Elk Pass is Groomed
Trip date: Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Submitted by Bob Truman
Particpants:
Discussion:
In my younger days, as I raced up the big Elk Pass Hill, I occasionally wondered if I'd still be able to make it to the top when I was a septuagenarian. Well, I made it, albeit slower, and it feels like a much more significant accomplishment nowadays!
Today's grooming included Elk Pass, Blueberry Hill, Patterson, Hydroline, and Wheeler. There are still a few uneven spots which can easily be avoided. I removed one rock and a few loose twigs but the trails are in reasonably good shape for early season.
The air temperature at the Elk Pass trailhead at 12 noon was -3 and the snow was -2. An hour later, on Hydroline, the snow temperature was -6. I used VR50(0/-4) and it worked well all day.
The thrill of the day was descending Hydroline where the conditions were excellent. The grooming was a couple hours old and the snow was firm and fast. Being an old codger and somewhat risk-averse, I had to snowplow on the final drop of doom to Elk Pass.
Fox Creek has not been groomed but it had pretty good snow cover with skier-set tracks. It was bumpy in places.
Pocaterra Hut is open but the Visitor Centre is still closed.