Snow Report: Dec 23/11 News from the alpine

Well there has been no new snow to report. "Hero" snow right now - nice riding but set up. 5ft of base but no snow coming over the hood...yet...lol. Curt and Cooper were up in Barnes and Limestone - I don't think I have seen the trees that tall there. But they had a really good time and climbed alot of stuff, kept to the trees. Flathead trail is AMAZING - great shape - has been groomed twice now. Our commuter trail could be better - just needs more snow on it. The riding is just fine just no fluff or choppin nuts. Excellent base though. Avy report looks good. Crowsnest Pass area is very very very thin. Looks like fall.

At Corbin Staging area we now have a Marshall that will be there on a consistent basis collecting fees and selling memberships. At Fernie - remember that the Morrisey access is closed completely - use the Coal Creek access instead. If it snows or does anything noteworthy I will update my blog immediately - fingers crossed. Merry Christmas! - V

Snow Report: Dec 18/11 - Light Snow

It is finally snowing! It was +4 all day yesterday and the snow was shrinking. It was perfect snowman snow but not great for accumulation! Today it started out as grauple and now it is snowing flakes - good stuff. Forecast is for snow Tuesday and the temps are supposed to stay in that -2 to -8 zone.

Shepherds were up this weekend and rode Rain Gauge. They said you weren't going to hit anything - base is about 5ft. In the trees you could find some lighter snow. The Flathead has been groomed twice now and is in great shape - marshalling will be taking place at the Corbin staging area so bring some bills for trail fee.

Was in Fernie on Sat and there were a lot of sleds heading out - no new snow there til today either though. Hopefully I will have more snow to report this week! Cheers - V

Snow Report: Dec 12/11 An inch or two

Well it was snowing a little bit - a couple of inches at best but more than that up top. Trails down here are still rutted a bit and a bit crispy but the locals are headed out steady to ride up around the 6000ft mark. We were at the Fernie Snowmobile Association's Pub night the other night and had a great time!

Of special note is that Tembec has Morrissey access CLOSED. The club got permission and got the job done cutting a new trail to the cabin in on the Coal Creek Road. This is your new access. Al and Derrick and Greg said that Rolling Hills was really good but that they have ridden every inch of it now so we'll have to wait for new snow LOL.

Curt went out on his birthday and he and Cooper went out grooming. The trail is groomed from our place to Corbin. Just leveling out and firming up a base and cutting out the side hill that was barely one sled width wide. The snow is not worthy of a "Get out here its great!" but I hate to see you guys chompin at the bit. Come on out and give it a go but don't have high expectations. The snow is there but its not coming up over the hood consistently. Avalanche activity is reduced and the reports are looking better but just watch as that layer in Oct and the weather we had in Nov has put down an ugly layer that we hope comes down safely to start anew. Temps were -12 today - its supposed to get cooler. We often get the -25 over Christmas which is very cold for here and then it comes back up to big snow temps around the -5 to -10.

The photos are from last night getting a tree. Knee deep on the slopes and basically bottomless in the trees just out back and 500ft up behind us. That is our oldest dog Roxy cheatin and catching a ride with Sommer on the Arctic Cat. Get doin' the snow dance gang! Cheers - V

Snow Report: Dec 5/11 Dusting

Well Curt and Cooper went out on Sunday and thought they took photos but it looks like they had a malfunction - oh well. Grooming will start on Thursday. The trail from our place is not very good - it is icy snow packed and rutted from hunting but at Tent it goes to 18 inches packed and gets better as you go up from there where trucks can't get to now. Max and Perry put on 70 miles one day and braved the trails. They were up in Rain Gauge and Barnes where there was more snow but it is getting packed a bit. Avalanche reports are looking much better and there have been some natural slides in Rain Gauge bringing down that ugly stuff that went through temp swings and dumps. If we get a decent snowfall we'll be on our way on for some better trails and it usually translates into more snow up top. Will get some photos as soon as I can. Our yard is a dusting of snow on top of a skating rink. Roads are good from us through the Pass but heading west it is patchy. Cheers Gang!

Snow Report: Nov 30/11

Well I would love to tell you we got dumped on as Hwy 22 was closed today but....we didn't. We only got a dusting of snow down here and it is very lightly snowing. Likely got more up top but it wasn't the 4 inches we were expecting.

Terry is coming tomorrow so maybe we'll be able to get a report from him. Watch the avy reports - the talk is the Oct icy later. Watch for slabs and with wind watch for lee and crosswind loaded areas. Curt would love to get out but the cabin is requiring all of his attention and there isn't enough snow falling right now to entice him away from finishing the cabin.

Hopefully I will have some good news on snowfalls soon. Cheers -V

Snow Report: Nov 27/11

Well it was +5 this afternoon around 5pm. Raining again mixed with a bit of snow. Its icy/slushy and the fresh stuff got heeeaaavvvyyyy again down here but up above 5500 its snowing. All day. Checkin out the trail the trucks are on it still hunting so it makes it rough but they can only get so high and then it was 18 inches total pack with 6 inches fresh - likely more down the Flathead but didn't go that far. Cooper here playing on the road up to Tent Mtn. Enough to go LOL. Temps to drop to zero again with more snow forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday. Looks like it will try again near the end of the week too. Dec is usually colder especially over Christmas so I hope the temps will start to drop enough to give us a good bunch of snow and no more rain before Dec 25th. Keep up with the avy reports gang! Cheers -V

Snow Report: Nov 25/11 Yahooooo

Well I have good news and I have excellent news. It snowed overnight and then snowed again hard down here and is still snowing up top. We got about 6" of new snow down here - Curt's been blowing all day. Rhonda and Matt with "THE BETTIES" from the Betties Power Sports Network from our place today and the trail (photos just above) was really good - pictures speak for themselves. They then went up the Flathead to Rain Gauge. The Flathead was a bit bumpy but there was a foot or better of new snow on the edges and the trail itself was based up with fresh snow on top. Been snowing on the guys up top all day.

Rain Gauge has over 4ft of snow total and likely 1.5ft or better is new snow. First and Third photo is the trail in. Look at the edges to gauge it. The creek is covered over and there is more snow further back in. Still a bit bottomless as Rhonda stepped off and was up to her waist or better and wiggling her toes not finding the bottom.

Hopefully we do not get the +7 temps but I think the alpine is a go. Just check the avy report first and ride conservative terrain as it is high and considerable for Lizard and the Divide ranges and that was yesterday's report. More snow is forecasted.

Check out "The Betties" at www.thebetties.ca where you can view video and even purchase sled videos. We are going to have some here for sale. So rev 'em up Gang we're good to go! Cheers -V