Skogan Pass FKSA
Trip date: Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Submitted by Mike W
Particpants:
Just me.
Discussion:
Skogan Pass FKSA (First Known Ski Ascent) this winter, and not a single boot print! I had a few hours to get out this afternoon, and decided to check conditions on the Skogan Pass trail. Parked in North Lot #3, which is behind the Day Lodge. -2C in the lot at 1300, -10C at the pass at 1530. Brought my metal-edged fish scale BC-NNN 89mm shovel-width skis. I normally call them my light-touring skis, but I've been recently admonished that they are backcountry touring skis, because light touring skis fit into a ski track. What do you think, dear Reader?
The crux of the trip was dealing with the Nakiska staff. Although the resort was closed to the public today, they had some special ski programs going on, and had a ticket-checker posted at the walkway between the Day Lodge and the Guest Services building. Even though I said I was accessing the Skogan Pass XC trail, he wouldn't let me by without a ticket of some sort and sent me off to Guest Services. It seemed it had something to do with their "Vaccine Passport" program, whereby everyone on resort property is supposed to have a ticket that among other things shows they've been vaccinated. Guest Services didn't know what they were supposed to do. It appears I was the first XC skier to appear (or get caught!) this season. They said they needed to ask the Area Manager, who was away today. They were unaware that the Skogan Pass trail goes right through the resort. They suggested I park at Ribbon Creek! They also said if I wanted to cross the resort, I'd have to buy a $5.25 "access pass". After handing me a map of how to get to the Troll Falls trailhead I thanked them and went on my way. Fortunately I was somehow teleported to the Hidden / Skogan Pass trail junction via a route that avoided being challenged by resort staff. Your teleportation results may vary. My plate is pretty full for the next few days. Is anyone up to contacting Parks to see if Nakiska can really block Hidden Trail access to the Skogan Pass Trail and/or charge a $5.25 access fee!?
Now back to the skiing. Skogan Pass is snowmobile packed all the way, and by the looks of it, all of Sunburst and some of lower Skogan Loop as well. The snowmobile packing is pretty smooth on a hard crust base, with 1-2cm fresh snow low down, increasing to 4-5cm higher up. From the Hidden / Skogan Pass trail junction, conditions were poor, just enough snow for going up, but really marginal for going down. When you meet up with the snowcat track about a km further up, conditions improve to fair, although the snowcat track itself is really treacherous with a couple of cm of powder over bare ice interspersed with a few rocks thrown up by the cat. Conditions continue to improve the higher you go. Above the High Level junction, conditions were good. Fairly windy and cold, -10C, at the pass. Unfortunately I didn't have time to ski High Level and Sunburst on the way down, and had to go straight down Skogan to the parking lot. By this time, the resort was deserted.
On a final note, there is a lone "Skiers Only" sign on the Skogan Pass trail, but Parks still lists it as open to hiking, biking, and horses!