Nov 30/12 - Rain

Hi Gang - quick note, it has been raining lightly but steady all night and our yard is a skating rink. We have lost a bunch of snow down here but up top I think it is lightly snowing. It is socked in up there and +3 here. Wouldn't take much elevation for the snow conditions to change. Be watching your avy reports for South Rockies and Lizard to see what layer is being established around the 6-8000ft mark. Jeesh...even I am tired of this weather. Its moisture. Just need it to cool off a bit...LOL. Cheers - V

Nov 29/12 - Wet snow

Well that dusting of snow was all we got last night. The temp forecast changed to all positives too. Even though it was spitting here and downtown Fernie, it was apparent it was snowing up in the alpine. Supposed to do both of those things til Sat. We were supposed to be -1 but were +6 today. Snow is wet and sticky but it is firming up the base and the trails are still ride worthy. It would be like spring riding at lower elevations. One photo is of Fernie today and the other two are to show you that you could ride from our place easily. My recommendation would be to trailer to the area you wanted to ride just to save time and early season fatigue. Will keep you up to date but I would start renting cabins now if anyone wanted to come check it out. If you are not looking to rack up as many mountain days as possible then just wait a bit. Cheers -V

Nov 28/12 - 10pm and Snowing

Just wanted to let you all know that the forecast was right and we have started getting snow from what was a short time ago, clear skies this evening. Also - here is the prize that Curt and Cooper got on their deer hunting trip - thanks Terry you made their weekend. Look out Vintage Run - Cooper is stoked! I will update all of you tomorrow morning. Keep doing the snow dance - Cheers -V

Nov 28/12 - Photo from Wranglers Cabin 2 days ago

Here is a photo from Wranglers Cabin about two days ago. This is in reference to my Go For It post about the Rolling Hills. It is clear and -4 with flurries forecasted over the next 24hrs and the avy reports are calling for 5-15cm of snow. The alpine may see more of that than we do down here but the temps are supposed to stay in the -1 to -5 range so that is hopeful. We are getting lots of bookings for Jan and Feb already and are booked over Christmas and New Years. Was working the horses in our outdoor arena and they were slipping around on the icy layer from earlier in Nov. Just an reminder that that layer exists on the inclines and the snow is sitting on top of that so pick your terrain carefully. If you can enjoy sledding the trees that is likely your safest option right now. The Lizard and South Rockies report has rated above treeline as "considerable" in some instances. Thanks to Allan for letting me use this photo and giving us the update. Cheers -V

Nov 27/12: Go For It!

I have gotten news from Rolling Hills! The guys were out and said I could tell. LOL. They rode all day in the Rolling Hills and never hit a stump and according to the avy report there is more snow on the way tonight/tomorrow! (5-10cm but that could be more and the base is now firming up. So. I have been conservative but now I am saying you can ride from here or you can stay and trailer but the areas are worth riding and the cabins are ready. Just a note of caution - the avy reports are saying there have been natural avalanches on that Nov 8th ice layer and there have been some that have slid on layers above that. So eyes open, ears open, pick your terrain and go have fun! Yahooooo - Cheers -V

Nov 24/12 - Photos and trail riding

Okay I uploaded the photos and after going out for a snowshoe I stand corrected. The trails would be fine to head out on. It is packing down well. There was a sled out trail riding from Tent Mtn out behind us. Photos from Cranbrook buddies sent a photo and they are sledding in 3 feet of snow - remember there isn't any base to that yet - beware stumps, logs and bottomless willows. I would like to see what Rain Gauge has - 9km down the Flathead. That icy layer is something to be concerned about if you get off the trail up in the alpine. Keep an eye out if you venture up there. Temp holding nicely between zero and -3. Cheers -V

Nov 24/12 - 20cm of Snow Overnight

Sorry - Computer problems this morning so I cannot upload photos but after I blogged last night the snow steadily picked up and became fluffy. It stopped around midnight and the accumulation is about 1 foot total so that would be another 20cm from what we had yesterday. Temp is -1 and supposed to stay in the negatives for the next four days. No snow in the forecast but that can change. First South Rockies avy report says there has been some avalanching on that icy layer put down earlier in Nov in the Harvey Pass area south down the Flathead. Be aware of that layer if you head out anywhere. It is still a thin layer of snow for sledding without taking on stumps etc. They are saying that back there there is perhaps 3 ft of snow in where they did some testing at Harvey - I wouldn't cash in vacation days to ride it yet though - trail doesn't really have a decent base yet either. If you have a day, lowered expectations and just want to see where you can go then you could try it but I would not be recommending people come ride just yet. Cheers - V

Nov 23/12 - Snowing a bit

Thought I would update you. It has been snowing steady but not big accumulation snow. Forecast is for a couple of centimeters by tomorrow morning and that seems about right. Maybe a bit heavier up top but these photos are from almost 3km behind our place on the trail and almost 1000ft up from our cabins. I took the probe so you could see its 10cm there and that is what we have in the yard too. It is a hopeful trend of snowing. The temps are supposed to stay in the -1 and -2 range. Still not enough to go - I am hearing Golden and Revy have snow and they are grooming trails. Also one of our guests said there is a foot in Yorkton Sask which they can go on! Love those stubble fields. We are getting bookings for Jan and Feb just so you know. Fernie Club's new cabin Grand Opening and Family Day ride is Dec 29th. Please, if you ride that area, buy a membership and support their great efforts to make improvements and keep that riding area open. Tim at Over the Top Rentals is doing the snow dance - everyone join in! Cheers -V

Nov 21/12: Rain then Snow

Good Evening....Well we left for Kalispell, MT this morning and it was raining. The photo was taken on the road just east of Fernie. It spit all the way to Kalispell and then was overcast there. On the way home this evening it was spitting to Fernie where big rain drops turned to snow from the west side of Fernie to the east side. Sparwood to our place showed it had snowed for a few hours and we have around 2-3 inches of snow and the kids say there's a bit more than that in town. Apparently Sask got rain and then snow with lots of accidents as a result so its everywhere. Its -8 but does not feel that cool out. Its supposed to go back up to zero by Friday so its a crap shoot as to whether we keep this but it was definitely snowing up top at Fernie and here but not at Big Mountain in Whitefish. Still not enough to go yet from here. Keep tuning - do an online avy course while we wait....Cheers -V

Nov 20/12 - Rain Rain go Away

Hi - quick update. Its -2 and has been raining at a variety of intensities for 24hrs now (at 8pm) and the snow in the previous day's photos is gone or ice. We actually have water laying. I would like to say it was snowing up top but it didn't look like it. Looked more like fog to 8000ft. Might have gotten some in patches but it is not riding season yet here. Bah. Tried on a carbon fibre helmet by 509 that weighs just a tad over 2lbs. Sooo light on the neck. Tried on the Snow Pulse avy pack with attached vest and that was very light and short - perfect for my back length. I suggest poking around equipment and trying on new stuff during this period of "waiting". We are supposed to get rain or snow all week. I will post if we get something significant. Cheers -V

Nov 19/12 - 5 cm snow - now spittingH

This is the turn off from Hwy 3 down our road. It snowed steadily all day and we got 5 cm out of it - sticky snow now. Its +4 here at 5:45pm and calm but spitting slightly. 3km East on Hwy 3 there is very little snow and it was just raining lightly all the way to the Pass. Curt on his way home tonight and says Hwy 22 is windy. There were wind warnings earlier and there are rain warnings for Fernie area. It may hold and keep snowing above 6000ft though. Not enough to ride on yet. Not like the 2ft we had in October. I suspect we will lose most of this snow at lower elevations too if the temps keep climbing and it keeps raining. Highways are good otherwise. Cheers -V

Nov 19/12 - A bit of Light Fluffy snow

Its +1 here at the Border and snowing lightly - big fluffy flakes though. We had a dusting of snow last night then it quit. This morning its snowing and Fernie, Sparwood and Crowsnest is supposed to be in the plus temps (even hitting double digits on Wed) and getting a mix of snow and rain. The rain has not hit us yet. Fingers crossed it doesn't. All three areas are supposed to get snow/rain til Wed. Will keep you up to date as to weather we accumulate one or the other. Check out your avalanche courses and get registered now for them. Oh in the Snowriders West our phone number is wrong....we are hoping that people go to the website and connect that way with us. Sorry about the error. Cheers - V

Nov 10/12 - No new snow

Holy have you guys seen photos of South of Regina! Photos sent from our parents show 2ft of snow Rouleau-Drinkwater! Guess I won't be getting calls from the Sask guys about being first out on snow cause they will be breaking sleds in there! I didn't take a photo of here cause its the same as yesterday. We had some light snow but it isn't really accumulating type of snow like we started to get two days ago. Going to ski swaps today. Likely still a foot of snow up top in areas. Staying cool so we will start keeping the snow. Happy tuning! V

Nov 9/12 - Dusting

Have the flu so this will be short. Got the 5cm but that's it. Justin called from Edmonton to book in for Jan sled trip and they got the full 35cm. I heard Lethbridge got more than us too. Don't worry it will come. Cheers -V

Nov 8/12 : Snow Warning

And so it begins. There is actually a snowfall warning for this area til Sat. The center of it is supposed to be Pincher Creek (very different weather movement from us) so not sure if we will get the 35cm they predict but we are supposed to get 10-15cm and temps in the -teens to keep it here. Up top in the bowls it will likely be ontop of the 1ft that was in there previously but here, 10-15cm isn't enough to head out on trails with sled with any quality type ride. But it is a start! I will show you daily what the yard looks like. We got a shot yesterday (trial run) but it melted. Sunday and Monday are supposed to be sunny. Go check all your fluid levels - maybe change out your belt! LOL - Cheers -V

Nov 7/12 - Rain Today Snow Tomorrow

Hi Gang, Well its been raining - on and off til about 2hrs ago. Corrals are a sloppy mess. But!....5cm of snow is forecast for tonight and 10-15cm for tomorrow. Temps are supposed to dive to -15 and then up to -3 but perhaps this is the start of the snowing sticking around. I encourage you to start checking your avy reports and get a handle on what the first layers look like. Your winter will build on these and during the early big snowfalls you may reconsider some slopes because of it and choose other terrain. The Canadian Avalanche Association is having an avalanche night of info in Revelstoke on the 10th of Nov and in Calgary on the 18th. Fees are nominal - around the $20 mark. Check out the website at www.avalanche.ca Castle Mountain ski resort sends out emails to announce how much snow they have gotten. That is reflective of the south Flathead area. Check out their website too. Cheers -V