Brewster C to Sundance Lodge Trail skiing on 27-Dec-2020

Although this trail ski is entirely in trees and not too exciting, today the snow, temperature and participants were perfect. It was skier tracked in about 20cms of snow, -6c to -2c with sun and cloud. We all used narrow skis with wax and a free heel.

In these Covid times with heavy downhill ski traffic, the drive can be a headache. This morning someone lit a fire under a bridge just west of Shouldice, so the bridge was closed at 7.00am and westbound traffic weaved through Bowness to regain the #1 near COP. By evening the bridge was restricted to one lane each way. In the morning the #1 was a bit wet and messy near Calgary, but gradually improved to the west. On return, in the evening we encountered fog patches near Cochrane, otherwise good, dry and clear.

However, we each arrived fine at the trailhead parking lot at the base of the Sunshine roed (7 skiers, 7 cars). The Healy creek trail east ~2km to the junction was track set and went very smoothly. Brewster was skier tracked and we all plodded up it using wax and the occasional herring bone. With occasional breaks for clothing adjustment and slow coordinator, we arrived at the empty Sundance Lodge for lunch at 12 noon.

Brian crosses Brewster Creek enroute to Sundance Lodge

Sundance Lodge near Sunshine in Banff NP

Lunch at Sundance Lodge

Brian P treated us to a short song that he made up in the middle of the night. Perhaps "treat" is the wrong word, but insomnia was the topic of conversation. After a short ski tour of the few buildings we started back down by 12.50pm.

Ski Trail near Sundance Lodge parallel to Brewster Creek

As expected from the gradient and good snow, the descent was a very pleasant cruise to the Healy and Brewster Creeks junction (with sign)

Group at trail junction of Healy Creek and Brewster Creek

Ski trail to Sundance Lodge from base of Sunshine ski hill road

We were back at the cars soon after 3.00pm for a 6 hour day, My Backcountry Navigator software gave 22.4km and 440m rather than the database info of 19km and 210m. Regardless, it was a longer easy tour new to everyone except the coordinator. Unfortunately, its not too exciting.

Participants: Sim,David,Yolande,Alda,Brian,Hannah,Brian.