2024-2025 Season
The trails are officially open. Reports of good skiing for early season conditions. Chalet is open 7am – 10 pm, Lights are on for the lit trails. Grooming with the snowmobiles is active but we need more snow before we can set classic tracks. Shall we start a snow dance? Don’t delay to get your membership. New this year, members can purchase day use tickets at Sovereign Lakes at a discount.
December 1 – 7 am.
Temp -2.6 with a few flurries early this morning. Road has been plowed and sanded.
Small Equipment Crew was out yesterday with the Ginzu combing only. They completed the entire South Loop, the lit trails in the central and Baby Moonwalk and East Dales in the north. Larch Hills Road was done from the stadium right up to the North Hub. The grooming report has been updated..
Tuesday and Thursday the Small Equipment Crew covered a lot of trail and things went a lot better with the colder temperatures. The grooming report has been updated. Everything they completed was Ginzu combed. The snow is still quite thin in places, especially Sunshine, Woodlot Ramble and the Canine trails. The cold helped somewhat with open water but there is still quite a bit with rocks, sticks and icy areas. The trails are skiable with a bit of caution. The Bogs have not been travelled on as they still have a lot of open water. If you adventure out there be prepared to detour in some areas.
While you are skiing in the early season conditions, if you happen to notice a rock, please take the time to stop and throw it off the trail.
With another decent snowfall, the thought is to start setting track in the Central Trails.
Please do not snowshoe or walk on any of the ski trails to avoid undoing all of the hard work they have put in so far. There are signs of walkers on many of the trails.
The grooming report has been updated but please remember the work has been packing and filling with the snowmobiles only. There are some trails that have Ginzu combing. It is still early prep work until we get more snow accumulation.
See the grooming report here: https://skilarchhills.ca/grooming-report/
Road work was done this summer and a new road base was added. The drive will hopefully be a little more friendly to visit under all conditions.
If you have anything to report, send an email to trailreport@skilarchhills.ca
Snowshoe Trails
2024 November 22
Snow shoe trails have been well travelled as hiking trails this summer. There is a report that some trees are down that will be attended to soon.
| Easy Peasy at Bilbo’s bog intersection. Bilbos trail – 4 more: One at approx 400 m from start 3 more at approx 500 m from start ( closer to Sentinal Crossing) There is quite a bit of brush/branches down at the start of Mom’s Trail |
It is recommended that you carry a map or download the Larch Hills Trail maps onto Avenza to be able to track your progress.
Our snow shoe trails are “User Maintained.” Please carry garden clippers and/or a folding saw and help us keep our trails clear of anything that is impeding progress or may get in someone’s face.
Report anything you can not deal with to trailreport@skilarchhills.ca.
Our trails are not patrolled. If you are unable to return to the Chalet on your own, you may have a long wait for help. Be prepared to look after yourself (extra food, clothing, fire starter, and water).
For more snowshoe trail information visit our Snowshoe page.
Non-Groomed Trails and Backcountry;
2024 November 24
Skied Mushroom Fantasy, Deadman’s Drop and part of Metford Road today.
The snow depth was generally 8-20 cm with only a few small bare spots. It was a bit sticky by late morning – carrying wax recommended.
There are a few small trees down from the wet snow so carry a saw if you have one.
There is a 20 cm tree on Mushroom Fantasy that will be removed Tuesday.
Only one rock was encountered – on a misguided glide down the Mushroom Fantasy hill.
Conditions are reasonable for early in the season.
If you find anything that needs attention please report it: trailreport@skilarchhills.ca or trailreport@shuswaptrails.com.