CASCADE RIVER - beyond Stoney Creek afternoon/ night ski
Trip date: Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Submitted by DEMOCRATIZE AB
Particpants:
Mr. Real Democracy on 205cm BC59 skis
Discussion:
The trail in the afternoon was trackset again to the Cascade Bridge. The Minnewanka Road is in good condition. Ski poles hit the pavement in some areas. No worry of scratching skis, at least at night.
The old Sundre Banff Road or Cascade Trail is in good to very good condition to the bridge. I hit one rock coming out at night.
Beyond the CR6 campground the snowmobile tracked trail was buried with recent snow. I think one of Santa's little Elves must have broken the trail for nearly 2 km beyond the bridge because it was a very narrow ski trail, in some cases as wide as a fat ski. I widened up the trail then I broke trail to beyond Stoney Creek. Skiing was generally very good. It is time for Parks Canada to trackset this section of trail.
At the Warden Cabin there was about 20 cm of new snow. The snow has a rain crust at the bottom of the recent storm cycle on top of the snowmobile trail, prograding to dry snow on top. There is roughly a total of 48cm of snow at the cabin.
Beyond the end of the snowmobile trail, trail breaking is difficult. I was breaking through the crust which was not good. It will take a major Pineapple Express weather system to settle down the base. Potentially the travel beyond the Bison Fence will be difficult until March if normal weather occurs until then.
Skiing out at night the snow varied in speed from somewhat slow to moderately fast. At the Warden Cabin the temperature was -18c at about 6:30 pm