Snow Season 24-25

[SteveR]

Might as well get this rolling.
It had been a great extended fall, with much dryer and warmer weather than average, but in the space of 48 hours we've gone from this:

To this, out of the same trailhead at West Bragg Creek, Alberta:

It's still early season, but it looks like winter conditions are here to stay for the foreseeable future, at least.
The XC ski conditions were actually pretty nice, even on trails that hadn't seen any grooming yet:

 

[b.stark]

Got my first snow of the year this morning. Didn't take any pictures or enjoy the event any, was on my way to work at about dark o'clock AM.

 

[Wanderlust073]

Haven’t put skis on yet but we caught two feet on the nose to kick things off down here, and the mountains are off to a good start

 

[Kullaberg63]

Got ten days of skiing so far; mostly classic. Our watershed is at 170%

 

[Janice]

Our son in Colorado (Boulder now) has been sending lots of beautiful photos of snowy mountains. He's been skiing uphill after hours at some of the resorts. He's our copper top - endless amounts of energy in him!



Can't resist adding his happy Shadow!

 

[Jackson]

I haven't gotten any good photos of them, but I've done my first two "backcountry" ski outings ever in the last week. Skinned up part of Bridger Bowl last weekend and then did a short nighttime one in a popular spot just up the mountains south of town. Snow is already better than it was by January of this past winter!

 

[mike_offerman]

6' of snow so far at Wolf Creek.

 

[SteveR]

Six feet! Lucky you! Along the divide to the west of us, the snowpack is averaging a bit less than 60 cm at the moment. Fine for some flat tours but not enough for carefree powder turns. Instead, we've been continuing to enjoy the foothills xc skiing much closer to home, which has been improving from day to day.

 

[Kmatjhwy]

Gosh, it looks like winter is really starting to settle in up north in the mountains where it should be at this time. But down here in the Sonoran Desert, it is being sunny and nice. Here the last few days, mainly in the 70s or so. Enjoy the winter!

 

[SteveR]

In Calgary, we had a week-long prelude to real winter, with lows around -18 C and way more snow in town than in the mountains. It made for some great skiing from home, setting tracks in our neighbourhood golf course:


The weather was much milder in the foothills and mountains, with good early season xc skiing on both groomed:


and un-groomed trails:

The backcountry snowpack close to the divide remains thin at 40-60 cm, but it was time on Monday to get out on the heavier gear for a shakedown cruise on a short hiking trail tour, on a perfect weather day:



While no powder skiing was had due to the unsupportive shallow snowpack, it was fun skiing down the 450 vertical m. of hardpacked, often narrow trail, which at times resembled a bobsled track.

 

[SteveR]

Seeing as how it was me who initiated this thread, I guess that an update is in order as we close out 2024. Nothing too exciting here- it has been a very dry and warm December with almost no snow, and I have been doing as much biking as skiing in the last month. Nonetheless, and despite having to drive further than we usually like at times, we have been getting out at least twice a week on the skinny skis.

Grooming crews have been making the most of the sparse snowfall:

The Lake Louise area has had the best snow conditions:

Happy group of friends on our perennial Boxing Day ski (for non-Canadians- it's December 26- a big shopping day with sales and overcrowded malls)

Crossing into the BC side of West Elk Pass on an ungroomed skinny ski adventure to close out our skiing in 2024.

The "snowfa", an annual feature built by our friend Martin.

 

[Jackson]

Seeing as how it was me who initiated this thread, I guess that an update is in order as we close out 2024. Nothing too exciting here- it has been a very dry and warm December with almost no snow, and I have been doing as much biking as skiing in the last month. Nonetheless, and despite having to drive further than we usually like at times, we have been getting out at least twice a week on the skinny skis.

Grooming crews have been making the most of the sparse snowfall:
View attachment 139011View attachment 139012
The Lake Louise area has had the best snow conditions:
View attachment 139013View attachment 139014View attachment 139015View attachment 139016
Happy group of friends on our perennial Boxing Day ski (for non-Canadians- it's December 26- a big shopping day with sales and overcrowded malls)
View attachment 139017
Crossing into the BC side of West Elk Pass on an ungroomed skinny ski adventure to close out our skiing in 2024.
View attachment 139018View attachment 139019
The "snowfa", an annual feature built by our friend Martin.
View attachment 139020

Sounds a lot like down here in Montana too, until this past week. Still too warm, but the mountains have been getting good snow recently at least.

The xc skiing up there looks great!

 

[Bob]

2 1/2 feet here. No bottom though, went out on property on snowshoes and still sank almost to my knees.

 

[Wanderlust073]

Skiing in RMNP this morning. Super thin snowpack and hellacious winds (first time in my life I have actually been knocked over by wind) but a nice morning.