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Kananaskis Lookout Loop
Report Submitted by Gord F
(trip) Date: Monday Nov 28, 2022
Submitted: Monday Nov 28, 2022 at 19:28
Participants:
Myself, and a friendly trail-breaking rabbit
Discussion:
(Backdoor, Tyrwhitt, Elk Pass, Hydroline, Lookout)
I thought I'd better get a ski day in given the incoming colder weather. I was the only vehicle at the Backdoor parking lot at 9:45. About 2 cm fresh, -16 and calm. A chilly start but once I got my wax figured out, (green) I warmed up quickly. Looked like about 10cm fresh on Tyrwhitt, possibly blown into the skier track. Good coverage and fast going with only a few interruptions. When I arrived at the Elk Pass table, I was dismayed to see no broken trail on Hydroline and 15+ cm to plow. Luckily a friendly local rabbit had broken trail for almost a kilometer (see photo) so it made my task a bit easier. Perhaps they're taking up trail running? The south lookout trail was well-broken, likely more protected from drifting snow, and the small creek crossing at the bottom of the big steep hill was easily stepped over. It's a long slog up that hill even with skins, (I would hate to duckwalk all the way up that hill). I ran into another intrepid skier coming down the south lookout trail. It looked like he had the gear and skills to manage the steeper sections.
I was on Rossignol BC 65's and old 35mm Pomoca skins, probably the skinniest skins on earth. Once at the Lookout, the sun came out for 1/2 hour or so, and the temperature rose to -13. It was very chilly skiing down the north side of the Lookout in the shade and I noticed someone had cruised down on a snowboard, possibly a split board? Returning to the Backdoor parking lot, I noted I was still the only one parked there. Only 2 more days to access this lot as the highway closes Dec. 1.
High point on Tyrwhitt
Looking down Hydroline from Elk Pass
Rabbit broken trail on Hydroline
South Lookout creek crossing
Skis and Skins
No wind at the Lookout
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