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Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association

Trip Report
Trip Date:
31-Dec-2018
Activity:
Off-Trail skiing
Trip name:
Chester L ski to Elephant Rocks
Coordinator:
David
Report:

This was a beautiful, cold day. Good snow, good company, clear sunny skis, what more could one want? Maybe a few warmer degrees.

When we started from the nearly empty Chester car park about 10.00am, it was -25c, but sunny and no wind. We returned at about 2.30pm to -12c, and the same sunny sky but still no wind. Yolande and myself were on semi-tele gear with a free heel and "kicker skins". Sim wisely chose this day to test out her new AT gear. She liked it, especially her new light-weight 153cm skis.

The snow was good and hard packed by a variety of snowshoes, skis and even boot prints. Fortunately most snowshoers took their marked trail but the ski trail is now signed for skis and hiking: an odd combination. Regardless we skied up the well packed trail to an early lunch by Chester Lake.




Mt. Chester in winter

Twenty minutes later, we continued via Elephant Rocks to the tree line in the upper valley. Since we were on ski tracks (rather than packed bumpy snow), this last section provided a nice glide. The views were also good.



Sim and Yolande near Elephant Rocks




David near Elephant Rocks




View west from near Elephant Rocks

Old yo-yo tracks were visible in the nearby gullies. We returned to Chester Lake for further snacks in the sunshine and talked to several others mostly on snowshoes and some with dogs (on a leash). It was a beautiful afternoon.



Sim and Yolande near Chester Lake

The ski back to the car was pleasant and fast. The return drive uneventful. 10km, 400m, 4 1/2 hours. Happy New Year everyone.

Participants: Sim, David, Yolande