Catarract/Etherington/Fording pass conditions 2010/2011

[neddacsac]

Won't be long so I thought I would get a thread going for this year!

 

[takethebounce]

ummm...I say late Feb early March....

 

[neddacsac]

We rode 2 times by now last year.

 

[Volksnutt]

I heard Parks wont be doing any grooming this year on the trails. Hope the snow holds, I have yet to ride out in Catarract/Etherington.

 

[neddacsac]

So the trails should the same as they are every year!

 

[Shibby!]

So the trails should the same as they are every year!

Full of rocks ready to rip off your carbids?

=)

 

[BRP QSC]

Full of rocks ready to rip off your carbids?

=)

So very true

 

[fnDan]

I heard Parks wont be doing any grooming this year on the trails. Hope the snow holds, I have yet to ride out in Catarract/Etherington.

Won't be doing a family day there I guess.
Is there anywhere closer than Crowsnest for family trail riding?
I know Mclean Crk is on a 15 year cycle for sledding... once every 15 years you can ride there.

 

[jaredszakacs]

not to many other areas around etherington area other than the pass and then over to golden unfortunately!! i wish that area got some more snow I would really really like to ride there

 

[neddacsac]

There have been a few good days had back over fording!

 

[BRP QSC]

not to many other areas around etherington area other than the pass and then over to golden unfortunately!! i wish that area got some more snow I would really really like to ride there

Ive been down to cataract when there has been over 2 feet if fresh....But the best riding area is the fording and its a rough ride getting over there sometimes poor skis

 

[BRP QSC]

And the biggest problem is that you never know when they get snw because the trail report isnt very accurate... its a crap shoot but it can be fun down there


Ok Heres one for you is there a trail at the southend of cataract that leads over the mountains to the west or is fording the only one? I ask because last year there was a group that appeared covered in snow and it must have been deep where they were and I scouted around a few times and dont know where they popped out from. Would be nice to know because i have heard that there is a couple of nice bowls back there
RP

 

[neddacsac]

I have heard there is a trail near the south end of the trail network but I can't think of the name. As for snow reports, we ride there quite a bit so I will try to update often.

 

[Klingon Warrior]

And the biggest problem is that you never know when they get snw because the trail report isnt very accurate... its a crap shoot but it can be fun down there


Ok Heres one for you is there a trail at the southend of cataract that leads over the mountains to the west or is fording the only one? I ask because last year there was a group that appeared covered in snow and it must have been deep where they were and I scouted around a few times and dont know where they popped out from. Would be nice to know because i have heard that there is a couple of nice bowls back there
RP

You can ride south past the Old Man Falls, but going west is off limits,
Don Getty Parkland and closed to motorized, there are trails going over to the Silvermines, again, off limits, there have been recent years down there when there was 8 - 10 feet and more in places, and hopefully we'll see that again,,

 

[*Joemama*]

^^^ best day ever at catarract last year
tons of snow actually couldent feel the bumps last year
lets hope for similar conditions this year

 

[BRP QSC]

My son and I went there last year and didnt see anyone for 2 hours and wow the powder was great... is there any snow there yet this year ?
RP

 

[*Joemama*]

my buddy went for a cruise up that way a week ago and he said there was a thin layer of white. he didnt turn off for cateract he only went through longview but the pass could already have lots and no one would know.

 

[calgarysledguy]

alittle snow on the Ama.Wish it was 2 feet+

 

[GasCan]

Cataract doesn't open to sleds until December 1st. Our first day last year was Dec 5th when it dumped 8" in the parking lots, and up to 4-5 feet at the top of Skyline (7200'). I went with 2 others and it was trail breaking in an average depth of 3' all day long with no base.

Last ride of the year was April 29th with Calgarysledguy and we pounded through a late spring dump of 3' or so that day as well. If you want to ride Cataract, watch for the snow squals that fall SE of Golden, and when it dumps over the pass, load up and go have fun.

As far as the grooming, it's probably not going to be any worse than last year when they only groomed some trails once. Best riding is over Skyline and down the meadows on the far south end of the logging road towards Old Man. There's a couple decent meadows back there but you have to wait for a good dump before it's really good riding back there.

Once in a while you get lucky and hit the fresh like a few of us got last year. Had a few awesome days out there. If anyone tells you there's no snow in Cataract Creek, tell them to look at the pictures in this thread. That'll silence the lambs!

 

[BRP QSC]

Yup so true. been down there twice last year when it was hammered. and I find that nobody rides south on the road and that was epic for 25 kms...powder all the way and what a blast. hoping that we get a dump on the 30th of november
RP