Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association Trail Conditions

Wed Mar 4 - Spring skiing

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:36:17 GMT

I didn't update the Saturday post - "Glazed trails" - because that continued to be the accurate description. With the much warmer weather today, we are moving into spring skiing. At noon today the Kolapore temperature was about +6. This, combined with the strong sun, will soften the trails. It might soften them enough that they will provide marginally acceptable conditions, without turning to slush. Overnight they will likely freeze again. (I'm not a fan of spring cross country skiing at Kolapore.) FYI, I skied early this morning at Scenic Caves, and the freshly groomed trails were very enjoyable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 28 - Glazed trails

Bruce King — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:57:08 GMT

With the mild temperatures and sunshine yesterday, the snow surface melted and is now refrozen. The tracks will be icy. I don't think skiing will be either enjoyable or safe. I'm hoping for new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fri Feb 27 - Get out early!

Bruce King — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:36:23 GMT

Skiing yesterday was great. I think conditions will be good early this morning. Unfortunately with the warming temperatures, by later morning the snow could start to become quite sticky. If you do go out today, be sure to prep your skis with glider/skin treatment, etc. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 26 - Great skiing!

Bruce King — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:21:40 GMT

Kolapore received another 5+ cm of snow in the past 24 hours. Skiing should be great today. Get out and enjoy peak winter conditions before the warmer weather predicted for Friday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Feb 24: 15 - 20 cm of fresh powder

Bruce King — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:38:30 GMT

Over the past 24 hours, Kolapore received somewhere between 15 to 20 cm of fresh powder. Skiing should be great if you don't mind doing some trail breaking. It's peak winter! Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 23, PM update

Bruce King — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:24:42 GMT

The warmer temperatures and sun yesterday, followed by cooler temperatures, resulted in glazed tracks. Overnight and this morning Kolapore received 5+ cm of new snow, and as I post this update at 2 PM, it is still snowing. I had a pleasant ski in the County Forest and vicinity this morning. Conditions aren't perfect - you can still feel the underlying crust. Bigger pole baskets are strongly recommended, because small baskets can break through the crust. However, as the snow falls conditions are rapidly improving. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 22 - A few cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:16:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 3 cm of new snow. Yesterday morning I was pleasantly surprised by conditions - although it was close to 0, with appropriate ski prep I didn't have problems with clumping/icing. I was also surprised that the ice pellets/snow earlier in the week had mostly filled in the old tracks, so there weren't serious ruts to contend with. Conditions should be as good or better today, although I would be careful on steep hills - there isn't a lot of new snow on top of the crust. The snow gauge is at 55 cm, so we lost relatively little snow in the thaw. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 21 - Wet snow

Bruce King — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:42:35 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 4 cm of wet snow, and it is snowing lightly as I post at 9:45. The temperature is 0, and it is supposed to hover around there today. Skiing is possible, but you need to carefully prep your skis (no matter what type) so they don't stick/clump. If you can defer your skiing, Sunday is likely to be better with cooler temperatures. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 19 - Unsafe conditions - don't think of skiing

Bruce King — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:18:10 GMT

The precipitation yesterday came as ice pellets and freezing drizzle (about 10 cm?) It has frozen into a solid ice surface. Trying to ski at Kolapore in the current conditions would be a stupid choice. If it warms up later today it might become barely skiable. We really need a decent amount of new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 16 - Firm and fast, transitioning to soft and slow

Bruce King — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:55:51 GMT

This morning (Mon Feb 16) the trails were firm and fast. The temperature at mid-day is above freezing with sun, so it will quickly become soft. There is rain in the forecast for this evening, and temperatures will be above freezing tomorrow, so the trails will be slushy. Wednesday weather looks challenging (freezing rain changing to snow). Thursday we may return to decent winter conditions. Kolapore Trail Guide

KOLAPORE LOPPET - MORE COW BELL!!!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:15:22 GMT

We are setting up for a fine weekend with temperatures just below zero and a couple of cm of fresh snow overnight. Please note that the Kolapore Loppet will be taking place on Saturday from 7am to 5:30pm. The South Parking Lot will be filled with skiers and volunteers. If you are not part of the Loppet, please consider starting from another access point. Also there will be more than the usual number of skiers on the trails attempting personal best distances of 15, 26 and 51km. Please allow them to pass and cheer them on.

Wonderful ski conditions

Phil and Lynne Garrod — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:33:29 GMT

Skied yesterday in County Forest and today from East Parking lot to North Parking Lot- trails are in great shape - Wild Mouse was sooo fun - nice temperatures and a little new snow on the trails make it excellent. using a little glide enhancer made the ski quicker. Snowing on the trails when we left at 4pm today -

Pleasant skiing - if you are prepared

Bruce King — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 21:45:41 GMT

I did an enjoyable ski later Saturday afternoon - the wind wasn't bad in the forest, and the sun was out. The snow was quite slow, which is inevitable when you are skiing at -17. The snow gauge is still sitting at 60 cm, which is a great depth for Kolapore skiing. Recent winds have brought down some branches - please help with the pickup. Get out and enjoy the skiing tomorrow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing - new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:59:38 GMT

I posted yesterday that the trails were getting fast. The 5+ cm of snow that arrived today (Tuesday) has nicely softened the trails. Skiing was excellent this afternoon, and should be good for the next while. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing - fast tracks

Bruce King — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:50:31 GMT

Most of the trails are getting well skied in since there were many skiers out on the weekend, and with the warmer snow today it meant that the trails were quite fast. When you are choosing a trail, think about your tolerance for speed. As a specific example, if you go in at the main Kolapore entrance and turn left at the first intersection, you are heading towards a fast bumpy run. Yesterday I skied all the "Winter Use Only" trails, and virtually all the wet spots are frozen, and the ones that aren't can be easily avoided. Get out and enjoy! Kolapore Trail Guide

Conditions are Great - Please Donate

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:45:20 GMT

Between the great snow, diligent volunteers clearing fallen trees and branches and all those who have been breaking trails this week, we are setting up for a great weekend. Despite the great year we are having donations are down. Please consider contributing at the donation station at the main lot or making an online contribution. Every cent goes to making sure we have great trails...and a toilet...and a cleared lot.

awesome trail conditions

Phil and Lynne Garrod — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:15:04 GMT

AWESOME- fantastique - inspiring - the most beautiful skiing today with sunny warmth - trails are soooo perfect and this powdery snow will make your heart sing - can't wait to get out tomorrow!! happy days in Kolapore

Wed Jan 28 - 10 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:11:23 GMT

For a change, Kolapore received more snow than Scenic Caves or Highlands Nordic - about 10 cm. Be prepared to break trail. We have classic mid-winter conditions. The 14 day forecast suggests that we will have two weeks of green and polar wax conditions. Wonderful! Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 26 - Enjoyable skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:00:34 GMT

As of noon, Kolapore had received about 7 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. The trails had substantial use yesterday, so trail breaking this morning was light work - at least for the trails in the forest. I was surprised that I was the only one out in the County Forest and vicinity this morning - skiing was good and temperatures were pleasant. Get out and enjoy while we have some real winter. Kolapore Trail Guide

Perfecter

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:21:09 GMT

Snow keeps coming. Blessings upon those of you who were out today breaking trail. Most main trails are skied in. It's going to be cold but excellent skiing this weekend. Time to use up some of that green and polar wax that has been in your kit for decades. Cover up. Vaseline on exposed skin. Extra supplies in case you are out longer than expected. Do not let yourself overheat! If you get warm take off layers. Sweat is not your friend. Have fun!

Perfect - Lots of snow (updated Thursday 4 PM)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:48:36 GMT

12++ cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. The County Forest parking lot was plowed, and the main Kolapore parking lot should be in good shape. When I skied this (Thursday) afternoon most trails on the east side of the Kolapore trail system had been at least lightly skied in. The Kolapore snow gauge is up to 60 cm, which is the highest it has been at any point this winter. Skiing should be great in the coming days if you are prepared for serious cold temperatures. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Jan 20 - 12 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:17:58 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 12 cm of snow. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed, and based on recent experience the main Kolapore parking lot is probably plowed. Be prepared to break trail - a solo skier was headed into the County Forest at 10 AM, but we will need more use to set decent tracks. If you are prepared for cold weather, there should be some great skiing over the next week or longer. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 19 - Great skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:54:18 GMT

I did the County Forest - Kingsway - Jackrabbit - John's Portage this morning, and conditions were excellent. Yesterday I skied Southern Crossing and the southern portion of Quiet Pastures, and in the areas west of the 10th Line there were quite a few wet spots. I expect the cold spell that is predicted will fix that (on those trails and Trail to the Summit) over the next few days. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 17 - Should be good skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:31:57 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow over the last 24 hours. Skiing at the south end was great yesterday. There are still a few wet spots, and my good skis told me when I was skiing outside of the County Forest that I should still have been using rock skis. Both parking lots should be very usable. Get out and enjoy. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Jan 15 - 15 cm of new snow (PM update)

Bruce King — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:05:41 GMT

Over the past 24 hours Kolapore has received about 15 cm of new snow. This is on top of an icy crust. I skied in the County Forest this afternoon, and conditions were good. You do need to look out for the occasional wet spot resulting from the recent thaw. At mid-afternoon not all the County Forest had been skied in, and no one had skied north or west from the County Forest. Skiing should be good on Friday, but be prepared to break trail. Kolapore Trail Guide

Pleasant skiing on some trails

Bruce King — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:10:46 GMT

This morning I skied the perimeter of County Forest and did the section of Southern Crossing west to the 10th Line. The skiing was pleasant, although there are places where rocks are showing through. I would stay away from our serious hills, because there is only a modest amount of new snow on top of crust. Based on several wet areas that have reappeared, I would strongly recommend against skiing on any of our wetter trails ("Winter Use Only" trails). I cleared the fallen tree just south of intersection 8, and did pickup through all of County Forest. There are likely to be a number of trees down on other trails, given the recent strong winds. Please help with the pickup. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fresh snow in County Forest

trail updates — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 16:56:03 GMT

Just completed the County Forest loop from the South parking lot. The snow was fantastic! A few wet spots - easy to avoid - and a tree down between 8 & 7, very close to 8. Other than that, lots of snow, good glide and full on Winter Wonderland in the pines. Enjoy!!

Sunday Jan 11 - 3 cm of new snow on icy crust

Bruce King — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 13:57:27 GMT

As I post at 9 AM, Kolapore has received about 3 cm of new snow overnight. This is on top of an icy crust. We need more snow to provide enjoyable and safe skiing. Think snow! Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 7 Update

Bruce King — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:42:32 GMT

I did a short ski in the County Forest mid-day today, and conditions were better than I expected. There wasn't much frozen crust, and the bit of new snow provided a decent surface. Given the weather forecast, snow conditions are likely to change substantially (deteriorate) over the next few days. I'm waiting until some new snow arrives. If you looked at my previous post, I'm happy to report that two chainsaw crews were out on Monday, and removed the fallen trees on Trail to the Summit and Paradise Highway. Thanks go to our great volunteers. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 10 cm of powder + trail updates

Bruce King — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:42:28 GMT

Over the last 36 hours Kolapore received about 10 cm of powder. Skiing was generally very good today. However, there are still a few trails with minor issues. Trail to the Summit has quite a few wet spots, plus some fallen trees. Southern Crossing is generally good with some minor wet spots. There is a fallen tree on Paradise Highway south of intersection 24, that could surprise southbound skiers. We will put some caution tape up tomorrow, and try to remove the tree relatively soon. Get out and enjoy the trails before the weather deteriorates later in the week. Kolapore Trail Guide

Great conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:40:40 GMT

Kolapore received another 5 cm of snow overnight. Although there are still a few rocks and wet spots, most trails should be in good to great condition. Get out and enjoy. FYI, the 2026 edition of the Kolapore Trail Map is now on sale. Kolapore Trail Guide

We're in Business!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:27:22 GMT

Solid snow all day. 40cm at the gauge when we passed at 2pm. Likely still a few rocks and wet patches but should be good conditions overall for new years day. Be careful on the roads and we will see you on the trails.

Wed Dec 31 - 10 cm of powder, and snowing hard

Bruce King — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:09:03 GMT

As I post this at 8 AM, Kolapore has received 10 cm+ of powder snow, and it is snowing hard. There seems to be the potential for a lot more snow. If you really want to ski, you should come out early before road conditions get worse, or wait until tomorrow, when it could be a winter wonderland. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thin But Skiable

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:10:56 GMT

County Forest was lovely today. The base was well-frozen and the new snow on top did the trick. A few avoidable grinders. All set for a New Years Eve ski. Rest of trails might be possible for strong skiers but NOT with the new skis from Santa. Lots of twigs and branches down - please help with the pickup.

Tues Dec 30 - 5+ cm of new snow

Bruce King — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:49:06 GMT

In the past 24 hours Kolapore has received 5+ cm of new snow. It is hard to tell exactly how much because of the drifting. This snow is on top of the hard crust left by the recent thaw and freezing rain. I will ski today and update this report. However, I can confidently predict that there will be lots of rocks close to the snow surface, and I would recommend avoiding the rockier trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Dec 27 - Disappointing Snow

Bruce King — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:28:15 GMT

The snow that was predicted for yesterday was disappointing in both quantity and quality. Much of the snow came as ice pellets which formed a firm crust. There is a dusting of powder on top of that. The total new snow was only a few cm. If the crust is firm enough, it may be a fun day for off track exploration. I think the trails could be crusty, and not a lot of fun to ski on. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Dec 24 - Kolapore skiing not recommended

Bruce King — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 14:52:57 GMT

With the mild temperatures yesterday, the trails are now glazed. Even in areas where there is a decent base (like the County Forest), I wouldn't recommend skiing. On Monday I skied north on Kingsway, and north of intersection 61 it became apparent that the rockier trails were not safely skiable because of rocks emerging. Conditions will have deteriorated since then. Do your snow dance! Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Dec 21 - Some pleasant skiing - but choose wisely

Bruce King — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 19:19:27 GMT

I had a pleasant ski in the County Forest and vicinity this morning. It would have been better if a walker hadn't postholed there way around the perimeter of the forest, walking on the track most of the way. The snow gauge is at 20 cm, which is about 5 cm of powder on 15 cm of crust. However, that probably overstates the average snow depth, which is probably more like 10 to 15 cm. That is OK for trails on old forest lanes like most of County Forest or Marc's Folly, but isn't enough for good skiing on the rockier trails. Until we get more snow, please be strategic about where you ski! And please help pick up branches. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Dec 20 - 5+ cm of new snow on slush/crust

Bruce King — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:19:21 GMT

Yesterday Kolapore received 5+ cm of snow on top of the slush that was left after the thaw. Kolapore retained a reasonable amount of base, but there won't be much snow on top of a lot of the rocks. There may be some slush lurking under the new snow, so if you come out bring a scraper. I may try County Forest later today and provide an update. I wouldn't recommend any other trails. With the recent high winds, there are likely to be lots of branches down - please help all skiers by picking them up. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Dec 11 - Conditions improving

Bruce King — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:31:08 GMT

The snow gauge has gone up from 22 cm on Monday to 32 cm today. We've had more snow than that, but it is settling. We didn't receive snow today, unlike some areas to the east. Skiing in the County Forest was very pleasant today. I skied north from the County Forest, and conditions were substantially better than on Monday. However, you will still encounter lots of rocks. Outside the County Forest I think skiing is for experienced skiers on experienced (i.e., rock) skis. Hills could be challenging. And I would stay away from any "winter use only" trails - there are likely to be wet areas. Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Dec 8 - OK skiing in select areas

Bruce King — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:24:08 GMT

Not a lot has changed since my last post. I skied around County Forest and west on Southern Crossing to the 10th Line this afternoon, and the skiing was pleasant. There were some rocks showing and a few wet areas, but still enjoyable. I also skied north from the County Forest to the first intersection (12) and turned around because it was too wet and too many rocks were showing. I think that most of the popular trails (e.g., the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop) would be unpleasant and/or unsafe. The snow gauge is at 22 cm of unconsolidated snow. We need more cold weather and snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 5 - Skiing possible in select locations

Bruce King — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 20:56:11 GMT

A Trail Guide skied the County Forest today and reported that skiing was OK, but rock skis are highly desirable. The County Forest is the best choice in the short term, because most of the trails are on old laneways that don't have rocks. Most other trails will need more snow.

Dec 1 - 20 cm of snow in bush

Bruce King — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:54:10 GMT

It's December, so it's time to start our snow conditions posts. Currently there is about 20 cm of snow in the bush at Kolapore. This isn't enough for enjoyable skiing, because it is loose snow and will quickly compress. I will post as conditions change. Kolapore Trail Guide

Spring skiing (Sun March 9)

Bruce King — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 12:30:00 GMT

We are into spring skiing conditions - icy in the morning, turning mushy by about mid-day. It will get even mushier over coming days with mild temperatures, and turn to ice on Wednesday with the cold temperatures. I probably won't be doing any Kolapore skiing until we get new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

About 10 cm of snow over crust (Fri March 7)

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:30:00 GMT

Over the past 36 hours Kolapore has received about 10 cm of snow. It is sitting on a firm crust. Skiing is probably OK (not great) on flatter trails. Hills could quickly get scraped down to the icy crust. Be prudent in your choice of trails! As usual, the County Forest parking lot is well plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Dusting of snow over crust/slush (Thurs March 6)

Bruce King — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:05:40 GMT

Kolapore received several cm of snow over what is primarily crust, but in a few cases may be slush. I don't think that skiing will be enjoyable until we get more new snow, because the old tracks will be icy ruts. When we get a bit more snow, I will try the trails and post a report. Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow over ice - Help Needed (Sat March 1)

Bruce King — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 19:15:28 GMT

There is about 10 cm of new snow over an icy crust. The skiing is quite good, although steeper hills could become very fast if there is much snowplowing. The poling track is very crunchy because of the crust. There are a number of branches and possibly some trees down on the trails as a result of the strong winds on Monday and today. Please help with the pickup. If a project is too big, please send information to info@kolaporetrails.org An accompanying photo can be helpful for bigger tasks. Kolapore Trail Guide

Hard packed and Icy (Wed Feb 26)

Bruce King — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:30:00 GMT

Currently (8:30 AM) the trails are hard packed and icy. The trails will not be safe or enjoyable at the moment. Later today it may soften enough to be marginally skiable. I would recommend deferring Kolapore skiing until after the substantial amount of new snow that is predicted for Friday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Yet another 10 cm of snow, County Forest and Kolapore parking lots cleared

Bruce King — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:14:15 GMT

The snow keeps falling - 10 cm overnight. The snow base is record setting. Both the County Forest and main Kolapore parking lots are well plowed. Given the forecast for next week (+1 and possible mixed precipitation) get out ASAP and enjoy the great skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 15 cm, County Forest parking lot well plowed (Wed Feb 19)

Bruce King — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:46:43 GMT

Kolapore received yet another 15 cm of snow overnight. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. The main Kolapore parking lot probably won't be plowed until later today. It was well plowed yesterday, so it might be possible to get in if the snow piled up by the County plow hasn't created a heavy barrier. There is a lot of snow on the trails - the most in recent memory. Be prepared to break trail. Kolapore Trail Guide

Both parking lots well cleared, another 10 cm (Tues Feb 18)

Bruce King — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

As of 11 AM, both Kolapore parking lots were well plowed and there is no obstruction at the entrance. We received another 10 cm or so overnight. One skier had been in at both entrances at 11AM. Skiing should be good if you don't mind breaking trail. Snow depths are incredible - the Kolapore snow gauge was up to 36" (91 cm) yesterday. In the several decades that we've had a snow gauge, I don't think I've ever seen it that high before. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 20 (?) cm (Monday Feb 17)

Bruce King — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:50:53 GMT

Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow in the last 24 hours. Once again, the issue will be parking. The main Kolapore parking lot will likely be impassable for much of the day. The County Forest parking lot is in excellent condition. Of course, skiers who do make it to the trails will need to be prepared for trail breaking. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 15 cm (Sunday Feb 16)

Bruce King — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 13:30:00 GMT

It's hard to tell how much new snow we've had in the last 24 hours because of drifting, but I would estimate about 15 cm. The County Forest parking lot was plowed at 10 AM today. The main Kolapore parking lot probably won't be plowed until later today, if then. You would be crazy to try to drive into it until after it is plowed. The official Kolapore snow gauge is probably getting to record levels - it should reach 3/4 metre today. (A local cross country ski area is reporting that they have received over 5 metres of snow this season. We haven't received quite as much, but we are not far off.) Kolapore Trail Guide

main parking lot plowed

Bruce King — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:07:18 GMT

The Kolapore parking lot has been plowed Friday morning

5+ cm overnight (Friday Feb 14 - PM update)

Bruce King — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:58:58 GMT

Kolapore had another 5+ cm overnight. The County Forest parking lot has been thoroughly plowed, and I saw one skier heading in before 9 AM. There were a few skiers in yesterday, so there will be some tracks. The main Kolapore parking lot was well plowed, and quite a few skiers went in from the lot today, so the NE trails should be well broken. Kolapore Trail Guide

20 cm of new snow (Thursday Feb 13)

Bruce King — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:30:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 20 cm of new snow. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. A few skiers broke trail from the parking lot. As of 4:15 the main Kolapore parking lot had not been plowed. In my last post I mentioned a car break-in (smashed window) that happened on Saturday just south of the County Forest parking lot. Subsequently I've heard stories about other relatively recent break-ins at local trail heads (including Three Stage). Don't leave anything valuable visible in your vehicle. Kolapore Trail Guide

Vehicle Break-in / 5 cm of snow

Bruce King — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:31:16 GMT

Yesterday afternoon we noticed that the rear window of a car parked on the small road just south of the County Forest parking lot had been smashed. (They were parked there because the parking lot was full.) It is likely that this was a "smash and grab". There were a number of such incidents during 2021 when trail use exploded, but we haven't been aware of them in more recent years. It is wise to keep any valuables out of sight. There is 5 cm of new snow - skiing should be great. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing (Thurs Feb 6)

Bruce King — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:23:13 GMT

Two Kolapore Trail Guides did a long ski this morning, and agreed that the trails are about as good as they get. Good snow base and most of the wet spots have frozen and are snow covered. I'm using my good skis, not my rock skis. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed as usual. I was in the main Kolapore parking lot yesterday afternoon, and it was snowy (about 10 cm of snow) but usable. Get out and enjoy. Kolapore Trail Guide

15 cm of snow (Tues Feb 4)

Bruce King — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:30:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow in the past 24 hours. Skiing will be good, although early skiers may need to break trail. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. Parking may be a challenge at the main Kolapore parking lot. Kolapore Trail Guide

Better weather than predicted (Mon Feb 3)

Bruce King — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:20:49 GMT

Although the temperature got up to 0 at mid-day, the SE corner of Kolapore received some light snow, and no rain. As I post this at 1:15, it continues to snow. We just need some cooler weather now. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing, but fast (Sunday Feb 2)

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:02:11 GMT

Because the trails received a considerable amount of use yesterday, they are relatively fast. Conditions are good, but you may want to be careful on bigger hills. Enjoy skiing today, because the forecast for Monday is crappy. Kolapore Trail Guide

County Forest parking lot will be full Saturday (Feb 1)

Bruce King — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:13:08 GMT

Because of a ski event, the County Forest parking lot is likely to be full much of the day. I strongly recommend that you plan to use another access point. The Kolapore parking lot is well plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 10 cm of snow (Wed Jan 29)

Bruce King — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:36:41 GMT

The snow keeps coming! The snow last night was a little heavier because of mild temperatures. The County Forest parking lot was well plowed this morning. The main Kolapore parking lot was cleared late yesterday afternoon, and likely won't be cleared until late today (at best). On Saturday February 1 there will be a ski event starting from the County Forest parking lot. The lot is likely to be full much of the day, so please plan to find an alternate parking location (e.g., the main Kolapore parking lot.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Keeps Getting Better

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:32:55 GMT

It's been a while since we have sen this much snow in Kolapore. With the wind and heavy snow load earlier in the week, we've seen some branches and a few trees down. If you can safely, please remove branches from the trail as you go. It's good Trail Karma. Please also report any major issues to us. We will get a volunteer out as soon as possible.

Reminder that the Kolapore Loppet is on Saturday Feb 1. The event is fully sold out. There will be more skiers on the trails than usual but they are generally nice people. Please use trail etiquette "Track Please" at convenient spots in order to pass, downhill skiers have right of way and call "Track" when descending big hills like Wild Mouse to give people warning.

Also note that the County Forest South Parking will be full with event participants. Please consider parking at the Town Line access point if you are skiing the south end.

10+ cm of new snow (Tues Jan 28)

Bruce King — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:58:17 GMT

Kolapore received over 10 cm of new snow. Ski conditions should be great if you don't mind breaking trail initially. Parking may be a challenge, particularly at the main Kolapore parking lot. The snowplow contractor there likely won't show up until later today. The County Forest parking lot is well cleared. Kolapore Trail Guide

Stormy Monday (Jan 27)

Bruce King — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:35:46 GMT

I went out this morning, hoping to beat the strong winds. I came across three significant branches directly in the ski track, and lots of small branches and twigs that had fallen overnight or this morning. I would recommend against skiing this afternoon as the winds become even stronger. After the storm, please help all skiers by playing "Pick Up
Sticks". Conditions are very good. Kolapore Trail Guide

8 cm new snow (Sun Jan 26, 6 AM)

Bruce King — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 09:30:00 GMT

As of 6 AM, Kolapore had received about 8 cm of snow overnight. There should be some good skiing today. Kolapore Trail Guide

Dusting of new snow (Thursday Jan 23)

Bruce King — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:48:17 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received a cm or two of new snow. Conditions on most trails should be good to excellent. Most of the problem wet spots should have frozen. Get out and enjoy! Kolapore Trail Guide

Where are the hardy skiers?

Bruce King — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 15:30:00 GMT

This morning I skied for 2 hours and didn't see a single skier - not even another ski track. Conditions were very pleasant - sunshine, good tracks, dusting of new snow, light winds. Perfect green wax conditions. I'm not urging you to come out now - winds are starting to pick up. I skied Southern Crossing west of the 10th Line, and there are still wet spots, although it has improved since I skied it on Thursday. The cold weather over the next few days should freeze up most of the remaining damp spots (unless we get a big dump of snow that acts as insulation). Kolapore Trail Guide

A few cm of damp snow (Sat Jan 18)

Bruce King — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received a few cm of snow, and it is snowing lightly. The snow is damp, so there is high potential for sticking/clumping. Be sure to prep your skis with glide wax before coming out. This is true for all skis. There is no such thing as a non-wax ski that performs properly without some prep! Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 5 cm (Thurs Jan 16, Evening)

Bruce King — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:36:16 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow through the day today. Most trails are in good condition, although there can still be the odd rock or wet area. One area where the conditions aren't as good is the Winter Use Only trails in the southwest quadrant. I skied Southern Crossing, Quiet Pastures and the south end of Trail to the Summit today, and while they are passable there are some problematic wet areas. Until we have more cold weather (which is coming after Saturday), these trails should be left to "hard core" Kolapore skiers. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 10 cm (Wed Jan 15)

Bruce King — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Overnight and into Wednesday Kolapore received another 10 cm of snow. The base is building up very nicely. Most trails should be in good shape. I'm still a bit cautious about the wet areas in the southwest quadrant. I'm planning to take a look at them, to see if there has been enough cold weather to make them safely skiable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another few cm of new snow (Tuesday Jan 14)

Bruce King — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:08:34 GMT

Kolapore received 2 cm or so of snow overnight. Ski conditions should be good today. Two Kolapore Trail Guides did the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop yesterday (doing trail cleanup), and conditions were very pleasant. There are still a few rocks and wet spots, but they are easily avoided. Get out and enjoy. Kolapore Trail Guide

A few cm of new snow (Mon Jan 13)

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:08:41 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received 3 or 4 cm of new snow. This will help to freshen up the trails after a weekend when lots of skiers were out. Substantially more snow may arrive later today or tomorrow - I will post tomorrow morning. I will repeat my caution about possible wet areas in the SW quadrant of the trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

5 cm of new snow (Sat Jan 11)

Bruce King — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received 5 cm of new snow. This will freshen up the trails. The parking lots will be usable even if they haven't been plowed. There will still be a reasonable number of areas where skiers will encounter rocks (not in the County Forest). I continue to recommend avoiding the traditional wet areas in the SW quadrant of the trail system. Kolapore Trail Guide

Modest new snow, Good base (Thursday Jan 9)

Bruce King — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:47:56 GMT

Not a lot has changed since my post Tuesday evening, other than that the Kolapore lot is plowed (in addition to the County Forest lot) and there has been about another 5 cm of snow. The cautions regarding wet areas in my last post are still relevant, although the cold weather will be improving that. It's beautiful out, with snow hanging on the trees. Get out and enjoy. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 15 cm overnight, 5 cm this morning (Tuesday Jan 7) Evening update

Bruce King — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow, and another 5 cm fell during the morning. The (uncompacted) snow at our snow gauge is close to a half metre deep. The County Forest parking lot was plowed. At 4 PM the main Kolapore parking lot had not been plowed. Skiing was very enjoyable this afternoon - a winter wonderland with snow hanging on the trees. I skied west of the 10th line on Southern Crossing, and encountered a lot of slush and open water, so turned back. We strongly recommend that you not ski on the south end of Trail to the Summit, the south end of Quiet Pastures or the west end of Southern Crossing (the perennial wet areas.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Good Skiing - but Rock skis still recommended (Mon Jan 6 PM update)

Bruce King — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:30:00 GMT

The County Forest and Kolapore parking lots are in good shape. Most trails were skied on Sunday. Overnight and during the day we've received about another 5 cm of snow. However, I would give two cautions. There are still lots of rocks near the surface, so rock skis are strongly recommended outside the County Forest. Some of our traditional wet areas probably haven't frozen yet, so I would avoid the south end of Trail to the Summit and Quiet Pastures south of 58. The predicted cold weather should help to fix the wet areas. Kolapore Trail Guide

Winter wonderland (Sun Jan 5)

Bruce King — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 14:57:46 GMT

As I reported last evening, Kolapore received close to 30 cm of snow yesterday. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed, and the first skiers started breaking trail there at 9:30. Sideroads have been plowed. I suspect that the main Kolapore parking lot won't be plowed until later today (we are near the end of our snowplow contractor's route.) If it hasn't been plowed, don't try to get in. Kolapore Trail Guide

Close to 30 cm of snow since this morning (Sat Jan 4 -evening update)

Bruce King — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 18:00:00 GMT

Since mid-morning, Kolapore has been receiving serious snow squalls. At 5:30 PM, the new snowfall today is getting close to 30 cm. This will greatly improve skiing conditions, but don't think about coming out until the weather has settled down, and roads and parking lots have been cleared. That could easily be mid-day Sunday or later. One minor skiing consideration is that the new snow will have concealed some wet spots. Skiing in the County Forest this morning, we had to be careful at wet spots just east of 5 and west of 4. Kolapore Trail Guide

10 cm of new snow (Fri Jan 3, PM)

Bruce King — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 02:07:03 GMT

Last night and into this morning Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow. I still expect that the snow cover on many Kolapore trails will be too thin to provide good skiing, but I am planning to explore the County Forest and vicinity on rock skis. Let's hope that the snow squalls that are predicted for Saturday come to pass. Kolapore Trail Guide

4 cm of new snow (Thurs Jan 2)

Bruce King — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Yesterday morning I posted that Kolapore had received about 5 cm of wet snow overnight. When I shovelled snow, it was closer to 10 cm. Overnight we received about 4 cm of drier snow. I still wouldn't recommend Kolapore skiing, given that we lost much of our base. Hopefully some of the predicted snow squalls will hit us, although as I post this at 8 AM, most of the streamers are just to the east of us. Kolapore Trail Guide

5 cm of wet snow (at 9 AM) Jan 1

Bruce King — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:07:22 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of wet snow, and it is snowing energetically. We will need a substantial amount of snow to make the trails skiable, because there were areas where the base was gone. You would be crazy to try to ski on the trails at the moment, even on rock skis. Kolapore Trail Guide

Spring conditions - Dec 29

Bruce King — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 17:00:52 GMT

The mild temperatures and rain have substantially reduced the snow base, and there are lots of rocks showing through. We need cold weather and a reasonable amount of new snow. I will post again when conditions change. In the interim, please don't walk on the ski trails - the footprints you leave will make a mess when it refreezes. Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas Day report

Bruce King — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Skiing in the County Forest and west to the 10th Line this morning was very pleasant - good tracks and few rocks showing. However, when I headed north from the County Forest I encountered more rocks and a lot of yellow snow (moisture in the ground was bleeding up to the track). A diehard Kolapore skier reported that conditions at the north end (e.g., Kolapore Church) were poor. So, be selective about where you ski. If you want to snowshoe, the snowshoe loop just south of the County Forest parking lot was snowshoed this morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

10+ cm of new snow (Tues Dec 24)

Bruce King — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:09:59 GMT

Kolapore received 10+ cm of snow over the past 24 hours. I am hopeful that the snow will be enough to cover most of the rocks on the rockier trails. I would still recommend rock skis. 10 AM Update: The new snow is quite heavy. This will cover rocks better, but also means that the snow plowed by town plows will be very solid. It may be difficult to get into the Kolapore parking lot until it is plowed (take a shovel if you want to try.) The County Forest parking lot is cleared. Kolapore Trail Guide

4 cm of new snow (Sunday Dec 22 - PM update)

Bruce King — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 13:31:40 GMT

As I post this at 8:30 AM, the temperature is -23. Kolapore received about 4 cm of snow during the day yesterday and into the evening. Both the Kolapore and County Forest parking lots are well plowed today. Yesterday I skied around the east half of the County Forest. Although I still recommend rock skis there, the skiing was pleasant. The snow gauge was at 23 cm. I would recommend deferring the really rocky trails (like the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop) until after we get some more snow, which is predicted for tomorrow. The wisdom of this recommendation was confirmed by a skier who had been on these trails this morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

10 cm of new snow (Sat Dec 21)

Bruce King — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow overnight. Some of the less rocky trails (such as County Forest) may be OK for skiing, although I would still recommend rock skis. The County Forest parking lot has been carefully plowed this morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

Small amount of new snow (Friday Dec 20)

Bruce King — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:10:55 GMT

Unfortunately, Kolapore has only received about 3 or 4 cm of snow since the rain and thaw on Monday. This is in contrast to Scenic Caves, which has received 20+ cm of snow. The thaw uncovered a lot of rocks, and we need more snow to cover them and offer safe and enjoyable skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Probably not skiable (Tuesday Dec 17)

Bruce King — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:38:53 GMT

Looking out at the Kolapore forest, I can see lots of rocks sticking out as a result of the thaw and rain yesterday. I don't think the trails will be skiable until we get a substantial amount of new snow. They will be dangerous for skiing when we get cold weather and they freeze. I will be monitoring the conditions, but won't post again until there is a change. Kolapore Trail Guide

Conditions Much Improved but Still Not 100% (Sunday update)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 13:25:49 GMT

Additional snow and cold nights over the past week have improved conditions but we still do not have a full base. Rock skis recommended and you are encouraged to ski in the County Forest area. Be careful on hills and through marshy areas. Both lots have been plowed. Please make a donation or become a member to help us maintain the trails. Sunday update: There is 20 cm at the snow gauge, but the packed snow depth in the tracks is only about 5 cm. I skied Southern Crossing west of the 10th line this morning, but turned around after 1 km because there were too many wet spots. We need colder weather and more snow.

Monday Dec 9 - freezing rain

Bruce King — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:33:31 GMT

This morning Kolapore has received freezing rain. There is still about 20 cm of base in the forest (that's not the amount in the track), and because the warm weather has settled the snow, we should be able to retain a decent amount of base. When the temperature drops we will need a substantial amount of new snow to make the trails skiable. Kolapore
Trail Guide

Wed Dec 4 - Skiing possible, but "mediocre"

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:26:46 GMT

Kolapore received about 2 cm of snow overnight, and the snow gauge is still at 20 cm. I skied in the County Forest yesterday afternoon, and would rate conditions as "mediocre". The base is thin, rocks are showing, and moisture is bleeding up from the ground. But it is possible to ski, and if we get a bit more snow and cold weather, there should be decent skiing. The County Forest and Kolapore parking lots are both plowed. (My rating may be skewed by the fact that yesterday morning I had great skiing at Scenic Caves on excellent tracks.)

Tuesday Dec 3 - Another 12 cm

Bruce King — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:15:13 GMT

Last evening Kolapore received about another 12 cm of snow. The settled snow depth is now about 20 cm. This is probably enough to permit OK skiing on the less rocky trails, like the County Forest. Rock skis are still recommended. The parking lot at the east end of the County Forest (at Grey Road 2) is well plowed. I will provide an update after checking the main Kolapore parking lot. Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Dec 2 - minimal additional snow

Bruce King — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:06:22 GMT

Some local areas have received streamers off the bay, but not much has fallen at Kolapore since my report yesterday. The unpacked snow base is 13 cm at the south end, which will compact to a few cm. Several skiers went into the County forest yesterday, but I expect that their skis will have a lot of new scratches. Pray for snow! Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 1: Snow falling, not enough for skiing - yet

Bruce King — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 15:33:47 GMT

There is about 15 cm of snow on the ground, and it is snowing energetically, with more promised. 15 cm of snow is not enough for skiing with no base. However, if we get a good dump of snow, it may be possible to do some skiing on rock skis. I will provide updates. Kolapore Trail Guide

Dwindling snow, sensitive trails

Bruce King — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 19:55:31 GMT

With the warm temperatures, the snow that fell a few days ago has disappeared, and the base is melting fast. There is still snow cover on parts of some trails, but it is slushy or icy. With the expected warm weather over the next few days, the trails will be wet and softening quickly. This is a time when trail use can do the maximum damage. We ask you to stay off the trails until they have dried out. Kolapore Trail Guide

Leap day snowfall - 5 cm

Bruce King — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:36:27 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow (not the big dump experienced just to the east.) I don't think this is enough to refresh the trails, because the base is hard, icy or non-existent. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 24 - Hard and Icy

Bruce King — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 12:54:17 GMT

With the recent thaw, followed by the very cold conditions overnight and into today, the trails are hard and icy. I would strongly recommend against Kolapore skiing today on any portion of the trail. Kolapore Trail Guide

Spring skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:43:25 GMT

Temperatures went above freezing today (Tuesday). It will be below freezing tonight, so the trails may be icy initially tomorrow, but then softening as it warms. The temperature is warming substantially, so the snow is likely to be quite wet in the afternoon. The forecast is the same for Thursday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 19 - Another 10 cm (updated)

Bruce King — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:42:16 GMT

Saturday night and through Sunday Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow, and the skiing should be great today. Many skiers were having problems with clumping on Sunday afternoon, but with the cold temperatures today, that shouldn't be a problem. The County Forest and Kolapore parking lots are well plowed. There are wet spots on the trail - Trail to the Summit just north of Mount Dhaulagiri has several problem locations. I would recommend avoiding the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures - it is likely to have very wet sections. There are also wet spots on the west end of Southern Crossing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 17 - Another 10+ cm

Bruce King — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 12:44:41 GMT

Over the past 24 hours, Kolapore has received about another 10+ cm of snow. Skiing conditions should be excellent this weekend, although this morning be prepared for trail breaking. Based on reports from Friday, rock skis may still be desirable. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed (10 AM update). The Kolapore parking lot was plowed late Friday afternoon, and probably won't be plowed again until later today. The challenge will be getting into the lot, because of the drift left by the County plow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fri Feb 16 - 15 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 14:07:44 GMT

Yesterday and overnight Kolapore received about 15 cm of new snow. I hope this will be enough to cover the problems (reverse tracks, footholes) in the icy base. I'm optimistic that we should have some decent skiing for the Family Day weekend. Parking at the Kolapore parking lot is likely to be a problem Friday morning and into the afternoon, particularly because of the wall of snow left by the road plow. The County Forest parking lot is in excellent condition. Kolapore Trail Guide

Valentine's Day Gift - new powder (but still mediocre skiing)

Bruce King — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:09:29 GMT

Yesterday and overnight Kolapore received 8 or 9 cm of new light powder snow. I skied in the County Forest and beyond this morning, and the skiing was mediocre. The thaw melted the uncompacted snow beside the tracks, so we now have "reverse" tracks - the old tracks are higher than the adjacent snow. Walkers have punched holes on and beside the tracks. Rocks are showing through, particularly beyond the County Forest lanes. We did have some very pleasant off track skiing on old bush lanes - it was much better than on trail skiing. We need more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Feb 13 - Hard base, snow starting to fall

Bruce King — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:05:19 GMT

The thaw last week didn't eliminate the base of snow, but it did uncover lots of rocks. With the subsequent cooler temperatures, the packed tracks turned to ice. Today it has flurried off and on, but we need lots more than flurries to make the trails skiable. This is particularly true where thoughtless people have been walking on the trails. Fortunately the forecast for the next few days is promising. I will post again when there is any significant change. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 3: Hard tracks, treacherous hills

Bruce King — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 12:50:32 GMT

I'm afraid that conditions have not improved since my last post. Kolapore received about a cm of snow on Friday morning. We need a lot more than that to refresh the trails. The tracks are very hard as a result of the thaw and freezing rain a week ago. Even off track wouldn't be appealing because of the hard crust. The warmth that is predicted over the next week may provide some spring skiing conditions. Kolapore Trail Guide

Icy Conditions - Skiing not recommended

Bruce King — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 02:29:04 GMT

As a result of the thaw and subsequent freeze, trail conditions are icy. Skiing is dangerous. Walking or snowshoeing will seriously damage trail conditions. We ask that people stay off the trails until we have fresh snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Snowshoe damage

trail updates — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 16:08:30 GMT

Probably time for a friendly reminder for walkers and snowshoers to stay off trails (especially the ski tracks) with the fluctuating weather! There are snowshoe tracks on most of Kev’s way and pretty significant damage on Paradise highway from Kev’s Way all the way down to the creek which made for a tricky descent with current (icy) conditions!

Fri Jan 26 - Wet and melting snow

Bruce King — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:34:39 GMT

Although there is still quite a bit of snow cover at Kolapore, the depth has dropped significantly as a result of the mild conditions and rain. A Kolapore volunteer who went in today to cut a tree that had fallen across a bridge reported that "rocks are reappearing in the usual places". At the moment the snow is wet/sloppy, but will turn to ice when the temperature drops below zero. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 22 - Popular trails are Firm and Fast

Bruce King — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:22:25 GMT

I skied the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop this morning, and conditions were "firm and fast" as a result of the heavy use on the weekend. Tracks were in good shape, but hills have been snowplowed. I would restate the "Not for Novice Skiers" caution for these trails. A tree is down on Paradise HIghway south of 24, and we will try to remove it. Some of our traditional wet areas are improving: the south end of Trail to the Summit can be skied with no problem, and it is possible to get through the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures, although caution is required. Southern Crossing was lovely yesterday.

Sat Jan 20 noon update- About 15 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow in the past 24 hours. As I post at noon it is squalling, and driving is poor. Shortly before noon a car was hung up on the snowplow drift getting into the Kolapore parking lot. The County Forest parking lot is in good shape. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another great day of skiing (Thurs Jan 18)

Bruce King — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 02:28:05 GMT

A few more cm of powder snow drifted down today, and the snow gauge (unconsolidated snow depth) is up to 36 cm. Ski conditions on the east part of the trail system were good to excellent. On Tuesday a skier reported that he had broken through the ice into water while skiing through the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures, and he almost broke through in other locations in the same area. Caution is still required. Don't forget to take a scraper in case your skis ice up. Kolapore Trail guide

Good skiing, parking lots in good condition, one caution (Updated Jan 17)

Bruce King — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:30:53 GMT

Skiing is generally good now, after the 25 cm of snow on Sunday, and the track setting by energetic skiers. Both the County Forest and Kolapore parking lots were in excellent condition. I still recommend rock skis. Yesterday (Tuesday) a skier reported that he had broken through the ice into water while skiing through the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures, and he almost broke through in other locations. Caution is still required. Kolapore Trail guide

Sun Jan 14 (4 pm update) - 25 cm of new snow and snowing energetically

Bruce King — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:30:00 GMT

Since yesterday morning, Kolapore has received 25+ cm of new snow, and it is snowing energetically. The snow gauge was up to 38 cm in the afternoon. Skiing was good today, although there was a lot of trail breaking. I would still recommend rock skis - I scraped a number of times today. The County Forest parking lot was in good shape. There were problems at the Kolapore parking lot this morning - I don't know if it has been cleared. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 13 - More positive update

Bruce King — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 18:30:00 GMT

My post this morning was accurate, but then the temperatures dropped and we got a bit of new snow. I had a pleasant ski this afternoon in the County Forest and some adjacent trails. The wet snow firmed up and provided a better base. The snow gauge is now at 18 cm - still thin, but much improved since Thursday. You should still use rocks skis, and I would postpone using rockier trails or steep hills until we have some more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 13 - Disappointing

Bruce King — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 11:00:00 GMT

We had a wild night, with snow falling, driven by strong winds. Unfortunately, the temperature warmed and we received rain. It is hovering just above freezing at 8 AM (just below at 10 AM). The snow is wet - snowball snow - and there is much less new snow than hoped. Some of the local ski areas are saying they received 15 cm, but at Kolapore the new snow that remained after the rain was less than that. Where it hasn't drifted, there may be 5 - 7 cm of new snow. Some trails are probably skiable, if you don't mind heavy wet snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Skiing possible in selected areas - rocks skis recommended

Bruce King — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:08:52 GMT

Thursday afternoon we skied through County Forest and west on Southern Crossing to the 10th Line. The snow gauge was at 10 cm, although there is only about 2 cm of snow under skis after one or two skiers have been through. The skiing was better than I expected, although the close to 0 temperature meant that it was a bit clumpy. Rocks skis were the right choice for the day. I would not ski on rockier Kolapore trails or hills (most of the system) until we get more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Some new snow - not enough for skiing

Bruce King — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 02:50:47 GMT

Kolapore received light snow overnight and during the day today. There is about 7 cm, which is not nearly enough for skiing. I will post again when conditions change. Kolapore Trail Guide

County Forest skiing - poor conditions Dec 22

Bruce King — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 22:13:54 GMT

I skied about 5 km in the County Forest this afternoon. The base ranged from 0 to 2 cm. Conditions were mainly poor, with a few sections that were fair. I wouldn't recommend it, even to hardcore skiers on rock skis. Kolapore Trail Guide

15 cm of heavy snow

Bruce King — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:40:05 GMT

Kolapore received 15+ cm of heavy snow overnight. This was on top of bare ground. Some trails (like parts of the County Forest) are probably skiable using rock skis. Bring a scraper - there is damp ground underneath, and the potential for icing is significant. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. At the moment, that probably isn't the case at the main Kolapore parking lot. Kolapore Trail Guide

Brown and green

Bruce King — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:59:13 GMT

The warm weather and rain has melted virtually all of the snow cover. Most of the ground is brown or green. The trails are quite wet, so we discourage trail use at the moment. Kolapore Trail Guide

15 cm of wet snow

Bruce King — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:12:46 GMT

There is about 15 cm of wet, heavy snow in the bush. It might be skiable if you like those sorts of conditions, and know how to avoid clumping. Kolapore Trail Guide

Not Skiable

Bruce King — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:38:10 GMT

The milder temperatures and sun today melted a significant part of the snow. We will need a considerable amount of snow before the trails will be skiable again. Kolapore Trail Guide

OK skiing in County Forest (today)

Bruce King — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:59:08 GMT

We skied across the north side of County Forest and west on to Southern Crossing this morning, and had a pleasant time. Of course we were using rock skis. The snow gauge is at 16 cm of loose snow, so there are only a few cm under your ski after the first pass. We encountered quite a few damp areas - we set new tracks in a number of locations as we returned, to avoid the yellow or wet tracks. We used our scraper a few times to remove ice. Given the weather forecast, I'm not planning to ski tomorrow, and in fact it may be quite a while before there are decent conditions again. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 10 cm of snow

Bruce King — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

Kolapore had another 10 cm of snow overnight. The settled snow depth is about 20 cm. In theory you could ski, but because there is no base your skis would likely hit lots of rocks. PM update: I just spoke to a skier who went in at the Kolapore entrance, and they were icing badly because of moisture under the snow, and scraping on rocks. Kolapore Trail Guide

Start of winter trail condition posts for 2023 - 24

Bruce King — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:00:00 GMT

As of 10 AM, Kolapore has received 11 cm of snow. I will provide updates, although (given the lack of any base and ground that isn't fully frozen) it is unlikely that conditions will permit decent skiing in the short term. Let's hope for a cold, snowy winter, to help us celebrate the Kolapore Trails 50th Anniversary. Kolapore Trail Guide

Happy to see some much needed rain.

trail updates — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:23:27 GMT

Good morning everyone, with the rain today and expected for the next few days, we would urge cyclist to please stay off the trails until they dry up and for hikers to exercise caution.

With a promising weather forecast for the latter half of the week hopefully we can be back out biking by the weekend!

Spring update

Bruce King — Sat, 06 May 2023 00:09:14 GMT

Although this site mainly deals with ski conditions, I thought I would give a quick spring update. There are parts of the Kolapore trail system that are OK for riding and walking at the moment, and there are parts that are still quite wet and soft, especially after the recent rain. In general, the SE portion of the trail system is in good shape (east of the 10th Line, south of Paradise Highway). Kolapore Church should be good, but Paradise Highway has some very wet sections. With the exception of the Mount Dhaulagiri loop and the Marc's Folly area, everything west of the 10th Line should be avoided. Early spring flowers are coming along nicely, but the white trilliums are still in tight bud.

Good Friday - Ski Season has ended (but not time for hiking or biking yet)

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:32:07 GMT

Although there are still patches of snow, ski season has ended. We are now into spring thaw. We would prefer that people stay off the trails for several weeks while they dry out a bit. Trail use at this time has the maximum negative impact. This is particularly true for the parts of our trail system that are in lower, moister areas. They can quickly get churned into a sea of mud. Some trails dry out faster than others, e.g., Kolapore Church and parts of County Forest. However, if you want to support "sustainable trails", it would be best to defer use for a while.

Sunday April 2 - Skiing barely possible

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 19:30:28 GMT

It is probably possible to ski at the east end of the County Forest, although the snow is disappearing fast. Skiers were in there on Saturday and said it was passable. The Saturday report from the Kolapore entrance was that it was not skiable - rocks and mud. Skiing will end in a day or two, even for the hard core. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs March 30 - A few cm of snow

Bruce King — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:17:43 GMT

Yesterday and overnight Kolapore received about 3 cm of snow. This is on top of an icy crust. It would be theoretically possible to ski at Kolapore, but I would strongly recommend avoiding hills. I'm planning to ski at Scenic Caves today, where the skiing will be much safer. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 25 - freezing rain, rain, high winds

Bruce King — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 18:59:12 GMT

I'm sure that no one would be crazy enough to try to go skiing today. I'll just note that Kolapore had quite a bit of freezing rain, and the high winds brought a lot of branches down. There is still enough snow to ski in the bush once the weather calms down, but conditions are likely to be poor. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues March 21 - Spring skiing: icy then soft

Bruce King — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:30:45 GMT

The snow glazed over yesterday, so the trails will be icy in the morning and softening by mid-day. This pattern is likely to repeat itself over the next few days. If you like spring skiing (I don't), there is still good snow cover on the trails, although the fields will start to open up soon. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon March 20 - Firm and Fast

Bruce King — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMT

I went out at 8 AM to enjoy what will probably be the last day of powder snow and blue wax skiing of the winter. The tracks in the County Forest were firm and fast, but enjoyable. I would recommend avoiding challenging hills. Conditions will soften later today. After today we are likely to be into classic spring skiing conditions, with the cold temperatures overnight creating an icy surface in the morning, softening as the day goes on. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun March 19 - 5+ cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 12:28:00 GMT

Kolapore has received at least 5 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. This should be just enough to make many trails skiable. Be cautious about what you plan to ski. Steeper trails where there is any snowplowing will quickly be scraped to ice. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 18 - Icy trails

Bruce King — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 11:00:00 GMT

With the rain yesterday followed by cold weather, the trails have turned to ice. Skiing will be dangerous. However, it is snowing lightly at the moment, and there is a possibility of a decent amount of snow. I will update if we get enough new snow to make safe skiing possible. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs. March 16: Spring skiing - icy then slushy

Bruce King — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:33:36 GMT

Yesterday morning provided some of the best skiing of the year. But all good things must come to an end. The snow warmed in the afternoon, and froze overnight. Today the trails will start out icy, and will soften about midday. I plan to ski at one of the local groomed trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues March 14 - Mid winter conditions for a day (or so)

Bruce King — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:15:42 GMT

Kolapore received about 4 cm of powder snow overnight and into the morning. We now have the most snow we've had at any point this winter. Skiing this morning was lovely. If you want to take advantage of the conditions I would go out today or early Wednesday. The forecast for Wednesday shows that it will be sunny and warm quickly, so I think the snow may get sticky relatively early in the day. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon March 13 - 4 cm new snow, some clumping

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:00:00 GMT

I skied 3 hours today (10 - 1). The first hour and half were pleasant on the new snow. Midway in the ski we started to have problems with icing on our waxable skis. It wasn't bad on tracks that had been skied in, but was more problematic where we were the first through. That situation is likely to persist this afternoon. Tuesday should be better, because the temperatures are predicted to be significantly cooler. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sunday March 12, 10 PM

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Kolapore has received about 4 cm of snow this afternoon and evening, and it is snowing lightly at 10 PM. This will help to freshen the trails. I think there should be some good skiing on Monday. Get out and enjoy the trails before the warmer weather arrives that is predicted for later this week. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 11 - 6 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 11:00:00 GMT

I posted last night at 10:30 that there had been 6 cm of new snow - we didn't get any more overnight, although it is snowing at the moment. There should be enough new snow to make many trails skiable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Yes, icy fast tracks March 7

trail updates — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:02:44 GMT

I headed out at 1:10 PM on the Country Forest trail, having not skied it this year. I would say that the March 6 comments made by someone else are pretty accurate. The tracks were frozen. As I have a 3-pin binding I found at times the extra width of the binding would create friction in the track when on the flat or going uphill. My no wax skis did not provide much grip in the track but did work outside of the track. The snow outside the track was not hard enough to fully support my weight. Most of the time I stayed in the track. When going downhill, I found it difficult to slow down because the snow was too dense for a good snowplow. I did try the intermediate section towards the west end of the Country Forest trail between markers 62 and 63. I skied off the trail to get a more gradual descent and that worked.

The snow coverage was excellent.

It was a beautiful blue sky day and nice to be out.

P.S. I notice the timestamps are 2 hours later than the actual time.

Icy, fast tracks - not suitable for most skiers

Bruce King — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 16:00:00 GMT

I headed out about 1 PM to see what conditions were like, hoping that the warming would have softened the track. It has a bit, but not enough to make skiing either safe or enjoyable. It may be better later this afternoon (Monday). Given the predicted cold temperatures for the next few days, Kolapore skiing is likely to continue to be unsatisfactory until we get new snow. This is the time of year when it can be wise to pay for the grooming at Scenic Caves or Highlands Nordic. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun March 5 - Icy trails covered by 2 cm of snow

Bruce King — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 12:36:53 GMT

With the warm temperatures and sun yesterday, and the cooler temperatures overnight, the trail surface became an icy crust. Kolapore has received about 2 cm of new snow, which will improve conditions somewhat. Given the expected temperatures today we will likely have spring skiing conditions much of the day. The cooler temperatures expected overnight will refreeze the trails, and the trails are likely to be icy on Monday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 4 - 12 cm of moist snow

Bruce King — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 15:15:32 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 12 cm of moist snow. If you are the first one on a trail, it will be relatively heavy trail breaking. Be sure to prep your skis because it could be "clumpy" conditions. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday March 3 - Fast trails

Bruce King — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 01:00:00 GMT

The temperature highs the past two days were close to freezing, and there was some sun. As a result, the trails are firm and fast, although based on a short ski on Friday morning they don't seem to be icy in the bush. Be prudent in your choice of trails to ski. If you are planning to ski on Saturday, you should be strategic. It is unlikely that the Kolapore parking lot will be plowed before the afternoon. The County Forest parking lot will likely be plowed in the morning. I will do an update early Saturday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Feb 28 - New snow, no freezing rain

Bruce King — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:30:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received several cm of new snow. It is very difficult to tell how much, because the strong winds moved it around. I would guess that we received no more than 5 cm. The good news is that there didn't seem to be any freezing rain or freezing drizzle. The County Forest parking lot is well plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 25 - another dusting of snow

Bruce King — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 14:54:28 GMT

Kolapore has received a few cm of snow over the past 24 hours. This should help to freshen the trails. I think conditions should be quite good today, although I'm still planning to wear rocks skis. I know from skiing on Thursday that there are rocks that aren't snow covered. Based on conditions yesterday, both the Kolapore and County Forest parking lots should be in good condition. Kolapore Trail Guide

Light freezing drizzle and dusting of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:30:00 GMT

Thursday afternoon Kolapore had some light freezing drizzle. Overnight we had a cm or two of powder snow. I think the skiing will be OK - the freezing drizzle coating was quite thin. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 23 - 10 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Over the past 24 hours, Kolapore has received about 10 cm of new snow. Skiing should be good, although there will still be some rocks. The County Forest parking lot has been carefully plowed this morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 20 - Icy trails

Bruce King — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:04:04 GMT

The warm weather and sun on Sunday melted the snow surface, and it has now refrozen. Tracks will be icy. Skiing is not recommended until we get the new snow that is predicted for mid-week. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thin snow, but enjoyable skiing; possible clumping on Sunday

Bruce King — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:05:32 GMT

This morning I did a long and enjoyable ski on many of the trails on the east side of the Kolapore system. However, the snow is thin - 17 cm (7") at the snow gauge, which means that there is about 10 cm under your skis. There are rocks showing, and caution is required on some of the rockier hills. On Sunday the temperature is predicted to get above freezing relatively early. That's when many skier have problems with skis clumping, so I recommend putting glider on your skis. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 17 - 10+ cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received 10+ cm of snow overnight. This means that skiing is again possible, although caution will be required because we lost a lot of our base. Rocks won't be far below the surface in some locations. The County Forest parking lot just off Grey Road 2 has been well plowed this morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 16 - icy trails

Bruce King — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:53:02 GMT

After the very warm temperatures yesterday, and the subsequent cold temps, the trails are hard and icy. There are also quite a few rocks sticking through the crust. I strongly recommend against any skiing. There is a good chance of a significant amount of snow overnight - I will post again Friday morning. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 13 - Spring Skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 12:29:25 GMT

With the warm temperatures yesterday, followed by colder temperatures overnight, the tracks will be icy in the morning but will soften as it warms. This pattern will likely continue for a day or two. Because of the relatively thin snow base, rocks will start to reappear. Sadly, a few Kolapore veterans are calling this the "worst ski season ever". We are still hoping for a late season return of cold weather and snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 11 - 8 cm of new snow on top of crust (updated)

Bruce King — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 12:45:01 GMT

Yesterday and overnight the south end of Kolapore received about 8 cm of new snow. This is on top of the crust that was left after the rain on Thursday. I skied in the County Forest and vicinity this morning, and conditions were better than expected. Almost all rocks were covered, and there was enough snow to set decent tracks. HOWEVER, some skiers were icing/clumping this morning, and that is likely to get worse as temperatures warm. Be sure to prepare your skis and bring a scraper. Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Feb 6 - Crusty tracks

Bruce King — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 13:51:53 GMT

I did a short ski this (Monday) morning in the County Forest, and the tracks are crusty. The temperature got up to around +3 yesterday, and the sun was out. With the colder temperatures the snow has refrozen. I would rate conditions as fair to poor. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 3 - 5 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:00:00 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow. As I post this at noon, the sun is shining, but the wind is blowing hard. Today and tomorrow morning might offer OK skiing for hardy skiers. Kolapore members: the forecast suggests we should have OK temperatures at the time of our moonlight ski on Saturday night, although there could still be some wind. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Jan 31 - Very enjoyable skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:30:53 GMT

Over the past two days Kolapore has had several light snow flurries, which have improved trail conditions. There are still a few rocks that your ski may touch, and the odd wet spot, but overall the conditions are good. Today was a perfect blue wax day. And for Kolapore members - remember that there is a moonlight ski and fire on Saturday night. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 29 - About 12 cm of new snow (Updated PM)

Bruce King — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 12 cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. Ski conditions are substantially improved. Most (but not all) rocks are now covered, and there are only a few wet areas. The snow gauge is up to 32 cm/13", but this is the uncompacted snow depth. Kolapore Trail Guide

About 8 - 10 cm of new snow (updated)

Bruce King — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 14:23:45 GMT

At the south end of Kolapore we received about 8 - 10 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. The snow gauge is now at 22 cm, although much of that is loose powder snow. I did a long ski this morning, and my skis acquired lots of new scrapes. Skiing is good on old laneways (e.g., most of the County Forest), but on Kingsway, Jackrabbit and John's Portage I was scraping rocks quite frequently. Rock skis are STRONGLY recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Brian says: "6 or 7 out of 10"

Bruce King — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 21:52:18 GMT

One of our active skiers, Brian Goodings, skied several trails at the south end this afternoon, and described conditions as "6 or 7 out of 10". This is a substantial improvement since his rating of "awful" on Saturday. Since yesterday morning the south end of Kolapore has received about 6 cm of snow. With the expected snow, conditions should improve further. However, I would continue to stick to the less rocky trails in the short term, because there isn't much base. Kolapore Trail Guide

Possibly "poor" rather than "awful"

Bruce King — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:34:51 GMT

Kolapore had about 2 cm of snow in the past 24 hours. This probably means that we can upgrade the skiing conditions from "awful" to "poor". I would recommend waiting until we get more snow mid-week. Kolapore Trail Guide

"Awful" skiing, says Brian

Bruce King — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 22:10:49 GMT

I didn't ski today, but bumped into Brian Goodings this afternoon after he finished skiing in the County Forest. He described conditions as "awful". This is not surprising, given that there is 2 cm of powder on top of a thin crust. Kolapore desperately needs more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Freezing rain and rain

Bruce King — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:27:49 GMT

Kolapore received freezing rain overnight, followed by rain this morning. We need colder temperatures and a significant amount of snow to make the trails skiable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Some limited passable skiing on rock skis

Bruce King — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 21:41:09 GMT

I skied around the County Forest and some adjacent trails this (Saturday) afternoon. Although the snow gauge is at 12 cm, in the track there is only a few cm, and rocks are sticking out in the track. It is possible to get some OK skiing on old forest lanes, for example parts of the County Forest. You should only go out if you have rock skis, or want to create rock skis. I guarantee that you will get new scratches or gouges on your skis. I strongly recommend against skiing on anything other than the easiest trails - exposed rocks on hills will make skiing dangerous. Kolapore Trail Guide

Minimal Snow

Bruce King — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:25:48 GMT

I'm sad to report that we only received about 2 cm of snow overnight. With the thin to non-existent base, there isn't nearly enough snow for skiing. I'll post again as soon as the situation changes. Kolapore Trail Guide

Disappearing Snow

Bruce King — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 01:40:03 GMT

With the mild temperatures we've had over the past few days, the snow has continued to melt. Although there is snow cover in some parts of the forest, there are bare areas on the trails with rocks sticking through. In the open areas most of the snow is gone. The trails have been walked on in a number of areas. So, I think skiing is finished until we get a serious dump of snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Slush skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:42:35 GMT

There is likely to still be slushy snow in the bush, but rocks will be showing through and the snow is disappearing in the open fields. If you are really desperate to ski, it is probably still possible. Please don't walk on the trails, because you will leave holes that will persist when the temperature drops. Kolapore Trail Guide

Spring skiing

Bruce King — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMT

As I post this at 9 AM, the temperature is already up to +3, and water is dripping off the trees from melting snow. The trails will still be skiable, but be prepared for wet snow, and wet spots will start to appear on the trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Great Kolapore Skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 16:30:00 GMT

The skiing this morning was about as good as it gets at Kolapore. Good snow cover, most trails had been nicely skied in, and the trees were covered in snow. There may be a few of the more remote trails that have not yet been skied. Get out and enjoy before the melt. Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas Update (5 PM revision)

Bruce King — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 14:30:00 GMT

There is 40 to 50 cm of snow in the bush (47 cm at the snow gauge) - more than enough for good skiing (if you don't mind breaking trail). The parking lot at the east end of the County Forest (just off Grey Road 2) has been plowed, and a few skiers have gone in, although not very far. The Kolapore parking lot has been partly plowed, and some skiers have gone in. Kolapore Trail Guide

About 20 cm of new snow, and snowing hard

Bruce King — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Kolapore has received about 20 cm of snow in the last 36 hours, and it is squalling at the moment. There is over 30 cm of snow in the bush.The prediction is for quite a bit more snow. Once the winds drop, there should be some excellent skiing, but be prepared to break trail. The high winds will have brought lots of branches down - please help by moving them off the trail. If it is too big to move, send an email to info@kolaporetrails.org Kolapore Trail Guide

About 12 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 17:40:40 GMT

Yesterday and overnight Kolapore received about 12 cm of snow. This brings the snow in the bush to about 20 cm. There is a few cm of crust at the bottom, with powder on top. This isn't enough to cover all the rocks, but it is a great start. Kolapore Trail Guide

Condition posts starting again

Bruce King — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:37:17 GMT

Currently there are a few cm of snow on the ground, and it is starting to snow. I will be posting regular updates to conditions from now on. There weren't any posts for the early winter conditions because I was in New Zealand. I encourage other trail user to also post about conditions. Kolapore Trail Guide

March 28 - Winter is back for a few days (updated)

Bruce King — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:27:01 GMT

Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow over the past two days. From a skiing perspective, the problem is that most of the base had melted. I skied parts of County Forest and Southern Crossing this morning, from Grey Road 2 to the 10th Line. Conditions ranged from pleasant to poor. Conditions were best on the old lanes that hadn't been chewed up by logging. Rock skis are strongly recommended. We came back with quite a bit of mud on our skis. Kolapore Trail Guide

March 20 - skiing still possible in a few locations

Bruce King — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:13:58 GMT

If you are desperate to do a bit more Kolapore skiing, there are one or two locations where it is possible. At the east end of the County Forest there is still almost complete snow cover. There is no ski track, so you need to be sure to go out when the snow is a bit soft. Elsewhere there are trail entrances where there is a narrow path of snow left (west end of the County Forest), and some locations where the snow is almost entirely gone. And FYI, I've put my Kolapore (rock) skis away for the season. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 12 - Pleasant skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 21:51:50 GMT

Kolapore had another dusting of snow last night and during the day today. The skiing this morning was pleasant, although I didn't ski any serious hills. Off track skiing was also good. Given the weather forecast, tomorrow (Sunday) may be the last day of decent winter skiing, although Monday morning may be a possibility. After that, it sounds like we will be into slush skiing, which is when I put my skis away. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday March 11 - dusting of new snow

Bruce King — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 01:27:56 GMT

Kolapore received a cm or two of new snow today. In the short term, conditions will be mediocre unless we get some new snow. Based on the weather forecast, I expect the ski season to end the middle of next week. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed March 9 - Spring skiing is starting

Bruce King — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:58:25 GMT

I did a short ski in from the Kolapore parking lot to do some trail work, and spring skiing is starting. There is continuous snow cover on the trail, but rocks and wet spots are starting to appear. The snow was warming up, and if temperatures drop the track will be icy. Be prudent about where and when you choose to ski. (Skiing at Scenic Caves was lovely this morning.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday March 8 - 12 cm of new snow (noon update)

Bruce King — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:55:52 GMT

Get out and enjoy the new snow. However, some skiers were having problems with clumping this morning, on both fish-scale and skin skis. Ski prep is important. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Mar 4 - Stellar conditions

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 18:05:12 GMT

A dusting of new snow on fast but soft trails. Fantastic conditions.

Thurs March 3 - 4 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:12:14 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 4 cm of new snow. This will help to freshen the trails. Get out while you can - the forecast high of +11 on Sunday may mean the end of good skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 28 - still pleasant skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:47:40 GMT

I skied at the south end today, including the "Winter Use Only" trails, and conditions were very pleasant. Tracks were in generally good shape. Some of the more popular trails may be packed down or scraped. This is the time of the year when you should seize the opportunity to ski on good days. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 25 - 12+ cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 21:12:14 GMT

I hear that Kolapore received over 12 cm of snow in squalls this morning. Flurries are continuing. Skiing should be OK on most trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 23 - Skiing not recommended

Bruce King — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:36:26 GMT

Yesterday Kolapore experienced warm temperatures (+7) and a significant amount of rain. With the cold temperatures the trails will be crusty or icy. We've had about 2 cm of snow as I post this at 10:30 AM, but that isn't nearly enough snow to provide safe and enjoyable skiing. I think that 5 cm might make some flatter trails usable, but hills will need more. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 20 PM - expectations for Monday

Bruce King — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 19:00:00 GMT

The Kolapore parking lot was plowed today, and there were lots of skiers on the trails. There is good roadside parking at the east and west entrances to the County Forest. You might be able get into the Metcalfe Rock parking lot if you have an aggressive truck or SUV. There is lots of snow, but given that temperatures on Monday will be close to freezing, ski prep to avoid icing will be advisable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 19 - Another 12+ cm (PM update)

Bruce King — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 18:30:00 GMT

Overnight and this morning Kolapore received 12+ cm. The 12 cm is on top of the 20+ cm that fell yesterday. The snow gauge is at 52 cm - the most snow we've had this winter. Parking will be a challenge - because of a road closure on Grey Road 2 due to blowing snow, the Kolapore parking lot will not be plowed until Sunday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fri Feb 18 - 20 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:11:26 GMT

Kolapore received 20+ cm of snow overnight. Be prepared to break trail. The Kolapore parking lot was carefully plowed this morning by a volunteer. Roadside parking is in good shape at the County Forest. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 17 - wet granular snow, changing to ice, then new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:30:00 GMT

At 9 AM the temperature is just below freezing. The trails will start to freeze and turn to ice. I would recommend staying off them until we get a substantial amount of new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Feb 15 - 8 cm of new snow (1:30 PM) and snowing

Bruce King — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 13:13:56 GMT

Yesterday the conditions were "firm and fast". The tracks were well packed, and hills on popular hills were getting scraped. The new snow refreshed the trails. Get out today before the thaw and rain. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 12 - Good skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 19:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow overnight. This helped to refresh the trails after the thaw yesterday. Most trails I skied were in good shape. Some of the hills on popular trails may be quite (very?) fast where there has been snowplowing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 10: Variable ski conditions - need new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:09:08 GMT

Temperatures on Wednesday got to +3 or 4 at Kolapore. I was expecting that conditions would be very poor, but when I did a short ski in the County Forest this morning I rated conditions as fair to good. The 2 cm of snow we received this morning helped. I didn't ski any serious hills - I think the hills that have had a lot of snow plowing may be challenging until we get more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Feb 8 - 7 cm of new snow, some clumping/icing problems

Bruce King — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:31:50 GMT

Kolapore received about 7 cm of new snow overnight and into the morning. The first 10 km of skiing this morning was lovely, but then we started to ice and clump on our waxable skis. The same could happen on non-wax skis. If you are coming out today (or even more so tomorrow), bring a scraper, and it is desirable to prep non-wax skis with glider. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 5 - lots of skiers

Bruce King — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 22:06:05 GMT

There were lots of skiers out today, so all trails should be well skied in. Conditions were good to excellent. The Kolapore parking lot was probably full at times today, so if you are coming out on Sunday it is a good idea to have alternate access points in mind. There were vehicles in the Metcalfe Rock parking lot, but I would only try to get in with an AWD vehicle. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 3 - 18 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 18 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. Be prepared to break trail today. The snow gauge is up to 42 cm, although that is the unconsolidated snow depth. The additional snow has improved conditions in the west half of the County Forest, where the recent logging left ruts. The parking lot on Grey Road 2 at Kolapore has been plowed this morning by our dedicated volunteer. The roads at the east entrance to the County Forest are well plowed, and offer roadside parking. It is unlikely that the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock will be accessible. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 31 - Dusting of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:01:24 GMT

Kolapore received about 2 cm of light powder over the past 24 hours. This will help to freshen up the trails. Conditions should be good to excellent. Get out and enjoy the trails before the minor thaw that is predicted for Tuesday afternoon. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Jan 28 - 8 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:04:37 GMT

Kolapore received 8 cm of powder overnight. Ski conditions should be excellent, as long as you are prepared for the cold. Tracks were firm and fast yesterday - today you will need to be prepared to break trail. The entrance to the Kolapore parking lot has been shovelled - there isn't enough snow in the lot to be a problem. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 26 - More Good Skiing

Bruce King — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 19:18:44 GMT

I skied some of the "trails less travelled" this morning, and conditions were very good. There has been just a dusting of new snow the past few days. The snow gauge has settled from 38 to 33 cm (15" to 13"). Much of the south side of the County Forest has enough snow that the skiing is OK after the end of logging, but between 4 and 5 many skiers might prefer the informal lower, flatter route. Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Jan 24 - Good skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:16:48 GMT

Although there were lots of skiers out yesterday, skiing conditions should still be good today. There is 15"/38 cm of snow at the snow gauge. It should be possible to switch from rock skis to good skis. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed yesterday by our dedicated volunteer. The Metcalfe Rock parking lot has not been cleared, but it should be possible for SUVs to get in.

Sun Jan 23 - 11 cm of new snow at 8 AM

Bruce King — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 11:00:00 GMT

As I post this at 8 AM, Kolapore has received 11 cm of powder overnight, and it is snowing. There may be some challenges with parking today. The roads at the east end of the County Forest have been plowed and offer decent roadside parking. I will update later in the day.

Jan 20 - Great skiing

Bruce King — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 14:39:42 GMT

Kolapore received about 2 cm of snow overnight. Ski conditions are good to excellent. Cold conditions have frozen the wet areas, and most rocks have decent snow cover. I still think that rock skis are advisable if you have them. The County Forest trails are open again for cross country skiing. Most of the closure signs and barriers have been taken down. The trails on the north side of the Forest are in relatively good condition. Some of the trails on the south side are very rutted and rough because of the logging equipment. Some snow has accumulated in the Kolapore parking lot since it was plowed this week, but it is usable. The Metcalfe Rock parking lot has not been plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

County Forest trails open + best Kolapore skiing this season (so far)

Bruce King — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:08:05 GMT

The County Forest trails are open again for cross country skiing. The closure signs and barriers should be removed over the next few days. The trails on the north side of the Forest are in relatively good condition. Some of the trails on the south side are very rutted and rough because of the logging equipment. Overall, skiing conditions were very good today. The official snow gauge is at 30 cm. I skied Southern Crossing, Quiet Pastures and the south end of Trail to the Summit, and was very pleased at how well the trails have frozen. There are some advantages to frigid conditions! Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 16 trail conditions - enjoyable skiing on rock skis

Bruce King — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:29:05 GMT

Kolapore received 4+ cm of snow several days ago, and this significantly improved conditions. Snow cover is still thin, particularly on rocky trails. I did a short ski at the south end of Trail to the Summit today, and was pleased to find that the wet areas are generally frozen. This suggests our wetter trails are (or soon will be) skiable. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed several days ago by a volunteer (we are still trying to find a contractor). The Metcalfe Rock parking lot has not been plowed, but can be used by vehicles with decent clearance. The County Forest trails are still closed because of logging. Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 14 trail conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:04:17 GMT

Kolapore received about 4 cm of snow overnight and into this morning. This will help to improve the fast/icy tracks that I reported yesterday. Snow cover will still be thin, particularly on rocky trails. I would recommend that novice or cautious skier not use the trails. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed several days ago by a volunteer (we are still trying to find a contractor). The Metcalfe Rock parking lot has not been plowed, but can be used by vehicles with decent clearance. The County Forest trails are still closed because of logging. Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 13 - Fast trails, thin snow cover

Bruce King — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 18:31:46 GMT

There is about 20 cm of snow in the bush. When it is skied on, the snow cover would be less than half this, with lots of rocks showing through. The tracks are fast because there was light freezing drizzle on Wednesday. Given the speed and rocks, it is not a time for novice or cautious skiers to visit Kolapore. The Kolapore parking lot has been plowed by a volunteer (we are still trying to find a contractor). The Metcalfe Rock parking lot has not been plowed, but can be used by vehicles with decent clearance. The County Forest trails are still closed because of logging. Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 8 - Definitely rock skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 19:59:26 GMT

I did a 10 km loop today in the southeast quadrant, and can confirm that it is still rock skiing, and probably only for Kolapore veterans. I guarantee that even in less used areas, you will hit lots of rocks. Kolapore did not receive the dump of snow that fell at Collingwood. Logging is continuing in the County Forest, so the trails there are closed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 7: A bit over 20 cm of snow - still thin for Kolapore

Bruce King — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:16:49 GMT

Kolapore received about 12 cm of snow Wednesday, plus a few cm Thursday and Friday. The heavy snowfall that hit Collingwood bypassed Kolapore. The base is a bit over 20 cm, most of which is light powder. That's thin for Kolapore skiing - rock skis would be essential. The Kolapore parking lot was cleared Thursday by one of our dedicated volunteers. We are still looking for an affordable contractor to carry out the work on an ongoing basis. There is no snow removal at the Metcalfe Rock parking lot. Logging is continuing in the County Forest, so the trails there are closed. Kolapore Trail Guide

No snow plowing in parking lots, about 15 cm of snow

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 22:38:19 GMT

The snow blowing contractor who cleared the Kolapore and Metcalfe Rock parking lots has withdrawn his services because of insurance issues. The Association is looking for other arrangements, but in the short term there won't be any snow removal in the two lots. There is now about 15 cm of snow (less in some areas), which isn't enough to make most of the Kolapore trails skiable. The County Forest trails are likely to remain closed for another week because of logging. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Jan 11 update

Bruce King — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:00:00 GMT

Snow accumulation in the bush is about 25 cm - 10". Although this is the low end of the desirable snow cover for Kolapore, there is likely to be some OK skiing in selected locations. Rock skis are recommended. The County Forest is still closed for use. Because the Kolapore parking lot is being plowed by a volunteer in the short term, overall there is likely to be less plowing than in the past. The Metcalfe Rock parking lot is not being plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

About 10 cm of snow + County Forest still closed

Bruce King — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 16:22:00 GMT

Kolapore has about 10 cm of snow. This is not enough for pleasant skiing anywhere on the trail system. The County Forest trails are still closed due to logging. Kolapore Trail Guide

Skiing still not recommended

Bruce King — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:24:53 GMT

Kolapore has about 15 - 18 cm of snow in the bush (6 - 7 ") This isn't enough to provide safe and enjoyable skiing. The County Forest trails are still closed to all use because logging is continuing. Kolapore Trail Guide

About 10 cm of snow - County Forest still closed

Bruce King — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 16:03:24 GMT

There was a thaw midweek and we lost much of the snow that fell on Monday. A few cm fell overnight, so there is about 10 cm of snow in the bush. Given the warm conditions predicted for mid-week, there are no short term prospects for skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Over 20 cm of snow/County Forest still closed

Bruce King — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:36:26 GMT

Yesterday and overnight Kolapore received over 20 cm of snow. That fell on bare, unfrozen ground, so I would not recommend trying skiing. Most of the snow will likely melt over the next few days. The County Forest is still closed due to logging, but we are moderately optimistic that the logging will be completed by mid-December Kolapore Trail Guide

County Forest trail closure

Bruce King — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 21:51:52 GMT

As noted in the News section, starting mid-September most trails in the County Forest have been closed to public use. This precludes connections to the north (John's Portage or Kingsway) or to the west (Southern Crossing). We will post updates.

Still snow in the bush, but poor skiing

Bruce King — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 00:20:32 GMT

I posted a week ago, and not a lot has changed since then. Although there is still snow in the bush (disappearing in open areas), skiing conditions continue to be poor. On some recent days the snow was pure ice. Other days the snow warms up and softens, but the tracks are very poor. On a number of recent days the off track skiing has been better than the on track skiing. I've skied at Scenic Caves several times over the past week, and I'm sure the skiing there was a lot more enjoyable than at Kolapore. Kolapore Trail Guide

Poor spring skiing - but please don't walk on the trails

Bruce King — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:18:17 GMT

Two keen Kolapore skiers skied this morning, and reported that conditions were poor. The old tracks are now higher than the adjacent snow. Snow in general was slushy. There is still lots of snow, so please don't walk on the trails, in the hope that we will be able to do some more skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

End of "winter" skiing?

Bruce King — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 01:48:52 GMT

This morning may have been the end of winter skiing at Kolapore for this season. There is still a substantial base of snow - about 50 cm - so there will still be opportunities for spring skiing. The challenge will be to find the sweet spot between icy and sloppy. As someone who doesn't care for spring skiing, I'm already looking forward to next winter, and hoping that it will be as good as this winter has been. Kolapore Trail Guide

12 cm of light powder (Sat, 9 AM update)

Bruce King — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 10:30:00 GMT

There's probably enough new snow to provide some pleasant skiing. Get out and enjoy what will probably be the last weekend of winter skiing. There's enough snow for spring skiing when it warms up this coming week. Kolapore Trail Guide

It’s still ski season!!!

trail updates — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:07:18 GMT

The latest dusting of snow has really helped keep the trails skiable except for all the parts where people are ignoring the signs and walking them. Northwest Passage to 6th sideroad is in pretty rough shape - it seems a as though a bus load of people have walked the ski only sections.

There was also and woman and her 3 dogs who walked the entire Paradise Highway through Kolapore Church. She said she was a local and a member and knew she shouldn’t be there but thought ski season was over despite walking over our fresh tracks.

All you hikers, we are not done yet. Please stay off the trails.

3 cm of new snow on hard packed base

Bruce King — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:01:24 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 3 cm of new snow. This is on top of a hard packed and rutted base. Conditions may be marginally acceptable on flatter trails. I would stay away from serious hills. Kolapore Trail Guide

1 - 2 cm of new snow on ice

Bruce King — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Unfortunately, Kolapore only received a light dusting of snow yesterday. This is on top of an icy base. Skiing is not recommended until we get more new snow or warmer temperatures to soften the base. Kolapore Trail Guide

Skiing probably unsafe

Bruce King — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 13:00:00 GMT

It rained at Kolapore overnight, and the temperature has dropped below freezing. The trails will be icy - I strongly recommend against trying to ski until we get some new snow. There is still a decent base of snow. I will post again as soon as conditions change. That may happen later today, because there is snow in the forecast, and it is snowing lightly as I post at 10 AM. Kolapore Trail Guide

Can you hear the sap running?

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:48:54 GMT

Happy Days! It's spring skiing time. You can practically hear the sap starting to run. No wax skis if you got 'em. Don't fear the klister if you don't. Plenty of snow in the bush. (The snow gauge is down to a mere 55cm/22") Take your time! Pick an easier route. You can always extend. Go easy on the hills. Time your visit. Late morning when its soft but not too soft. Bring a snack and a beverage. See you on the trails.

Icy tracks with a dusting of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday the temperature got up to +4 at Kolapore. With the subsequent cold temperatures, the tracks will be icy. There is a dusting of new snow. The trails are likely to be treacherous. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 24

Bruce King — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

The high yesterday was just above 0, so there was some glazing on the snow. Today initially there will still be some fresh snow in places but there will also be glazed areas. As the temperature warms up we will get more mashed potatoes snow. Unfortunately that means that with the cold temperatures tomorrow, the skiing on Thursday is likely to be icy unless we get new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Feb 23

Bruce King — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received a few cm of damp snow yesterday, but no rain. It is snowing lightly at the moment (8 AM). Conditions may be a bit tricky today - there is good potential for "clumping".

Sat Feb 20th 2021

trail updates — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 23:14:43 GMT

Conditions are generally great as of this morning. The entire outside perimeter has a good track set despite the new snow. Kolapore church-> paradise loop is also in great shape.

Unfortunately some portions of the northwest passage have been post holed and have snowshoe tracks, plus some snowmobile tracks. Despite this it is still great conditions to ski. Conditions will be getting faster on Sunday.

Classic Kolapore Skiing (updated Friday)

Bruce King — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 23:41:05 GMT

Over the past two days (Wednesday and Thursday) , the skiing in the south half of the trail system was as good as it gets at Kolapore. Southern Crossing and Quiet Pastures were nice if you like quiet trails. Get out and enjoy. Kolapore Trail Guide

25 cm of new snow (5 PM update)

Bruce King — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received 25 cm of new snow overnight, and a few more cm during the day. There's a lot of snow in the bush - 75cm/30" at the Kolapore snow gauge. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed today, and a number of skiers started from there, so some of the popular trails should be broken. There were a few skiers in from the east end of the County Forest. Enjoy the prime mid-winter conditions (but be prepared for potential trail breaking in the short term.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Great skiing today (Monday)

Bruce King — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:30:00 GMT

I did a long ski today, and it was one of the best ski days so far this winter. Hills were delightful. The only downside I noticed was that a large group had snowshoed and walked in from Kolapore and then followed the Kolapore Church trail for a while. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon 7:30 AM - 5 cm of powder, more to come

Bruce King — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 10:30:00 GMT

Kolapore has received 5 cm so far, and it is snowing at the moment. It sounds like there will be more light snow during the day, and possibly heavy snow overnight. Skiing should be good, but parking may be tricky tomorrow. I will post an update later today. Kolapore Trail Guide

8 cm of light powder

Bruce King — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 10:30:00 GMT

Kolapore received 8 cm of light powder snow on Saturday night. This will help to freshen up the trails after the heavy use they received on Friday and Saturday. Kolapore Trail Guide

7 cm of light powder

Bruce King — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 12:37:55 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 7 cm of light powder snow. This will improve conditions. Most trails should be enjoyable today. Kolapore Trail Guide

No significant new snow (updated Wed Feb 10)

Bruce King — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 13:39:43 GMT

Kolapore received a dusting of snow on Monday. It has been a number of days since there has been significant new snow, and with the use over the weekend the trails are getting packed down. Hills on popular trails (e.g., Kolapore Church and Paradise Highway) will be scraped from snowplowing, and fast. Many flatter or less used trails still offer pleasant skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing today (Saturday)

Bruce King — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 01:38:51 GMT

There was enough new snow that the skiing was very pleasant today. On the most popular trails some hills might have been getting a bit scraped. When you get away from the more heavily traveled areas, the trail conditions are excellent. Wet areas are finally freezing - e.g., the south end of Trail to the Summit is finally frozen, although there are still lots of dips. One result of the heavy use this winter is that there are more moguls than usual, both on hills and on the flats. I hear reports that parts of Northwest Passage are poor because of the damage done by walkers. Kolapore Trail Guide

5 - 7 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 12:00:00 GMT

As of 5 PM Friday, Kolapore had received somewhere between 5 - 7 cm of new snow. It's hard to tell exactly how much because of the drifting. This is on top of the hard packed/icy base. The new snow will help quite a bit, but we are hoping for more to get back to prime conditions. Kolapore Trail Guide

Hard packed and fast

Bruce King — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 22:11:06 GMT

With the heavy use of the trails on the weekend, many of the trails are now hard packed and fast. Hills on popular trails are quite scraped from snow plowing, and some downhills may be treacherous. Many of the more heavily used trails probably move up a grade in terms of degree of difficulty. I hear that sections of Northwest Passage have been heavily walked on, and aren't pleasant for skiing. On Monday, parts of County Forest were still quite easy, although novices probably won't like the small hills on the access trail starting at Grey Road 2. I'll post again after we get some new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 5 cm of new snow - Great Skiing (PM update)

Bruce King — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:30:00 GMT

Thursday night Kolapore received another 5 cm of powder snow. Skiing was great both Thursday and Friday. Even some of the problematic wet spots are starting to freeze over. The parking lots at Kolapore and Metcalfe Rock were cleared Thursday, but because of parked vehicles obstructing snowclearing, there are still some snowy sections. Roadside parking is available at the County Forest. The trails and parking areas are likely to be busy this weekend. so when you come be sure to have a backup parking strategy if your first choice is full. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another 15+ cm of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:30:00 GMT

Since my post Wednesday morning, we've had more than 15 cm of new snow, most of which came overnight. Once again, don't count on easy access to the Kolapore parking lot this morning. Roadside parking at the east end of the County Forest is in good shape. Kolapore Trail Guide

10 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Tuesday and overnight Kolapore received somewhat over 10 cm of snow, and it is snowing hard as I post this at 8 AM. Trail breaking will be the initial task. Parking lots won't be plowed until later in the day. Good roadside parking is available at Dawson Lane. Kolapore Trail Guide

Busy trails

Bruce King — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 21:11:00 GMT

Saturday was a busy day on the Kolapore trails. The Kolapore parking lot was full by 9:30 and other parking locations were busy too. If you are planning to ski on Sunday you should have a backup strategy if your preferred parking location is full. Ski conditions today were generally good, although some very popular sections were getting packed down by late in the day - no new snow today. If you are thinking of exploring more remote parts of the system, Southern Crossing is generally good, Trail to the Summit has quite a few wet spots in the south end, and the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures has "bushwack" skiing - wet spots and fallen trees.

15+ cm of snow Thurs night - Friday morning (Saturday update)

Bruce King — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:58:14 GMT

Kolapore received more than 15 cm of new snow Thursday night/Friday morning. Kolapore only received about 1 cm of snow Friday night, so the information below about parking is still relevant. Great skiing on Friday, and it was very beautiful with the snow hanging on the trees. Some trails still have wet spots - e.g., the south end of Trail to the Summit still had "dodge and weave" areas, and that's probably true on parts of Quiet Pastures. The parking lot at Kolapore is plowed, although not completely because parked vehicles blocked the snowblower. I hear that the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock has been plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

12 cm of snow over 36 hours

Bruce King — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:30:00 GMT

Kolapore has received 12 cm of snow in the period Monday night through Wednesday morning. Conditions are substantially improved. Much of the trail will rate at least "good", although some heavily used (or abused) areas will be "fair" There are more bumps and moguls than usual, probably as a result of the heavy use during a period with little new snow. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed today (Wednesday) and is in good condition. Let's hope for more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Still poor to fair conditions

Bruce King — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:55:22 GMT

Although the character of the snow has changed slightly since my post on Friday, I would still rate the ski conditions as generally poor, with some less used trails being fair. The tracks are bumpy and often washed out. Hills on heavily-used trails will be treacherous. Over the weekend we had a few cm of snow, but we really need in the order of 10 cm to significantly improve conditions. If you want to do some safe, enjoyable skiing over the next few days, both Scenic Caves and Highlands Nordic have excellent conditions at the moment. Kolapore Trail Guide

Poor to Fair conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 22:43:50 GMT

The warmer conditions today (Friday) softened the base, and it was safer to use the trails. However, conditions were still poor to fair - tracks were washed out and hills have been scraped slick by skiers snowplowing. The heavily used areas (much of the north end and parts of the south end) were poor. Some more lightly used trails were fair. The trails desperately need a significant amount of snow in order to provide decent skiing. If we just get cold weather they will turn to ice. Kolapore Trail Guide

Icy trails - skiing probably unsafe

Bruce King — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:42:11 GMT

Kolapore received a layer of freezing drizzle overnight. All the trails will be icy. Skiing at Kolapore is probably a bad idea at the moment. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fair to Poor to "treacherous"

Bruce King — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 19:23:33 GMT

Kolapore has not received any significant snow in the past 10 days, and the trails have received heavy use. As a result the trails are quite "beaten down" in many sections. Most hills have been heavily snowplowed and are very fast. North end trails are probably only suitable for hard-core Kolapore skiers who like challenges. South end trails are in better shape, but even there the small hills are fast, and the track is washed out in some areas (for example, coming in at the east end of the County Forest). Off-track skiing is pleasant - there is a good base and the snow has consolidated enough that you won't sink too far. Kolapore Trail Guide

Super Fast (updated Jan 7)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:45:16 GMT

This is a minor update of a conditions post from last Saturday. There has only been a dusting of snow since then, and the trails have been heavily used. Most trails are well tracked in with icy glazed sections. It's super fast for experienced skiers but can be treacherous and unforgiving. Take it easy and be safe. Pick your route accordingly. It is strongly recommended that less experienced or more cautious skiers do not start at the Kolapore parking lot. The standard loop from the parking lot has some treacherous sections, and the track is washed out in many areas. The County Forest trails are still suitable for most skiers. Trails will only get faster until we get some new snow. Side Note: Trail usage is way way up but donations at the parking lot are down. Keep in mind that everything at Kolapore is accomplished through donations and the work of volunteers. The plowing, toilets, trail clearing, bridge construction, signage, insurance and construction take place 100% through trail community memberships and contributions. Support your local trail fairies. Give what you can.

5 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:12:24 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow. This will help to soften the trails, which were getting to be very firm and fast. Note the cautions that Stephen outlined in the preceding post.

Good Start to 2021

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 22:02:04 GMT

Trails are all well tracked in, fast and a little unforgiving. Take it easy out there. Please if you decide not to ski a hill, do not walk on the track. The holes you leave make it very dangerous for other skiers. County Forest sections are recommended for best experience. Hopefully fresh snow over next few days will improve on our solid base. Note: Cars that park too close to the corners at Grey Rd. 2 and Town Line are being ticketed. Also please do not leave valuables in your cars.

Crusty/glazed ski tracks

Bruce King — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 13:15:58 GMT

Kolapore had some drizzle and milder temperatures Wed afternoon, followed by cooler temperatures. The ski tracks are crusty and glazed. I did a short ski at 8 AM, and although it is possible to ski, the conditions won't be suitable for less experienced or more cautious skiers (even in the County Forest). Hills could be treacherous. Kolapore Trail Guide

Nice Skiing this Morning

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 22:37:34 GMT

A nice morning in the County Forest. Parking at 527671 on the Townline wasn't plowed. But a few cars on roadside. Early birds had set track and obvious that new snow had fallen overnight. The snow gauge at Stn.11 measured 19 inches (48 cm ?). Snow got heavy and wet as the weather warmed up, but beautiful winter landscape in the bush.

Lots of skiers

Bruce King — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 02:03:46 GMT

Tuesday was probably the busiest winter weekday ever on the Kolapore trails. The Kolapore parking lot was full to overflowing, the Metcalfe lot was busy, and there were a lot of vehicles at both entrances to the County Forest. Trails were fast but very enjoyable. I would still recommend avoiding the cedar swamp in Quiet Pastures and the south end of Trail to the Summit because of wet conditions. There are new snowshoe/winter walking trails separate from the ski trails - directly opposite the Kolapore parking lot and just south of the east entrance to the County Forest.

15 cm of powder overnight

Bruce King — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:24:18 GMT

Kolapore received 15 cm of snow Monday afternoon and overnight. Early skiers will get to break trail. Early skiers may also encounter challenges with parking - the Kolapore parking lot likely won't be plowed until later today. With the wet conditions yesterday, there could be wet spots lurking under the new snow, so be sure to take a scraper. We are having problems with walkers and snowshoers in some areas - please politely remind them that in the winter the trails are designated for cross country skiing. There are new snowshoe/winter walking trails separate from the ski trails - directly opposite the Kolapore parking lot, and just south of the east entrance to the County Forest. Also at Metcalfe, but there may not be any parking there at the moment. Kolapore Trail Guide

Rain and several cm of wet snow overnight

Bruce King — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 13:21:07 GMT

Yesterday was a glorious ski day. Today, not so much. There's still lots of snow, but it will be rather sluggish, because as I write this at 8:15 AM the snow is slushy. We received 2 - 3 cm of snow overnight. The temperature is around 0 at the moment, and is supposed to drop below freezing this morning. It could get icy.

Good skiing, Kolapore lot plowed (sort of)

Bruce King — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 22:45:18 GMT

There was good skiing today, particularly as more trails were "skied in". The Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 was plowed later today, but a number of vehicles were parked in the lot, so there are large unplowed areas in the lot. The snow gauge is at 40 cm. On less rocky trails (like County Forest) there is no problem with rocks, but on the rockier trails rock skis are still recommended. A number of skiers were having problems with skis icing, so be sure to take a scraper. I would avoid traditionally wet trails, particularly the south end of Trail to the Summit and the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures.

Lots of snow, parking will be short term issue

Bruce King — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 13:05:04 GMT

At 8 AM on Boxing Day, Kolapore has about 30 cm of powder snow on top of about 10 cm of crust. Skiing should be very good, if you don't mind breaking trail in the short term. HOWEVER, parking is likely to be a challenge. I doubt that the Kolapore parking lot will be accessible until later today (at the earliest). Even roadside parking will be a challenge in the short term. I'll provide an update later today. Kolapore Trail Guide

Good skiing Christmas afternoon

Bruce King — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:48:20 GMT

I skied in the County Forest and the south end of the Kingsway and John's Portage trails this afternoon, and the skiing was very pleasant. At 3 PM the snow gauge was at 25 cm - about 10 cm of crust, and 15 cm of new snow. There has been at least 7 cm of snow since then, and it's still snowing hard at 10 PM. Skiing on Saturday should be good. My two cautions are that there will still be spots where you will encounter rocks, and there are wet spots. Be sure to take a scraper with you. I would avoid the wettest trails - south end of Trail to the Summit and the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures. Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas gift - 13 cm and still snowing (11:30 update)

Bruce King — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 13:46:57 GMT

As I post at 11:30 AM, there is about 13 cm of new snow on top of crust (and rocks in some places). It may be possible to ski on some of the less rocky trails (e.g., parts of County Forest), although even there I would recommend rock skis. Take a scraper, because there will be some wet spots lurking under the snow. I will post again later in the day. Kolapore Trail Guide

Still white, except for the rocks and puddles

Bruce King — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:31:33 GMT

Kolapore had the thaw and rain, and lost some of the base. There is still snow cover, although there are many places where rocks are sticking through, and puddles have opened up. We need both snow and cold weather to make the trails skiable. As I write this at 10:30 AM Dec 24, the rain has changed to snow. I'm hoping that our Christmas present will be a serious snow squall. I'll post tomorrow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Dec 20 - two cm of wet sniow

Bruce King — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 20:26:21 GMT

Overnight, Kolapore received about 2 cm of damp snow. We still don't have enough new snow (on top of the crust) for decent skiing. Kolapore Trail Guide

No new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 22:58:21 GMT

There hasn't been any new snow since my last post a few days ago. So, there are a few cm of snow on top of rutted crust. Skiing is much better at Scenic Caves (although it is likely to be crowded this weekend.) I will post as soon as conditions change. Kolapore Trail Guide

3 cm of new snow (afternoon update)

Bruce King — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:41:46 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received about 3 cm of new snow on top of the crust. This is a good start, but isn't enough to provide pleasant skiing. PM update: Kolapore has NOT been receiving the streamers that have been hitting some local areas. We skied at Scenic Caves this afternoon, and they have received about 20 cm of new snow in the last day or so. Kolapore Trail Guide

Crusty conditions - Dec 13

Bruce King — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 03:13:41 GMT

Kolapore received quite a bit of rain yesterday, and very little snow. This substantially reduced the base, but there is still reasonable coverage. There may be wet puddles under the snow in some areas. The snow is very crusty - not nice for skiing. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get a reasonable amount of new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wet snow

Bruce King — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 02:52:57 GMT

With the warmer temperatures we had today, and which are predicted for the next few days, you should expect to encounter "mashed potatoes" snow. Not my favourite. I'm inclined to stay off the trails until we get cooler temperatures and some fresh snow. The good news is that we still have a substantial base, although a few more rocks are starting to show through. Kolapore Trail Guide

Yet another day of good skiing (minor exceptions)

Bruce King — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 19:57:54 GMT

I skied at the north end (Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway) today, and found conditions to be good to excellent, with the exception of two areas that had been walked. The worst section is Paradise Highway west of 18 for about a km. The trail, which can be a bit rough in good conditions, has been chewed up by thoughtless walkers. There has also been some walking on Paradise Highway south of 22. I switched over to rock skis today, which was the right choice. Conditions are likely to deteriorate over the next few days as temperatures warm - less snow, more rocks. Kolapore Trail Guide

Another good day of skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 03:28:42 GMT

Ski conditions were good again today. The trails I skied today at the south end were generally in good condition, although I hear that there are areas where thoughtless walkers and snowshoers have chewed up the ski track. There are still areas where more clearing is needed (e.g., Southern Crossing west of the 10th Line) and areas where the trail will be too wet for use (south end of Trail to the Summit.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Several cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 14:16:11 GMT

Overnight Kolapore received several cm of new snow, which will help to freshen the trails. There is an excellent snow base - the snow gauge is at 40 cm, although there are a few places where rocks are showing through. I would still recommend avoiding the traditional wet areas, especially the south end of Trail to the Summit. Kolapore volunteers and other trail fairies are continuing to prune/shake snow-laden branches that are obstructing the trail - please lend a hand. Kolapore Trail Guide

HO! HO! HO!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 16:40:09 GMT

Snow is holding with a little more fresh overnight. Main trails are broken in and mostly cleared. Parking is ploughed. Very occasional rock but we've skied on much less. Enjoy!

Snow, not rain today (Friday)

Bruce King — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 00:38:24 GMT

Kolapore was lucky today, and avoided the rain that fell in Collingwood. A light dusting of new snow, although the temperatures were close to 0. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed yesterday afternoon, and is in good shape. The trails have lots of snow, but we still need cold weather to freeze the wet areas. Kolapore Trail Guide

45 cm! - Tuesday Dec 2

Bruce King — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:36:45 GMT

Another amazing day. There is 45 cm of snow at the snow gauge. Be prepared to break trail in many areas. My other comments from yesterday stand - lots of trees bent over with snow, and avoid the traditional wet areas. There is enough snow that on many trails you probably don't need rock skis.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Start of the ski season

Bruce King — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 01:59:57 GMT

This afternoon I went for a ski in the County Forest. The reading at the snow gauge is 35 cm. Skiing was very pleasant, although there were a lot of trees bent over because of the heavy snow. We did lots of tree shaking and some trimming. We didn't see any other ski tracks, so there is still lots of trail breaking to do. Avoid any wet trails, such as the south end of Trail to the Summit and parts of Quiet Pastures, since the water will be lurking under the snow. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed, but may be difficult to get into if the predicted snow arrives. Kolapore Trail Guide

Lots of snow - more coming

Bruce King — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 13:47:06 GMT

At 7:30 this morning there was 28 cm (11") of snow on the ground, and it is snowing hard. Obviously there isn't any base, so it would be easy to hit rocks, but there could still be areas where it may be fun trying skiing.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow - Nov 2, 2020

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 02:14:18 GMT

Kolapore received its first significant snowfall today, over 10 cm. Given the weather forecast it will be gone in a few days. I'm mainly posting this to confirm that once again this is the best place to get up-to-date Kolapore ski conditions. Information is posted on the Kolapore Facebook page, but less frequently.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 23 - there's still snow, but...

Bruce King — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 21:38:48 GMT

There's still quite a bit of snow in the bush, although it may be thin to non-existent in open areas. I did a ski this morning after we received a few cm of snow. The skiing off trail on old lanes was pleasant. Conditions on trail were poor - rutted, with footprints. And that was in the County Forest - ski conditions at the Kolapore entrance would be even worse, because there were lots of walkers on the weekend. I think it may be time to put away the skis for the season. Kolapore Trail Guide

March 14 - Icy conditions; skiing not recommended

Bruce King — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 02:17:14 GMT

I did a short ski this afternoon, and although there is still quite a bit of snow, the trail is crusty/icy. In addition, we are now getting into spring conditions with "reverse tracks". This happens when the packed ski track melts slower than the adjacent loose snow. Most skiers wouldn't enjoy Kolapore conditions at the moment.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 9 - Very springy...

Bruce King — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 21:31:12 GMT

Temperatures the past two days have reached about +10. Sloppy spring skiing. There's still a reasonable amount of snow in the bush, but conditions over the next few days will vary dramatically depending on the temperature. Be careful Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail conditions Mar 05 2020

trail updates — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 02:46:24 GMT

The trails are in good shape and broken in. I did a 20 km circle. I was finishing around 5 PM and the snow was starting to get hard and the tracks rigid. Very fast and uncontrollable downhill leading to point 52. I would say klister would work best for grip

Spring skiing (March 4 Update)

Bruce King — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:47:03 GMT

The warming weather means that we are now into spring skiing. Skiers will need to be careful about timing their visits. The trails will get very icy when the temperature drops, so you should be sure that the sun or temperatures have a chance to soften the trails before you head out. There is lots of snow as a result of the snowstorms late last week. I went for a short ski this (Wednesday) afternoon, when the temperature was just below freezing. Tracks were in good shape, but fast. Most skiers will likely find steeper or long hills to be too fast, unless the snow has softened. Kolapore Trail Guide

skiing bliss

Ted Zahavich — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 15:00:00 GMT

crisp morning air + beautiful blue sky + hard packed tracks through deep snow = hours of skiing bliss

Sat Feb 29 - 80+ cm of new snow since Wednesday

Bruce King — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 14:52:27 GMT

Since Wednesday Kolapore has received over 80 cm of new snow, including another 5 cm last night. The Kolapore parking lot has been plowed. I did some trail breaking yesterday in the County Forest, and it was very hard work (but beautiful). The snow was up to my knees. Doing it in a group is essential. At the moment only a small part of County Forest is broken. I'm sure some brave souls will be tackling the Kolapore entrance today. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 28 - 60 cm of new snow - updated 5 PM

Bruce King — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Yesterday I reported that there had been 20 cm of new snow. Overnight Kolapore received 60 cm of additional snow, and a bit more fell during the day. As of 5 PM the Kolapore parking lot has not been plowed, and you don't have a hope of getting in until it is. I did some trail breaking today, and it is very hard work (but beautiful). The snow was up to my knees. Doing it in a group is essential. At the moment only a small part of County Forest is broken, and nobody has been in at Kolapore. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 27 - 20 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:24:56 GMT

Over Wednesday and Thursday Kolapore has received about 20 cm of new snow. There is the potential for a lot more snow between now (Thursday afternoon) and Saturday. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed when I went by this afternoon, and I could see a few ski tracks in at the Kolapore entrance. No tracks at the east end of the County Forest. Given the potential for rain several days early next week, get out and take advantage of the winter conditions.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 24 - Spring skiing, then ice

Bruce King — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:39:57 GMT

It was spring skiing most of the day today - the temperature got up to +5. The trails will ice up overnight. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get a reasonable amount of new snow (which is in the forecast over the next few days)

Kolapore Trail Guide.

Sat Feb 22 - fast conditions this morning, changing to spring skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:01:41 GMT

I had a lovely ski this morning - powder snow conditions. Ski tracks were fast, particularly where there had been substantial traffic. This afternoon it is changing to spring skiing conditions, with temperatures reaching about +2. Sunday is likely to be spring skiing most of the day, although there may be some icy conditions early in the morning. After that, conditions are likely to range from icy to soft, depending on temperatures, until we get some fresh snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 20 - more new snow (updated)

Bruce King — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 14:55:55 GMT

Overnight and during the day we probably had at least 4 cm of snow. Skiing was very good today. I would strongly recommend skiing on Friday morning if possible - conditions should still be very good. Skiing conditions will deteriorate on the weekend with the warm temperatures that are predicted.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 19 - icy tracks covered by 2 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 14:10:05 GMT

Kolapore had some freezing drizzle yesterday, which glazed the tracks. Overnight we received 2 cm of new snow. I did a very short test ski this morning in the County Forest, and it was slightly better than I anticipated. It isn't the day for your first visit to Kolapore, but Kolapore vets can probably find some passable skiing. I would recommend staying off the steeper hills.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 14 - new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 21:33:00 GMT

Over the past day or so the Kolapore trails have received about 5 cm of snow. This has freshened up the trails. The snow gauge is at about 43 cm/17", so the coverage is good (although there are still a few open wet areas.) Skiing should be excellent.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 12

Bruce King — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:06:20 GMT

Skiing the past two days has been great, particularly if you got out early enough to avoid any "clumping" when the snow warmed. Tracks are generally in excellent shape (at least in the southern and central parts of the trail system - I hear reports of snowshoeing on parts of Northwest Passage and walking near Metcalfe Rock.) The snow gauge is at 40 cm/16", so in most areas rock skis are not required.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 10 - 5 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:02:57 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow overnight. The snow is quite damp, so waxing might be tricky. This is the type of day where you should prep nonwax skis so they don't clump. That said, skiing should be good. It was a great weekend. Kolapore Trails Association members had a fabulous moonlight ski on Saturday night.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 7 - 15 cm of new powder (5 PM update)

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of powder over the past 24 hours. Skiing should be great on Saturday. You should be prepared to break trail in some less-used locations. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed today.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 6 - fast but enjoyable skiing

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 02:10:03 GMT

Kolapore received about 4 cm of snow on Wednesday and Thursday morning. The snow gauge is up to 33 cm. The skiing today was enjoyable but fast. Caution was required on some of the more challenging hills. With the snow we are receiving this evening, and predicted for overnight, skiing could be very good on Friday.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Feb 3 - Lovely "springish" skiing

Bruce King — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 21:27:04 GMT

The trails were very pleasant today. The temperatures were just above freezing, with lots of sun, so the trails were reasonably soft. I suspect that when the temperatures drop, the tracks will be very fast until we get fresh snow, which is predicted for Thursday.

Sunday Feb 2 - clump, clump, clump...(11 AM update)

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 13:20:16 GMT

There's new snow in the tracks. Unfortunately, when I was out this morning the snow was very clumpy. It is likely to be worst in fresh snow or lightly skied tracks. Be sure to prep your skis, especially non-wax skis, with glider or silicone before heading out (and even that isn't guaranteed to work.)

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Jan 30 - trails getting fast

Bruce King — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 22:39:07 GMT

I did a short sunset ski around the County Forest, and the trails are getting fast. More heavily used trails (e.g., the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop) could be REALLY fast. The freezing drizzle that fell on Tuesday is likely contributing to the speed, but the tracks aren't glazed - hard wax worked well. Skiing should be enjoyable if you choose the right trail. There are still some wet spots, and some rocks showing (the Kolapore snow gauge is at 26cm/10").

Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 27 - 7 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 12:40:22 GMT

Over the past 36 hours Kolapore has received about 7 cm of new snow. The first few cm were very wet snow, but last night we had some nice colder snow. Conditions on the trail today could be pleasant, recognizing that there will be wet spots from the recent rain, and some rocks showing through.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sunday Jan 26 11 AM report

Bruce King — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 16:01:45 GMT

Kolapore had a fair amount of rain Friday night, but little or none yesterday or so far today. We received a dusting of wet snow through the day yesterday and overnight. There is still a reasonable base of snow, although rocks are sticking out in some locations. The temperature is hovering around 0, so the wax of the day is "non wax skis". I don't think that this is the right day for less experienced skiers to come out (and that will be true until we get some new snow).

Trail conditions - Sat Jan 25

Bruce King — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 13:30:55 GMT

Kolapore received a fair amount of rain overnight. At 8:30 AM the temperature is 0, and it has just started to snow. The trails are probably slightly wet snow at the moment, and will turn to ice when the temperature falls. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get a decent amount of new snow. I will post an update later today.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail Conditions Tues Jan 21

Bruce King — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 01:39:02 GMT

The snow that fell on the weekend has substantially improved trail conditions. However, the ice and snow is still bending many trees down. Some trails are likely to be difficult to follow. Yesterday I skied the Paradise Highway - Kolapore Church loop, doing trail clearing, and the snow and track conditions were excellent. There are still a few rocks and wet spots. While skiing I was very disappointed by the laziness of skiers who had been through before us. In one spot in particular, skiers had skied over or around branches that could be easily removed. Don't be one of those skiers who seem to expect someone else to do all the work.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail conditions - Sat Jan 18

Bruce King — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 19:09:43 GMT

Everything that was said in yesterday's post is still true. Lots of bent over trees and fallen branches. Please help with the cleanup. I will add that as of 12:30 today, the snow gauge is at 23cm/9". This is still relatively thin snow cover for many of the trails, so rock skis are strongly recommended. There are occasional wet spots on the trail - be alert. And after those cautions, I'll add that it's a winter wonderland in the forest.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trees are heavy but it's beautiful in the forest

trail updates — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 21:25:54 GMT

The ice from last Saturday's ice storm is still on the trees, and last night's fresh 10cm of powder is sticking to it. The trees are heavy and hanging down everywhere. Absolutely beautiful, but it's adventurous in the forest right now, and can be slow-going.

Please help by clearing branches and in some cases freeing the trees from their snow burdens. Consider packing a small saw if you have one to help clear small branches on the trail.

The forecast is calling for 10-20cm tomorrow (Saturday), so the snow conditions will be improving still--but the tree conditions may get worse.

Thursday January 16th. The main loop is good to go!

trail updates — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 18:20:59 GMT

I skied the main loop from the 10th line this morning, great skiing! The main challenge is skiing under the really low branches hanging from the ice storm. Shaking them helps but taking pruners would be really useful to cut the most challenging ones. A few wet spots between 16&24 in the rock garden, but easy to go around. Definitely still a few rocks, but easy to avoid them. Didn't have rock skis and was totally fine. With all the snow coming in the next days, it's only gonna get better.

Mon Jan 13

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:49:53 GMT

Yesterday I skied in County Forest and did a short loop north, and conditions were better than expected. The snow gauge is at 15 cm, and there is a firm base covered by fresh snow. HOWEVER, it will still be very thin on the rocky trails (e.g., the trails accessed from the Kolapore parking lot) - on these trails be prepared to dodge rocks and put lots of scratches on your skis. The ice is bending branches down, so be prepared to do a lot of ducking. PLEASE help us to pick up the numerous fallen branches There is the occasional wet spot. We are aware of one large tree top down blocking the trail at the bottom of the run heading south from 13 on John's Portage.

Sunday Jan 12 - less freezing rain, more snow than expected

Bruce King — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 15:04:36 GMT

Yesterday was interesting weatherwise. Heavy rain in the morning washed away most of the remaining snow. Midafternoon it switched to freezing rain. About 9 PM it changed to snow. Kolapore received 10+ cm of snow. The bottom half is "cement" snow (very dense) and the top is powder. There may be just enough snow to permit skiing on old lanes (e.g., the County Forest). There could be some wet holes on the trails. The sideroads at the south end are plowed, so there is a safe place to park. I wouldn't try to get into the Kolapore parking lot until it is plowed. Based on what I observed in my driveway, there are likely to be lots of branches down. Please help with the pickup.

Mon Jan 6 - 5 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 13:43:51 GMT

As of 9 AM, we've received about 5 cm of snow in the past 36 hours. In areas where some base survived (most trails, but not necessarily open areas), there will be this snow on top of a thin crust. This will likely be marginally OK for skiing on old lanes, but not enough for pleasant skiing on the rockier trails. We desperately need more snow. Our chainsaw crew took advantage of the low snow last week, and cleared about a dozen recently fallen trees. We are sure there are more as a result of recent storms. If you can't remove deadfall yourself, send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org about any problem areas you encounter.

Jan 3 Trail conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 13:26:16 GMT

I skied County Forest yesterday morning, and conditions were fair to poor to very poor. (The very poor conditions were between 4 and 5). The poor conditions weren't surprising, given that the snow gauge was reading 7 cm, and there was 3 to 0 cm of snow in the track. Lots of rocks showing. Snow conditions will have deteriorated further with the warm weather. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get a significant amount of new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 30 - Ice, rocks and debris

Bruce King — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:31:07 GMT

Kolapore received a significant layer of freezing rain last night. The freezing rain brought down many branches - there is a huge amount of pickup to be done. Please help us! The snow layer is thin to non-existent. The trails won't be skiable until we do pickup and get a substantial amount of new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 22 - early winter conditions (changing to spring skiing)

Bruce King — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 16:00:56 GMT

I was out early this morning, and the snow at the snow gauge has settled to about 16 cm. There is less than half that depth under the ski track. This is OK on former bush lanes (County Forest was very pleasant this morning), but it is really thin on rocky trails, and especially on rocky hills. Unless you are a Kolapore fanatic, with a pair of rock skis, I would recommend staying off the rockier trails until we get more snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Early winter conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 22:16:10 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge is at 22 cm (9"). The County Forest is very pleasant - it's possible to ski around it and only touch a few rocks. Today I did the loop Kingsway - Jackrabbit - John's Portage, and my skis hit dozens of rocks. It's possible to ski the trails, but you have to be prepared for early season conditions, and rock skis are strongly recommended. Rocks will make some of the hills quite difficult (nasty?). I did a lot of pickup today, and have to go back to do more sawing. Be prepared for debris on the trails - help us (and other skiers) by removing windfall where possible. Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 18 Trail Conditions - skiing opportunities

Bruce King — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 01:30:54 GMT

Kolapore received a substantial amount of snow last night and this morning. There is 23 cm of snow at the official snow gauge. Skiing in County Forest was pleasant this morning - my rock skis only touched a few rocks. Even the southwest corner of the County Forest is skiable, which isn't always the case early in the season. I would still be reluctant to visit some of the rockiest trails (including the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop.) If you do want to ski at the north end, the Kolapore parking lot was plowed this afternoon

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 15 Trail Conditions - not ready for skiing

Bruce King — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 18:32:10 GMT

There is now about 10+ cm of snow in the bush. As I noted previously, we need about 20 cm (especially at the beginning of the season, with no firm base) to start covering the rocks. Hopefully that will come soon.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 11 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 14:32:33 GMT

There is about 7cm/3" of snow in the bush at Kolapore. In the early season I think we need at least 20 cm to start skiing on the less rocky trails. I'll post frequently as conditions change. There's been a gap in posts because I've been in Australia, and Stephen, the other principal poster, is in Bhutan for several years. We need more skiers to provide trail updates!

Kolapore Trail Guide

not quite skiable

trail updates — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:51:32 GMT

I skied out from the parking lot for a couple of hundred metres past Junction 18. The snow coverage over the rocks is not sufficient for a good ski. With warmer weather coming it could be a while. For now, stick to the County Forest area.

great start to the season

trail updates — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:27:51 GMT

I skied a number of trails in the County Forest area today. All were in very good condition. There were a few wet spots in the low areas and I nicked one or two rocks but overall it was superb.

Reminder: winter trails are for skiing only, no snowshoes no hiking

Fading fast

Bruce King — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 23:35:19 GMT

I left Kolapore on Tuesday, so I don't have first hand information, but I do know that the "glorious" conditions that existed on Monday are past. With the melting that is inevitably happening with the strong sun, the ski season is probably over (except for the most fanatical, who may be able to find pockets of skiable snow). Kolapore trail guide

April 1 - Glorious skiing (no joke)

Bruce King — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:17:28 GMT

Yesterday I had an enjoyable ski breaking trail through County Forest and up Kingsway. However, after noon the snow was warming and our skis were clumping and icing. Today I started skiing at 8 AM, and had 2 hours of wonderful skiing. Beautiful tracks with a trace of new powder overnight. And the forest was beautiful - every branch covered with snow. Lots of photo stops. I'm afraid that the skiing will deteriorate quickly as the snow warms - clumping conditions. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun March 31 - substantial new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 12:30:19 GMT

Yesterday morning Kolapore received about 6 cm of snow in the morning, followed by rain in the afternoon. Overnight there was 10 cm of new snow. I just shoveled, and there is about 15 cm/6" of new snow in total. Portions of the trail system where we had retained a snow base (areas in the forest where there aren't too many wet areas) should be skiable today. Prepare to break trail - the snow will be reasonably heavy. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 30 - Winter's temporary return

Bruce King — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:54:03 GMT

As I write this at 11 AM, Kolapore has received about 6 cm of wet snow (the temperature is just below 0), and it's snowing hard. If we get the predicted snow, skiing may be OK in selective areas tomorrow, where there is still a decent base. I think parts of County Forest should be OK. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday March 26 - Still snow, but skiing deteriorating

Bruce King — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 12:13:38 GMT

I skied around County Forest yesterday afternoon, and would rate conditions as fair to poor. Although there is still about 20 cm of snow in the bush, rocks and wet areas are starting to reappear on the trail. Snow is disappearing in the fields. The snow in the forest varied from icy to soft, depending on the orientation. We are starting to get "reverse tracks", where the old tracks are higher than the adjacent unpacked snow. If you are determined to ski at Kolapore, if it's after a cold night be sure to wait until the snow has softened. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday March 22 - light snow cover on crusty base

Bruce King — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 20:37:29 GMT

Kolapore received about 3 cm of snow today (I'm posting this at 4:30 PM) There is just enough new snow to make skiing OK, as long as you accept the fact that the underlying crust is going to be rutted in places. There is still a substantial snow base in the forest. I don't recommend off trail skiing - the crust is breakable. As noted in a previous posting, the toilet at the Kolapore parking lot has been removed until spring arrives. Kolapore Trail Guide

Late season skiing, but still okay this afternoon

trail updates — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 02:28:30 GMT

Went in on the easy trails from the southeast access at noon today. Snow temperature exactly zero, I was on red wet/corn snow klister. Maybe half a centimetre of light, flurry snow on the surface of the trail. Could have probably been on hard wax instead, though the base was a touch icy and hard packed under the dusting of snow, so the tradeoff was less glide for better grip climbing little hills. Felt like late season, but still ski-able and no dodging patches of dirt or protruding rocks yet.

Tuesday March 19 - Winter is winding down

Bruce King — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 13:11:30 GMT

There is still a base of snow in the bush at Kolapore, but conditions are deteriorating. Yesterday I did a short ski, and there was enough fresh snow on top of the crust to making skiing OK but not great. Off track skiing was actually better. As we get into thaw/freeze cycles, the best skiing will be when the track has softened slightly. Because of the reduced use of the trails, the Kolapore Trails Association has removed the toilet at the Kolapore parking lot - it will return when the trails start to dry out. (This is a cost saving measure, because toilet rental is a major cost.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday March 16 - We're not done yet!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 15:34:59 GMT

14 inches measure at the snow gauge including 2 of fresh powder over crusty base this morning. A little slow going and rocks poking through in some sections but still quite skiable. Liquid glide on the no-wax rock skis. Don't plan to set your record for the Church Loop or ski Red Death for the first time this season but it's all about the base and we still have one.

Wed March 13 - hard packed and glazed

Bruce King — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 12:26:39 GMT

The trails are becoming hard packed. The strong sun yesterday glazed the trails in open or south facing areas. Off track skiing is not recommended because of the breakable crust. I think conditions today will be "fair to poor". Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday March 11 - "Fair+"

Bruce King — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 15:02:33 GMT

Kolapore received 2 - 3 cm of snow overnight and this morning. After a ski around County Forest, I would rate conditions as "fair+" - not quite "good". Skiing is quite pleasant in areas where there was a good track before the thaw. Hills could be a bit tricky. I would strongly recommend against off-track skiing - you will break through the crust with almost every step. The snow gauge is at 40 cm, so there's still a good base. There are a lot of twigs and branches down because of recent high winds - please help with the pickup. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sunday March 10 - thaw and freeze

Bruce King — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 02:26:42 GMT

Sadly, today marked the end of a stretch of great skiing conditions. Kolapore received rain and temperatures have now dropped. The trails are likely to be crusty/icy until we get some fresh snow, or warmer temperatures soften the snow. I would recommend staying off the trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday March 8 - Great skiing conditions - ending Saturday night

Bruce King — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 22:31:29 GMT

Skiing for the past week has been "as good as it gets" at Kolapore. Saturday should still be good. However, that will likely end on Saturday evening with the predicted "mixed precipitation". Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed March 6 - More great skiing

Bruce King — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 14:24:01 GMT

Kolapore received a few cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. Ski conditions are excellent. Get out and enjoy! Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday March 4 - Another great ski day

Bruce King — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 21:24:07 GMT

Ski conditions on the Kolapore Trails remain very good. We had 5+ cm of new snow yesterday, which helped to freshen the trails. Get out and enjoy the great skiing before the +4 and "mixed precipitation" that's forecast for Sunday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat March 2 - Great skiing

Bruce King — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 20:24:48 GMT

I did a long Kolapore ski today, and conditions were about as good as you get at Kolapore. The trails generally have good tracks. The light flurries today helped to freshen the trails. There are still a few branches and trees down from the wind storm last weekend. If you can, please help clear the trails. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 27 - Another snowy day

Bruce King — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:46:37 GMT

Kolapore received another 5+ cm of snow today. Conditions are generally excellent on the trails, with substantial new snow on a firm base. The trails are gradually getting skied-in after the heavy snowfall on Monday. Trail breaking is reasonably easy. The parking lot was plowed on Tuesday. Because of the recent strong winds, there are many branches and some trees down. If possible, please remove branches. If the job is too big send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org, and we'll see what we can do, although some clearing will have to wait until the spring. Kolapore Trail Guide

Fantastic snow today

trail updates — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 20:37:19 GMT

Today was great! And sooo beautiful! More trail breaking to be done but it’s not tough as it’s still light and fluffy. I had to ski county forest side as lot was not plowed in the morning but was plowed by 11:30am. Enjoy!!

Mon Feb 25 - lots of fresh snow (updated)

Bruce King — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow last night and this morning, and squalls are continuing as I write this at 2 PM. This new snow is on top of a substantial base that survived the rain that fell on Saturday night/Sunday morning. When conditions settle down tomorrow there should be some good skiing, if you are willing to break trail. Because of the strong winds, there are likely to be branches/trees down. If possible, please remove branches. If the job is too big send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org, and we'll see what we can do in the short term. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 21 - Better than expected

Bruce King — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:30:08 GMT

Kolapore didn't sustain much damage from the freezing drizzle/ice pellets that came down last night. I did a ski in County Forest this morning, and would rate conditions as at least "good". The ice granules are fine enough that they actually put a bit of fresh surface in the track. That being said, the trails have been heavily used since the last significant snowfall, and trails will be well packed and fast. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Feb 19 - Still good, but fast

Bruce King — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:59:39 GMT

The Kolapore Trails still have good skiing conditions in most areas, but there was lots of use on the weekend, and many of the hills are very fast. We had a cm or two of light powder this morning, which will help a bit. The snow gauge is at 43 cm (17"), and much of that is a firm base. Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday Feb 16 - Excellent ski conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 23:47:23 GMT

Ski conditions yesterday were good to excellent. With the 8 cm of fresh snow we received overnight they should be excellent today. Most of the trails were skied in yesterday. There are likely to be lots of skiers out this weekend, and the trails will get fast. The Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 has shrunk somewhat, and may be full at times. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 13 - 15 cm of powder on firm base

Bruce King — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 22:36:02 GMT

It's hard to tell how much snow Kolapore received recently because there has obviously been a lot of blowing, but this afternoon my estimate is that there is about 15 cm of powder. This is on top of 25 cm of firm base (at the snow gauge). Because of the firm base, trail breaking isn't too hard. Ski conditions should be great after a few skiers are through. Thanks for the previous post noting that the Kolapore parking lot is plowed. A reminder to Kolapore Trails Association members that our Soup and Ski event is on this Sunday - please register in advance so we know how much soup to make. Kolapore Trail Guide

Spectacular!

trail updates — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 18:24:08 GMT

So much new snow! Only Church loop and wild mouse broke (had to go to work :( ). ...good solid base so didn’t sink too deep breaking trail.

Lot was plowed also

Blustery Tuesday Feb 12

Suzy Sheppey — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 12:21:33 GMT

Crazy winds yesterday but conditions were great ..only skied the church loop as the creaking trees above and snow changing to ice was getting to me. Not sure how much was ice but was snow later in the day so trails should still be great and may need to be broke again.

Tuesday Feb 5 - Icy trails

Bruce King — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 17:15:33 GMT

Kolapore had warm conditions (+8) and heavy rain yesterday. With the drop in temperatures the trails are now icy. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get some new snow. I think we will still have a decent base in the forest, but it is possible that in some open areas the trails will have little or no snow cover. Kolapore Trail Guide

Soggy Sunday

Bruce King — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 13:43:33 GMT

At 9 AM it's a bit above freezing. There's lots of snow, and decent tracks, but there is also rain in the forecast for today (and even more tomorrow).

First Tracks

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 23:36:28 GMT

Main Paradise Highway loop and Wild Mouse have been broken in. Parking lot has been ploughed and in good condition. Get out tomorrow if you can. It should be extraordinary. Extra trail karma points for the first person around Northwest Passage. Remember, the Trail Association pays for all trail maintenance along with ploughing and toilet rental. Please leave a little something at the donation station to help us out.

Thurs Jan 31 - another 8 cm

Bruce King — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:28:41 GMT

I'm afraid these posts are getting repetitious - another 8 cm overnight and this morning. In short: lots of snow, cold and windy, parking and driving may be challenging, prepare to break trail. And get out before the melt on Sunday - Monday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 30 - another 4 cm (updated)

Bruce King — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:46:12 GMT

Kolapore received another 4 cm of snow overnight, which adds to the 8 cm we received on Monday night. The snow gauge is up to 47 cm (18"). Trails should be in great condition, although you may need to do some trail breaking. I skied on Polar wax this morning - not much glide with the cold snow. The Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 was plowed yesterday. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tues Jan 29 - new snow, not as much as expected

Bruce King — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:30:00 GMT

As I post this at 9:30 AM, Kolapore has received about 8 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. More is predicted. If you don't mind a bit of trail breaking, skiing should be great. Kolapore Trail Guide

Breaking Trail...Again:o)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 22:07:03 GMT

After all that skiing this weekend it looks like we are back to breaking trail. What a shame:o) Full-on blizzard right now with 15-20cm predicted. Make plans to get out once this dies down. It's going to be epic conditions.

Good Weekend to Get Out

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 22:59:02 GMT

All trails including NW Passage well broken-in. New snow has made all the difference. Thanks to trail breakers today tomorrow should be a classic Kolapore day. Take care. Bring a map, treats and water. Ski until you've achieved half your happiness and then work your way out.

Sat Jan 26 - generallly good conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 20:16:51 GMT

Based on a long ski today, I can report that snow/track conditions are generally quite good. The thaw and rain on Wednesday did less damage than expected. We retained virtually all the base, and the snow gauge is up to 35 cm. There is about 5 cm of new snow on top of the crust. The poorest conditions are under conifers, where there is more crust and less fresh snow on top. There are still a few wet spots and rocks, so appropriate caution is recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Jan 25 - 8 PM update

Bruce King — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 23:00:00 GMT

Over the past 24 hours Kolapore has received about 5 cm of new snow. We didn't receive the squalls that some local areas (e.g., Scenic Caves) received. The snow we did get is enough to make some of the trails skiable - covering up the icy tracks from the thaw on Wednesday. In the short term I would avoid the steeper hills. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 23 - updated

Bruce King — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 23:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow overnight and in the morning. In the afternoon the temperature went up to +4, and we had some rain. When the temperature drops there will be a significant ice crust. I think we will need at least 5 cm of snow to make skiing enjoyable. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Jan 21 Trail conditions - PM update

Bruce King — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:58:46 GMT

Winter has really arrived! Since my last post on Saturday Kolapore has received about 10 cm of snow, and the snow gauge is now up to 30 cm. Although you may still encounter the odd rock, conditions should be good. In the short term be prepared to "break trail" on the less-used trails. The Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 has been plowed. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 19 Trail conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 13:16:30 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of powder over the past 36 hours. This will help to freshen the trails a bit, although we need a serious dump of snow to get all the trails into good condition. Rock skis are still recommended. An ATV has chewed up the west end of Paradise Highway, and Northwest Passage above Metcalfe Rock. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Jan 18 update

Bruce King — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 1 cm of snow overnight, and it's snowing lightly at 8 AM. Trails were very fast yesterday - the new snow will help a bit. The snow cover is still thin. The snow gauge is at 20 cm (8"), which means that rock skis are still strongly recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 16 freezing drizzle covered by a dusting of snow

Bruce King — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 15:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received a significant amount of freezing drizzle yesterday, so there is a noticeable crust. There is 1 - 2 cm of powder on top of the crust. I did a short ski in the County Forest and found that the trails were fast but skiable. (There's just enough fresh snow that hard grip wax worked.) Hills could be very fast. These are not the conditions for your first visit to Kolapore. There are a lot of twigs and branches down - please help us by removing branches where possible. Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 12 - Most Trails are Broken In

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 20:52:30 GMT

Thanks to everyone who has been out breaking trails. Are there rock? For sure. Use caution on hills and maybe walk down or up places like Metcalf Rock section. South end, Quiet Pasture loop is better than main Paradise Highway trail. Think about going to check out the new bridge at intersection 58. Another 15cm would be great but we are finally skiing.

As Good as it Gets

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:45:55 GMT

11 Jan 2019 7:39 PM | Douglas Norman

Friday 11am. What an amazing day. County forest from Old Water Plant to the South Entry.Beautiful blue sky and trail covered with lots of untracked Champagne Powder & no rocks anywhere. On some parts of the trail that were wide enough I was even able to twin the track. I hope that is OK. Awesome! As Good as it gets for me anyway.

Thurs Jan 10 - 20 cm of powder! (updated PM)

Bruce King — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Since the rain and thaw on Monday and Tuesday, Kolapore has received about 20 cm of beautiful powder snow. The base was significantly reduced or eliminated by the thaw. This morning we broke trail through County Forest - Kingsway - Jackrabbbit - John's Portage. County Forest was very pleasant, although there are still some wet areas. The more northerly loop was fair to good. The main problem was that we hit a lot of rocks and added a lot of scratches to our rock skis. It will be somewhat better for subsequent skiers, because it will be easier to see where the rocks are lurking. Gaiters are strongly recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Jan 8 - another warm day

Bruce King — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 01:41:57 GMT

In spite of the rain yesterday and today, there is still a base of snow in the bush at Kolapore. However, it is thin, and ski conditions would be poor almost everywhere. We desperately need new snow. The area had very high winds yesterday, so there are likely to be numerous branches down on the trails, and possibly some trees. Please help us by tossing branches off the trail where possible. If more work is needed, send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 6 - 6 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:00:00 GMT

As of 8 AM Kolapore has received 6 cm of new snow overnight, and it's still snowing. There may be some passable skiing in selected areas, although rock skis are recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 5 Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT

The warm weather and sun yesterday substantially reduced the already thin snow base. Lots of bits of ice came off the trees. The trails will be icy until it warms up later today. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get some new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Jan 3 Ski Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:21:36 GMT

Kolapore received 6 cm of snow overnight. This may be enough to make some of the less rocky trails skiable. Rock skis would still be recommended, because the underlying base is quite thin in many areas. Kolapore Trail Guide

New Years day - not safe for skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 15:39:06 GMT

Kolapore had the rain and freezing rain last night, which left a crust. The crust is relatively thin, with rocks showing through. On top of that there is about 2 cm of new snow, plus lots of branches that were knocked down. There are wet areas after the rain. I don't think that the trails will provide safe or enjoyable skiing until we have more cold weather and a significant amount of new snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas Day skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 21:23:42 GMT

I had a pleasant ski in the County Forest this morning. The snow cover is still thin, so I recommend rock skis. The snow gauge is at 16 cm - fortunately part of this is a firm crust covered by fresher snow. Skiing on rockier trails is not recommended. Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Dec 24

Bruce King — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:03:58 GMT

Kolapore received 4 - 5 cm of snow overnight, and it's snowing as I post this at 9 AM. In areas where we held a base (like the south end), there should be some OK skiing. I would stay away from rocky areas until we get a bit more snow - in other words, I wouldn't go in at the Kolapore entrance at the moment. Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday December 21

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 19:20:58 GMT

:o(

Hopefully soon. We will let you know.

Highlands Nordic is holding on with 10km and Scenic Caves is open.

Stephen

Mon Dec 17 - Holding a snow base

Bruce King — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:47:47 GMT

The Kolapore Uplands generally maintained a snow base through the milder weather on the weekend, although there will be lots of rocks sticking through. It would theoretically be possible to ski in the County Forest, although the tracks are glazed. Other trails should be avoided. I will probably skip skiing (even in the County Forest) until we get some fresh snow. Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Dec 10 - South trails pleasant, north trails probably poor

Bruce King — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:30:12 GMT

I skied the east end of the County Forest today, and the skiing was very pleasant. The tracks are in good shape, but they are getting fast. I also skied the Kingsway - Jack Rabbit - John's Portage loop to check on whether any trail clearing was necessary as a result of recent winds (fortunately only minor pickup). This section of trail was in poor condition for skiing (rocks, bare ground, icy tracks), and even hard core Kolapore skiers aren't likely to enjoy it. This is probably true for most of the northern trails which aren't on old forest lanes. Kolapore Trail Guide

Every little bit counts...

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 16:54:51 GMT

Smooth sailing through County Forest. (South end.) 8 inches at the snow gauge. Still need more for rock-free skiing on the Church Loop, though track is broken for those who are up for the challenge.

Friday Dec 7 - no new snow

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 22:13:49 GMT

Sorry to disappoint the Collingwood residents - Kolapore didn't receive the squall that you received last night and into today. If you want current conditions, look at the post from yesterday. Today a number of Kolapore skiers skied at Scenic Caves. They have prime mid-winter skiing conditions. I measured the snow, and they have a 1/2 metre (or more) in the bush. Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Dec 6 Update

Bruce King — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 20:34:33 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow overnight and through the morning. The snow gauge is up to 18 cm, although this is slightly misleading, because there is only a few cm of snow in the packed track. It is still wise to stick to old lanes, e.g., much of the County Forest. As noted in a previous post, there are lots of branches down due to recent winds. If you can't remove them, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the problem. Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Dec 4 - Pleasant skiing in County Forest

Bruce King — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:39:49 GMT

I had a pleasant ski in the County Forest and on part of Southern Crossing this morning. Most of the trails were good, although some were only fair because of rocks and wet/thin spots. There's less than 15 cm (6") of snow, so I wouldn't try to ski anywhere other than the County Forest in the short term. Even there, you will want to use rock skis and take a scraper in case you ice up. We hear reports of trees down on some other trails as a result of recent winds. If you can't solve the problem, please send an e-mail with a description of the problem to info@kolaporetrails.org. Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Nov 28 - more new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:26:58 GMT

Since mid-day yesterday, Kolapore has received about 8 cm of new snow. The south end should be very pleasant. When I drove by late yesterday, the Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 had not been plowed, and with the new snow it could be difficult to get into until it is plowed. Get out and enjoy the skiing before it goes to 7 on Sunday!

Nov 27 - Pleasant skiing at south end

Bruce King — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 16:48:55 GMT

I skied in part of County Forest, and the lower part of the Kingsway - John's Portage loop this morning. Pleasant skiing on rock skis. The snow gauge is at 18 cm. North of the County Forest there are lots of areas where rocks are showing through (melting from the bottom up) Kolapore Trail Guide

Start of Ski Season - Nov 18

Bruce King — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 21:49:18 GMT

I went out for a ski in County Forest and vicinity this morning. The snow gauge is at 20 cm, but that is very misleading. After skiing on a trail, there is usually zero to a few cm of snow left in the track. Because the ground isn't frozen, the snow is melting from the ground up. So, skiing is possible but I would only suggest it for hard core Kolaporites, and using rock skis. The only trails that are a reasonable choice in the early season are in the County Forest. When I drove by the Kolapore Entrance N yesterday, there had obviously been walkers in.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Check Trailforks for mountain bike conditions

Lisa Pottier — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 20:48:13 GMT

The trails are mostly in great shape, although some are a bit overgrown, particularly parts of Northwest Passage. If you're interested in helping brushcut, get in touch!

We're doing our best to update the Kolapore Uplands region page on Trailforks.com as conditions change.

Please pitch in and leave reports there, or let us know via info@kolaporetrails.org. Thanks!

April Fools

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:57:18 GMT

Yup. If you are on this page you are an April Fool and wondering if indeed we are skiing again. The parking lot may not be well-cleared, but track is set through County Forest. Snow is heavy and this won't last long so get out there soon if you are going to.

Also, there will likely be branches and trees down. Please clear what you can and let us know of anything that requires a chainsaw. Please also consider joining our brush cut crew. The weeds will be waist high before you know it.

Spring skiing - for a few days

Bruce King — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 12:51:31 GMT

I just came back from a pleasant early afternoon ski around County Forest and vicinity. The snow had warmed up enough that it was soft (slightly sluggish). I was very glad that I had non-wax skis. The snow gauge has dropped from 13" Friday to 12" Saturday mid-day to 9" today. Grass and rocks were starting to show through in a few exposed locations. Skiing is likely to be OK for a few more days, if you wait until the snow softens slightly. It is supposed to be quite cold the next few nights, so the track will be ice in the early morning.

Kolapore Trail Guide

More fresh snow

Bruce King — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:00:43 GMT

Kolapore received about 7 cm/3 inches of new powder snow overnight (Thursday night/Friday morning). The total snow depth (30 cm) probably won't have changed much from my last post, because the sun was strong enough yesterday that snow was melting and settling. There should still be good skiing. I skied this afternoon, and even though the air temperature was -5, the sun was so strong that snow was warming and getting moist. If you then go through colder snow, you can have problems with clumping. Be prepared. Skiing early, before the snow starts to warm, may avoid the problem.

Kolapore Trail Guide

20 - 25 cm of new snow (updated after skiing)

Bruce King — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 13:30:08 GMT

The snow gauge at the south end of Kolapore is at 30 cm (12"), most of which came yesterday and overnight. (The Kolapore Uplands is big enough that the snow cover may be different in other parts of the trail system.) There is enough snow for enjoyable skiing on the less rocky trails. Be sure to take a scraper - I was icing up a bit (on wax skis) on the way home.

Kolapore Trail Guide

End of ski season?

Bruce King — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:39:17 GMT

In the County Forest (which is usually one of the areas that can be skied latest in the season) there are sections of the trail where the snow has disappeared. Unless we get a heavy dump of snow the ski season at Kolapore has finished.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow still melting...

Bruce King — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 01:06:50 GMT

I walked along the south edge of the County Forest today, and it was interesting to see the differences in conditions. South facing slopes and areas open to the sun were becoming bare. Further into the forest there was still moderate snow cover, although probably not enough for satisfactory skiing. Open fields are bare. It looks like mid-March.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow melting...

Bruce King — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 22:47:25 GMT

The combination of rain and warm temperatures is melting the snow. There is still a fair amount of snow in the bush, even though the open fields are almost bare.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Better than expected today

Bruce King — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 22:53:15 GMT

A light dusting of snow this morning, plus some softening of the trail caused by the sun significantly improved skiing today from the icy conditions on Friday. Unfortunately, if we get the rain that is expected over the next few days, it will wash away most of the snowcover.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Icy tracks - most skiers will not enjoy current Kolapore conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 20:59:02 GMT

I skied around the County Forest this afternoon. The tracks are icy, so most skiers will not enjoy the conditions. It is possible to do a mediocre ski in the County Forest, although a walker and snowshoer have chewed up some of the tracks. Only extremely experienced skiers should try the steep hills, or even the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop. If you have to walk down hills, please walk well off the skied track. The only good news is that we still have a foot of base with good coverage, so if we get more snow skiing could improve quickly. Kolapore Trail Guide

Slow...when it's not fast

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 16:57:49 GMT

Heading into spring skiing conditions. Icy and fast when it's cold. A little slow and slushy when it's warm. Still fantastic skiing to be had (especially for those with no wax skis) but pick your timing during the day when it's not too warm or cold and consider adjusting your trail selection for less technical runs...and for goodness sake walk down (staying well to the side please) hills if you think they might cause bodily harm. We want everyone to have a good finish to the season.

Good skiing today, but getting faster

Bruce King — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 21:49:23 GMT

After my post yesterday afternoon, Kolapore received some more freezing drizzle. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the skiing was very pleasant today. There is a thin crust on the snow, but the tracks aren't icy. (Blue wax worked fine again today.) The tracks are getting faster after a reasonable amount of use. Get out and enjoy the skiing before the predicted mid-week thaw.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Some freezing drizzle, but skiing still good

Bruce King — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 18:15:35 GMT

Kolapore received some light freezing drizzle Sunday morning. I skied in it (and on it), and was pleasantly surprised that ski conditions stayed good. My blue kick wax still worked fine.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Grinning ear to ear...

Bruce King — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 20:33:13 GMT

Two Kolapore veterans went for a long ski this morning, and came back grinning ear to ear. Great snow, good tracks, perfect temperatures, and very little trail maintenance required. There hasn't been much snow since Monday, so the popular trails are getting faster. Skiing should be great this weekend.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Quit Your Job!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:00:00 GMT

Not saying you should...but if you were thinking about it and spending your time skiing, this is the week to do it. More snow and more snow and conditions are now excellent.

More Beautiful Powder...

Bruce King — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 13:34:26 GMT

Sunday night Kolapore received about 6 cm of powder snow. With the snow that was received over the weekend, conditions should generally be very good. (This was confirmed on a long ski on Monday - the odd rock and wet spot, but great skiing overall. The snow gauge is up to 17")

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 4 - 10 cm new snow, plus more falling

Bruce King — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:23:49 GMT

We had about 10 cm of new snow overnight. As I write this at 9 AM it is snowing, and more is predicted. Skiing should be generally good today. I would still exercise caution on the rocky trails (and there are wet spots), but most trails should be at least "OK".

County Forest Trails

Ted Zahavich — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 13:30:00 GMT

Skied CF trails this morning. New snow on a hard base + no rocks + not cold = a fun morning.

It'll Do

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 11:00:00 GMT

As I said to my future wife, "If you're holding out for perfect, you may have to wait a long time." More snow overnight continues. Still a few rocks with ice under new snow so caution on hills. But good enough and will only improve through the day. See you on the trails.

Friday Feb 2 (updated)

Bruce King — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 14:19:27 GMT

Thursday night/Friday morning Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow. The Kolapore snow gauge is at 28 cm - this is about half fresh snow cover and half icy crust (or rocks). I did a pleasant ski this afternoon through the County Forest, and then the John's Portage - Jackrabbit - Kingsway loop. Outside the County Forest I was very glad I was on rock skis - added quite a few new scratches. I would definitely stay off the rocky trails (e.g., Paradise Highway) until we get more snow. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed this morning.

Kolapore Trail Guide

More snow needed!

Bruce King — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 21:55:41 GMT

I've been disappointed with the snowfall this week. In spite of a number of flurries this week, we only have about 8 cm of fresh snow on top of the icy crust (and rocks). This isn't enough to provide good skiing, although there may be some passable skiing in less rocky areas like the County Forest.

Kolapore Trail Guide

6 cm new snow

Bruce King — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 14:29:38 GMT

Kolapore received 6 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. Given the poor base conditions (thin and icy, with rocks showing through), this isn't enough to provide enjoyable skiing. However, the forecast is promising, so we may have some decent skiing this weekend. I'll do an update later Wednesday about how much of the promised snow arrives.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Powder turning to mush

Bruce King — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 15:41:02 GMT

With the warm weather we are having, the 10 cm of powder that fell earlier this week (on top of the icy crust) has consolidated to about 2 cm of wet snow. I don't think that skiing will be enjoyable until we get a substantial amount of new snow. For those who like spring skiing, there may be some passable sections in the County Forest.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Some "OK" skiing possible

Bruce King — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:19:44 GMT

I skied around County Forest and vicinity this (Wed) afternoon. The snow gauge shows that there is a total of 28 cm (11") of snow in the bush, of which 10 cm is new powder. The skiing is mediocre for a number of reasons. Under the powder there is a hard icy crust. As I skied along my skis were "skittering" around on the ice, or periodically breaking through the crust. This will get slightly better after a few skiers have firmed the track. Lots of rocks and wet areas have re-emerged, and some open areas will only have a thin layer of powder. You should use rock skis, and take a scraper in case you hit a wet area. I would strongly recommend staying away from steep or rocky trails.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Stay away

Bruce King — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 13:52:49 GMT

Kolapore received a substantial amount of rain yesterday, and lost a lot of snow. The trails will not be skiable until we get a significant snowfall. In the interim, please don't walk on the trails - that will just punch holes in the crust.

Kolapore Trail Guide

No singin' in this rain...stay tuned.

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:30:00 GMT

:o(

Great Spring Conditions - South End

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 20:37:38 GMT

Just off the Southern Cross Quiet Pasture Loop. Can't promise that it will be this way Sunday afternoon but right now it is excellent spring skiing conditions. Recommend sticking to the South entrances this weekend. The snow will freeze overnight, so it is likely to be icy Sunday morning - the trails will soften in the afternoon. See you out there.

Thursday Jan 18 Update - still a bit thin...

Bruce King — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 22:04:08 GMT

Trail conditions haven't changed a lot since the weekend. Ski tracks at the south end are firm and fast. Some wet areas are still open after the thaw (and will get worse this weekend.) I would recommend avoiding steep and/or rocky trails, since there is so little base. Kolapore Trail Guide

A Little "Thin" (+ Sunday update)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 22:47:06 GMT

...as one of the people I passed today put it to me in a bit of an understatement. 10 inches at the snow gauge. Some new snow has made a difference but definitely experts only on the Church Loop and Wild Mouse. Skiable with rock skis but quite tricky. County Forest in surprisingly good shape. Watch for wet spots and AVOID THE BRIDGE AT 53!! Probably for the next 48 hours. The river is almost at the deck and it's flooded at the North side.

(I skied County Forest and vicinity Sunday morning. No new snow in the past 24 hours. Tracks are firm and fast. The 10" measurement is a bit misleading, because there are open areas where the snow is down to a few cm. I would restate Stephen's caution that challenging trails are for experts only at the moment. Bruce King)

Friday Evening update

Bruce King — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 01:37:06 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of snow since the flash freeze this morning. I think this may be enough to provide passable skiing on some of the flatter and less rocky trails. We retained a reasonable amount of snow in the forest, but some open fields were bare. Hills could be very fast/icy.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday evening update

Bruce King — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 02:53:35 GMT

Kolapore had temperatures up to +10 today with rain. We've lost a lot of snow, but there is still reasonably good coverage in the bush. The real challenge in the short term is the potential freezing rain tomorrow morning and a rapid freeze. Once the temperatures drop I think the trails are likely to be a skating rink until we get a substantial amount of snow. Some wet holes will also be a short term problem. I will post an update Friday evening.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Jan 8 - More snow

Bruce King — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 14:17:45 GMT

Kolapore has received a bit over 8 cm (3") of new snow overnight. I'm sure the Kolapore snow gauge will be over 50 cm - Kolapore has lots of snow! The Kolapore parking lot has some new snow but is usable.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday Jan 6 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 22:56:01 GMT

We had another snowfall (about 8 cm) Friday night. The snow gauge is up to 49 cm (19") This is enough to provide excellent skiing conditions. Later this afternoon when the wind eased the skiing was very pleasant. Get out and enjoy the skiing before the predicted mid-week thaw.

Kolapore Trail Guide

It just keeps coming! (Updated Friday Jan 5)

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 19:13:10 GMT

Snow every day this week and the trails are the best they have been in some time. We had another 10 cm of snow Thursday night. Cold conditions so...1. Dress in layers but be careful not to overheat. Overheating is as dangerous as not dressing warmly enough as sweat will chill you through. 2. Protect exposed skin. 3. Ski more protected trails. I'd suggest Southern Crossing, Kingsway, John's Portage and Paradise Highway. 4. Take short breaks. Bring warm drinks and snacks. See you on the trails!

December 31 conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 12:57:17 GMT

Kolapore has received about 15 cm of new snow over the past 24 hours. The snow gauge is at 40 cm (16") Conditions should be excellent, but very cold.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Well tracked

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 11:00:00 GMT

Long ski yesterday and most all of the trails seem to be well-tracked and in excellent condition. Thank you to the trail breakers. Caution on Marc's Folly between 31 and 29 with a downed tree at the bottom of the hill. Negotiable but unexpected. Lots of layers for your last ski of 2017.

Magnificent

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:46:11 GMT

Not much need to say more. Very occasional growler rock but otherwise trails are well-set and the forest is stunning.

Wed Dec 27 Update

Bruce King — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 14:10:25 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge was at just over 30 cm yesterday afternoon, and Kolapore received about 2 cm of snow overnight. Because most of the snow is light powder, and there isn't much base, if you ski anywhere other than the County Forest you should be prepared to get scratches or gouges on your skis. You need to be careful on hills because you may encounter hidden rocks. That being said, I had a great ski yesterday.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas Day - 11 AM

Bruce King — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 16:13:23 GMT

Kolapore has received a great Christmas present - 15 cm (6") of new snow overnight and this morning. This adds to the existing 20 cm (unconsolidated) base. With the forecast for more flurries or squalls today, the skiing could be quite good tomorrow. If you are out first, be prepared to break trail. Don't count on the Kolapore parking lot being plowed today or tomorrow morning - I'm hoping it will be plowed by the afternoon. (3 PM update: the snow gauge is at 30 cm (12") and rising fast. Rock skis are still strongly recommended.)

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Dec 23

Bruce King — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 13:19:58 GMT

Thursday night Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow, on top of the 15 cm we already had. This is still a thin base for most trails. As noted in my preceding post, conditions will be generally OK in the County Forest. On most other trails, the rocks will still eat your skis.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Dec 21

Bruce King — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:35:32 GMT

I skied County Forest this afternoon, and conditions were pleasant - decent tracks, but a few rocks and wet spots are showing as a result of the thaw. The snow gauge is at 15 cm (6") - this means that you are skiing on about 5 cm of snow in the tracks. This is OK on old lanes, but is not enough snow for most of the Kolapore Trails. I think we need to get at least 10 - 15 cm of snow before skiing rockier trails, and even then rock skis will be strongly recommended.

Kolapore Trail Guide

snow melt

Lisa Pottier — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 01:30:00 GMT

We've had two days in a row of windy, above 0 temperatures. The "rock skiing" conditions from the weekend have degraded. Good news is that it's snowing out there right now. County Forest trails might be marginally skiiable Wednesday/Thursday this week, but i wouldn't recommend anything else until we get more snow.

Monday Dec 18

Bruce King — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:29:38 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow overnight and this morning. The snow gauge is just over 25 cm (10"). I skied County Forest this morning, and only touched two rocks, so conditions are quite good in this area. (Be careful of the perennial wet spot west of 4.) In contrast, yesterday I did the Kingsway - Jackrabbit - John's Portage loop, and added many new scratches to my rock skis. Fun skiing, but not for everyone. That's probably true for the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop as well. I would strongly recommend staying off Quiet Pastures and the south end of Trail to the Summit - there are likely to be serious wet areas until we have more cold weather.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Tis the Season to be Jolly!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 16:20:51 GMT

10 inches at the snow gauge this morning. Still rock skiing for the time-being but fairly consistent flurries. South end County Forest is best. Pack a scraper just in case you hit a wet spot and ice up.

There is considerable variation in local snow cover - Scenic Caves/top of Blue Mountain had 18 inches of snow on the ground today.

Let it snow! Let it snow!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 21:46:17 GMT

A foot -give or take- has come down. Ground is still not frozen so wet spots and rocky. (-20 tonight should firm things up.) South end is skiable for the hard core rock skiers. Still need more base for the main loops. Think about visiting our friends at http://www.highlandsnordic.ca or http://www.sceniccaves.com while we wait for a little more of a base. Stay tuned for weekend updates.

Soon. Very Soon.

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 16:51:29 GMT

Snow is on the ground with more in the forecast this weekend. Thanks to the many volunteers who have pruned and brush cut 50km of trails. South End should be skiable soon. Please no walking, snowshoeing or fat biking on the trails now that ski season has arrived. Watch for condition updates. As soon as we are skiing we will let you know. Heavy winds over the last week may have brought down some branches and trees. When you get out skiing please move aside what you can and let us know if there is big stuff to be cleared.

We have snow!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 15:27:15 GMT

It's a winter wonderland out there. Ground is still not frozen and we need a little more base but things are heading in the right direction. Wax up! We will let you know when there is skiing.

Trail Volunteers Needed

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:09:13 GMT

Trails are finally drying out following a very wet spring. Please ride and hike safely and walk around remaining puddles.

Assistance needed with weed whacking. Trail association has the equipment. Contact info@kolaporetrails.org if you can help.

Trail crew weekends this year July 29-30 and August 12-13. See https://www.facebook.com/kolaporetrails/ for details. Come for an hour or the weekend. Every little bit helps.

March 16 - not skiable

Bruce King — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 22:01:30 GMT

Kolapore received a few cm of snow this week, much less than was predicted. This snow fell on top of either a thin crust or bare ground. I don't think you could find any section of the trail that has decent ski conditions.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow disappearing

Bruce King — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 03:24:37 GMT

Kolapore had hard rain last night, and warm temperatures today. We lost all of the new snow that fell last week, and more of the base. There are large areas without any snow cover. It may be possible to find segments of trail that are possible to ski, but conditions would be mediocre. Unless we get a really serious dump of snow it is probably the end of the ski season.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 3 update

Bruce King — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 22:05:16 GMT

Kolapore has received 10 cm+ of snow over the past two days. It may be possible to find sections of trail with decent skiing. I don't have specific recommendations, other than that trying to ski at the Kolapore entrance is not a good idea.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 1 - End of ski season?

Bruce King — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:19:26 GMT

After the rain last night, I doubt that any portion of the trails is skiable. It will take a substantial dump of new snow, plus significant cold weather, to make the trails skiable.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore skiing not recommended

Bruce King — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 15:37:02 GMT

I went out for a (very) short ski in the County Forest this morning, after the few cm of new snow last night. Conditions were worse than I had expected. The trail is into late spring conditions, where the old track is higher than the adjacent snow. I'd hoped to do some off-track skiing, but even on lanes in the County Forest (which is usually the most reliable area for snow cover) there are areas where the base has totally melted, and there is only the few cm of new snow. Skiing in from the Kolapore entrance would be even worse than conditions in the County Forest. We need a major dump of snow to have decent ski conditions.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Eew

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:02:25 GMT

Very warm conditions this week with rain in the forecast. Still snow in the woods but trails are getting exposed. County Forest may survive until colder conditions and more snow arrive next week. Stay tuned.

Fantastic Spring Skiing

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 21:24:55 GMT

Beautiful day to be on the trails. Main routes well-packed with lots of snow. Slow. But think quality not quantity. Not your big distance day but who cares. No wax skis or Universal/Red Klister will get you there in style. For Sunday, you will probably hit best conditions around 10/11. Though there should be good skiing throughout the day.

Loads of Snow - Feb 17

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:34:06 GMT

Playing hooky today would pay off. Great conditions throughout the system. The weekend will be warm but the snow will hold. Think about skiing in the morning on Saturday and Sunday to get in a run before the trail softens.

More Snow

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 02:25:22 GMT

Well, it just keeps coming. More snow yesterday and tonight. It's a winter wonderland. If you can get out for a ski sooner than later, do. Warmer weather is on it's way.

Monday Feb 13

Bruce King — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 00:53:05 GMT

Kolapore received 15+ cm of snow over the past 24 hours. (It's hard to tell exactly how much, because there was a lot of drifting.) There should be some good skiing, if you don't mind breaking trail. In the short term (i.e. Monday morning) driving and parking may be a bit challenging. The Kolapore parking lot isn't likely to be plowed until later today.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday Feb 11

Bruce King — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 12:42:02 GMT

Over the past 36 hours Kolapore has received 10+ cm of new snow. We didn't get much new snow overnight, but we also didn't get the freezing drizzle that was threatened. Yesterday I skied parts of County Forest, Kingsway and John's Portage, and the skiing was pleasant. Trails that were "skied in" before Tuesday's freezing rain storm ski relatively well, although my poles (even with larger baskets) kept breaking through the crust. Off track, skis are likely to break through the crust. (The crust is about 1 cm thick.) The Kolapore parking lot was plowed mid-day Friday.

For those who are interested, the snow gauge is at 48 cm, which is the highest it's been at any point this winter. This means we didn't lose much base in the freezing rain/rain storm this week.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Icy Conditions - Wed Feb 8

Bruce King — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 14:49:48 GMT

Yesterday Kolapore received a heavy layer of freezing rain in the afternoon, followed by rain. There is an icy crust - about 1 cm thick! - everywhere. As of 10 AM we had received a cm or two of new snow. Ski conditions will be very poor until we get a substantial amount of new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

AWESOME!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:15:59 GMT

...that's all I can say.

Friday Feb 3

Bruce King — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 19:39:26 GMT

Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow over Wednesday - Thursday, and it has been flurrying periodically today. The new snow has substantially improved trail conditions. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed late Thursday afternoon. Among other trails, I skied Trail to the Summit this morning, and the south half of it has some wet holes that you need to tip toe around. I think the same will be true on Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, Quiet Pastures and a section of Paradise Highway just north of intersection 54. Be sure to take a scraper in case your skis ice up.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 2 - Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 13:07:55 GMT

Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow over Wednesday - Thursday. This substantially improved trail conditions. The snow gauge is up to 44 cm - the highest it's been this winter. The Kolapore parking lot is in great shape (plowed late Thursday afternoon.) I would still be cautious on the wet trails (Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, Quiet Pastures and south half of Trail to the Summit) - they may need a few more days of cold weather before they are enjoyably skiable. There are also wet or rocky areas on other trails that require caution.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Monday Jan 30

Bruce King — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 20:09:16 GMT

Kolapore has not received any significant new snow since the 10 cm that came Saturday night. We did not receive the dump of snow that hit some local areas last night. The Saturday night snow significantly improved trail conditions. I would still recommend rock skis on the rockier trails. There are some wet areas on the trails from recent thaws, and as a result I would continue to recommend avoiding Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, Quiet Pastures and the south half of Trail to the Summit until we get colder weather.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 29 - 10 cm of new snow

Bruce King — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 12:36:43 GMT

7:30 AM Report: Kolapore has received about 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours - this will significantly improve conditions. I would still recommend rock skis on the rockier trails. There will be some wet areas on the trails from recent thaws, and as a result I would continue to recommend avoiding Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, Quiet Pastures and the south half of Trail to the Summit until we get some colder weather.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 28

Bruce King — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:40:57 GMT

Yesterday I skied the County Forest, Kingsway and part of Wild Mouse. Overnight we've had about 2 cm of snow. Based on this, here are my observations:

it is possible to do some pleasant skiing if you are selective about where you ski
with the possible exception of the County Forest, rock skis are strongly recommended. Some areas on the trail (e.g., south facing slopes) were bare a few days ago, and now they have about 10 cm of new snow. After a few skiers go through the track will be down to the ground. I think some of rocky trails like Paradise Highway will be in poor condition until we get a real dump of snow.
There are some very wet areas on the trails. Based on the wet areas in the County Forest (e.g., a lake on the trail west of intersection 4), I would strongly recommend avoiding Southern Crossing west of the 10^th line, Quiet Pastures and the south half of Trail to the Summit.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 25: Rock solid

Bruce King — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:31:55 GMT

The snow has refrozen, and the trails are now rock hard. There are likely to be rocks showing through in some areas. Skiing at the moment would be dangerous - no control on hills and there are frozen ruts from old ski tracks. I strongly recommend staying off the trails until we get a decent amount of new snow (10 cm?) The forecast for later in the week and the weekend is promising.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Good News and Bad News

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 22:58:05 GMT

The Good News: We've had a few days to clear the worst of the fallen limbs before things freeze up.

The Bad News: Unless you have no-wax rock skis and are slightly nuts, North trails are not a good option. County Forest likely still passable but we need a good freeze-up and snow snow snow to get things going again. Stay tuned.

Skiable...with care

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 20:07:18 GMT

Just finished a few hours of stick-picking. If you've got no-wax rock skis and know the trails pretty well, it's spring skiing conditions. Main trails are packed well and secondaries are passable. Patience, and don't take on more than you can chew and you could get in a nice ski. Pick up a stick on your way by. If you encounter a significant problem, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org Stephen

County Forest Footnote: I encountered skiers coming out of County Forest late this afternoon, and they indicated that conditions were "better than expected". I would agree. The ice cover that was everywhere on Friday has softened enough to allow decent skiing on non-wax skis. There is a lot of debris on the trails, although not as much big debris as came down in the wind storm 10 days ago. Bruce

Monday Jan 16 - Extremely Fast!

Bruce King — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:30:17 GMT

I skied in the south part of the system this morning, and (not surprisingly) the trails are extremely fast. Great double poling. For less experienced skiers the trails may be too fast, particularly on the hills. Blue hard wax worked nicely this morning. With the weather forecast for tomorrow (freezing rain/rain), conditions are likely to go from fair to terrible.

As a result of high winds last week there are many twigs and branches and even a few trees down on the trails - please help with the cleanup. The trail guides and other Kolapore supporters did quite a bit of cleanup on the weekend, but more is needed. If you encounter something that's too big for you to handle, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the location (and a photo would be very helpful).

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sunday Jan 15 - Very fast!

Bruce King — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:20:05 GMT

There has been no new snow since Thursday evening, when 2 - 3 cm of new snow fell on crusty snow. The new snow has been packed down, and trails are very fast. I recommend avoiding avoiding steep trails because of the fast conditions (possibly with ruts) and numerous branches down.

As a result of high winds last week there are many twigs and branches and even a few trees down on the trails - please help with the cleanup. If it's too big for you to handle, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the location.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Jan 13 - 5 PM Update

Bruce King — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:15:46 GMT

I skied around County Forest this afternoon, and it's not bad, although the tracks are a bit uneven where skiers have broken through the crust. There is more snow than I expected (32 cm at the snow gauge), but only 2 - 3 cm of new snow. Trails that get much use are likely to be fast tomorrow. I continue to think that it is best to avoid steep trails because of the fast conditions (possibly with ruts) and numerous branches down.

Based on my survey of the County Forest, I can guarantee that there will be many branches down on the trails - please help with the cleanup. If it's too big for you to handle, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the location.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Jan 12

Bruce King — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:26:18 GMT

The good news is that there is still a snow base at Kolapore. The bad news is that we got more heavy rain last night, and there will be lots of rocks showing on the trails, plus numerous wet areas. It's currently (8 AM) just below freezing, and the trails are likely to be icy. I continue to recommend staying off the trails until we get some new snow. There will be many branches down - please help with the cleanup. If it's too big for you to handle, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the location.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Jan 10 Evening: "Disgusting"

Bruce King — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 03:18:30 GMT

At 10 PM the conditions at Kolapore are disgusting. We had quite a bit of snow today, followed by a very heavy rain storm. I just shoveled our walk, which was covered by slush and water. I would strongly recommend staying off the trails until we get a decent amount of new snow. The high winds today are likely to have brought down a number of branches or even trees. If you can't drag them off the trail, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org to let us know about the location of any problems.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Jan 10

Bruce King — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 13:42:55 GMT

Kolapore received a dusting of snow overnight - it's hard to tell how much, because the strong winds are blowing it around. Quite a bit of snow and high winds are predicted today. The Kolapore parking lot was in good shape yesterday.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 8 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:52:32 GMT

When I first posted at 8 AM Kolapore had received about 5 cm of new snow overnight, and by 10:15 we were up to 10 cm. It is still squalling. The current temperature is -14 and it is likely to stay cool. Be prepared for real winter conditions today.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 7 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 12:47:54 GMT

Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow Wednesday. We have not received any new snow since then. Ski conditions are generally very good. The popular trails (almost everything east of the 10th line) have skied-in tracks. The Kolapore parking lot is well plowed. Based on skiing Trail to the Summit yesterday, I would caution that our lowland trails (Trail to the Summit, Quiet Pastures, Southern Crossing west of the 10th line) are likely to have a lot of wet spots.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trails in Great Shape!!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:23:01 GMT

Most main trails have been broken in. Parking lot is well-cleared. Great conditions for the weekend. See you on the trails.

Glorious day skiing

Phil and Lynne Garrod — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:20:42 GMT

Conditions were perfect- sun was shining- woods were relatively calm and absolutely beautiful!! noon to 2pm today.

LNG

Friday January 6

Bruce King — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 13:30:47 GMT

There has been no new snow in the past 24 hours, so yesterday's report is still accurate, with the exception that there are a few more wet spots on trails than anticipated. The cold temperatures (-15 at 8 AM) should help to freeze some of the wet areas.

Thursday Jan 5 - Winter Wonderland (again)

Bruce King — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:16:03 GMT

Noon Update: Over the past 24 hours Kolapore has received 20+ cm of new snow. It's time to start setting tracks on the trails. The skiing was glorious this morning - the snow is hanging on the trees, and with the firm underlying base it only takes a few skiers to set a good track. The Kolapore parking lot is plowed, and there is good roadside parking at the East County Forest entrance. The snow gauge is back to 40 cm. One caution - there may be wet snow under the new snow (particularly on the wetter trails like Southern Crossing, Quiet Pastures and Trail to the Summit), so it would be advisable to take a scraper.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 4 (PM Update)

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:14:36 GMT

This morning Kolapore received 10+ cm of snow. This fell on a base of wet snow. We've kept enough base that it shouldn't take too long for conditions to bounce back. In the short term, if you go out be sure to take a ski scraper with you, because there is a good chance of hitting wet snow under the new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 3 - Soggy

Bruce King — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:12:35 GMT

Kolapore received rain last night. It would be possible to ski on the trails, but it would be spring conditions, with very wet snow. Why bother? - Winter should be back in a day or two.

Kolapore Trail Guide

A New Years Gift

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:00:00 GMT

Trails are in good shape with a rare rock on Paradise Highway and some avoidable wet sections in marshy areas. Just finished a stunning journey around Quiet Pasture Loop. Like skiing through a Group of Seven painting. Conditions should hold through tomorrow morning. Get out while the getting is good. (For those who are interested, the snow gauge is up to 42 cm - 16".)

January 1 conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 13:31:40 GMT

8:30 AM post: Kolapore has received 10 cm+ of snow over the past 24 hours. The new snow is quite powdery - we had some ice pellets at one point, but missed the rain. The trails should be in good condition today, and it might be possible to leave the rock skis at home.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday Dec 31 Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 13:02:45 GMT

8 AM report: Kolapore has received about 5 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. Conditions should be good again today, although based on the weather forecast (warming and possible rain in the afternoon), earlier is better. Be prepared for strong winds. My skiing yesterday confirmed that rock skis are still advisable. The Kolapore parking lot was in good shape yesterday. The snow gauge us up to 32 cm (a bit over a foot).

Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Dec 30 - Get out and ski!

Bruce King — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 13:04:48 GMT

Kolapore has received close to 15 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. The skiing on most trails should be enjoyable, although I would still advise using rock skis on rockier trails like the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop. We know there is a tree down on Kingsway trail, and hope to get a chain saw in this afternoon. If you see a tree down that you can't move, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Dec 29 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 14:00:05 GMT

Kolapore received another 5 cm of snow overnight, and as I post at 9 AM it is flurrying. I would still be inclined to stay off the rockier and steeper trails, but there should be some decent skiing in a number of parts of the trail system today. If the forecast is right, there should be enough snow to ski most of the trails tomorrow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Dec 28 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 14:22:59 GMT

Kolapore received about 4 cm of snow overnight. Some of the flatter and less rocky trails (e.g., parts of the County Forest) may be passable for skiing. I would strongly recommend staying off the steeper and rockier trails until we get more snow - rocks will be sticking out, and the remnant track will be rutted and icy.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 27 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:53:57 GMT

Kolapore had the thaw and rain on Boxing Day. Trails will be icy with rocks showing through. We strongly recommend you stay off the trails until we get fresh snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Get out while the getting is good

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 21:32:30 GMT

Conditions are holding up well. Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow Friday evening/Saturday morning. Should be good "spring skiing" conditions over the next two days. South End will hold up better than the North and be more forgiving. Give yourself a Christmas gift and get out for a run before the rain scheduled for Boxing Day.

Friday Dec 22 - Still good skiing

Bruce King — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 16:30:47 GMT

I had a lovely ski around County Forest and across Southern Crossing this morning. Tracks were in good shape, and the snow was still powdery. Rock skis are desirable. The more heavily used trails (e.g., the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop) will be fast, with occasional rocks and damp spots. Some trails may not yet be broken, e.g., Northwest Passage. The snow is settling - the snow gauge was up to 44 cm last week, but it is down to 30 cm. The parking lot at Kolapore is well plowed, and the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock is also being plowed (by Free Spirit Tours, we believe.) Enjoy the trails before the forecast thaw!

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Dec 22 Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:01:33 GMT

Kolapore received about 2 cm of damp snow overnight. At 9 AM we were receiving light snow/ice pellets. See the preceding post for an overall summary of conditions.

Tuesday December 20 - Trails broken

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 13:11:58 GMT

As of today it looks as though all main trails have been broken except for Northwest Passage and Quiet Pasture loops. Thanks to all those who took on sections. (Might not be fast skiing but beautiful and rewarding.) Still occasional rocks and wet sections but overall excellent conditions. The snow is starting to settle - the snow gauge is a little under 40 cm. The parking lot at Kolapore is well plowed, and the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock is also being plowed (by Free Spirit Tours, we believe.)

Sunday December 18 Ski Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:01:50 GMT

Ski conditions are probably as good as they were at any point last winter. The snow gauge is at 42 cm (16"). This is enough snow to adequately cover most rocks, although on some of the rockier trails "rock skis" are still advisable. Most of the popular trails on the east side of the system are broken. Get out and enjoy (on skis).

Kolapore Trail Guide

WAX UP!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 16:18:34 GMT

Best December conditions in years. Still an occasional rock as base has not settled. Trail broken part-way around Paradise Highway. Should be complete by end of day. A few skiers have gone in from Entrance E (east end of the County Forest.) Parking is possible at the Kolapore parking lot. Please no snowshoeing, walking or fat-biking on the trails 'til the end of ski season.

Friday Dec 16 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 19:11:53 GMT

Kolapore received a lot of snow yesterday - well over 30 cm. Although I still think rock skis are advisable (there's no packed base), skiing should be quite pleasant on many trails, as long as you are prepared to "break trail" As of 1:30 today there were no tracks of any kind at the Kolapore entrance or Entrance E (East end of County Forest). The Kolapore parking lot had been plowed.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Dec 15 Conditions (updated 1 PM)

Bruce King — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:17:53 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. Between 9 AM and 1 PM today Kolapore received another 15 cm, and it is still squalling. In the short term, it wouldn't be a good idea to drive to Kolapore considering both the driving conditions and parking challenges. I'll provide an update tomorrow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Dec 14 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:15:37 GMT

At 11:30 today there was 20 cm of fluffy snow at the Kolapore snow gauge. The skiing on the less rocky trails (mainly parts of the County Forest) is passable as long as you don't mind adding scratches to your rock skis. At the moment, skiing on the rockier and more rolling trails is not advisable. However, with the current snowfall and the forecast, this could change relatively soon. The Kolapore parking lot was cleared a few days ago, and was quite passable yesterday.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 12 Update

Bruce King — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:19:47 GMT

There's about 15 cm of light snow at Kolapore. This isn't enough for skiing, but it's looking promising.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Still wishful thinking, but...

Bruce King — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 14:08:33 GMT

Last night Kolapore had about 10 cm of snowball snow. On the trails there was little or no base, so the snow is melting from the top and bottom (the ground is still warm.) However, the forecast for the two weeks looks promising. I will continue to post progress reports. See the previous post for a quick summary of the condition of the trails. And please think about joining the Association or renewing your membership.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wishful Thinking

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 17:21:47 GMT

If you're checking the trail conditions today you must be an optimist. The good news is that Kolapore is now the right colour for cross country skiing. The bad news is that there are just a few cm at present and conditions will be warming over the next few days. The other good news is that trail volunteers have been working hard over the past few weeks. 90% of the trails have been brush cut and pruned and about 20 fallen tress have been cleared. We are ready for the snow. Bring it on!

As soon as there is skiing, we will post.

(In the mean time, you might want to visit the membership page...)

Trillium Alert!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 18 May 2016 13:36:11 GMT

Trails are in good condition however with recent rains there are still muddy sections. Riders PLEASE stay to higher trails and carry your bikes around muddy sections. The Trail Fairies thank you. Trilliums are out. Alas, so are the blackflies. If you enjoy your hike or ride, please remember to make a donation online or at the trail head donation station.

March 13 - Summer Waxing

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 14:31:35 GMT

If you don't mind walking a little bit, there is still snow to ski on but it's getting pretty thin. Might be time for summer waxing. Scrape and clean all the guck off your bases, iron on a generous layer of soft wax or paraffin to your glide zone. And when you are done, don't forget your skis.

We've made up for quantity with quality this winter. Thanks to the crews who cleared trees and built boardwalks to make this season great. (Mountain bikers please please please let the trails dry before riding. Filling mud holes is a lot of work.)

Save the date for the Chainsaw course May 7, Kolapore AGM June 4 and watch for announcements of upcoming trail maintenance and other events.

Thanks all for a wonderful, safe season. Trail Guide #3

March 6 - We're not done yet!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 01:12:28 GMT

Great weekend for all who made it out. Good base is holding. Catching last light at 5 this afternoon was a little bit of heaven. Two words moving in to the next week. "Patience" and "timing." Patience in that we are heading in to spring skiing conditions (again) so maybe not the 30k you were planning. (County Forest will hold the snow better than Paradise Highway.) Timing in that you will have better skis in the morning and later in the afternoon when the trail is firm. Trail Guide #3

March 5 - Running out of Adjectives

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 22:36:29 GMT

Absolutely excellent conditions. All main trails -including NW Passage- have been broken. Colder than expected today with some fresh snow so current conditions should hold for a good part of Sunday. Tomorrow is your day. Trail Guide #3

March 4 - Glory Snow

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 23:20:03 GMT

With thanks to many skiers, trails have been broken through most of the system. Conditions are pristine. Remember to only ski as far in as you are willing to ski out. Bring a map, water and snacks. And! Leave a little something for the Trail Fairy in the donation station on your way out. Have a great/safe weekend. Trail Guide #3

March 3 - Parking Lot Plowed

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 21:16:39 GMT

As of 3pm today the parking lot has been plowed. Thanks to everyone who has been pushing the trails through. Most main trails should be skied in by tomorrow afternoon. Slow going for those breaking but glory skiing for everyone who follows. Get ready for a great weekend. Trail Guide #III

Parking lot plowed?

trail updates — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:06:17 GMT

Tried to break trail yesterday but the main parking lot was not plowed yet (2:00).so did some of the county forest.. It was deep! Does anyone know if the parking lot is plowed this morning?

Thank you. :). Can't wait to enjoy all this snow!

Wednesday Feb 2 - Prepare for the best

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 14:52:20 GMT

Heavy snow last night continues. Skiing will be pristine later this week and through the weekend. Make the most of the best conditions of the year. Trail Guide #3

Sunday Feb 28 - Spring Skiing

Bruce King — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 18:04:46 GMT

It's spring skiing today. It will get quite mushy in the afternoon with the warm temperatures and sun. The base is consolidating - the snow gauge is down to 30 cm (12"). When it refreezes (which is likely to happen overnight), I would strongly recommend staying off the trails until we have a reasonable amount of new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Fri Feb 26 (and Saturday forecast)

Bruce King — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 02:12:51 GMT

Today was one of the best ski days of the year. The snow gauge is up to 35 cm (15"). I scratched a few rocks today, but most trails were in good shape. On Saturday I would strongly recommend getting out early. The temperature will likely get above 0 C, which means that there is a good chance that the snow will clump on skis (including non-wax skis) when it warms.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thursday Feb 25 (updated)

Bruce King — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 03:55:10 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. There is 30 cm of snow at the snow gauge. Ski conditions today were about as good as they have been at any point this winter. That said, rock skis are still advisable. The Kolapore parking lot is well plowed. Some trails were not broken as of later this afternoon. Get out and enjoy!

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 21

Bruce King — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 16:20:40 GMT

There is still snow in the bush at Kolapore. However, with the thaw yesterday and the freeze last night, I would recommend staying off the trails until we either have a reasonable amount of new snow, or it gets warm enough for spring skiing.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail conditions, Kolapore TrailGuide

trail updates — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 20:43:27 GMT

Over past two days, I checked out County Forest, John's Portage, Jackrabbit, Trail to Summit, Marc's Folly, Paradise Hwy, Kolapore Church, Wild Mouse, and Kingsway. Early this morning, I was out again on the Paradise Hwy - Kolapore loop. With no new snow in past 24 hours, the track is once again very compact, beaten down on slopes. The snow is very thin for this time of year. Rock skis recommended. Snow conditions are better in the southern areas and on connecting trails, though there are some lingering wet-spots on lower Jackrabbit and Trail to Summit. Yesterday, the snow measured 13 inches (31 cm) in County Forest, most of it Friday's snow, which is shrinking swiftly. Ski with care. There are plenty of rocks just below the surface.

(Another) Kolapore Trail Guide

That's better!

Stephen Couchman Catherine Smart — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 23:24:14 GMT

Snowing hard most of the day. Did the Church Loop late this afternoon. Well-tracked. Still the occasional rough spot (rock skis are still recommended) but overall excellent conditions. Continuing snow overnight should lead to a great weekend. Wax up! CSM325

Friday Feb 12 - updated

Bruce King — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 12:31:08 GMT

We've had about 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours, most of which came this morning. As I write this at 12:30 it is squalling. I'm becoming quite optimistic about ski conditions this weekend. Caution will still be required, because not all the underlying rocks will have a good snowcover.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 11 - some new snow

Bruce King — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:34:42 GMT

Kolapore received about 6 - 7 cm of snow over the past 24 hours, which added to the 10 cm we received the previous day. Conditions are improving. I would still recommend staying off the steeper and rockier trails, because the recent thaws exposed most rocks. I was out yesterday afternoon, and I was glad I was on rock skis. Take a scraper with you - the thaws have left wet spots, that are hiding under the snow cover. We are proceeding with the Soup and Ski event planned for members on Saturday.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Feb 7

Bruce King — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:25:22 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. This will substantially improve conditions. I would still recommend staying off the steeper and rockier trails, because the recent thaws will have exposed most rocks. Be sure to take a scraper with you - the thaws will have left wet spots, that will be hiding under the snow cover. The forecast is promising - we will likely proceed with the Soup and Ski event planned for Saturday. An e-mail will go out to Kolapore members (probably this evening) giving the decision.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 7

trail updates — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 17:06:34 GMT

I did a short ski in the County Forest this morning, and it was passable, considering that the snow gauge is at 10 - 12 cm (4 - 5"). However, there are parts of the County Forest that we avoided because of wet spots and rocks. I would not recommend any other Kolapore trails until we get more snow. By far the best skiing this morning was off trail (as long as you know where the old lanes are.)

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 6

trail updates — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 02:06:27 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow last night. This is on top of a rather thin crusty/icy base. Some of the flatter and less rocky trails may be OK, but I would recommend staying off most trails until we get more snow. I haven't skied since last weekend because of the poor conditions, but I'm going to try some of the less rocky trails at the south end tomorrow. The weather forecast for this coming week is moderately promising - I'll post again as soon as conditions improve.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Weekend conditions

trail updates — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 12:23:34 GMT

Conditions were rather good on Saturday.. Great day out there. :). But Sunday things got really soft with lots more rock exposure. I think some folks thought skiing might be over as there were fat bike tracks and walkers that day which was too bad as the snow was very soft. When the cold hits again it will be icey and very tough with the new ruts.

We definitely need more snow!

Friday Jan 29 Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 12:55:23 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow overnight. This will improve conditions, but the base is still thin.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wed Jan 27 Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:42:30 GMT

Kolapore received a fair bit of rain yesterday, which changed to snow in the early afternoon. The Kolapore snow gauge is at 18 cm (7") - 4 cm of new snow over a crusty base. Skiing in County Forest was pleasant today. I would be reluctant to ski on steep, rocky or wet trails (e.g., Paradise Highway and Wild Mouse.)

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 24 Update

Bruce King — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 21:57:08 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge is at 20 cm (8"), which is thin for Kolapore skiing. The County Forest has good snow coverage, and you will only encounter the odd rock. Elsewhere, particularly on hills, conditions are fast with a few to numerous rocks showing. We really need more snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Ah what a perfect day

Nancy Harvey — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 01:05:20 GMT

Blue wax, blue sky, fresh snow. No wind and after so many windy days the silence was worth stopping for. Snow shoe tracks on the NW Passage (grrrrrrr) so we looped down Jack Rabbit, around beautiful John's Portage, up Kingsway and back down Wild Mouse. Yeehaw. Still a few bare rocks popping out at critical moments so fingers crossed for more snow.

Thursday Jan 21 Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 13:46:59 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. Although we need more, this will help. Many trails will be in good shape today, but considerable caution will still be required on the steepest and rockiest trails. Rock skis are recommended (except in the County Forest).

Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday Jan 19 conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:16:04 GMT

In spite of all the promises of flurries or squalls, Kolapore has only received a few cm of new snow since Sunday. The snow gauge is at 20 cm (i.e., the unpacked depth). Trail conditions are essentially unchanged - the flatter and less rocky trails are pleasant, and the steeper, rockier and wetter trails should only be skied by Kolapore skiers who don't mind dodging rocks and puddles.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 17 Conditions (revised)

Bruce King — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:01:20 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of new snow since the rain on Friday night. I went out for a short ski in the County Forest, and conditions were better than I had expected. Nice powder snow in firm tracks. The snow surface out of the tracks (under the powder) is crusty but not a sheet of ice. I would still avoid the rockier trails and steep hills, but there are places where the skiing will be pleasant.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Jan 16 Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 13:05:38 GMT

Kolapore received a fair amount of rain last night, but there is still good snow cover. At 8 AM the temperature has dropped to -4, so the snow is crusty/icy. There is a trace of new snow. I would recommend staying off the trails until we get a decent amount of new snow. I will post as soon as there is a change in conditions.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 13 Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 23:44:41 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge is at 20 cm (8"). We've received 10 cm+ of new snow over the past two days. It is still early winter conditions. County Forest is in good condition. Some of the other trails at the south end are also pleasant skiing, although caution is required. Even though conditions are improving, I think that many skiers would still not enjoy the rockier/wetter trails, e.g., parts of Paradise Highway. Let's hope for more snow and cold weather.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Tuesday trail conditions.

Suzy Sheppey — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 00:50:17 GMT

Gorgeous in Kolapore today.. pretty good conditions too... Scraped a few rocks here and there (skied from grey road 2 parking lot) but for the most part it was really good. More snow has been falling since about 3:00 pm so those rocks should be covered by tomorrow! Enjoy!

Jan 11 Conditions (Evening update)

Bruce King — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 13:49:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm (6") of new snow since the snow started yesterday. This afternoon the Kolapore snow gauge was at 15cm, which says that we lost most of the base. Skiing was OK in the County Forest (apart from a few wet spots), but outside that area we were scraping on lots of rocks. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed today, but I wouldn't use that entry point until we have more snow. Fortunately, the forecast suggests we could get quite a bit of snow over the next few days.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 8 Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:50:10 GMT

The thaw yesterday (Thursday) didn't affect the track as much as I expected. I was out for a quick ski at 8:30 AM, and the hard wax was working well. The tracks are fast. With the faster conditions, I strongly recommend sticking with the flatter, smoother trails at the south end (as mentioned in my preceding post).

I expect that today may be the last decent ski day at Kolapore for a few days. I'll post again when there are conditions worth skiing on.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 3, 2016 - skiing has started

Bruce King — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 20:47:05 GMT

At noon today the Kolapore snow gauge was up to 15cm - 5 cm of crust and 10 cm of powder. Skiing in the County Forest was very pleasant. An ATV had ridden around the area yesterday, but there was enough new snow to refresh the trails. We also skied up Kingsway then back around Jackrabbit and John's Portage. This loop is rockier, and considerable care is required on the hills. We added some new gouges to our skis

We recommend that you not use the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway trails until we get quite a bit more snow. There have been a lot of walkers on these trails, and they are very rocky.

We are continuing to clear trails from the windstorm last week. The chain saw crew has removed about 10 trees, and we know there is another one on Quite Pastures. We have checked most of the trails. If you encounter a tree down that you can't remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 1, 2016 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 14:35:00 GMT

At noon today, the Kolapore snow gauge was at 10 cm. About 5 cm is a crusty base, covered by about 5 cm of powder. If we get a bit more snow, a few sections of trail - mainly old lanes without many rocks - will be marginally skiable (on rock skis!) When skiing does start, the best choice will be parts of the County Forest.

High winds on Monday night brought down a number of trees on the trails. The chain saw crew was out yesterday, and we are aware of 3 more trees that need to be cut. However, we have inspected less than half the trails since the most recent wind storm, so there are undoubtedly other trails with trees down. If you find a tree down on the trails that you can't remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with a description of the location.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 29 2015

Bruce King — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 14:57:38 GMT

Kolapore received about 5 cm of snow last night, although with the strong winds the depth is quite variable. Because of the rain/freezing rain it is very crusty. Most Kolapore trails need 20 to 30 cm of snow to make them skiable, so we need a lot more base. I will post updates as conditions change.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 28 - Lots of snow, but...

Bruce King — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:24:51 GMT

In case anyone is still looking at this page, here's an update, based on a ski outing yesterday. There is still about a foot of snow in the bush, although there are bare spots on open south facing slopes. The trails are icy and rutted. We now have "reverse tracks", where the former track is now higher than the adjacent snow. I don't recommend skiing on the trails. Off-track skiing was not bad yesterday. There is about 2 cm of new snow, which helped to provide a bit of control. In the current cold conditions the crust is very firm - there is little chance of breaking through.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 15 - Poor Conditions

Bruce King — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:59:16 GMT

We were skiing on Sat and Sun but the conditions are now poor as the melting and freezing are making the trails too soft. Sat was okay we did the Paradise Trail, and Sunday was terrible as the colder night with the soft snow on Sat was now frozen and big ruts in the tracks.

Sue

March 9 - Freeze/thaw cycle + March 11 update

Bruce King — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 23:50:38 GMT

Sunday may have been the last day this winter for prime powder snow conditions. Skiing was great (as it has been most of 2015)! Temperatures Monday got up to + 3 or 4, so the snow softened, and froze overnight. On Tuesday I waited until the crust had softened slightly, and had some pleasant skiing in the County Forest. I went out again on Wednesday, and discovered that a skier out late on Tuesday had frequently broken through the surface, leaving the track very uneven. I persisted past where the skier had been, and discovered that I was also breaking through the surface, even on well packed trail. I would describe the skiing as "crappy". So, it was a short ski today, and it may be the end of my Kolapore skiing for this winter.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 6 - Good conditions, but getting faster

Bruce King — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 02:23:48 GMT

The Kolapore trails are generally in good condition. With relatively little new snow this week the skiing is getting faster. The snow gauge is at 61 cm (24"), so there is a lot of base.

The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is now responsible for managing and paying for the plowing of the Kolapore parking lot. If you want this service to continue (along with trail maintenance and the provision of a toilet), please support the Association by joining or donating. You can join or donate online - click on the "join us" or "donate" tab. Of course, we are also happy to receive cheques.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 4 - new snow

Bruce King — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 14:20:29 GMT

Kolapore received several cm of new snow overnight, but it is hard to estimate exactly how much because the strong winds drifted the snow. We also received some freezing drizzle, but the overall conditions were still powder snow with a bit of crust. The tracks on Paradise Highway - Kolapore Church were somewhat washed out in places because of the heavy use on the weekend. Other trails were in excellent condition.

Kolapore Trail Guide

March 2 - Dusting of new snow

Bruce King — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 13:00:23 GMT

Kolapore received about 2 cm of new snow overnight. This will start to refresh the trails, although the 10 cm of snow that is predicted for tomorrow will do an even better job. I will post tomorrow after the snowfall.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 28 - Beautiful...

Bruce King — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 20:06:23 GMT

Depending on your perspective, the subject line could be either "Beautiful and fast" or "Beautiful, but fast". Kolapore has only received a few cm of snow over the past week, so most trails are well packed. Fortunately, the cold conditions have maintained the beautiful powder snow. The most popular trails are starting to get scraped on the hills, so caution is advisable. Less heavily used trails are generally in excellent condition.

We took a look today at the parking situation at Entrance W (west end of the County Forest). It is possible for about 4 cars to get partly off the road. If there are more cars than that you would need to park on the travelled part of the road - we do not recommend this.

Kolapore Trail Guide

NW Passage

trail updates — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 02:53:15 GMT

The track was completely covered by snow in several areas (open fields), the going was hard on regular classic skis. The forest runs were enjoyable

Lovely conditions today

trail updates — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:30:00 GMT

A dusting of new snow on an excellent base of 24 inches as measured in the County Forest.

Snowmobile damage on the southern part of the Kingsway was disturbing. Otherwise, a perfect day.

Sat Feb 21 - Good Skiing

Bruce King — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 02:47:40 GMT

The skiing was very pleasant today. About 2 cm of new snow helped to freshen the trails. Most trails were in very good condition, and the milder temperatures meant that there was a lot more glide today.

A pair of black Burton mitts were left behind at the Kolapore Soup and Ski event today. If they belong to you, let us know so that we can arrange for their return.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 19 - Cold and slow

Bruce King — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

I haven't posted since Saturday, because not a lot has changed. There has been very little new snow this week. The popular trails are well packed, and could use a bit of new snow. The skiing today is VERY slow because of the cold temperatures. (For those who aren't aware, the colder it is, the less glide there is.) The snow at the gauge has settled to 61 cm.

Kolapore Association Members: If you are planning to come to the Soup and Ski on Saturday, please let us know ASAP. Hope, the Kolapore Fairy, has temporarily put down her axe and picked up a soup pot, but needs to know how much soup to make.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Valentine's Day - More snow

Bruce King — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 11:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received 10 cm+ of snow overnight. The snow gauge is up to 66 cm (26").

Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 12 - New Snow

Bruce King — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 12:30:00 GMT

Kolapore received over 5 cm of new snow last night. However, this may be a good day to take a rest - it's currently -18C with a strong wind.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 10 - Great Skiing

Bruce King — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:45:53 GMT

Today was a classic Kolapore ski day - sunshine, blue skies, powder snow, good tracks. Some of the more popular trails were fast, but not icy. The snow gauge is at 60cm - we have a great base.

As I have noted in previous posts, the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is now responsible for managing and paying for the plowing of the Kolapore parking lot. If you want this service to continue (along with trail maintenance and the provision of a toilet), please support the Association by joining or donating. You can join or donate online - click on the "join us" or "donate" tab. Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Feb 8

Bruce King — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 13:30:45 GMT

Kolapore received a few cm of snow overnight. The surface snow feels powdery - there may have been a hint of freezing drizzle, but probably not enough to affect skiing. There is still a possibility of freezing drizzle this morning. Conditions were great yesterday - hopefully they will stay that way.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sat Feb 7 (PM update)

Bruce King — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 12:59:59 GMT

Kolapore has received 10+ cm of snow yesterday and today. Late afternoon update: skiing was great today. The snow gauge is up to 58 cm (23") - by far the most we've had had any point this winter. Lots of skiers out today.

The weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning is nasty (ice pellets and possible freezing rain), so I will do a posting tomorrow morning to report on what happens.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Thurs Feb 5 - more snow

Bruce King — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:44:49 GMT

Kolapore has received 15+ cm of snow yesterday and today. Conditions over the next few days should be very good as long as you are prepared to "break trail" if you go on a less-used trail. The Kolapore (Entrance N) parking lot was plowed mid-day. We are near the end of our plowing contractor's long route, so if there is a heavy snowfall, don't count on the lot being plowed before noon.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Mon Feb 2 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:38:28 GMT

Kolapore received 10+ cm of snow overnight. We have the most snow that we've had at any point this winter - the snow gauge is at 50 cm (20"). Conditions over the next few days should be very good as long as you are prepared to "break trail" if you go on a less-used trail.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday Jan 31 trail conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 21:24:19 GMT

Skiing was good today. The fresh snow we received yesterday freshened up all the hills. The snow gauge is at 41 cm (16"). Last weekend I skied our wettest trail (Quiet Pastures) and was pleased by how well it has frozen - it's very skiable. Although I haven't skied it, I hear that parts of Northwest Passage may be beaten down by snowshoers.

As I have noted in previous posts, the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is now responsible for managing and paying for the plowing of the Kolapore parking lot. If you want this service to continue (along with the provision of a toilet and trail maintenance), please support the Association.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Jan 30 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:53:42 GMT

Kolapore has received about 10 cm of snow over the past 24 hours, and it is still snowing as I write this at 8 AM. This should help to freshen up the trails. I will expand this post after skiing on the trails.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 25 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:34:35 GMT

Kolapore received 5+ cm of powder snow last night. I don't think we lost any base yesterday - temperatures stayed below 0. Conditions are likely to still be fast (after the first few skiers) because of the firm tracks. Some hills will still require more than normal caution.

As I have noted in previous posts, the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is now responsible for managing and paying for the plowing of the Kolapore parking lot. If you want this service to continue (along with the provision of a toilet and trail maintenance), please support the Association.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 22 - FAST tracks

Bruce King — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:12:55 GMT

I skied in the County Forest and vicinity yesterday afternoon, and the tracks are very fast. The trails have the firm tracks from Sunday, plus some compacted powder. The flatter trails are OK, but I would be reluctant to ski on steeper hills - it could be too fast and rutted. We still have a decent snow base (33 cm at the gauge), but we really need more fresh snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 19

Bruce King — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 22:15:56 GMT

Kolapore has received a few cm of snow overnight and today. I don't think this is enough to cover the icy and/or rutted tracks. I would recommend waiting for some more snow. If you are desperate to get out, the off trail skiing may be OK.

Kolapore Trail Guide

January 18

Bruce King — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 15:25:39 GMT

Unfortunately the temperatures at Kolapore went above freezing last night. We didn't lose much snow, although the snow has compacted. At the moment the snow is still wet and creates spring skiing conditions, but as the temperature drops the trails will become icy. Once that happens, I would strongly recommend staying off the trails until we get a decent amount of new snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 16 2015 Trail Update

Bruce King — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:17:15 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow early this week, plus another 5 cm+ Friday morning. The snow gauge is at 36 cm (14"). Over the past two days I've skied Trail to the Summit (one of the wetter and rockier trails) and Southern Crossing for the first time this season, and conditions were quite good. There are a few wet spots, but it is easy to bypass them.

If you are coming in at the Kolapore entrance there have been inconsiderate walkers and snowshoers on the trail, so ski conditions on some trail segments will be mediocre until we get fresh snow. (The snow this morning may have helped.)

As I've noted before, the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is arranging and paying for snow plowing now at the Kolapore parking lot. If you want snowplowing to continue, please join the Association or make a donation. Roadside parking at entrance W (west end of County Forest) is limited. If you want to access the south end, there is better parking at entrance E, just off Grey Road 2.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 10 update

Bruce King — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:05:07 GMT

On Friday Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow. The snow gauge was at 40 cm. (For those who have looked at earlier postings I know this doesn't add up - the snow is settling.) Skiing should be excellent this weekend, although there will be a lot of trail breaking on Saturday. Bring your camera - the snow is hanging on the trees.

I'm pleased to report that the Kolapore parking lot is in good shape on Saturday morning - it was plowed late enough yesterday, and there isn't much of a hump from the County plow. The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is arranging and paying for plowing now. If you want snowplowing to continue, please join the Association or make a donation. FYI, a skier told us today that there is very limited roadside parking at the County Forest Entrance W. There is lots of roadside parking at the County Forest Entrance E, just off Grey Road 2.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 7 - Lots of snow

Bruce King — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 13:31:02 GMT

Kolapore has received about 15 cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. The snow gauge is at 37 cm (14"). It is hard work breaking trail today.

I expect that the Kolapore parking lot will be plowed by some time this afternoon. As noted in my previous post, Grey County is no longer plowing the parking lot, so plowing is being arranged and paid for by the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association. Please support the Association if you want plowing and other trail maintenance to continue.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 5 Update - Winter has arrived

Bruce King — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:07:12 GMT

Kolapore has received about 15 cm of powder snow in the past 24 hours. The Kolapore snow gauge is at 25 cm. Although there will be some wet spots and rocky areas (hey, it's Kolapore!), overall skiing should be quite good. Rock skis are still recommended.

The Kolapore parking lot on Grey Road 2 was plowed Jan 5. Plowing is now being arranged and paid for by the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association. If you want plowing to continue, please support the Association.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 2 Update

trail updates — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:41:11 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. There is now about 15 - 20 cm of powder snow in the bush. This compacts down to about 2 cm of snow after a few skiers have been through. This is thin for Kolapore skiing, but some of the less rocky trails (e.g., much of County Forest) are OK if you use your rock skis. I wouldn't go on some of the rockier trails unless you want an excuse to buy new skis.

The Town plow is going a bit wide at Entrance W, so there is room on the shoulder for a few cars.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 30 - Still not enough snow

trail updates — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 03:07:02 GMT

Although Kolapore has received snow over the past few days, there still isn't enough to ski on. Somewhat surprisingly, the Collingwood - Thornbury area has received more snow in the recent squalls.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Wait for a few days (Dec 26)

Bruce King — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:02:22 GMT

Although there is still snow cover on many parts of the Kolapore trails, it is very thin. I would recommend deferring any skiing until we get some more snow.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 20 - OK skiing in County Forest

Bruce King — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 02:21:57 GMT

I was pleasantly surprised by the skiing in the County Forest and some adjacent trails today. Although there is only about 5" - 6" of snow, the solid base kept us off most rocks, and there was a modest amount of powder on top. The skiing should be OK for a day or two - until the predicted warm and wet weather arrives. I wouldn't use the Kolapore entrance, because there have been walkers on the trail and there are a lot more rocks.

I'm becoming more optimistic that a solution will be in place for snow plowing for 2014 - 2015 at the Kolapore parking lot in the near future. However, this will need the support of Kolapore skiers through donations and/or memberships.

Kolapore Trail Guide

East Parking on Cty Rd 2- Snow Clearing

trail updates — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:17:42 GMT

Unfortunate that the County does not feel able to clear the lot. I am glad that my membership contribution will assist in getting the season under way- but I am hopeful that the County will step up again in recognition of the local economic contribution of this excellent trail system.

First post of the year

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:24:22 GMT

It has been snowing steadily for hours now at Kolapore and I actually did a few laps around our property near Ravenna a couple of hours ago. (No rocks on our trails!) It's obviously a while before the trails are skiable but all this snow has me looking forward to the coming season.

How are the trail conditions after the rain?

trail updates — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 23:54:48 GMT

Just wondering if anyone's been out on the trails today (Friday)?

Thanks

March 26 - Winter skiing winding down

Bruce King — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:56:51 GMT

Kolapore received a few cm of snow yesterday, which will help to freshen up the trails. Skiing should be good to excellent today, and may be not bad tomorrow before it gets warm. After that, the forecast suggests we will be into sloppy or icy conditions. I expect that today will be my last day of skiing this season. It's been a great winter.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 24 - Winter is back

Bruce King — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:23:48 GMT

It's amazing how winter is hanging on. Kolapore received about 20 cm of snow on Friday night/Saturday. With the cool temperatures the skiing was quite good yesterday, although the sun is strong enough that it is warming the snow. This can result in clumping when it is warm, or icy tracks when it cools. There is 78 cm (30") of snow at the snow gauge, so if you like spring skiing, there could be several weeks of skiing left.
Afternoon update: We did a long ski this morning and early afternoon. Conditions varied from good to excellent. South facing and open areas can be a bit crusty or glazed, but still quite good. North facing slopes still have powder snow. Ski tracks are in very good shape. Get out and enjoy it while you can - based on the weather forecast, winter ski conditions are only likely to last another day or two.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 20 - trail use not recommended

Bruce King — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:54:08 GMT

After the rain yesterday and the freeze overnight, we strongly recommend not using the trails. We've had a few cm of snow, but not enough to make the trails safely skiable.
I've had a report that a tree is down on Kolapore Church between 56 and 57, which is apparently blocking the bridge. The trail guides will take a look at it as soon as (if) it is safe to ski. If anyone has seen this, and can give us an idea of how big the tree is, (is it removable with hand saws?) please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 13 - New Snow

Bruce King — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:00:32 GMT

Kolapore received 10 cm+ of new snow yesterday. I'm not sure what the skiing will be like - there may not be quite enough snow to fill in the old frozen ruts. Off trail skiing may be quite good.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 11 - Spring conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:45:46 GMT

The snow has gone through several thaw - freeze cycles. When it is cold, the trails will be very icy, and we recommend staying off them. If you like spring skiing, the skiing will be passable when it warms up enough to soften the snow. However, conditions will be variable - north facing hills will take longer to soften. Although there is still a lot of snow at Kolapore, I don't expect to do much skiing here unless we get some new snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Snowmobile on trail

trail updates — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 02:03:37 GMT

Just a heads up that on Sunday we found a snowmobile had run from around 58 to almost 36 on Quiet Pastures, the track had frozen solid making it a bit of a difficult and unpleasant ski.

March 8 - Fair/Poor trail conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 12:37:32 GMT

I did a short ski in the County Forest this afternoon, and would describe conditions as "fair". The tracks are fast/icy because of the thaw yesterday, and in some locations the track is quite rough. I would strongly recommend avoiding any steeper hills - conditions on some hills, particularly if they are south facing, are likely to be poor. Two Kolapore trail guides skied at Highlands Nordic (Duntroon) this morning, and we probably had a more pleasant (and safer) ski than if we had gone out at Kolapore.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 6 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 20:30:37 GMT

Trail conditions continue to be very good. There hasn't been much new snow this week, but the cool temperatures have helped us keep good powder snow. Hills are very manageable. The snow gauge is still at 68 cm. I'm hoping that the +2 temperatures predicted for Friday won't have much impact at Kolapore.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 2 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:30:25 GMT

Conditions are very good. There has been enough new snow to cover the crust almost everywhere, and the hills are very skiable. In general we are back to mid-winter conditions. The snow gauge is at 68 cm - 27", which is very good for early March. The trail guides have been busy doing "pick up sticks" the past few days (as a result of recent windstorms), and also sawed out downed trees on Kolapore Church and Paradise Highway. Some trails have not been skied by the trail guides after the wind storm - please help by removing any fallen branches.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 1 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:34:07 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of new snow in the past 24 hours. Although I think that a few steep hills may still be a bit rutted from the thaw a week ago, overall the conditions should be quite good today. As noted in the previous post, recent high winds brought down numerous branches, so be prepared to encounter obstacles on the trails. Please help to remove them.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 27 - Trail Conditions improving

Bruce King — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:18:25 GMT

Kolapore now has about 10 cm of powder snow on top of the crust, and skiing conditions are improving. I went for a short ski this morning (Entrance E through the County Forest to 11, and then around the south end of Kingsway and John's Portage) and the skiing was quite pleasant. I would still recommend avoiding some of the steeper hills until we get more snow. There are lots of branches down because of recent high winds, so you should be aware of the possibility of encountering an obstruction. If you do see branches down, please help us (and other skiers) by tossing them off the trail where possible. If they require a saw, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
FYI, the ski season could last quite a while yet - the snow gauge is back up to 63 cm, and a lot of that is a firm base. One of the few advantages of the recent thaw is that most ski poles won't sink too far into the snow now (unless you have the very small baskets, which don't make sense at Kolapore any time.)
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 24 - Trail Use Still Discouraged

Bruce King — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:40:28 GMT

As a result of the recent thaw and the current freeze, the trails are rutted and icy. Kolapore has received about 5 cm of snow overnight (Sunday night), but this isn't enough to provide safe and enjoyable skiing. We strongly discourage trail use until after there is an adequate amount of new snow. It is snowing hard as I post this (Monday 9:30 AM), and I will update the posting as soon as we get a significant amount of additional snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Fabulous weekend of skiing

trail updates — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:27:29 GMT

Just want to say a HUGE thank you to the dedicated volunteers who maintain the Kolapore Wilderness trails, especially during this exceptional winter. We spent a fabulous Family Day weekend re-discovering the trail network. Saturday enjoyed the "warm-up" on the County Forest trails first, then headed west along Kingsway (11,12,61,13,14) to Jackrabbit (14, 34, 33, 58), south along Quiet Pastures and finished up with the Southern Crossing. All trails were in excellent shape with a bit of fresh snow from Friday night to Saturday. Definitely need a map so as not to get lost in the labyrinth of trails. All sign posts are in good shape and easy to navigate through the system. Sunday enjoyed the circuit from the North parking lot along Kolapore Church trail, then picked up Paradise Highway at 24. More skiers were out in the northern section than the southern section, so the trails were packed down and the two ski tracks weren't always distinguishable, but still, so lovely to ski in a more "back country" setting. More people out meant it was easier to snowplow down some of the steeper slopes. Loads of animal tracks, lots of woodpeckers were heard, gorgeous views of the springs and creeks gurgling along. Unfortunately the snowmobilers were out in force, so occasionally their whine spoiled the silence. We were pleased to meet trail guides at point 34 on Saturday and had a grand chat about the conditions. Again, thank you to you folks who maintain these wonderful trails.

Feb 15 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:14:46 GMT

Most trails are in excellent shape, so get out and enjoy them this weekend. Kolapore hasn't had a lot of new snow over the past week, although we did have about 5 cm of light powder last night and this morning. Parts of the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop are well packed, and thus are quite fast. Some less experienced skiers might find the first section of Paradise Highway in from the Kolapore parking lot to be fast and bumpy. A snowmobile has recently driven on the west end of Kolapore Church trail, and the east end of Northwest Passage (north from Kolapore Church trail). The toilet has been reinstalled in the Kolapore parking lot.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 7 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 15:52:25 GMT

Trail conditions haven't changed much since my post on Monday, because we haven't had a lot of new snow - somewhat over 5 cm. The trails continue to be in prime mid-winter condition. The Kolapore parking lot was plowed recently, and is in good shape. (This wasn't the case earlier this week. Plowing is done as a public service by Grey County, and they undoubtedly had other plowing priorities.)
Get out and ski - it will be cool this weekend, but the skiing should be great.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 2 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 13:18:58 GMT

I was delighted to see Gerry's post, since this site isn't intended to be a monologue. Yesterday was another "lovely day to ski", and today will be too. Kolapore received over 10 cm of snow yesterday. The trails are in prime mid-winter condition. The snow gauge is over 60 cm. There were lots of skiers out yesterday - the most we've seen any day so far this winter. This means that virtually all trails have good tracks, including some of the quiet corners like Southern Crossing and Quiet Pastures.
Kolapore Trail Guide

A lovely ski day

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:24:33 GMT

The drive north was dodgey with icy roads and blowing snow, lots of roads still closed. So much recent snow in Kolapore you can put away your rock skis for now. What I wish I had brought was my wide, heavy wooden skis as I found the track lofty in many places so breaking through periodically seemed to be an issue. With more skiers the track will pack down and firm up more. We skied down Red Death...it had been a few years; nothing focuses the mind like a run down this hill in a full tuck. Lots of soft snow if you need to bail.
Kolapore is in full winter mode and an afternoon gliding through the forest, listening to the trees creaking, feeling the wind howl across the top of a ridge all adds up to

"A lovely ski day!"

Jan 28 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:14:55 GMT

Since my last post we've probably had about another 10 cm of new snow. The snow gauge is at 58 cm. The trails are in prime mid-winter condition, although some trails may not have recent ski tracks. With the cold weather and high winds, there have been fewer skiers out than usual the last few days. If the winds continue, be sure to check road conditions before heading to Kolapore. Parts of Grey Road 2 south of the Kolapore area were in poor condition this afternoon, and some roads including 124 were closed.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 25 Trail Conditions (10 AM)

Bruce King — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 15:17:10 GMT

Since my posting yesterday, Kolapore has had about 10 cm of new snow - although it is hard to estimate snowfall, because of all the drifting. This should help to freshen up the trails. There is lots of snow, and all the perennial wet spots should be frozen. Grey County did a really serious plowing job on the Kolapore parking lot a few days ago, and pushed all the snow banks back, so there is lots of space. There will be a fair amount of new snow in the lot until they have a chance to plow again.
Kolapore Trail Guide.

Jan 24 trail conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:08:31 GMT

In spite of several forecast snowfalls, we've only had a few light dustings since my Monday posting. The snow gauge is at 50cm - slightly less than it was on Monday, because the top layer of powder snow has settled a bit. Some of the popular trails are starting to get quite packed - the snow that is predicted for tonight and tomorrow should help to freshen up the trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 20 Trail Conditions (PM Update)

Bruce King — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 12:47:42 GMT

Kolapore has received about 15 cm of snow over the past 24 hours. The snow gauge beside the trail is at 52 cm - of this about 20 cm is powder snow on top of the crust. This morning I broke trail from Entrance E through County Forest to 11, up Kingsway, down Jackrabbit and back via John's Portage. The skiing was very enjoyable. My one caution is that there are spots where you are hitting the ruts in the underlying crust - this could be a challenge on steeper hills.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 17 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 23:42:58 GMT

Unfortunately, trail conditions haven't changed much since my last post. There is about 3 - 4 cm of fresh snow on top of the crust. This isn't enough to provide good skiing in the crusty/icy/rutted conditions We continue to recommend that you not use the Kolapore trails until there is a substantial amount of new snow. At the moment the best Kolapore skiing is probably off track - there's enough base that you can go almost anywhere, if you are feeling adventuresome.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 12 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 13:35:02 GMT

We strongly recommend that you not ski on the Kolapore trails until there is a substantial amount of new snow. The thaw and subsequent freeze will have left the trails very icy and rutted. There is only a dusting of new snow so far (Sunday morning).
Kolapore Trail Guide

January 8 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 02:01:51 GMT

Winter has definitely arrived at Kolapore. We had a great ski today on the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop, breaking trail part of the way and then having a broken track. Skiing was excellent - as noted in the previous post there is over 2 feet of snow in the forest. You can probably leave your rock skis at home now. When you are planning your route, think about how much trail breaking you want to do - we did not see any tracks leading off the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop, and no one had been in at the east end of the County Forest. If you can get out, do so on Thursday or Friday, because the weather forecast for Saturday is depressing.
Grey County has done an excellent plowing job at the Kolapore parking lot.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 6 Trail Conditions (afternoon update)

Bruce King — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 01:40:13 GMT

Since Saturday night the Kolapore area has received about 30 cm of snow. We received about 18 cm Sunday night - Monday morning. The Kolapore snow gauge is at 63 cm (25"). FYI, this is the total depth of snow in the forest. The snow depth on the trails is about half this, which still gives a good base.
Skiing should be very good this week, as long as you are willing to break trail. This morning we skied in through County Forest and up Kingsway to 15, and it was "walking on skis" outbound. Coming back in the same track is was possible to ski a bit. No hint of rocks - it is probably time to stop using rock skis.
As noted above, we encourage other Kolapore skiers to post updates regarding trail conditions.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 1 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:03:21 GMT

I skied County Forest and the lower parts of Kingsway and John's Portage this morning. Skiing on the flat to gently rolling trails in the County Forest is fair to good. There is a very firm track, and the 5 cm of snow we've had in the past 24 hours softens it slightly. I would not recommend skiing the steeper hills on the trail system unless you are a very good skier - the hills are rutted, and it will be difficult to snowplow. In some places the safest way to go down a hill is to ski off the trail - there is a very firm crust under the fresh snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 31 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 14:31:02 GMT

I continue to recommend not skiing on the Kolapore trails. Kolapore had a slight thaw on Sunday which glazed the trails, which were already suffering from the freezing drizzle the previous weekend. (See my previous post for more info.) Since Sunday Kolapore has received 2 - 3 cm of new snow - not nearly enough to freshen the trails.
At the moment, the best local classic skiing is probably at Wasaga Nordic. A number of Kolapore skiers had a good time there yesterday. A squall was parked over the east side of Wasaga Beach, and the Wasaga trails had about 20 cm of fresh powder. If you go there, be sure to do the outer loop including Monument Hill and High Dunes. This is probably the most scenic and most enjoyable groomed trail in the region.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 27 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 19:37:46 GMT

Trail conditions at Kolapore today ranged from fair to poor to terrible. The Kolapore area has over 40 cm of snow, but the crust created by last weekend's freezing drizzle is covered by a limited amount of new snow. The best skiing is on reasonably level trails that have been skied in, like parts of the County Forest. Even there, it is possible to break through the crust, and poles are constantly going through the crust.
I would strongly recommend against trying to ski any steep hills, because the trails will be rutted and it will be easy to break through the crust. The worst skiing we encountered today was on Southern Crossing west of the 10th line. Snowshoers had been through at some point, and had broken up the crust, which left a very rough surface for skiing.
Yesterday we skied at Wasaga Nordic, and the skiing was excellent. They have some challenging single track trails that many Kolapore skiers would enjoy. There are times when it is worth going to an area with groomed trails!
We need a substantial amount of new snow to improve conditions on the Kolapore trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Christmas Day trail update

Bruce King — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 21:21:53 GMT

The trails are still suffering the results of the freezing drizzle on the weekend. There is a crust on the snow everywhere, and on the trails there are very firm tracks. This is marginally OK on flat trails, but not on hills, which will be fast and rutted. As a result I don't recommend using the trails until we get about another 10 cm of fresh snow (we've had about 3 - 4 cm as of 4 pm Christmas Day).
Some nearby areas have had more new snow. Several of the Kolapore Trail Guides skied at Scenic Caves today, and there is about 10 - 15 cm of new snow there. Skiing was pleasant, although there were a lot of twigs and branches on the trails (another result of the ice storm.) I hear that Wasaga Nordic has had quite a bit of new snow, so I will probably try it tomorrow, unless Kolapore gets a decent amount of snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 23 Trail Update

Bruce King — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 13:30:59 GMT

The Kolapore area received freezing drizzle both Saturday and Sunday. We recommend not using the Kolapore trails until we receive a reasonable amount of fresh snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 21 - Freezing drizzle at Kolapore

Bruce King — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 13:09:12 GMT

Last night the Kolapore area received freezing drizzle, and there is now a layer of ice on the trails. We do not recommend using the trails at the moment. If you insist on going out, probably the best areas would be where the trails haven't been skied recently. You will break through the crust into fresher snow. If I ski today (and the weather forecast isn't promising) I'll go to an area with groomed trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Dec 17 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 20:53:02 GMT

Conditions continue to improve. Since my last posting Kolapore has had about another 15 cm of snow. The snow gauge is at 35 cm. I know that this doesn't add up, but it means that the snow is settling, giving a better base for skiing. Today we started at Entrance E in the County Forest, skied up Kingsway, and then did a loop around Wild Mouse. Although I did scratch a few rocks, conditions were quite good overall (very good for mid-December!). Get out and enjoy the snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail Conditions Fri Dec 13 + update

Bruce King — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:05:12 GMT

Over the past few days the snow squalls bypassed Kolapore - until last night and this morning. We've had about 15 cm of new snow. We have about 30 cm of snow in the bush, although there are still many thin areas, e.g., under cedars. There are also wet spots on some trails e.g., Southern Crossing west of the 10th line. The less rocky trails (e.g., County Forest) will be in good shape and many other trails will be skiable, although I would continue to strongly recommend rock skis. I skied County Forest and the Kingsway - Jackrabbit - John's Portage loop today, and it was pleasant skiing as long as you accepted the inevitability of adding some new scratches to your skis.
Saturday Dec 14 update: I drove by the Kolapore parking lot (Entrance N) this morning and it is well plowed.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow Conditions Dec 11 2013

Bruce King — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:43:48 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of snow last night. The trails now have a bit over 20 cm of snow cover, most of which is light powder that will be easily compressed. The skiing will probably be relatively good on less rocky trails such as those in the County Forest. I would recommend waiting a few more days before going on the rockier and/or steeper trails. Even with the colder temperatures skiers should still be aware of the possibility of encountering wet areas.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Snow conditions Dec 8, 2013

Bruce King — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 15:27:56 GMT

There is about 10 cm of snow in the bush at Kolapore. Most of this is a firm base, with a few cm of fresh snow on top. This is NOT enough for decent skiing. In addition, there are numerous wet puddles that need to refreeze. The forecast for this week looks promising (cold, with a chance of flurries or squalls most days). I'll post an update as soon as it looks like there might be enough snow for skiing.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail conditions - Nov 30

Bruce King — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 03:23:16 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge is back up to 31 cm (12"). Ski conditions were good today. As noted in the previous post, there are some wet areas where caution is required.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail update - November 25, 2013

trail updates — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:35:41 GMT

Ski season on the Kolapore Wilderness Trails started yesterday. There was 30 - 35 cm of snow at the south end of the trail system. (Today the snow gauge was down to 23 cm - the snow is settling and melting from the ground up.) I skied in the County Forest and up John's Portage, and skiing was quite pleasant. Some caution is required. Because of the wet summer and fall, there are numerous puddles on the trail, which are now slush under the snow. In the County Forest the three worst wet spots in the middle of the trail are: between 6 and 11 (it's easy to ski on the north side off the trail); between 6 and 7 (there is an alternate trail marked by flagging tape); and in the usual wet area west of 4. There are undoubtedly a number of other wet areas, but the one part of the trail system that I would strongly recommend avoiding is the cedar swamp on Quiet Pastures south of 58. When I cleared this trail in early November, it was awash - the corduroy logs were floating in the puddles. Please post additional updates - follow the instructions above. If you are aware of a major problem, please also send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 23 Update

Bruce King — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:28:09 GMT

After the Kolapore Vision Meeting yesterday (watch the News page for updates) the Kolapore Trail Guides went skiing in the County Forest. The snow gauge is up to 30 cm (12"). There is good snow coverage in the bush. With the warmer temperatures, you need to be prepared for spring conditions. This means that it can be either soft and mushy (when the sun warms the snow) or hard/icy, particularly in the morning if it cools down overnight.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 21 Update

Bruce King — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:43:05 GMT

Since my last post on Monday, there has been about 20 cm of new snow, and today it is still powder snow. In the next day or two I think that there will be decent skiing in the bush, as long as you don't mind spring skiing. The sun is very strong, so the snow surface will be starting to melt even if the temperature is below freezing. As the previous post noted, it is best to avoid open areas such as Northwest Passage, because the earlier snow base will have melted and the strong winds this week may have blown off the new snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Northwest Passage

trail updates — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:53:59 GMT

Tried to ski Northwest Passage yesterday afternoon but had to give up due to lack of snow over rocks and in open areas. There was more of the fresh snow mentioned in the previous post in the bush. Even there, rock skis are a must.

March 17 Trail Update

Bruce King — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:13:08 GMT

I went out for a St Patrick's Day ski at Kolapore, and it was better than I had expected. Kolapore received about 5 cm of new snow Saturday night/Sunday morning, which considerably improved skiing from when I was out on Friday. I skied through the east end of the County Forest (which has some rutted areas because of logging), and then had a pleasant ski around Kingsway, Jackrabbit and John's Portage. I scraped rocks a few times, so "rock skis" are desirable. As noted in my previous post, open areas may have very little snow left. As I've mentioned previously, there is a special public meeting to develop a longer term vision for the Kolapore Trails and the Trails Association on Saturday March 23. Everyone is welcome - see the events tab for more information
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 15 Trail Update

Bruce King — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:08:13 GMT

There is still snow on much of the Kolapore trails, although the base is diminishing. At the snow gauge we have 20 cm (8"). About 5 cm of this is newer snow on top of a firm base (in the bush). In open areas and on south facing slopes the base can be down to 0. I skied around County Forest yesterday and would describe the skiing as mediocre. The trails are starting to develop "reverse tracks", where the old tracks are higher than the adjacent snow. This happens in the spring because the tracks are compacted, and melt more slowly than the adjacent snow. The most pleasant skiing is off track in open deciduous forest - you can go anywhere. We've had a cm or two of snow overnight. I'm planning to ski at Scenic Caves today - I think the skiing will be much better than on the Kolapore trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 9 Update

Bruce King — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 02:18:08 GMT

I didn't ski today, but I did watch a couple start in this morning. They quickly returned because the trails were icy. By this afternoon the trails would have softened enough that skiing would have been OK (if you like spring skiing). Now that the trails are into a freeze/thaw cycle I strongly recommend that you don't go out skiing unless it is warm enough that the snow is at least slightly soft. The Kolapore trails aren't much fun when the trails are icy.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Start of spring skiing at Kolapore - March 5

Bruce King — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Sadly (in my opinion) we are seeing the start of spring skiing conditions on the Kolapore Trails. Although the temperature has probably not gone above zero, the sun is warm enough that it is melting some snow, particularly on south facing slopes. At night it is cold enough that the snow refreezes, and creates a light crust. In sheltered areas, there is still powder snow on the trails. The skiing was pleasant today, but will deteriorate as the thaw/freeze cycle continues over the next few days. (The snow at the snow gauge has gone from 49 cm on Sunday to 43 cm today, as the snow settles.)
One problem that you may encounter if your skis aren't adequately prepped is clumping or icing. This occurs when a ski picks up some moisture from warm snow, and then hits an area of cold snow. My wife had serious problems with icing yesterday. Icing can happen on the tips and tails of any ski - the remedy is to ensure that your tips and tails are adequately treated with glide wax which repels water (there are liquids that are very easy to apply). Non-wax skis are susceptible to clumping underfoot in conditions around zero, and the fishscales should be treated with spray-on silicone or liquid glider.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Great Skiing - March 3 Update

Bruce King — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:52:50 GMT

As predicted, the skiing was great this weekend. Kolapore received quite a bit of new snow today - 10 cm plus. If you can, get out skiing in the next day or two before it warms up. As noted in the previous post, there is enough snow now that the skiing at the east end of the County Forest is OK.
The Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is holding a strategic planning session for the Association and the Kolapore trails on the morning of Saturday March 23. Check under the events tab for more information.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Ski This Weekend!

Bruce King — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Based on the snow conditions and the weather forecast, I'm very optimistic about the skiing this weekend. The snow gauge is up to 43 cm (17"). Once the trails are skied in, they should be in good condition. The only minor note of caution is that there is a light crust under about 10 cm of powder snow - this may necessitate additional caution on some of the steeper trails, especially if you go off the skied-in track.
I skied the east end of the County Forest today. There is now enough snow to cover almost all of the ruts left by the logging in January, so it is reasonable to ski in this area. However, some of the intersection numbers are missing.
As I noted in my previous post, the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association is holding a strategic planning session for the Kolapore Trails and the Association on the morning of Saturday March 23. Anyone interested in the Kolapore Trails is welcome. Check under the events tab for more information.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 28 Update

Bruce King — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:07:40 GMT

I can't yet give an on-the-trail assessment of ski conditions, since I've been away for a few days. However, when I returned to Kolapore this afternoon there was about 15 cm of new snow - some of it quite wet, with slightly lighter snow on top. Trail breaking may be work, but I'm reasonably optimistic about skiing conditions once the trail is broken. I will provide more information tomorrow.
Kolapore Trail Guide
PS - if you haven't already done so, please read the information (on the events page) about the strategic planning session for the Kolapore trails and Kolapore Trails Association that is being held the morning of Saturday March 23. Anyone interested in the future of the trails is welcome.

Feb 23 2013 first time visit

trail updates — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 13:11:07 GMT

I skied Kolapore for the first time feb 23. It was outstanding. I was stunned at the quality of the trails and it reminded me of cross country skiing in Quebec when I was a kid. I will be donating to the association and thank all of those involved in making Kolapore available to the public. Also, this website is very good. Thanks.

Feb 23 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Kolapore had some light freezing drizzle this morning, followed by some light flurries. Ski conditions were generally quite good. The snow gauge is at 39 cm (15"). I skied on non-wax skis today, and another trail guide skied on waxed skis (waxed with special red) and we were both quite happy with the skiing. I had a bit more grip with non-wax skis, and he had more glide. However, we met skiers with non-wax skis who were clumping underfoot - I was glad that I had sprayed the fishscales with silicone.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Afternoon ski

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:29:32 GMT

We skied 4 1/2 hours yesterday arriving back at the car as the days light came to an end. The first half of our time we were the first skiers on the routes we chose, which meant about 3 inches of snow filling in the existing track. The last half of our ski was in freshly polished track...so not a lot of skiers here today. Temp was - 9 at the start then - 7 when we finished. I was surprised snow was not faster. We could not get the long glides we love, just thought base would be a bit icier underneath the new powder. Went to the top of the mountain, first time in a few years, stood there drinking in a view under a sunny blue February sky.

Feb 20 - Good skiing

Bruce King — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:30:00 GMT

Kolapore received some freezing rain Monday night/early Tuesday, but not enough to significantly reduce the snow cover. About 10 cm of fresh snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. The snow gauge is now at 37 cm (14") which is the most we have had at any point this winter. (Unfortunately, that statistic confirms that we have had a mediocre winter - the maximum snow cover is usually over 60 cm.) The skiing was very good this afternoon, although you still periodically notice the crust left by the freezing rain.
This trail conditions page isn't intended to be a monologue by me. If you have any observations about the trails that you would like to share with other trail users please post them using the instructions above, or you can add a comment to a post.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 16 - Better skiing than expected

Bruce King — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Although I was reasonably optimistic when I did my posting last evening, the skiing was even better than I had expected. The skiing is the best it has been this winter (but you still need to expect occasional wet spots and rocks). The snow gauge is at 32 cm (12"), which is the highest it has been this winter. The snow gauge is at the same height it was last Sunday, but the skiing is much better, because the thaw packed down the base, and this has been covered by about 15 cm of fresh snow. It flurried off and on all day today. Get out and enjoy the skiing while you can.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 15 update

Bruce King — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 03:49:24 GMT

There hasn't been a post recently, because I've been exploring ski trails in the Laurentians. Kolapore appears to have retained a substantial amount of snow in the thaw last Sunday - Monday, and there is about 10 - 15 cm of new snow. Ski conditions should be relatively good, although the base is still thin. You are likely to encounter occasional rocks. As mentioned previously, we strongly recommend that you not ski in the east end of the County Forest, because of the ruts left from recent logging.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Fri Feb 8 PM update

Bruce King — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:30:00 GMT

After skiing on the trails this afternoon, I thought I should provide a short update. I checked the Kolapore snow gauge at 3 PM, and it was at 31 cm (12"). It has snowed hard since then. I think we have received about 20 cm in the past 24 hours. Because most of the snow on the trails is new powder snow, skis sink through the snow to the ground. You are likely to occasionally hit rocks - rock skis are strongly recommended. You may also encounter the occasional wet spot. Be prepared to break trail tomorrow.
There is a good chance that the Kolapore (Entrance N) parking lot won't be plowed tomorrow (Saturday), at least initially. The Grey County Roads Department plows this as a public service. They are likely to have other plowing priorities tomorrow.
As I mentioned in the previous post, logging has been completed at the east end of the County Forest. Based on conditions I observed today, I strongly recommend that that you avoid the trails in this area. The ruts left by the heavy logging equipment will make skiing in this area unpleasant.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Friday Feb 8 AM Update

Bruce King — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow overnight. It may have been more - it's hard to tell because there was a lot of drifting. It is snowing hard at the moment. Ski conditions should be good, although the first skiers out will need to do quite a bit of trail breaking. Kolapore still won't have normal mid-winter conditions - rock skis are advisable, and there may still be some wet spots from the thaw last week. Logging has been completed in the east end of the County Forest, but we strongly recommend that you avoid skiing in this area. The trails were badly rutted by the heavy logging equipment, and even the recent snowfall won't cover the ruts.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 6 PM Update

Bruce King — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:10:27 GMT

Since my posting on Monday, Kolapore has received about 2 cm of new snow. The total snow cover is still thin for Kolapore skiing. The forecast for Thursday night and Friday is promising a substantial amount of snow, so there may be good Kolapore skiing on the weekend.
Given the scarcity of snow, I headed off to try two other trails today - Sawmill Trails at Hepworth, and the Sauble Beach ski trails. Both of them have a lot more snow than Kolapore. The Sawmill trails have close to 50cm of snow in the forest. However, I don't think the Sawmill trails would appeal to most Kolapore skiers - the entire 10 km trail network is groomed for skating as well as classic skiing. The trails are real highways, although they do have some decent hills. In contrast, the Sauble Beach trails are groomed for narrow single track skiing. They are so narrow that my pruning hand wanted to get to work clearing them to Kolapore standards... Kolapore skiers would feel at home on these trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 4 PM Update

Bruce King — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:20:37 GMT

Since my last post, Kolapore has received another 5 cm of snow. I measured the snow in an open area, and we have about 13 cm (5") of fresh snow that has accumulated since the thaw last week. This is still very thin for Kolapore skiing. We have been missing some of the great squalls that have been coming off the bay. I was at the top of Blue Mountain this morning, and they had at least 20 cm of new snow that had fallen overnight and today, and it was snowing so hard it was difficult to see. This should improve the cross country skiing at Scenic Caves, which was quite poor yesterday.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 2 PM Update

Bruce King — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:31:09 GMT

Since my last post yesterday morning, Kolapore has received about another 4 cm of snow. This brings the total new snow since the thaw earlier this week to about 10 cm. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this isn't really enough to provide enjoyable skiing on most of the Kolapore trails. Skiing may be OK in areas where there was a snow base remaining after the thaw this week, but unfortunately there are lots of areas where the snow cover was completely melted.
I skied at Wasaga Nordic today, and it was pleasant. It is a scenic area, and the longer trails run through interesting rolling terrain.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Feb 1 Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:38:31 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 - 7 cm (3") of snow since the thaw this week. This is not nearly enough to make the trails skiable, particularly in areas where the base completely melted. I will do frequent posts as conditions improve.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 30 - Snow disappearing

Bruce King — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:11:03 GMT

The rain and warm weather have done bad things to the Kolapore snow cover. Fields are largely bare. In the forest there are still areas with snow, but also large bare patches. There is a lot of water sitting around. So, we need both cold weather and a substantial amount of snow to make the trails skiable.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 25 Update

trail updates — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:55:32 GMT

Kolapore has received several cm of snow since my last post. However, the overall trail conditions haven't changed a lot, and I will repeat some of the commentary from the previous post. Snow cover is still around 20 cm (8") This provides decent skiing on many trails, although some of the rockier trails and trails under conifers are only "fair". The strong winds last weekend brought down branches, so caution on hills is desirable. The Trail Guides have cleared some of the more popular trails (Kolapore Church, Paradise Highway, Wild Mouse, Kingsway, Jackrabbit, John's Portage). However, we have not yet been on other trails. If you encounter branches on the trail, please help by removing them where possible. If they are too big to remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with information about the location, and the trail guides will try to remedy the problem.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 22 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:40:31 GMT

Fresh snow over the past few days has considerably improved trail conditions. The Kolapore snow gauge is now up to 20 cm (8"). This provides decent skiing on many trails, although some of the rockier trails and trails under conifers are only "fair". In spite of the recent cold weather there are still wet spots. The strong winds on the weekend brought down numerous branches, so caution on hills is desirable. Please help by removing branches where possible. If they are too big to remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with information about the location, and the trail guides will try to remedy the problem. The trails at the east end of the County Forest remain closed because of logging.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Conditions improving - Jan 20

Bruce King — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:02:00 GMT

Kolapore had rain last night, followed by 10+ cm of snow. I did a short ski this morning, and concluded that there is just enough snow to ski satisfactorily on the drier and less rocky trails. On the rockier trails (I.e., most of the Kolapore trails), you are still likely to frequently encounter rocks. One additional challenge is that it is possible to ice up, because there is slush under the snow. Both the thin snow and slush are likely to be fixed if we get the predicted heavy snowfalls and cold weather.
A reminder that the eastern County Forest trails are closed due to logging. Although the logging should be completed in the near future, the trails are likely to remain closed because of the poor conditions (rutting and logging debris on the trails.)
Kolapore Trail Guide

Some new snow but not enough - yet

Bruce King — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:34:31 GMT

Kolapore received about 10 cm of new snow over the past few days. This starts the recovery process from the thaw on the weekend, however the trails are not yet skiable. The thaw was bad enough that some parts of the trails had zero snow cover, and many rocks were sticking out. The forecast over the next week sounds like there could be quite a bit of snow coming. You would be wise to wait until there is more snow cover. Check here for updates.
Some of the local commercial trails (Scenic Caves and Highlands Nordic at Duntroon) sound like they had more snow than Kolapore, and may be worth trying. Although they are close to Kolapore, when streamers come off Georgian Bay we find that these areas often get more snow than Kolapore. This is based on our personal observation, not just on the snowfall that they report on their website!
Kolapore Trail Guide

Trails not skiable & lost keys

Bruce King — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:57:03 GMT

Based on a windshield survey and a short walk, I don't think that the trails are skiable at the moment. I went in at entrance W in the County Forest, and the general snow cover is 5 - 10 cm, with lots of bare spots. There may be a bit more on the trail where it has been packed by skiers, but not enough to cover many rocks. Overall, we have marginal spring conditions.
A skier believes she lost a set of keys in the Entrance N (Grey Road 2 at Kolapore) parking lot last weekend. If you know anything about keys being found, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 6 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:39:56 GMT

Kolapore had about 2 cm of snow last night, and more snow is predicted. This will help to freshen up the trails. As noted in my previous post, snow cover is still thin (about 25 cm) and it is easy to hit rocks on downhills. Use your rock skis. Since my previous post I've skied more trails, and can confirm that the only trails with serious water problems (that I'm aware of) are Southern Crossing west of the 10th line and Quiet Pastures south of the intersection with Northwest Passage. I haven't been on Northwest Passage yet. The trails at the east end of the County Forest are closed because of logging. Please stay off these trails.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan 2 2013 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:44:25 GMT

We haven't had a lot of new snow since my last post - the snow gauge is at 25 cm. This is still thin, given the rocky nature of the Kolapore Uplands. I've skied most of the trails at the south end of the system, and they are in decent shape with two specific exceptions. Both Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, and Quiet Pastures south of the intersection with Northwest Passage, have numerous wet sections. At the moment these trails should only be used by hard core skiers who don't mind dodging the wet spots.
Please obey the Trail Closed signs at the east end of the County Forest (east of intersections 5 and 11). There is logging underway, and Grey County is very concerned about the fact that some users are ignoring the signs, thus creating significant hazard/liability issues.

Dec 31 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:41:48 GMT

The Kolapore snow gauge is at 23 cm (just under 10"). Because of the rocky terrain in the Kolapore Uplands, this is a thin snow cover. However, the skiing has been surprisingly good. Where the trails have been skied it is possible to avoid most rocks, and most wet areas are in reasonable shape. Caution is still required, particularly on downhills. And using your "rock skis" is strongly recommended. (Your skis will probably become rock skis if they don't already have that designation.) A reminder - the trails at the east end of the County Forest - east of 11 and 5 - are closed due to logging. If you notice a problem on the trails, please post it here, or send an e-mail to: info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide

15 cm of New Snow!

Bruce King — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:19:39 GMT

Last night the Kolapore Uplands received about 15 cm of snow, and as I write this at 10:20 AM, it is still snowing hard. The total snow cover is now close to 30 cm in dry areas. The snow cover could still be around zero in wet areas, because the ground isn't frozen yet. I think (and will test this shortly) that there is enough snow to ski on some of the drier and less rocky trails at Kolapore. However, considerable caution will be required because the rocks will be very close to the surface.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore Trail Conditions - Dec 22 2012

trail updates — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:30:49 GMT

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow yesterday and overnight. There was no base, so this is not enough snow to provide satisfactory skiing on the Kolapore trails, even on the trails that we recommend for low snow conditions. As I noted in my previous posting, the County Forest trails east of intersections 5 and 11 are closed due to logging. We inspected the areas that have been logged, and you really don't want to try to ski on the closed trails - there is serious rutting and lots of branches down. We expect that these trails will remain closed all winter.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:44:31 GMT

Although Kolapore had two good snowfalls in November, the warm spells and rain have eliminated all the snow. It is disgustingly green! Conditions on the trails are quite damp - we need a good freeze to make the trails skiable. Trails at the east end of the County Forest (east of intersections 5 and 11) will be closed for at least the first part of this winter due to logging. This isn't a theoretical possibility - the logging has started. Don't think of coming in from Entrance E (at Grey Road 2) - the trails will be a mess.
Once again this winter, I will be doing regular postings of trail conditions.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 10 Trail Conditions

Bruce King — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:15:52 GMT

There is still snow at Kolapore, although the depth varies considerably. In flatter areas in the forest there is still 30 to 40 cm of snow. On south facing slopes or in open areas, snow cover can be very thin. The snow consists of a solid base plus about 5 cm of powder. Although not everyone will agree, I think the best skiing today was off track - the crust is so solid that you don't break through, and there is enough new snow to soften it and give some control. In open forest, it was possible to ski anywhere. The condition of the track is variable - in some areas it is quite rutted, and we are starting to get reverse tracks (i.e., the compacted tracks are melting more slowly than the adjacent snow, and may be higher.) Given the weather forecast, today may have been the last day of decent skiing (I'm not a fan of skiing on slush). Let's hope we have a decent winter next year. If you haven't already done so, please consider joining the Kolapore Wilderness Trails Association. The first annual meeting of the Association is on Saturday May 5 at 10 AM in the Ravenna Hall.
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 4 Trail conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:31:11 GMT

Kolapore has received about 15 cm of snow in the last 36 hours, so the skiing should be good today, with a few cautions. The snow fell on top of slushy snow, and the slush is still there in some cases. Be sure to take a good scraper when you ski, since there is a chance that you may ice up periodically. The winds yesterday brought down a lot of branches, and you will need to exercise caution. Where possible, please help other skiers by removing branches that you encounter. If you come across a big tree down that requires a saw or chain saw please post a note here or send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide

March 3 update

Bruce King — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:10:38 GMT

The Kolapore parking lot has been plowed since the last post. However, today is probably a good day to stay at home. The high winds are bringing numerous branches down, and driving is not advisable. As I write this at 11:15, the temperature is -1 and there is probably about 3 cm on top of the slush resulting from last night's rain, and it is still snowing. We will need more new snow to make the trails enjoyable. When you are able to get out on the trails, be prepared to encounter branches or even downed trees. Help make the trails safe by removing branches where possible.

Parking Problems

Bruce King — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:13:31 GMT

There have been some challenges with the plowing (lack thereof) of the Kolapore parking lot recently. This lot is normally plowed as a public service by Grey County. For some unknown reason it was not plowed this past weekend, when we probably had the heaviest snowfall of the winter. It was still not plowed when I went by on Tuesday, although enough brave souls had bashed there way in that most vehicles would now be able to get in. We will be following up on this issue. When this type of problem arises it is possible to park on the roadside at Metcalfe Rock and pick up the Kolapore trails there.
Kolapore Trail Guide

More snow

Bruce King — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:11:26 GMT

As I write this at 9:15 (don't believe the time stamp), there has been about 20 cm of new snow since early Friday, and it is snowing hard. Environment Canada is suggesting we could get another 10 to 15 cm. Skiing should be great. In the short term parking may be a consideration - the Kolapore parking lot may or may not be plowed. The town plow has plowed the Townline, so roadside parking is available at Entrance E.

Trail conditions Feb 24, 2012

Bruce King — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:27:28 GMT

Kolapore has received about 5 cm of snow overnight and today, and there is a blizzard as I write this posting at 12:30. There is a crust under the new snow, but if we get as much as is predicted, there should be good skiing this weekend. I was delighted to see that someone else did a posting last weekend - please follow their lead. (I didn't do a posting because I was away cross-country skiing in the Laurentians and in the Quebec City area. Quebec has so many fabulous trails, and many areas have good snow conditions. There is a metre+ of snow a short drive north of Quebec City.) Kolapore Trail Guide

Saturday in the County Forest

trail updates — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:45:42 GMT

Beautiful day in the County Forest this past Saturday. Soft snowfall most of the morning, but warm temps made us wonder about our "no wax" skis. 36 cm on the gauge at stn.11. Great to see John's Portage Open again! Hemlocks snow-loaded like a Lawren Harris painting!

Feb 12 - GET OUT AND SKI!

Bruce King — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:37:48 GMT

Kolapore had 15cm+ of snow overnight. The snow gauge is up to 40 cm, which is the highest it has been all season. Skiing was generally very good, although you will still hit the occasional rock. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Good skiing at Scenic Caves

trail updates — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:30:19 GMT

As you can see in the previous post, Kolapore has about 4 cm of new snow. The Scenic Caves website this morning claimed that they had 12 cm of new snow, so several Kolapore Trail Guides went there to check it out. Yes, they did have the 12 cm, and skiing was excellent. (Skiing at Scenic Caves is relatively expensive - $18.50 on weekends. Two for one passes are available on page 17 of the 2011- 2012 Winter Guide published by the Ontario Snow Resorts Association. Copies of the Guide are available in the Georgian Triangle Tourist Information Centre in Collingwood.) We are hoping that the potential squalls will improve Kolapore conditions in the near future.

Kolapore Trail Guide

Trail conditions Feb 11, 2012

Bruce King — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:58:31 GMT

Kolapore has received about 4 cm of snow overnight. This is not enough to provide decent skiing on the icy, rutted tracks. There is more snow in the forecast for tonight - I will provide an update tomorrow morning.

Trail conditions Feb 6, 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:45:49 GMT

The following comments are based on a ski around County Forest this afternoon. There is still snow in the forest - 15 cm at the snow gauge, and less where it is packed on the trails. Rocks are starting to appear, and there are some wet spots. Skiing was fair this afternoon because the mild weather (+3) thawed the icy track. County Forest has had a number of snowshoers, walkers and dogs, so the tracks are deteriorating. After the trails refreeze, (which will happen this evening) we strongly recommend not using the trails until there is new snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide (NOT Brandon)

Snow conditions - Wed Feb 1

Bruce King — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:50:42 GMT

There is still a reasonable amount of snow in the bush at Kolapore, although many rocks are starting to re-emerge after the thaw yesterday and today. (The snow gauge was at 27 cm - 11" yesterday morning, but that was before the real thaw.) There is enough snow (particularly in the less rocky areas) for decent spring skiing as long as the snow is soft. Once the snow refreezes the trails will be icy and rutted. Under those conditions, skiing on the Kolapore trails is not recommended until we get new snow.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Sun Jan 29 - Lots of snow

Bruce King — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:32:57 GMT

Kolapore has received over 15 cm of snow in the past 24 hours. Skiing should be excellent today. On the less used trail you should be prepared to "break trail" - wear your gaiters.

Jan 27 Ski Conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:55:24 GMT

The following observations are based on a ski around the County Forest that I just completed. There is 17 cm (7 - 8") of snow at the snow gauge, of which about 5 cm is newer snow on top of the crust. The newer snow is quite wet, so the skiing is sluggish at the moment. Fortunately, I think all the precipitation last night came as snow. In the County Forest most of the rocks are covered and there isn't much in the way of wet spots. Skiing will still be rougher on most other trails. The wind storm brought some branches down - please help other skiers by picking up where possible. If you come across a large branch or a tree down, please post the info here or send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org, so that we can fix the problem if it is possible.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Jan. 24 ski conditions

Bruce King — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:04:35 GMT

Kolapore was subject to the general thaw yesterday, and at the time I'm writing (10 AM) there has been about 1 - 2 cm of new snow. I strongly recommend staying off the Kolapore trails until there is substantial additional snow - they will be icy and rutted. I will do another posting as soon as there is more snow. I encourage others to post information on the trails as well. Kolapore Trail Guide

January 19, 2012 ski conditions

Bruce King — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:30:00 GMT

Kolapore was subject to the general southern Ontario thaw that happened mid-week, and had some rain. This created a very hard base. Since the rain, there has been about 20 cm of new snow. so conditions are looking promising for Friday and the weekend.

Jan 15 2012 ski conditions

Bruce King — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:07:18 GMT

Last night Kolapore received about 8 cm of snow. The Kolapore snow gauge is up to 22 cm. Skiing in the southern parts of the trail system was quite good today, although rock skis are still strongly recommended. I would avoid rocky trails until we get more snow. We tried to ski across Southern Crossing, but west of the 10th line snow conditions under the cedars are poor. The same is probably true on Trail to the Summit and Quiet Pastures.

A second test post

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:29:25 GMT

A second test post.

Trail conditions Jan 6, 2012

Bruce King — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:05:01 GMT

There is about 20 cm of snow in the bush. After this is packed down by skiers, the actual base is about 5 cm. This is still a bit thin for Kolapore skiing. Skiing is not bad in the less rocky areas (like County Forest), and yesterday the loop up to 15 via Kingsway, Jackrabbit and John's Portage was quite pleasant (on rock skis). Popular trails like Paradise Highway - Kolapore Church are getting beaten down, and have rocky and wet areas. Trails that go through confer forests (like Southern Crossing and Quiet Pastures) are likely to be quite poor, because the trees keep the snow off the ground. Pray for cold weather and snow!

Kolapore trail conditions

Bruce King — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:43:12 GMT

There is currently about 5 cm of snow at Kolapore, which is nowhere near enough to ski on. The forecast is for variable conditions over the next week. I'll post again when conditions improve.