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Kolapore wilderness trails

TRAIL Conditions

The software is designed to permit only logged-in members to add new posts.  We encourage everyone to add posts about trail conditions.  We have created an account that anyone can use to do postings - use id trailupdates@gmail.com and password update   
  • 01 Mar 2013 6:00 PM | Anonymous
    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 
  • 28 Feb 2013 8:07 PM | Anonymous
    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. 
  • 24 Feb 2013 10:11 AM | trail updates
    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.
  • 23 Feb 2013 4:30 PM | Anonymous
    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
  • 22 Feb 2013 1:29 PM | Deleted user
    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.
  • 20 Feb 2013 5:30 PM | Anonymous
    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   
  • 16 Feb 2013 4:30 PM | Anonymous
    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
  • 16 Feb 2013 12:49 AM | Anonymous
    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
     
  • 08 Feb 2013 5:30 PM | Anonymous
     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
  • 08 Feb 2013 11:00 AM | Anonymous
    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

Recent TrailForks reports

(Trail, Report Date, Condition)

*Please note the dates on the trail reports. Some of Kolapore's trails take a couple of days to rebound after rainy weather.

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