Snow Report: Jan 18/12 COLD

It is -30 today and no wind yet thank god. There are warnings and the schools are closed. Road opened this morning - at 5:30am I watched a ton of traffic making their way over the Pass and it is clear driving-not clear skies though. If the wind picks up then visibility will easily go back down to zero again. There were really bad accidents on the Sparwood/Fernie side before they closed the road so beware when travelling people are rushing to make up for a day lost. It is supposed to start snowing again here at the BC/AB border and flurries are supposed to kick up again and into the night.

We have snow up over our knees and the drifting caused deposits bigger than that hard to tell what the new deposit of snow amounted to but it was snowing and never let up yesterday and into the night. Castle email this morning reported an additional 25cms from yesterday's 33cms. South Rockies report this morning is up considerable almost all across the board. Wind loading faces and cornices will be very sketchy.

Per the photos - kids did a great job yesterday digging out a trench to the wood shed. Its a start on the rest of the place. Crazy Saskatchewanians - Mike Toni and gang have headed out this morning. OMG it is so cold you would want a heated visor helmet today! Safety first gang - there will be other days to ride. Supposed to warm up to the plus figures on Friday. Crazy! Cheers - V

Snow Report: Jan 17/12 - Storming

I would take a photo but all you will see is a whiteout. Pass is closed right now. Plows are out but don't know how much progress they can make on an hourly basis just from the wind - road my be clearer but visibility and the idiot coming toward you on the highway is usually the problem. The temp has come up - it says -25 but it feels warmer than that. Wind has not let up and it is still snowing a bit along with the blowing out of the East. Supposed to keep warming up....-19 today, -13 tomorrow to 3 degrees on the weekend and snow a bit and blow a bit til Sunday.

Ron if you are reading this I don't know if you'll be able to make it. Keep checking the forecast. We are hunkered in and not going anywhere but our guys in the Log cabin will just ride out the back - no trailering! LOL sorry had to demonstrate that even on a storm stayed day the guests here can get out for a tour. Cheers! V

Snow Report: Jan 16/12 Snow and COLD

Cooper went out yesterday while I blew snow and said there were about 7 inches of fresh snow on the trail just out back - this photo is just above the A road/B road split (Y). It started snowing again and it is snowing and blowing today and tonight so we aren't losing any. It is COLD though. -25 during the day and the east wind was no fun so ride the trees! Supposed to last all week with more snow coming this weekend and temps coming up a bit. Dress warm - Saskatchewanian warm - cheeks covered!

Crow Snow Riders Poker Rally on the 20th of Jan.
Fernie Snow and Mud Mountain Mania Ride and Banquet Jan 20-22
Elkford Sled Dog races Jan 21-22
Fernie Snow Drags Feb 18th
Corbin Country Club Vintage run Feb 18th and regular Poker Rally Feb 19th

Cheers! V

Snow Report:Jan 14/12 SNOW!

WAHOOOOO! Okay in 40 mins from the start of it snowing at 7am at the house I already had 2 inches on the ramp of the horse trailer. Boone pushed show today while I was gone and good thing. Lou and his gang were up Alexander and said it was 18 inches of fresh snow and it was difficult to ride because of visibility. That is the North side of the highway which usually has less than the South and Corbin got more. They are out marshalling and grooming this weekend. There were TONS of sleds and trucks at the hotel parking lots in Crowsnest. I got to Lundbreck on my way to Pincher and it was clear skies and no snow. Came home and we have easily a foot of new snow down here. Temps are going to be cold so we won't lose any of it. Castle sends me emails and the ski hill has gotten 25cm of new snow there.

Avy report is considerable in alpine - watch out for rocky spots being the trigger and beware cornices, moderate in trees - propogating tree to tree could still happen here with terrain traps being something to be aware of, low below treeline.

MOre snow expected tomorrow - 6cms - still snowing lightly tonight down here. We are booked this week but have the smaller cabin with a queen and double bunkbed bedrooms open Sat thru Wed. Sleeps 3-4 guys but Lou's gang has 6 in there (I think they are sled crazy to do it but with the snow they are getting ....worth it). Remember our hot tub is pooched so leave your trunks at home - sorry. Go for a night ride instead. Cheers! V

Snow Report: Jan 10/12 - 4 Inches

We got 4-5 inches out of that round of flurries. It is really thick beautiful snow and they Pangman gang said it was coming up over their hoods going up Tent (which by the way has no piece of untracked snow on it now they told me to mention). Trail was very good - amazing what a bit of new snow can do. They guys said easily a foot just right out back.

Temps are supposed to be cold tonight 2 -16 but go to +5 Thurs and then into more flurries on the weekend. Yo yo as long as it snows! Cheers -V

Snow Report: Jan 9/12 - Flurries

Hi - quick note - we are getting the flurries they predicted. Was almost +9 today but it is dropping to -10 tomorrow. At 10pm it is +2 and snowing - more up top you can tell. Supposed to bring 5-10cm. Keep your fingers crossed - maybe Alaska could share a bit of their 5 meters snowfall! Cheers - V

Snow Report: Jan 8/12 Icy

Hi Gang,
Well it is pretty icy down here at the Inn and the first kilometer down the trail - scratchers required but after that it gets better and better the higher you go. Still no fluff n stuff but more than enough to go lots of places.

Yesterday there was an incident reported at Shepp Creek. Check out the details at www.avalanche.ca and go to incident reports and find incident and go to Jan 7th - Flathead/Lodgepole and it will remind you how easy it is to get buried. Luckily the sledder was dug out in time.

Temps are going from +9 on Monday to snow Tuesday to -9 Wed and then into the +3 to -3 the rest of the week. With temps like this you have to be wary of the layering of snow and the effect of wind on those surfaces. Read the avy reports and think about what direction the slope is facing and which way the wind has been blowing before you go up anything. This is a good time to pick you way into those treed areas that you always wondered what was through there but the snow was always too deep to power through.

The newest cabin has the floor down, the fridge, stove and big TV all in place. The two double bunk beds are in place and the queen bed is not far from being set up. Trim is almost done. Siding may take a bit to finish but we will have the rest ready for use soon. The hot tub is pooched. Curt has tried a bunch of things to get it working but it looks like all hope is lost. So leave your trunks at home - it will have to be a hot shower instead. Sorry gang. Keep doing the snow dance! Cheers -V