Participants: Clifton, Ivan, Agnieszka
On drive, from Canmore, the temperature started to drop noticeably in Spray Lake area. Arrived at Shark Mountain parking at 9:20 am in -14C with wind. Soon departed all 3 on us on touring skis; one on textured base and two on grip wax.
22 cm snow off side of trails. A poor snow. Ski would be down 15 cm and when weighted seemed to drop to ground. Poor trail making. Some of ski loops had snowmobile packing; was ok when put ski on. Back loop not skied nor snowmoblie packed so poor; will not do my annual ski on it. Watridge Lake trail snowshoe packed with slight skier track on that; acceptable but not good.
At Watridge lake decided to bypass with the wind. Only skier set track after that so ok. Skied slowly and cautiously down the long downhill. Left the wind. In valley bottom skiing nice.
Went to the Trail Center Warden cabin for lunch in nice sun. Its thermometer indicated -7. After lunch a ski east to Spray river with view of Mts. Sparrowhawk and Buller.
A return ski with kicker skins up the long hill. At Watridge Lake return to wind so bypassed again. Then back to parking where temperature at -3C.
14.8 km, 340 meters vertical and 5 hours 10 minutes.
Forgot to take camera.