Trail Conditions for Calgarians

PB Forum :: All Mountain, Enduro & Cross-Country
Trail Conditions for Calgarians
Author Message
flag tcwarne
Posted: May 19, 2013 at 18:55 Quote
Reminder of an excellent link to check how much rain fell:
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/basins/Map.aspx?Basin=8&DataType=6

Just click on the dot nearest where your interested in. For other areas in Alberta just go back to the main apps/basins/Map.aspx link.
Looks like Calgary and Banff pretty much missed all the rain. Moose area got 20mm ish. Check for yourselves and make sure to bookmark it for future use.
flag aka-bigsteve
O+
Posted: May 19, 2013 at 20:29 Quote
The sun came out late in the afternoon in Calgary after gloomy skies all day, motivating me to get out for a spin through Bowmont and 12 Mile.
Excellent dry conditions.
Maybe could have used a little more of that early morning rainshower to settle some of the dustier trails.
flag tcwarne
Posted: May 20, 2013 at 14:32 Quote
Another reminder for newbs, forgetful:

XC Trails that dry quick (Moose, West Bragg area)
Below is list (roughly in order) of XC trails that dry out pretty quick after rain (good today):
1/ Road - yes, seriously - tarmac dries very fast and does not get damaged by bike tires!!
2/ Lower Sulphur/Elbow (skip the bit near Station Flats and enter the trail opposite Paddy's Flats)
3/ Rest of Elbow out to Powderface (Canyon Creek flows fast after rain but I've never seen it impossible to walk through - your pooch may end up in Calgary tho)
The next few take a little longer (should be good tomorrow):
4/ Husky/UShoulda (some puddles once your onto Elbow at the bottom)
5/ Pneuma (above upper Sulphur to Moosepackers, bottom sections take longer)
6/ Lookout road down to Moosepackers and Moosepackers itself (a few streams on the old road part but mostly a path around)
Next set take a little longer again (maybe tomorrow evening before next onslaught of rain):
7/ Ridgeback (top two and bottom section, R2 has had some great reroutes but still has some mud issues also this trail is 'younger' than the above so prone to more damage if you ride it wet - use the old Tom Snow trail to skip the muddier sections)
8/ Braggin Rights, Long Distance, Sugar Mamma and Ranger Summit South in West Bragg (unfort all loops will involve riding some really ugly areas which take a lot longer to dry out - ride out+backs or if you absolutely have to ride a 'loop' then use the XC ski trails)

Please take 5mins planning rides.
1/ Know what dries/what doesn't.
2/ See earlier web-link for precipitation levels.
3/ Check trail reports on sites like bike pirate (or take a few mins and trawl thru this forum)
4/ Work out if there has been heavy rain where you want to ride since the report was written - IMPORTANT STEP!
5/ Ride smart, be flexible on route (ie change it if conditions are bad, be prepared to ride out+backs), have fun!

If your journey time is 1h+ then doesn't it make sense to take 5mins to think about where the best conditions will be? You'll save 5x that in bike cleaning time even if you don't care at all about the mess you leave behind!!

Thanks. If you ever want any further info please PM me or ask trail crews on a trail day.
flag SJdude
Posted: May 20, 2013 at 15:13 Quote
The high line is damp and tacky. Hero dirt. No mud at all. Still one ice floe to cross but not difficult. Boat loads of hikers and the odd Nutter...
flag jdm-dsm
Posted: May 20, 2013 at 16:53 Quote
tcwarne wrote:
Another reminder for newbs, forgetful:

XC Trails that dry quick (Moose, West Bragg area)
Below is list (roughly in order) of XC trails that dry out pretty quick after rain (good today):
1/ Road - yes, seriously - tarmac dries very fast and does not get damaged by bike tires!!
2/ Lower Sulphur/Elbow (skip the bit near Station Flats and enter the trail opposite Paddy's Flats)
3/ Rest of Elbow out to Powderface (Canyon Creek flows fast after rain but I've never seen it impossible to walk through - your pooch may end up in Calgary tho)
The next few take a little longer (should be good tomorrow):
4/ Husky/UShoulda (some puddles once your onto Elbow at the bottom)
5/ Pneuma (above upper Sulphur to Moosepackers, bottom sections take longer)
6/ Lookout road down to Moosepackers and Moosepackers itself (a few streams on the old road part but mostly a path around)
Next set take a little longer again (maybe tomorrow evening before next onslaught of rain):
7/ Ridgeback (top two and bottom section, R2 has had some great reroutes but still has some mud issues also this trail is 'younger' than the above so prone to more damage if you ride it wet - use the old Tom Snow trail to skip the muddier sections)
8/ Braggin Rights, Long Distance, Sugar Mamma and Ranger Summit South in West Bragg (unfort all loops will involve riding some really ugly areas which take a lot longer to dry out - ride out+backs or if you absolutely have to ride a 'loop' then use the XC ski trails)

Please take 5mins planning rides.
1/ Know what dries/what doesn't.
2/ See earlier web-link for precipitation levels.
3/ Check trail reports on sites like bike pirate (or take a few mins and trawl thru this forum)
4/ Work out if there has been heavy rain where you want to ride since the report was written - IMPORTANT STEP!
5/ Ride smart, be flexible on route (ie change it if conditions are bad, be prepared to ride out+backs), have fun!

If your journey time is 1h+ then doesn't it make sense to take 5mins to think about where the best conditions will be? You'll save 5x that in bike cleaning time even if you don't care at all about the mess you leave behind!!

Thanks. If you ever want any further info please PM me or ask trail crews on a trail day.


Thanks for taking the time to make this list/guide. Very handy.
flag alkos
O+
Posted: May 20, 2013 at 19:31 Quote
Rode PV/JP today. Lots of hikers from Barrier Lake.

The climb up the fire road is 95% dry. A few mud patches that can easily be ridden around on the double track.

PV --> JP: was a bit damp today, but not wet.
JP --> Barrier: A bit soggy up at Jewel Pass. Otherwise mostly dry.

All in all, a good day out.
flag quinner
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 9:24 Quote
Anyone been down Hector DH lately? Looking todo a Quaite->PV->Hector->PV->JP->RE in the next couple of days...
Thanks in advance for any 'tips'.
flag tcwarne
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 11:52 Quote
Ridgeback (out+back) - Awesome. CMBA finally cracked that boggy R2 section and other than some small puddles the whole trail is in great shape.
Sulphur Springs (loop) - Frigging awesome! Inspired by the condition of Ridgeback added a fast loop of Sulphur. New re-routes around some old boggy sections, great rebuild of the switchbacks - SWEET! The Grandaddy of K-Country XC is back! Thanks to CMBA, spin sisters, etc. restoring this old classic.
Fab Fab
flag jitenshakun
O+
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 12:07 Quote
tcwarne wrote:
Ridgeback New re-routes around some old boggy sections, great rebuild of the switchbacks - SWEET! The Grandaddy of K-Country XC is back! Thanks to CMBA, spin sisters, etc. restoring this old classic.
Fab Fab

Do you mean the year old reroute that avoids a bog and a straight climbing section? The section that was initially rerouted by a flight of bumblebees before the Sisters fixed it?
flag tcwarne
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 12:37 Quote
jitenshakun wrote:
Do you mean the year old reroute that avoids a bog and a straight climbing section? The section that was initially rerouted by a flight of bumblebees before the Sisters fixed it?

That one (hence Spin Sisters ref), plus the one further along the trail that takes you above an old quagmire - not sure when that one happened or who did it (hence guess at CMBA but might be FoKC or even TPR?? - whoever it was thank you!)
flag Haywood-Jablomi
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 13:35 Quote
tcwarne wrote:
Ridgeback (out+back) - Awesome. CMBA finally cracked that boggy R2 section and other than some small puddles the whole trail is in great shape.
Sulphur Springs (loop) - Frigging awesome! Inspired by the condition of Ridgeback added a fast loop of Sulphur. New re-routes around some old boggy sections, great rebuild of the switchbacks - SWEET! The Grandaddy of K-Country XC is back! Thanks to CMBA, spin sisters, etc. restoring this old classic.
Fab Fab

Thanks tcwarne. Now armed with this info perhaps a SS, Pneuma, Packers, Ridgeback loop is in order for tomorrow afternoon. Any report on how Moosepackers made out after the rains?
flag jitenshakun
O+
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 13:41 Quote
Haywood-Jablomi wrote:
Thanks tcwarne. Now armed with this info perhaps a SS, Pneuma, Packers, Ridgeback loop is in order for tomorrow afternoon. Any report on how Moosepackers made out after the rains?

Any idea if there's still snow on the back side of Moosepackers?
flag tcwarne
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 14:54 Quote
Leon (bike pirate) reported Moosepackers as some snow patches on road and first bit of singletrack (13May). Been fairly warm since then and precipitation was rain not snow so draw conclusion from that. No fresher info unfort.
There was one tree down on Pneuma last week but none reported elsewhere in area. If anyone finds any or has cleared the one on Pneuma please post.
Personally prefer Moosepackers as a techy climb - loosing all that vertical on the straight line rocks then tight bermless switchbacks is way less fun than coming down SHAFT. Ridgeback is awesome in either direction. I haven't ridden SHAFT yet this year but tomorrow AM I'm going for up Moosepackers, down SHAFT, back along Sulphur, up Ridgeback (access via West Bragg FSR since I live 2mins from that trailhead and quicker to ride in/out than drive to Station Flats pour moi)

Weather looks like turning to pooh from Weds PM so get out while you still can!!
flag tgreid
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 15:45 Quote
tcwarne wrote:
Leon (bike pirate) reported Moosepackers as some snow patches on road and first bit of singletrack (13May). Been fairly warm since then and precipitation was rain not snow so draw conclusion from that. No fresher info unfort.
There was one tree down on Pneuma last week but none reported elsewhere in area. If anyone finds any or has cleared the one on Pneuma please post.
Personally prefer Moosepackers as a techy climb - loosing all that vertical on the straight line rocks then tight bermless switchbacks is way less fun than coming down SHAFT. Ridgeback is awesome in either direction. I haven't ridden SHAFT yet this year but tomorrow AM I'm going for up Moosepackers, down SHAFT, back along Sulphur, up Ridgeback (access via West Bragg FSR since I live 2mins from that trailhead and quicker to ride in/out than drive to Station Flats pour moi)

Weather looks like turning to pooh from Weds PM so get out while you still can!!

judging from looking across from the moose road last week, there will still be a lot of snow on SHAFT.
flag aricthred
O+
Posted: May 21, 2013 at 16:10 Quote
Rode Moosepackers on Saturday and its still snowy at the top and there are two trees down. Other than that its in great shape.

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.018355
Mobile Version of Website