Another beautiful day in the mountains. We reached a ridge overlooking Howard Douglas Lake before turning back.

After one member canceled the previous evening at 9.30pm for car issues, we left the quasi-deserted Sunshine ski resort parking lot at 8.45am and plodded up the groomed ski-out on skins attached to free-heel skis.

Sunshine Ski Resort Waiver Notice 2020-03-21, resort closed for COVID-19 Virus

A snow vehicle passed as did a few other younger AT skiers, before we reached the deserted lift area for a snack break about 10.45am. The resort was closed on Wednesday March 18, 2020 in response to the recent COVID-19 Virus outbreak. Nothing was open, no gondola, no lifts, no toilets, no services of any kind.


Brian and Sim enjoy a break at Sunshine Ski Lodge, deserted after closure for covid-19 virus

We continued out of the resort area following the summer trail broken by a single lady from Banff whom we eventually caught up and talked to before we stopped for lunch about 11.30am. It was beautifully sunny weather with a slight southerly wind. We continued to the ridge north of Howard Douglas Lake by 1.30pm. Here we rested a while, took photos and decided to return as we estimated we still had 1.5 - 2 hours to reach citadel pass and some clouds were starting to build up.

View south to Citadel Peak and Mt. Assiniboine from above Howard Douglas Lake

Sim and Brian enjoy the views near Howard Douglas Lake

We arrived back at the lodge area by 3.30pm and the cars by 4.15pm.


Ramblers skiing north across Sunshine Meadows

The ski-out was somewhat rutted by snowmobile tracks so that Brian and I needed multiple breaks to ease sore thighs for a continuous snow-plow on metal edged touring skis (mine were vintage 210cms Kahru XCD, 63,57,60mm). IMO, this summer trail route does not cross avalanche terrain.

Thanks to participants: Sim,Brian from C&S David for another great tour. Outings like this are one of the few activities currently available during this COVID-19 Virus outbreak and are very worthwhile despite personal space management and no car pooling. About 24km, 1000m in 7:30 hrs including some trail breaking in 10cms of mostly supportive, occasionally crusty snow.

Another aspect to be cautious of: is whether the access road is ploughed or not? On March 21, 2020, the sunshine road was bare and mostly dry but with Park cut backs for covid-19 who knows? This could apply to other "side" roads eg Lake Louise, Nakiska, Norquay. maybe see https://roadreports.ama.ab.ca/

Update May 06, 2020: National Parks were closed for Covid-19 starting March 25, 2020, not yet reopened, Alberta Provincial Parks closed for Covid-19 on March 27, 2020 and reopened with restrictions on May 02, 2020.

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