Saturday, April 23, 2011

Snow Report: April 23/11 Sunny

Howdy...no snow today, +6 and sunny. Snow was melting in the yard but Beers went for a tour on our trail and said the trail was holding up really really well. Said they rode close and it was still winter riding even on stuff a couple of days old. The guests went to Alexander and said they were still getting stuck with at least 8-10 inches of fresh snow. Trend is to start warming up so all that base is going to harden up to hero snow but there is about 7-12 feet under you in any one place. Watch the slopes getting sun in the afternoon and enjoy!

Oh I wanted to update you on a message from Fernie Snowmobile Association:

"Morrissey Road is open to Snowmobilers for 3 weeks." They have ploughed a turnaround before the yellow bridge (after the switchback). "Please do not take trailers past this point. As per Tembec's requirement the road is blocked to truck traffic @ the catski turnoff past the big rock." They report that they have RECORD snowfall in the alpine and remind people to be safe and have fun.

Cheers -V

Friday, April 22, 2011

Snow Report: April 22/11 Winter Again!

Okay plain and short. 4-5 INCHES of SNOW. Can't make a snowman out of it cause it is too fluffy. Trees are layden heavy with snow. Come and play - you will not regret it - new cabin still open for ya! Cheers - V

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Snow Report: April 21/11 OMG SNOWING TONS

I can't believe I can't upload photos! You would not believe this! It is snowing as hard as the hardest snowfall we had all season. Straight down, huge flakes and the train moving by is white. The highway is barely visible except for people's lights and it is not letting up at all.

Brian and Lou's gang arrived and said visibility on the highway was very sketchy. Can you imagine how this will add up on the foot of fresh up top if it is going this hard down here. We have lost visibiltiy of the mountains on and off all day but this is is thicker than ever.

I have the new cabin open. I can't believe there isn't a group familair with this place and my posts that isn't jumping at this. Cheers! V

Snow Report: April 21/11 - Conditions Update

Hi - Jason and his crew rode the Notch and Barnes area and accessed it via the pipeline. They said it was fantastic snow with a Foot of Fresh snow up top and set up under that. They said the pipeline started out great but by the time they had ridden it for a few days and others had too that yesterday it was rough. They said they went everywhere and are planning on coming back soon to ride again. Just thought it was worth a mention. Cheers - V

Snow Report: April 21/11 Snowing again

Hi - yesterday it didn't snow and got to +3. Snow down here at the Inn was getting heavy and sticky.

But.....this morning it is SNOWING AGAIN and picking up on intensity too. I think it will be a couple of cm accumulation is my guess but nothing huge but...great for this time of year! Had a couple of calls on the new cabin but no bookings yet - $150 per night flat rate if you want it. We will be closed from April 28th to May 11th - although I think we could stay open for hardcore sledders wanting to chalk up May riding. Just looked out the window again and the flakes have doubled in size. Amazing. Guests leave today and a new group arrives tonight! Cheers -V

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Snow Report: April 19/11 Afternoon Snow

Hi, well it went up to zero just now and started snowing so thick I could not see Sentry Mtn to East or the lake or valley to the west. I could only see the trees across the road and not the tower. We got about a cm out of it and now it is lightly snowing with visibility clearing here at the Inn but still thick on either end of the valley. Crazy. Not melting. Just thought I would update you incase we had more than a day without snow. Cheers -V

Snow Report: April 19/11

Just a dusting of snow yesterday and temps stayed cool. No snow last night and clear skies this morning - great for visibility up top. It is -9 this morning.

Yesterday the guys went to Limestone and said it was heaven! Lots of snow and they played all day! They said it was awesome. Flathead it rough that first 5km but that is to be expected. Our trail is getting rough also so my recommendation is that you trailer to your staging area and save your back but we still have guests riding from here and it has plenty of snow base. Curt and Ezzy were playing in the cutblocks just out back and weren't touching stumps - jumping, climbing banks - they had a blast in the trees. Steve-0 you would love it!

We still have the new cabin available for this weekend for the special rate of $150 flat per night - no extra for extra guys. It will sleep 4. BBQ and hot tub, just bring your food and beverages and you are set for some excellent better than normal spring riding! When it isn't worth coming I will say so and it is still good. Cheers -V

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Snow Report: April 17/11 Still Snowing

Hi -it is still snowing steady with big flakes! We have at least another inch over night. It had stopped during the night but has started up again this morning and is picking up in intensity. Temp is -3. Did I say there would be no more powder on our trail.....shame on me. Cheers -V

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Snow Report: April 16/11 - Snow all Day

Hi -wish I could get my photos uploaded cause you wouldn't believe it! It has been snowing big flakes and not lightly all day with visibility being very impaired in stretches and it wasn't blowing. Derrick and his crew went out to Corbin and up just to Barnes meadow and lake and said it was FANTASTIC. Snow was at least 1.5 ft of powder up on the lake. We have at least 3 more inches from this morning with no sign of the snow letting up. Curt thinks he is going to push snow tomorrow. The snow is fluffy too! Curt's clutch needs love so if anyone has a machine they are parting out give him a call. Cheers -V

Snow Report: April 16/11 - More snow

Sorry - can't download the photo but there it is zero and snowing. We currently have 2 inches of new fluffy snow from overnight with more on the way. No signs of it stopping snowing today. Reports from Les and his crew are that there was a foot of fresh snow within the first 20km on the Flathead trail. The alpine will be wonderful! The first 5km of the Flathead is rough but it improves per usual the further down you go. Their crew went all the way to Sage creek and back. They are trying Coal Leach road area today. We still have the new cabin open next weekend if riding late in April on the best snow this time of year since the 70's is on your bucket list! Cheers -V

Friday, April 15, 2011

Snow Report: April 15/11


Zero degrees, clearer skies and a light 2cm dusting of snow overnight. Haven't seen our guests - they are busy riding longer hours with more daylight. We are supposed to keep getting dusted with snow for the next couple of days. Just started to lightly snow a bit right now. Ride Sally Ride! Cheers - V

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Snow Report: April 14/11

Another 2 inches this morning! Snowed all night and so there will be more up top than down here. More snow in the forecast and still snowing lightly here and up top. Zero degrees and the highway was a bit icy in Crowsnest this morning. Avy report is moderate and low but with warm temps or south facing slopes that changes over the course of a day so pick your terrain carefully and have fun!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Snow Report: April 13/11

It is +3 here at the house this evening and snowing lightly - picking up a bit as the temp drops. As you can see itis snowing up top too. We are booked this weekend with sledders but have availability next week and only the new cabin available for Easter weekend (Log is booked with sledders). Still worth riding but I would again say save your energy and stage closer to the area you want to ride instead of riding our trail - it is holding up great but there won't be any more powder on it this season.....I ...think....LOL - Special rate still on - Cheers! V

Monday, April 11, 2011

Snow Report: April 11/11


Good Morning - its snowing. We had our first bit of rain this morning, drizzling here at -2 and spitting in Crowsnest Pass with clearing skies to the east. Looked like it was snowing up top and as soon as I sat down to write this it dropped a degree and started snowing down here.


Reports from guests this weekend and from Justin and his crew (frequent sledders here) were that Heartbreak and Rain Gauge were amazing with one crew going up and over from one to the other. Lots of snow - even fresh to the tune of 4-6 inches and it wasn't totally hero snow yet so there were lots of chances to get stuck. Another group went to Limestone and said it was still fluffy up there too. Another group went to the Notch and although the trail is starting to get rough there wasn't too much gleezing about it. They said that there was lots of fresh snow the further south you went it got a few inches deeper. There was a crust layer in places with loose snow underneath - a note for picking steeper terrain and avoiding slides. Rave reviews all around saying they haven't seen this good of snow at this time of year in a very very long time.


Thought I would show you our yard. Snow still piled up. Our road is thawing and the dirt is showing through in about 1/3 of the yard. I wanted to show you the "line" where the snow starts and that our trail still has a bunch of snow on it but at this time of year I would save your muscles and endurance for riding the trees and saddles by staging as close to the alpine area you want to ride as possible. Right now snow is being lost around the 4500ft mark in this area - we are at 4600ft. You'll be riding around the 6000-7500ft level for reference.


We are still open for sledders! Special rate of $150/night flat until I don't think the snow is worth spending your vacation days or dollars on. Then you will have about a month to winterize your sled (unless you are hardcore and are going to try for June sledding which is possible if you aren't afraid of a bit of gravel) and get your quad/dirt bike tuned! Tim (Over the Top Rentals in Calgary) if you & Tom have a few days off - its still worth it! Cheers - V

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Snow Report: April 7/11 Every Day...Snow

Hi - my computer was down again but it is fixed now! It has been snowing every day and the report from my guests on Tues was that the trail was in really good shape and the cut blocks posed all the "getting stuck" opportunities they required. Scott and his gang from Brooks were here and rode the Flathead all the way down to Pollock Creek and said there was 6 inches of fresh fluffy snow on the trail. We have been getting 1-2cm daily with big flakes falling on and off round the clock down here at the house alone. There is tons of snow and in all kinds of conditions: hero snow, fresh, the heavy wet is now a bit crusty but not too bad and that layer of sugar still sits a couple of feet down. This and the warm weather trend for this weekend will awaken some slopes so per the avy report for South Rockies...watch the west, sw, south and se slopes when it starts to warm up. Better yet - go to www.avalanche.ca and read the south rockies report. Plenty of safe riding with lots of challenges to pick instead of climbs. Practice turning tight radius deep snow turns and dodging trees instead. We are booked this weekend but open the next weekend (Apr 15th) and we only have the new cabin available Easter weekend (Apr 22nd) as more snowmobilers have already booked the log for that weekend. Oh ya - we won't quit til the snow isn't worth it - no sign of that yet! Cheers -V

Sunday, April 3, 2011

A couple more photos from April 2/11






Yep. April 2/11. Today Cooper and Wade went into Tent and no tracks. Wade said just that little jaunt today was worth the drive here let alone yesterday. We have blue sky now around 5pm but temps are holding and cool. Avy report has more snow in the forecast for Monday. Be safe - V

GOT THE PHOTOS FROM APRIL 2/2011





Need I say more. Call if you want a cabin to come ride April at our place! Cheers -V

Snow Report: April 3/11 EPIC SNOW

I can't believe it - I cannot upload photos again. ARRRRGH! We got 18 inches of fresh snow dumped on us Friday night. The crew from Rouleau woke up and watching their faces as they looked out the window was hilarious. Curt had to push snow there was no way anyone was getting out or into this place. Then we all went for a ride - EPIC, FANTASTIC, BOON DOCKING on the trails! Stuck, oh man did you get stuck when you let off or fell off. It was a great day and we played all day in safe places and were worn out! The photos are great. It will be a week before I can get the computer fixed and the program put back on but I am gonna post them when I do. Check out the avy report as this new snowfall and temps warming (been -3 which is great) will influence the terrain you pick but the cutblocks are so deep it is crazy fun. Limestone will be great if you can get up the drainage - Jason said on Friday it was almost blown in and that was before this snowfall. We are still OPEN for sledding business. New cabin is booked for April 8th weekend but Log is still open and we are extending the special rate of $150 flat. YAHOOO......V

Friday, April 1, 2011

Snow Report: April 1/11 Snow Warning @ Crowsnest






No April Fools - it is really starting to snow this evening. Started around 6pm and it is supposed to snow 10-15 cm tonight and 10-15cm on Saturday. Got a good start on it already.



I now have photos! The guys and our guests report at least 6 inches of fresh fluffy new snow up top. Was +4 down here and we are still slushy in the yard but again - not enough warmth to show dirt in the yard and no rain down here. They said the trail in in good shape, the Flathead is a bit rough the first 5 km but is still not spring bad. Rain Gauge back bowls were blown out but the trees were great and safer and Limestone has a ton of snow in it - no tracks anywhere in either. Trail up to Barnes is b-buster but worth it. Jumping into the snow it was coming up over the hood - How long can this last? Wow.



There is an special avalanche bulletin for the Crowsnest/Elk Valley and Lizard Range so go to www.avalanche.ca and know what terrain to avoid and then have a blast on the rest of it. We will still offer the late season special of $150 per cabin (now we have only two) flat rate. Cheers -V