Thankfully the weather is cooperating and the park continues to get off and on snowfall the last few days – please keep doing your snow dances! The team has been out packing on the trails in Capilano, Goldbar, and Goldstick.
Note: the north shore trail previously had several spots melted through to the grass and pavement – caution still advised.
Goldstick/creek crossing/south loop previously icy – caution advised.
The best skiing will be found in Goldbar (two-way, treeline, Hadhirgaan, and Woodcutters) and Capilano.
Woodcutters is skier packed and skis overall well for the conditions.
The South-loop is skier tracked only since Monday and has seen less skier traffic. The base on the switchbacks is icy and uneven and waiting for some more snowfall to be at the standard of the other trails.
Expect a softer top-layer with a hard/icy base underneath overall – in some areas the new snow has bonded well to the old base, and in some areas there is an icy area underneath the fresh snow that can be felt with your skis and slips.
Caution advised: likely some thin spots in wind and sun exposed areas (grass coming through in select areas and some areas with gravel underneath have some gravel present) including: Esso hill, south loop east side and the steep climb at 101 ave, and the entrance climb into woodcutters, and the steep downhill/uphill at the creek crossing.
Rock skis recommended.
Please note, we still need increased snow pack depth before setting classical tracks. So at the present time, no classic tracks. Classical skiing is skier tracked only on the packed base.
Happy trails from your Edmonton Nordic Grooming Team