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Rocky Mountain Ramblers Association

Trip Report
Trip Date:
26-Nov-2020
Activity:
Track skiing
Trip name:
Blueberry, Hydroline etc
Coordinator:
Philip
Report:

Fortunately everyone arrived early and we were able to divide into two groups in time for a prompt 10am start. We followed the Boulton and Fox Creek trails to the Elk Pass. Conditions were OK--roller packed with an occasional root or rock showing which required attention, but it was very picturesque.






Once we reached the Elk Pass trail conditions improved due to more snow and tracksetting, the latter making control much easier. After pausing for snacks/part of lunch, we headed on up Blueberry on a couple of inches of fresh snow.




Lots of snow on Blueberry

Surprise! Surprise! It was really windy and partly cloudy at the picnic table so we retreated back down to the Elk Pass trail to finish lunch. The descent was great fun given the new snow.




Upper Kananaskis L. still open but shrouded in cloud

Three participants chose to return via Patterson and Hydroline then Fox Creek etc while the rest returned along the same route out.








Indefatigable

Back at the parking lot we realized that Barb had been agonizing all day about a deflated tire. Both John and Ron came to the rescue with electric air pumps, but John's won out being more powerful.




Voila, Barb getting pump up

Thanks to all for a pleasant day and to Ron for coordinating the second group.

Participants: Rosanne, Philip, Phyllis, Damian, John, Bruce, Joanne, Steve (photos)

Second Group:Ron (coordinator), Barbara, Arnold, Nancy
Note from Ron: We managed to keep our social distancing between the split groups, helped in part by my poor early wax selection which for part of the time increased the separation from the minimum 2 metres to out-of-sight. Regarding Barb's tire, after the pump-up she stopped a couple of times on the way home to check the pressure and there was a very small pressure loss. When checked on Friday the issue was determined to be a faulty tire valve which was replaced.
For a fauna report, there was a magnificent bighorn ram at the foot of Baldy, nonchalantly licking salt at the side of the road.