West Bragg Creek - Telephone Loop
Trip date: Saturday Apr 06, 2024
Submitted by Alf Skrastins
Particpants:
Discussion:
With all of the new snow at West Bragg Creek, I decided to do another lap on Telephone Loop, before it all melts away.
There was a good freeze overnight and a dusting of new snow, but it was already above 0C when I started out. East Telephone was quite easy and fast, on a firm packed base... thanks to the single track that the fat-bike groomers had packed yesterday afternoon, on their way back from Long Distance. The tracked motorcycles leave a packed tread that is exactly as wide as a skier-set touring track. However, that track width doesn't vary between flats, uphills or downhills.
Beyond the Long Distance Junction at the top end of Telephone Loop, there were no tracks at all. Just lots of untouched snow for trail breaking.
The temperature got up to +7C and the April sun added even more melting power to the snowpack. The snow got wetter and heavier into the afternoon. If it freezes overnight, that will create a pretty good crust in the morning.
This was my 8th lap around Telephone Loop this season. Five on skis and 3 on a fat-bike (when it was way too hard packed and icy for skiing... but perfect for fat biking).