Kananaskis Lookout Loop
Trip date: Monday Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by Gord F
Particpants:
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.