Category Archives: Banff National Park

Santa Updates Naughty And Nice List On Egypt Lake Tour

Egypt Lake Hut X-Mass Ski Tour

By John Cameron

Moderate temperatures and good snow greeted eight enthusiastic back country skiers at the Sunshine parking lot for our second mountain tour of the season.

The trail was well covered in snow and made the ascent easier as the wax and skins were holding well.  A lunch stop was made just before the last ascent on Healy Pass where 3 or more feet of snow greeted us. This made for some interesting moments on the way down to the cabin especially for yours truly having ventured out on his first real back country trip.

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Determined Skiers on Mosquito Creek & Molar Meadows Trip

Steve and Sandy lead the tour to Molar Meadows on the weekend of December 18-19. The temperatures were seriously cold, the forecast was optimistic as were the hardy skiers who showed up no matter what. (We booked that hostel bed and made that potluck dish and it is Alberta winter after all….) The hostel parent had changed since our last visit and most of us noted the hostel had been spiffed up, especially in the kitchen.

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Early season skiing, where to find the snow?

Nigel Pass Dec 2009, Nigel Pass Dec 2009

This is the fidgety time of the year, you can only wax your skis, sharpen your edges and check for loose screws so many times before you have to get out and find some snow. So what are your best bets for early season skiing?

I have seen a few online reports of skiers getting out on Rae and Robertson Glaciers but you may have to hike a bit to get to decent snow and be prepared for the hazards of glacier travel.

Looking over some of the Mountain Condition Reports from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides [ACMG] it sounds like there is significant snow accumulating in the Columbia Icefields area but the recent warm weather may have melted that away.

– For current Mountain Condition Reports from the ACMG check out: www.acmg.ca/mcr/

Moraine lake road in Banff National Park closes in early fall and does not require a lot of snow coverage to make it skiable. The road offers several kilometers of track-set skiing and an easy downhill on the way back.

– Check out the Ski Here! online blog for lots of local cross-country ski information: www.skihere.ca

The Canmore Nordic Centre has man-made snow in some areas which can help get a jump on the season and this year they built a small ski loop from snow stored over the summer. Contact them to check on current trail conditions: (403) 678-2400.

You might also find some early season skiing up at Chester Lake in Kananaskis Park.

Be aware that even early in the season avalanches can still be a factor!