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2024-03-24 at 18:20 - comment by GordN
Thanks Mike,
In all my 30 odd years of skiing K-Country I never knew that! For X-Country, I was aware of the Alpine version.
2024-03-24 at 12:44 - comment by Mike W
It sounds like the ski patroller was talking about the hill whose top is about 1km from the parking lot, and drops down to the Fox Creek junction on the far side. CAN ANYONE PROVIDE FIRST-HAND INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THAT PART OF THE TRAIL?
The patroller apparently said "a larger group had also torn up the TRACKS leading down the hill the other side." But there are no machine-set tracks on that side of the hill because it's too steep. And I'm mystified as to how snowshoes could "tear up" the slope. In any case, that section of the Elk Pass trail is officially shared with snowshoers who have every right to be there, assuming they weren't intentionally wrecking the slope. Ray - Can you provide any clarification?
Snowshoers should not have been on the Elk Pass Trail between the parking lot and the top of the hill, since there's a dedicated snowshoe trail for that section. There are certainly people who knowingly ignore signage and courtesy, including skate skiers who slash the classic tracks and classic skiers who do the same by herringboning up the tracks (sometimes unavoidable on narrow trails or if skiers are coming down right next to them). But others share some of the blame. The ACC goes into great detail about the Elk Lakes Cabin rules and regulations, but provides little information about PLPP rules and regulations, and exactly where the snowshoe route is. The snowshoe trail signs are tiny and not immediately obvious; they could be a lot larger. Likewise for the "trail for skiers only" signs. And on the same signpost should be another sign showing where the snowshoe trail is. I've spoken to both the ACC and Kananaskis Parks about this. The ACC now provides a somewhat better map, but still no info about PLPP rules (such as not leaving leftover food on the Elk Pass picnic table).
GordN - There are indeed volunteer ski patrollers in PLPP.
2024-03-24 at 11:31 - comment by JillJ
I am a snowshoer and get so angry when I hear of that my fellow s-shoers have no respect for ski trails. There is a perfectly good snowshoe trail up to Elk Pass along the tree line to the south. Maybe that gang like the look of a nicely packed track rather than having to break trail on the dedicated SS trail. Sheesh. Has there ever been any enforcement of the trail regulations? Sorry your tracks were destroyed.
2024-03-23 at 18:16 - comment by GordN
Ski patroller??! What the...?
Snowshoers on Elk Pass
Report Submitted by Ray Yong
(trip) Date: Saturday Mar 23, 2024
Submitted: Saturday Mar 23, 2024 at 00:13
Participants:
Me
Discussion:
When I was at the Pocaterra hut this afternoon, I was talking with a ski patroller. She said she was climbing the Elk Pass trail from the parking lot and saw a number of snowshoers on the ski trail. When she got to the top of that climb, not only had those people wrecked the tracks, but apparently a larger group had also torn up the tracks leading down the hill the other side. I haven't seen how bad the damage is, nor how far it goes, but she was pretty upset about it, and felt it was so bad, only grooming would fix it.
Just thought I'd let you know, in case you're heading that way...
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