Category Archives: Snowshoeing

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 23 Jan 2024

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This snow shoe outing had been postponed due to road conditions.  We managed to reschedule to a day with great roads, sun with some cloud on the mountains, and spring snow conditions.  The trip was advertised as not being “ambitious” as it was the first trip of the season.  But we decided that it would be better to go uphill for slightly cooler conditions, so it was somewhat harder than planned.

We started up Great Big View, alternating between wide, track-set roads and very steep, brushy routes.  At the top of the rise, we turned onto Finger Glades, wandering through lovely mountain forests and open meadows (under snow).  It was quiet and beautiful.  We only saw four other snowshoers on the trip. This route gains more elevation than we had remembered and was steeper on the way down.  We were grateful that snow shoes are so accommodating to different snow conditions, making the transition from a bit icy to a bit above freezing without a problem. After finishing the Finger Glade Loop, we re-joined the Great Big View loop and headed very steeply down through brush.  The warmth of the snow made conditions very slippery, but soft.      (5.2 km, 3 hours, 243 m elevation gain)

Debbie

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 23 Jan 2024

Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 23 Jan 2024

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This trip was re-scheduled from January 17th.

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 23 Jan, Tuesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will likely go to Paradise Meadows. Participants without equipment can rent snowshoes from the resort. Ramparts Hill is the other possible option.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:30 ferry; drivers need to be early enough to avoid overload.
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate. As the first trip of the season, we will not be hugely ambitious.
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows. Snow shoe passes are $14.  Ramparts Hill is free.
Trip limits 12
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 17 Jan 2024

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Postponed due to snow!

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 17 Jan, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Debbie Quigg
Contact Info dmquigg@gmail.com or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will likely go to Paradise Meadows. Participants without equipment can rent snowshoes from the resort. Ramparts Hill is the other possible option.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry; drivers need to be early enough to avoid overload.
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate. As the first trip of the season, we will not be hugely ambitious.
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows. (If I understand the webpage correctly, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are now the same price.  A weekday ticket is $29 for under 65 and $24 for 65 and older).  Ramparts Hill is free.
Trip limits 12
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington & Mt. Elma – 22 Mar 2023

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Reports are that Mt. Washington has lots of snow.  It’s true.  We started out on the snowshoe trail from Raven Lodge with the vague intention of going to the lakes.  Snow conditions were perfect for snowshoeing.  The trails were broken and there was a sparkling layer of fresh snow.  The sun was bright and warm, the air temperature was good, there was no wind.  The sky was clear and blue.  As I said, conditions were perfect.

Except for one thing.  The trail to Lake Helen Mackenzie crosses a stream on a bridge.  The bridge was packed with snow, up to about a metre above the hand rail.  It was well packed, but too narrow for snowshoes.  And there was no way to avoid it since the stream was open.  We crossed it, but once was enough, so we came back the Battleship Lake route.  It also has a stream crossing with a snow-packed bridge.  That one felt much safer, but it looked as if it might collapse sooner or later.

So we arrived at Lake Helen Mackenzie and stopped for lunch.  We looked around for a further destination.  Mt. Elma looked perfect, so we headed there.  The trail was broken already, so it was an easy, though steep, climb up to the ridge.  The summit ridge was amazing, open meadows with fabulous views.  In particular the mountains io the Forbidden Plateau skyline, all snow covered in bright sun with no clouds blocking the view for once. (13.1 km, 6 hours)

Norris

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 22 Mar 2023

Snow – Mt. Washington Area – 22 Mar 2023

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Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 22 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 8 Feb 2023

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The month-long delay, in the hopes of getting some snow and decent weather, mostly paid off when we finally hit the snowshoe trails on Feb 8. Two guests joined me, one experienced snowshoer and one newbie eager to find out more about the sport, and both eager to see what Paradise Meadow snowshoe trails have to offer.

Recent rains had left the snow crunchy, but not icy and we crunched along the pleasant Old Cabin Trail at a steady pace. Feeling comfortable, the “newbie” was happy to go further, so we added the Crooked Creek loop. We stopped for a short lunch break out of the chilling wind in a copse of trees at the turn around point, just after the quite challenging bridge crossing. We were soon back at our car after a very pleasant day on the mountain. (about 5 km, 3 hours)

Valerie van Veen

Thanks to Valerie for the photos

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 8 Feb 2023

Snow – Mt. Washington Area 1 Mar 2023

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This trip will be postponed or cancelled, but contact the coordinator if interested.

Activity Snowshoeing
Destination Mt. Washington area
Date 1 Mar, Wednesday
Trip Coordinator Norris Weimer
Contact Info norris.weimer@ualberta.ca or 3710.  Please contact the coordinator by Monday night.
Description We will either go Paradise Meadows or to Ramparts Hill, depending on the conditions and the group.  Expect a broken trail to follow.
Meeting Place QI Ferry terminal
Departure Time 9:00 ferry
Difficulty
 Easy to moderate
Costs Transportation costs and trail pass if we go to Paradise Meadows (Adult $13)
Trip limits None
Dogs? No
Notes: Bring lunch as we may not eat at Raven lodge.  Have reliable equipment and winter gear.

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 16 Mar 2022

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Our small group enjoyed a beautiful spring day at Mt. Washington.  It was not crowded in spite of Spring Break.  There was fresh snow on a crusty base for the snowshoe trails.  We crossed Paradise Meadows and climbed the well used trail up to Battleship Lake where we had sun, cloud and snow showers.  The lake was lovely, but a bit breezy and we sheltered on an island for lunch.  The light and silence at the lakes were wonderful.  We traversed Battleship Lake over consolidated snow so that we could easily take any route we wished.  We followed a rise through the forest over to Lake Helen MacKenzie and followed the lake to the mid-point.  We then more or less followed the summer trail back to Paradise Meadows. We stopped in the uncrowded Raven Lodge for a snack before heading home.  7.4 km, 3¼ hours.
 
 
Debbie
 

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 16 Mar 2022

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 15 Feb 2022

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A small but enthusiastic group enjoyed a perfect “bluebird” day on the Snowshoe trails on Mount Washington on Tuesday, February 15. Though no new snow, the conditions were excellent, slightly crusty, and the trails were more navigable than on our January trip.

We headed out clockwise on Lost Cabin to Crooked Creek trail. This lovely loop meanders over the summertime ponds and marshes, following and sometimes crossing Crooked Creek. We stopped at the return point, going off the trail to take shelter from the rising wind behind a small copse. We were beside an unmarked but well used trail which we suspected went out to Battleship Lake. We didn’t have time to explore this but noted it for future trips. We then returned to Lost Cabin trail opting to take the slightly longer Tree Beard trail back to the Lodge which took us up to the junction with Rossiter’s Ridge, a favourite lunch spot. We stopped briefly to admire the stunning view, then headed back to the Lodge. We enjoyed lingering over well-earned cups of hot chocolate on the deck in the sunshine – a beautiful day after so much fog, cloud, and drizzle of the past few weeks.  2 hours on trail;  5 km.

Valerie 

Thanks to Misha Cook for the photos

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 15 Feb 2022

Trip Report – Mt. Washington – 19 Jan 2022

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Amazingly, and thankfully, the cold rain and wind held off long enough for five of us to enjoy the wonderful snowshoe trails of Mt Washington.  While this is not a free activity, like most of our outings, the well marked and tracked trails justify the cost ( $12 per person) .

After obtaining trail passes and one rental, we were on the trail by 10:30.  The initial blast of winter that greeted us let up and we set off in just sub zero weather and low cloud.  The snow was crunchy underfoot, thankfully no ice.   
 
We travelled clockwise, starting off on the green “Old Cabin Loop”, a very pretty and fairly flat loop through the forest and around the meadow.  It was wonderful to see several young families, and a herd of excited school kids, also enjoying this local treasure.  About ⅔ along “Old Cabin” we branched off onto “ Tree Beard” which, appropriately, heads up into the forest. A small plateau usually provides an excellent view, making for the perfect rest stop.  However, with a bit of a wind, and no view, we opted for a quick standing lunch break. Learning from other snowshoers that Rossiter’s Route was at least navigable, we opted for the longer return to Raven Lodge via Rossiter’s rather than continue on “Tree Beard”. “Rossiter’s” is one of two “black/difficult” snowshoe trails at Mt Washington and duly identified as a route ( not trail) on the map.  However, though long, it was not difficult going especially as we were going clockwise, thus going gradually down Rossiter’s Ridge.  In the wild, when there is a down there will almost inevitably be an up. Sure enough, a steep up eventually wound us back to Raven Lodge.  The promised ice rain finally materialized ensuring we were suitably wet as we returned to our cars.
 
Altogether a great winter outing, after so many trip weather-related postponements this season.  4.2 km. 2 hours
 
Valerie

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Snow – Mt. Washington – 19 Jan 2022