Thanks to various Ramblers who went on the very successful trip on 23 Oct 2020, we (mostly) found the correct parking lot on Highway 40 and set off about 9.40am in -12c weather. It remained a bit cool (-8c max) and windy through the day with some nice sunny breaks. The snow was good for early December and amazingly excellent for late October.

Only one was on AT gear and another on track x-country skis. The rest of us used free heel light touring skies with steel edges. No-one used fish-scales. We all managed fine except for some equipment malfunctions on the return.

From the cars on highway 40, we skied down to Pocaterra, along Tryhitt to Elk Pass for a break about 11.50am.

Ramblers break at Elk Pass in Kananaskis

Since it was coolish in the wind we descended Hydroline and took the Lookout Trail to the Lookout. After removing skis to jump across Boulton Creek, we decided to enjoy lunch before donning skins for the climb up to the lookout. Here one member discovered a problem with his skins and another found his cable mechanism broken. We fixed both and made the lookout for a break and good views at 2.10pm.


Snack break at Kananaskis lookout during early season ski (26 Oct 2020)

View north from Kananaskis Lookout during ski trip on 26 Oct 2020

The descent back to the cars was on pretty good snow but a little bumpy as hips strained to control a snowplough. We were back at the cars by 3.30pm for a nearly 6 hour day, 17.2km, ~400m elevation gain (Gps's seem to be variable for vertical stats).

Screen Shot of Kananaskis Lookout Ski Traverse from Highway 40:Oct26, 2020

Thanks to everyone for waiting at junctions and making this an amazingly good day's skiing for late October.

Participants: Philip,Terry,David,Arnold,Carmie,Alda,Nancy,Hannah,Clifton, guest Marta (welcome)

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