowed on General Discussion 2
Laura I've got a photo in Outdoor Photographer! Photography 5
C New here, but really got into hiking this year Noobs: Introduce yourself! 5
satisfied Got my decal on the truck tonight General Discussion 1
FourisTheNewOne Got a rich uncle? General Discussion 0
RyanP How long does it take the dirt roads (S. UT) to dry out after snow? Trip Planning 16
regehr uinta snow? Trip Planning 6
Titans Boulder Mtn snow March 29- 2023 Photography 1
zionsky Snow, Snow and more Snow General Discussion 91
The Trout Whisperer Wish it was snow! General Discussion 8
The Trout Whisperer Show me th cold, icy and snow pics…Burnin up here in Texas! General Discussion 35
OldBill Snow Conditions - Greater Yellowstone Trip Planning 1
T Snow Canyon Loop Hiking & Camping 1
J Escaping snow, Olympic Peninsula Dayhikes Jan. 15-17, 2022 Hiking & Camping 7
norwegianxplorer WHITEOUT, Winter Backpacking Norway in a Snow Storm Trip Reports 0
Miya First Overnight Snow Trip...Finally Hiking & Camping 20
Miya Snow Camping = Frozen Face? Resource Discussions 17
Yvonne Snow Hike up the West Rim, December 15, 2019 Hiking & Camping 7
Noun Sequitur Arches + Snow Hiking & Camping 6
powderglut NW Colorado Snow conditions General Discussion 16
Miya Snow I Sought, Snow I Found Hiking & Camping 5
balzaccom Quick trip in the Stanislaus without snow Backpacking 3
zionsky More snow on the way? General Discussion 5
SteveR From The Land Of Ice And Snow Winter Sports 4
fossana Snow Canyon rim loop Hiking & Camping 1
Bob Missing the snow ? General Discussion 5
Miya Noob Question about Hiking in the Snow General Discussion 32
zionsky Arches & Canyonlands closed due to snow General Discussion 12
regehr snow plumes General Discussion 5
BJett Laurel-Snow State Natural Area - Tennessee Backpacking 1
K In Search of Snow in the Eastern Sierra Backpacking 3
Dave Snow on Sandstone Hiking & Camping 14
Artemus 2017/2018 Snow Pack - or not General Discussion 54
blueeyes Vandalism in Snow Canyon State Park General Discussion 11
b.stark Winds snow conditions? Trip Planning 13
LarryBoy Snow Shoes - what should I buy? Gear 6
Mike Jones Yosemite snow shoeing 1-2 nights Trip Planning 6
IntrepidXJ Fresh Snow & Fog Everything Else 10
Curt Sapporo Snow Festival Everything Else 3
cmgz Hop Valley Snow Hiking & Camping 8
Scott Chandler Veteran's Day Snow in Canyonlands Hiking & Camping 3
uintafly 2015/2016 All things snow thread General Discussion 50
jentzschman Hiking Mt Timpanogos with some snow General Discussion 6

Similar threads

Back
Top