Mar 21/14 - 15cm & snowing up top

Well it stopped snowing by 10pm and we have 15cm of fluffy dry snow on the flat down here - will be blowing snow again today. It is snowing lightly up top and may be patchy visibility. Guests were going to go to Barnes Ranch today for some apline meadow riding. Its a cool -8 right now at 11am and supposed to dip down to -18 tonight and be sunny and -1 tomorrow. Sunday we are supposed to see more snow and then Mon/Tues coudy and more snow on Wed. Cheers - V

Mar 20/14 - Spring Equinox brings lots of SNOW

Happy Spring! Its snowing - I want you to look at the sky in the background of all three of these photos. It was lightly snowing little flakes all day and we had about 2cm until about 2hrs ago and it is getting heavier and heavier. We have 10cm now and it is going to be a bunch deeper than that in the yard if this keeps up. I can hardly see the highway now so its kicking into a higher snow gear and the flakes are a lot bigger. So technical eh? LOL. Anyway the guys were up in Limestone and said it was fantastic and about 35-45cm deep of new fresh snow. No signs of slides or spooky stuff. Remember this increases the weight & tension on the persistent weak layers buried below so still be conservative in your terrain choices. Its -2 and supposed to go to -10 tonight and -3 tomorrow with more snow in the forecast. Check out Fernie ski hill snow reports to get a parameter of measurements. This is definitely a big pow type snowfall. We will see what we have in the morning! This system is widespread and it was snowing hard in the Crowsnest Pass also with reports of Hwy 3 accidents between Hwy22 and Pincher Creek. This is "close the Pass" type snowfall now. Haven't see a vehicle in a bit so it may be closed now. Flathead and Divide open now and through the weekend and then on Monday the Summit and Divide are available with the Flathead booked all next week. Cheers - V

Mar 19/14 - Snow in the Forecast

Morning, it is +3 here although it feels a bit cooler than that - clouding over a bit so we may get the snow that is forecasted for the next three days. Fernie ski hill got 35cm overnight when we got 10cm down here so that means there is somewhere between 10-35cm of fresh up top. We have crusty snow down here so you may need scratchers til you get a bit higher. I haven't been out on the trail lately but I am sure it is getting set up everywhere and under this fresh up top. Avy reports are improving but that weak layer down about 150cm is still a sleeping giant - don't poke that bear on risky slopes that have not come down yet. Limestone will be very good now I think. Its spring riding so check your gauges often and dip into snow to cool down every chance you get. We have the Summit Log cabin is booked today to Monday but the Flathead and Divide open tomorrow through the weekend. The Flathead is booked all next week but then the Divide and Summit Log cabins are available. In April I stop advertising unless we get a big dump of snow (which happens) and then I pretty well leave it up to the guys that know our place, the area and are seasoned spring riders to just call me if they want to come stay and sled. I know Curt and Cooper are going to get the tires back on the bikes mid April as they are headed to the Kooc early this year. Cheers - V

Mar 17/14 - St. Patricks Day Snow

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone! Well it went from misty light rain to a bit more steady and then late in the evening it turned to sleetish snow and we woke up to 10cm down here and it is very lightly snowing straight down big flakes. Trees are covered all the way to the peaks in both directions from our window. Likely got closer to the 20cm up top. Temp is zero here and it is supposed to flurry a bit today and snow all week except for Tuesday. Keep reading your bulletins and making conservative choices. This new snow puts extra load on cornices that have not come down and the weak layers in the slabs below. Afternoon riding will change the strength of the bonds so your terrain choices will be different from the morning. Be safe and enjoy this beautiful day - it is winter wonderland-ish out there on the trails right now with this kind of snowfall. Cheers - V

Mar 16/14 - Misty light Rain down here

Morning, we are getting misty light rain down here (no snow mixed in yet) and it looks like it is snowing up top. My guys that rode yesterday decided to go up into Rain Gauge and said there was 15cm of fresh snow over set up base there and they stayed in the tree and were careful crossing avalanche paths. They had a good day but said Limestone was better. They heard one slide come down but did not see it. They loved the groomed Flathead and said it was super smooth and they had it pinned coming back on it. The yard looks "dirty" because we had it scrapped out and sanded but you can see there is plenty of snow on the trail and that is down here at this altitude. Now...do I think you should ride our trail...nope...save your back and time and trailer to be closer to the area you want ride - tis the season. If the trail you ride is groomed then contribute with a trail fee. Temps are +5 right now and suppposed to be +4 all week and snow forecasted all week except for Tuesday which is sunny. Caution, diligence and knowledge all still required as you ride. Anything that hasn't come down should be suspect but that is kind of standard thinking. We installed a boot dryer in each cabin so two guys in each will have dry boots! Cheers - V

Mar 15/14 - Rolling Hills Update

Morning, our guests reported that Rolling Hills and area was very set up everywhere they went. We did not get the rain there nor rain here except for a little spitting around 7:30pm. It is bright and clear out now and high is supposed to be +5. Watch for solar radiation changing conditions over the course of the day. Our guests were either going back to Limestone or to Barnes Ranch today. They like the groomed trail in. Tomorrow it is supposed to be +9 with rain/flurries with 10-20cm expected. Monday is more flurries as we expect a high of +3 with another 5-10cm predicted. The avy report via the CAC Mobile app reports that north of Elkford a large cornice drop triggered a 2.5 avalanche and that the snow there is still very dry. This is normal activity but still an example of the need to be aware of what is at the top that you must consider when choosing terrain. It has been cool enough during the day here at the resort that the snow hasn't gotten super slushy - it is still melting slightly and then freezing so you will see that in a crust out there when you ride and over the course of the day watch the crust to see how much it warms up or remains cool. Read your bulletins/blogs/weather and still ride with conservative vigilance. It would be very interesting to take an AST course having this year for discussion. I think everyone has stepped up their knowledge or their thirst for knowledge after riding this season. Cheers gang - V

Mar14/14 - Morning update

Hi, it is +3 and snowing lightly but steady up top and bit here but not below us yet. I have contacted my guests to give them the option to cancel. I am not going to predict what the weather will do to improve or hinder the snowpack over the next week - everyone will just have to watch and wait and check the avy bulletins and blogs for recommendations. I still have groups coming but they simply were flexible enough to adjust their expectations to riding conservative terrain. I would say Heartbreak & Rain Gauge would be hazardous but that Rolling Hills type terrain and trails and Barnes Ranch maybe even Limestone (as it seems to be withstanding the bad year in true consistent form) may be the best options now. If you are okay with making a terrain adjustment then your season is likely not done yet. Most of my guests like to ride the big stuff and that is why I am overly concerned. I am just trying to err on the side of safety and hopefully get everyone really paying attention to conditions. If I have scared you or run you off I apologize. I would say this, you need the equipment and you need to know how to use it. Wade, Chris...if you guys can enjoy your trip without spending time in the usual places then come but otherwise...if your crews won't be happy in meadows and the lower terrain then wait til next winter or better yet - get the summer toys ready and come see us between winters! I will give you an update tonight from the guests here that are riding Rolling Hills today. Cheers - V