PLPP X-C Ski Trails February 20, 2020

Today was the 13th time this season that I clipped into my X-C Skis and glided off into a dreamy white winter-wonderland.  It's the most I ever skied in a season and I notice the improvement from early season to now.  Here's hoping for more opportunities to ski in March to continue building up on confidence, time will tell.  Today's focus was on keeping momentum throughout all the ups and downs, minimal stops with only a few photos.     

We were four today starting from the Elk Pass Parking Lot in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.  Our plan was to hit Elk Pass via Fox Creek, return the same way then ski along Moraine, Wheeler, Amos  finishing up by crossing the road and skiing the trail that leads to William Watson Lodge where we would catch our ride back to the city. Along the way we would dine in the sunshine.  

🎵nothing buy blue skies, smiling at me🎵

Look at that corduroy!

Where will we go next?

view from Blueberry Junction

view while dining

our route for the day

It was a day of many ups and downs and I thoroughly enjoyed them all except the last two kilometres or so as I began to fade.  Working at keeping momentum the entire time caught up with me.  I know I can improve on this the more I am out there and the longer I spend out there.  The long gradual down hill stretches where I maintained a speed of about 18 to 20 kms/hr for many minutes were the most enjoyable.   

It was a great day out there in our playground!

The successes I experience each time ignite the fire within to get out there again.  

We will see what March brings!

Emerald Lake Alluvial Fan X-C Ski February 13, 2020

When the opportunity to X-C Ski out in Yoho National Park at Emerald Lake was offered, I quickly jumped on board to partake.  I stayed there for three nights in early December but did not ski around Emerald Lake or the Alluvial Fan so today was the day to clip in and glide off into that winter-wonderland.  It was quiet, there was new snow, it was whiter than white, there was no wind, it was minus single digits, it was all those good things!

At the starting point, there are signs to show where skiers and snowshoers should go.  

We skied across Emerald Lake in the set track which was somewhat icy and wobbly.  At the junction for the Horse Trail, four of us opted to leave the Lake behind and ascend to the groomed track through the forest and glide along its little ups and downs to the far end of the Lake.  When we popped out of the forest the sky now had hints of blue and the pillowy meadows went on and on and on.

We took a few minutes at the next junction to delayer and to decide which direction we wanted to ski around the Alluvial Fan.  We were all in agreement to head in a counter clockwise direction. Once again there were signs showing where skiers and snowshoers should go.

Before heading off I secured my ski stop shot!

following my friends along the Alluvial Fan

view as we glided along

 We stopped to admire the peaks peeking through and the frozen blue waterfalls.

We completed the Alluvial Fan Loop and arrived back out at the head of Emerald Lake.  We took a lunch break here.  That is a bench to sit on.  The shovel remains here to shovel out a spot to sit.  Watch where you walk if you take your skis off, the snow is soooo deep!

After lunch we still had time on our side so we went for another smooth glide around the Alluvial Fan but this time in a close-wise direction.  The track was still as perfect, it was so peaceful and so quiet and so enjoyable.  We completed the loop again, ascended to the Horse Trail and glided along to the end and crossed Emerald Lake back to where we began our day.

The store was open but I did not go in! 

After dropping off my skis and changing out of my ski boots, I took a stroll to check out today's reflection.  By now it was overcast again with light flurries.  It remained on the warmer side so there was no need to be bundled up.

passing by the cabins on my way to the Lodge

Outside the Lodge!

Inside the Lodge!

We gathered around relaxing on the sofas with our beverages.  

We shared stories with each other about our experiences.  

The snowshoers and skiers all smiled wide as we always do after a day in our mountain playground.      

PLPP Trails X-C Ski February 6, 2020

The perfect place to feel the love today was Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.  I looked forward to gliding along X-C Ski tracks that were new to me.  Once again we would be spoiled with one of those one-wayers starting from Elk Pass and finishing at the Discovery Centre.  In between we would ski on sections of Boulton Creek, Moraine and Wheeler with short sections of other tracks included.  The more I ski the more I enjoy it, I am doing better at maintaining momentum, my confidence level is improving and this comes from being "out & about" with supportive friends.  We did experience a comedy of errors that would have been ideal footage for America's Funniest Home Videos but it was not a priority to capture it but rather gather ourselves and make sure everyone was O.K.!

The weather was perfect as were the views.

We were a group of ten and it was only us that we each saw for the entire stretch of our ski except for  two or three minutes as we neared the end when we saw a few others through the trees. We had a sky that looked like this all day.  Some sections had been groomed and track set last night.  What more could we ask for?

Views like this had me stopping in my tracks to secure physical memories.

Gliding in perfect tracks over rolling hills was such a delight.  

We took a break here to savour the scenery and to secure some solo shots. 

We continued along the trail to the picnic bench to dine.  Lunch was just long enough to refuel, snap a few shots and carry on some conversation on how to solve some world problems. We had success with the refueling and snapping shots but that's it!

For the next section we spaced ourselves apart to allow for what was to come.  We were aware to a degree of the degree of challenge ahead, but for some of us that degree of challenge came as a surprise.  We were successful with the steep down hill and the very sharp blind quick turn right but then wam bam!  Immediately we had a short steep uphill and here we had a five person pile up, yes a pile up on a short steep uphill.  Five people down, five people trying to stand up on a steep uphill!  I yelled out to warn the others still to come, not to come, that everyone was down!  Thankfully we were all O.K. and afterwards chuckled about it as it did look like a comedy of errors!

All upright and back gliding again, we continued on Wheeler.  

We were aware of the Ski For Light event taking place and came about the signs notifying us so.  

From beginning to end the weather and the views were ideal!

It looks pretty perfect to me!

We arrived at the Discovery Centre, geared down then entered to where we could unload the layers, loosen the boot laces and sip & savour some snacks.  My choice along with a couple of friends was to just relax while the others enjoyed a short film in the theatre about wolves.

This was our view from the deck at the Discovery Centre.

Today's enjoyable outing is exactly what ignites the fire to get back out there again!   

Fairview/Moraine/Tramline/BowRiver X-C Ski January 23, 2020

As today went on one word worked its way to the forefront of my vocabulary and that word was "dreamy".  I joined up with my Thursday friends to spent the day gliding all over the place on groomed tracks around the Lake Louise area.  I spent a few days here two weeks ago but I can never get enough of this beauty so I went back for more.  Today we were afforded one of those one-wayers which meant starting up top and ending down bottom.  We followed Fairview to Moraine to Tramline to the Village then included a big portion of the Bow River Loop.  The whole way was "dreamy".

We were greeted with a thin layer of brand new snow all underneath a blue sky.

The Fairview section of X-C Ski Tracks is my favourite.  

I glided along following a friend through the winding snow laden tree lined maze.

 arriving at the meadow section...

 ...and then skiing through it.

 A bit of cloud hoovered around for awhile which was a tease of the mountain views.

The conditions for snowplowing down the steeper sections was the best I have ever experienced.  

The last little downhill here popped us out onto the Moriane Lake Trail.  

 my ski stop shot

We glided down to the Tramline and followed it the whole way back to the train station. We then skied a portion of the Bow River track which took us back to the edge of Lake Louise Village and we walked the balance of the way to the Discovery Center.  This was the perfect place to sit inside on a comfy sofa to enjoy our lunch.

 We are inside in behind all that ice and snow.

With time on our side after lunch, we headed over to another starting spot of the Bow River Loop and and tacked on a few more kilometers of "dreamy" X-C Skiing.   It was at this point when my right ski began to stick every now and then, thankfully I was able to keep control and avoid any face planting.

 just gliding along

 view from the bridge as we exited the soft-sided section of the campground

 Something as simple as this and I need to stop to offer some admiration!

 beautiful blue + wonderful white = "dreamy"

 We removed our skis, crossed the road and had a short up hill walk back to Lake Louise Village.

We all raved about what a gorgeous day it was at our Lake Louise playground.  

Looking around at my friends, all I saw were the biggest brightest smiles.

Yes, we are fortunate to have all this "dreamy" beauty so close to home!