Dec. 23, Still No Skiing

Sorry folks, but we still don't have enough snow to ski on. Over the past couple of days, we've received just a light dusting of new snow, so the ground is white, but it's definitely not enough to ski.

Do the snow dance!

Rather than getting more snow, we have been losing it with these mild temperatures. The week ahead looks to be mostly mild, so it's not likely to add to our snow base. The trails are ready, as soon as we have sufficient snow.

Sat. Dec. 8, 2018 - Still not enough snow

The temperature is nice, at -6, and we had a dusting of snow overnight. But there is still not enough snow on our trails for skiing. Keep your fingers crossed, and do the snowdance!

Dec. 5 - still no skiing

Over a week has gone by and we're still in a non-skiing mode. In fact, we've lost snow everywhere, so there are a lot of bare spots.
One thing we did, beginning December 1, is implement a closure of part of the Bruce Trail main trail to hikers, so it will be open only to skiers once the snow arrives. An alternate route for hikers and snowshoers has been opened, as well as the winter-only Peter's Path snowshoe trail. So, if you're a hiker as well as a skier, come on out and have a look at these new walking trails, just for a change of scenery.

November 24 - No skiing please

In spite of my post last weekend that our snow cover is not sufficient for skiing, I'm seeing evidence (ski tracks) that people have been here skiing over the past couple of days.
Although we have snow on the ground, it is very thin. There are rocks and roots just below the surface. At this time, I DO NOT RECOMMEND SKIING HERE. I don't want anybody getting hurt, so please wait until we have sufficient snow cover.
This afternoon, I cleared a large tree that had fallen on a downhill section of the trail. While I was there with the saw, I took down two other standing dead trees so they won't fall on the trail later on.

November 17 - there is snow, but not really enough

Someone skied here today and it wasn't me. But I don't think it was a very satisfying experience. We have about 10 cm of snow on the ground, but the bottom 5 cm is very wet - almost slush - sitting on unfrozen ground. If I were you, I'd wait a while before skiing here.

Map Updated

I have now placed an updated version of our trail map as a page in this blog. I'm sorry that the definition is not better. The blog required the file to be in jpg format, which doesn't give very high definition. A clearer version of the map, in pdf format,

is available on the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club website.

Getting ready for winter

Work continues in preparation for arrival of winter and skiing. About half the trail signs have been put up now. Over the past couple of weeks a large tree fell across the trail in the vicinity of the Mainline/Loggers/Pasture junction. It was about 2 hours work with the chainsaw to clear it away.

Before clearing

After clearing

News for Fall 2018

As winter approaches (hopefully), we have been doing some work on the trails. Three items are noteworthy:
1. A new trail has been added in the central area of the network, running north/south from Westside Story (5) to Hockleycrest (3), and also intersecting Central Park (6) and Field and Forest (10). This is an easy trail through pine plantation and across a regenerating field where a lot of cherry trees are found. It has been named Black Cherry, and numbered 23.
2. The section of Mainline (1) trail in the southeast corner of the network east of Tamarack, has been modified so that it is now skiable in both directions. A bypass route has been built around a steep twisty hill, so this trail can now be skied northbound as well as southbound.
3. The skate trails are being discontinued. These trails added a lot of effort on maintenance, and the section on the open field near trail #12 was almost impossible to keep groomed because of constant drifting. Only one skier was using the skate trails, and he has gone away to university, so there is not much point in maintaining them.

Otherwise, the network will be much the same as last year. We have been busy mowing grass and whacking weeds, and some levelling of the trail platform has been done in a couple of spots.  Protruding rocks have been removed where possible, and wood chips have been spread in a couple of places to cover obstacles.

Now all we need is snow and consistent cool temperatures. I sure hope the weather will be better this year than it was last year.

April 15 - Back in Business

Well, we could have been open for skiing today, if anybody could get here on the treacherous roads. With about 8 cm of fine grained ice pellets on the ground, we have a good firm base, with just enough loose granules on the surface to give good control.

March 29 - end of season

It's almost the end of March, and we have no snow left. Over the weekend, I will begin taking down ski trail signs. The section of Bruce Trail that was closed to hikers over the winter will re-open for walking. All ski-only and snowshoe trails are now closed until next winter.

Sunday, March 18

We had a little bit of new snow Friday morning, but as soon as the warm sun came out it disappeared. Sorry, but trails are still closed, and it looks like we may be done for the season.

Sat. March 3

The little bit of snow we received all disappeared with yesterday's sunshine. Trails are closed for skiing until further notice.

March 2 - new snow, but not enough

We've received a little bit of new snow, but it's not enough to re-open the trails. If we get more, and conditions become skiable, I will advise in an update.

Wed. Feb. 21 - Snow gone

Recent warm temperatures have melted all our snow. Trails are closed until further notice.

Trail #3 this morning

Fri. Feb. 16 - Don't ski

Yesterday's warm temperature turned our snow to slush. Now the temperature is dropping below 0, so the trails are very icy. I do NOT recommend skiing in these conditions.

Wed. Feb. 14 - No grooming for a while

Here sits my ATV, on Trail #3 Hockleycrest, near #19 Stonehedge. It won't move (until somebody comes from the repair shop and tows it away!). Sorry folks, but there won't be any grooming until it's repaired again. Conditions right now are a bit icy, but will probably get slushy later today as the temperature rises above 0. Skiing is not the greatest right now.

Tues. Feb. 13

The trails have developed a bit of icy crust on the surface, so they are fast, and a bit tricky in places. I managed to re-groom some of the central trails this afternoon, before the machine died on me. Those that I got done are skiing better.
I would suggest only very good skiers come at the moment.

Sunday update

All trails in the south half of the network have been packed this morning. The northern trails are not groomed, and will not be done today, as I'm having mechanical issues with the ATV again. The skiing is very good, on both the packed trails and the "back-country" trails. Around mid-day, we received some additional snow mixed with ice pellets; this amounted to about 2 cm. Precipitation has now ended. The snow pack is still predominantly powdery.

Sunday, Feb. 11 - Back from the North

I have just returned from my week of skiing at Stokely Creek Lodge near Sault Ste. Marie. I know there is new snow on the trails at Hockleycrest, and I will be going out to groom this morning. The photo below was NOT taken at Hockleycrest; it's on the Hakon Lien trail at Stokely Creek.

Sunday, Feb. 4

We received some new snow yesterday afternoon and last night, and are expecting about 5 cm more today. The skiing is getting better every day. I am not on site today, and will not be around over the next week, as I am headed to Stokely Creek Lodge, north of Sault Ste. Marie, for a week of serious skiing in serious snow country. This means there will be no grooming here at Hockleycrest until next Sunday at the earliest, so if you come to ski, it may have a bit of a back-country feeling. Enjoy!

Sat. Feb. 3

I'm just in from skiing. It's not bad out there. We got a light dusting of new snow overnight, and we are expecting more later today. If we get enough new snow to warrant it, I will groom later today. The snow cover is still thin, but it's getting better every day.
11 a.m. update: I have touched up the grooming in a few spots that were drifted in, and packed additional trail on Mainline as far north as the north junction of Hockleycrest and the northern part of Hockleycrest.

Fri. Feb. 2 - things are getting better

I was skiing this afternoon; it was not bad. We did NOT lose any snow yesterday, when the temperature got up to near 0. We received a dusting of new snow late this afternoon, and more snow is expected tomorrow and Sunday.

Wed. Jan. 31

With Monday's snowfall plus a little more today, we have just barely enough snow to ski on. I have rolled and combed some of the trails in the central area where the ground below is the smoothest. The snow cover is very thin. It is possible to ski, but it's not good skiing.

West Side Story trail where it passes my service area.

January 30 - New snow!

We have some new snow, but I'm not sure if it's enough to ski on. I'm not onsite today. A little more snow is forecast for tomorrow. I will advise tomorrow whether skiing is open again.

January 29 - return to winter

The warmth of the past week took away all of our snow, so there is still no skiing. But now that cooler weather has returned, there is a chance we may get back to some skiing. Some snow is forecast for tonight, and there may be some more on Wednesday. Stay tuned, and I'll let you know when the trails are ready again.

Jan. 24, 2018

After a couple of very warm days with rain, colder weather has returned briefly. We have lost almost all our snow. The little bit of snow that remained after the thaw has turned to either crust, or hard glare ice. All this is covered by about a half cm of new snow. Ski trails are still closed, and will be until further notice.
If you are walking any trails in the area, icers are recommended to prevent falling on the hidden icy patches.

Sun. Jan. 21 - No Skiing

The ski trails are closed. There is not sufficient snow.

Sat. Jan. 20 - losing our snow again

It has been possible to ski the past 4 days, but with warm temperatures today and tomorrow, it looks like we will lose most of our snow. I will be closing the trails today.

Thurs. Jan. 18

Conditions remain about the same here. There is just enough snow to ski on; it's definitely a bit thin in many places. Rock skis recommended. We're having a light snowfall here this morning. Every little bit helps, but with warm temperatures coming again this weekend, I don't think this snow is going to last very long.

Tues. Jan. 16 - Open again, but with Caution

We received about 7 cm of new snow yesterday and overnight. This is just enough to ski on, so I have taken down the Trails Closed sign. I skied about half the trails in the network this morning, and I would say the conditions are Fair at best. Wearing waxless skies, I heard the tell-tale buzz-saw sound of my ski bases contacting hard objects below the snow, on many occasions. Rock skis are recommended. There will be no grooming until we have more snow to work with.

Monday January 15 - trails closed

We still have very little snow cover on the trails, with only about 2 cm. With this little cover, I feel it is not safe to ski the trails, so I have put up a sign at the 5 Side Road access point, indicating Trails Closed.

Sat. Jan. 13 - No skiing today

The warm weather and rain has melted most of our snow, and what remains has now turned to ice. The little bit of snow we received as the temperature dropped is not sufficient to ski on.

Fri. Jan. 12 - assessing our losses

We lost a lot of snow yesterday. The temperature will drop rapidly today, followed by some snow. Once things have frozen up, I will go out and see what is left. No skiing today.

Thurs. Jan. 11 - No skiing

As I predicted yesterday morning, conditions on the trails were quite good up until noon yesterday, when the temperature climbed above 0 and light rain began.
Today will be warm and wet. Skiing is not recommended.

January 10 - Take a Break

We've been able to ski every day since before Christmas, but it looks like we will need to take a break over the next couple of days, as this mild weather moves through. Skiing should be OK today up until about noon, but after that I would not recommend skiing. Ice pellets, freezing rain, and then liquid rain are predicted later today and through tomorrow.

Tuesday Jan. 9 - still OK

The temperature here did NOT go above freezing yesterday, and we received about 4 cm of new snow. So, skiing today should be fairly good. Our problems will be on Wednesday and Thursday, when we are expecting much warmer temperatures.

Monday Jan. 8 - changes are coming

A couple of cm of new snow, and much milder temperatures means today and tomorrow should be good skiing.
Bad news on the horizon, as temperatures well above freezing, combined with rain, are predicted for Wednesday and Thursday.

Jan. 7 - warming up a little

Just in from my early morning ski; it's cool, at -18, but the forecast says it is going to warm up a bit. We are expecting some new snow later today, which will improve the surface condition on the trails. Currently, trail conditions are mostly good, with a few spots only fair due to drifting. My ATV is still in the repair shop, so there won't be any grooming for a few more days.

Jan. 6, 2018

We have received a little bit of new snow each of the past 2 days, so there is a bit of soft powder over the hard base. Trails remain about the same: fair to good, with a few drifted spots. It's very cold out there today, so dress appropriately with plenty of layers.

January 4, 2018

We received 1 to 2 cm of new snow yesterday. This will not be groomed. It helps to provide a softer surface on the hard packed base below. Trail conditions remain about the same: fair to good. There are a few drifted sections in open areas.

Jan. 3 - more wind

We received about 1 cm of new snow yesterday, accompanied by strong westerly winds. Trails in exposed areas definitely experienced some drifting.
We have some wind again this morning, and it feels colder than the -16 indicated on the thermometer. Trail conditions remain fair to good, varying according to whether the wind has blown the new snow onto or off of the trail surface. The firm base of older snow still remains intact.

January 2 - a little warmer

It's a balmy -10 this morning, although there is some wind. Trail conditions remain about the same: fair to good. We received about 1 cm of new snow yesterday in a 15 minute squall, and it improved the feel of the trails significantly to have that soft powder on top.
There will be no new grooming done until the ATV has been repaired.

Happy New Year!

I've just come in from my morning ski with the dog; it's a little warmer out there this morning, with a reading of -17! There is some light snow falling at the moment. We could certainly use a bit of new snow, as the surface of the trails has become quite firm over the past week, with consistent cold temperatures and no new powder on top.
I would rate conditions today at fair to good, with the best skiing on the north end trails, because they get the least use.
I went out and did a little grooming on West Side Story, Tornado Alley, and Around the Pines, but I didn't get far before my ATV broke down. I had to leave the roller/comb next to the trail. The ATV will go into the repair shop tomorrow, so there will not be any grooming for at least the next week.