Mt Washington Alpine Resort
Nordic XC Report
Weather
Now 5:50 AM - 2024-03-19
3 °c | 37 °f
H: 4°c | 39°f
L: 2°c | 36°f
Wind: 0km/hr W
Humidity: 78%
Wed
H: 2°
L: 1°
Thu
H: -1°
L: -1°
Fri
H: 0°
L: 0°
UPDATED ONCE DAILY: The Overnight, 24-hour, 48-hour and new Snowbase plot information is updated by our team once daily, between 6:00 - 6:30 am. Subscribe for Snow Report emails to receive to your inbox.
NEW March 2nd - THREE SNOW PLOTS LOCATED AT 1110 M, 1230 M & 1488 M: As of March 2, 2024, snow base measurements will be included from three elevations in Mt. Washington's snow reporting each morning. The Hawk/Nordic plot has been reinstated, and we will continue reporting from the current Whiskey Jack Chair offload area, around 1488 metres, and also from the new Marmot snow plot located with our snow stake camera at 1230 metres. The mobile app reflects the Marmot plot measurement.
Snowfall Report
Overnight
24 Hours
48 Hours
Snowbase Report
Nordic/Hawk(1100m)
Marmot(1230m)
Whiskey Jack(1488m)
Trail Report
XC Trail
Rating
Status
Trackset
Comment
Snowshoe
Rating
Status
Comment
Tobogganing
Rating
Status
Comment
Nordic Grooming FAQs
One snowcat generally starts at 11 pm or 12 am.
The goal is for groomers to have completed their tasks and will be off the trails by 9 a.m. for opening.
During the normal grooming shift or prior to 9:00 am the snowcats will be traveling in any direction on the trails as this helps move snow to where it should be, can help with track setting, and contributes to an economical grooming route. The snowcat may frequently back up as the operator rebuilds a section of trail, carves into the sides to widen the trail, collects snow to fill in holes in creeks, and fills in the dips between steep pitches. This is why, out of safety for staff and guests, the trails do not open until 9 a.m., to ensure the groomer is safely off the trails before skiing commences.
- The trails also take time to set and firm up if a skier uses a trail immediately after it has been groomed, the surface will still be extremely soft and will cause significant ruts in the trail until it is groomed again.
- The indented tracks the skier leaves behind are there until the trail is re-groomed the next day or other skiers gradually wear them down. This means that other skiers have to contend with the ruts in the trail and that can trip them up.
- Tilling the snow removes air within the snowpack, heats the snow crystals with friction, and breaks off the arms of the snowflakes. The snow then requires some time to cool down and “re-freeze”. This is why it is important to let the trails set after grooming, rather than having skiers on the trail immediately after the operator is complete, particularly in the skate ski lane.
- A fresh, deep snowfall only allows the tracks, the tiller, and the blade to physically disturb the top layers. This compresses and hardens up the top layer of the snow but there often is a soft layer immediately underneath that affects skaters.
- Classic skiers can ski in the tracks immediately after the snowcat has passed by as the pans compress the snow.
- Skaters are a different story. The process of cooling and consolidating the skate lane takes from 10 minutes to 25 minutes depending on the humidity, age, and temperature of the snow. Fresh snow takes longer than old snow.
- Out of continued safety for our staff and guests and as a standard set by commercial operators and the Canada West Ski Area Association, we do not operate a snowcat on the trails while operational. In some circumstances, this is not the case. If by chance the groomer is caught out on an area later than normal, then the resort will use a snowmobile escort to ensure the machine is safely off the trails and to indicate to skiers that a snowcat is following.
- We have a close working relationship with BC Parks and maintain safe operating procedures based on our permit to operate within Strathcona Park and environmental impact management and therefore cannot operate within the park until we have at least 1 meter of settled snowpack.
- All guests using the trails we manage within Strathcona Park must obtain a valid trail pass or Season Pass to gain access.
- Those going into the park and not following the marked trail may do so without a trail pass, however, you must know where you are going, have proper route-finding skills, and carry adequate supplies to ensure safety on your trip.
Fat Bikiing Trails
Fat Bike Trail
Distance
Rating
Status
Status
Comment
Mountain Cams
Nordic Cam
Alpine Cam
Trail Maps
Third annual Nordic Festival at Mount Washington Alpine Resort's Raven Lodge the weekend of March 23rd to 24th - featuring fun winter activities for the whole family! Join us on Saturday the 23rd for an outdoor vendor market, Rossignol XC ski demos, Nomadic Sauna sessions, snowshoe tours, a scavenger hunt, a s'mores fire pit, dog-friendly activities, and more!
Book a Nomadic Sauna session!
Sunday, March 24th will be a more laid-back day where guests can enjoy the fire pit, participate in the scavenger hunt and sign up for discounted lessons and snowshoe tours. Plus, it's the Nordic Pass Holder BBQ!
XC trails have opened in Strathcona Park! Contact the Raven Lodge team for more info or to book a lesson or clinic - nordic@mountwashington.ca or 250-334-5763
TODAY AT Raven Lodge
Monday March 18th, 2024
We are so excited to announce that our XC terrain in Strathcona Park is now OPEN!
Expect some closures within the Strathcona Park trails. Paradise Meadows and Jack Rabbit open on one side only, access from Ponds off of Ravens. Far East fully open. Open terrain within the park is groomed for both classic and skate. - Lake Trail remains closed and Lake Approach will open later this morning.
Crooked Creek Snow Shoe Trail is now closed due to thawing conditions.
Please respect the closures and stay on marked trails. Expect trail conditions to change throughout the day as temperatures increase.
All terrain on the Mount Washington side of the network groomed and trackset.
Please note Disco Rd is now one way. Uphill traffic only.
Fat Biking closed due to softer snowpack.
check out the Nordic Pulse link below for a map of what is open within the Park
Nordic Pulse | Mount Washington Grooming Report (nordic-pulse.com)