How Avalanche Terrain is Rated by the Experts

by Tony Daffern on February 25, 2010

The ability to read terrain is the most important skill to develop if you wish to enjoy the winter backcountry safely. On a downhill run in challenging terrain it is the judicious choice of route — avoiding convex rollovers, staying away from weak areas, keeping away from terrain traps — that will reduce your risk to a minimum. If you are backcountry ski touring you need to be able to recognize avalanche slopes so that you can stay away from them or cross the runout zones quickly. [click to continue…]

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Winter in Kananaskis

by Brenda Everitt on February 21, 2010

What are your favourite winter activites in Kananaskis?

As we drove out to Sandy McNabb this afternoon to check the condition of the ice on the Sheep River, my thoughts drifted to snowshoeing and cross country skiing – my two favourite winter activities.  Of course I realize there are lots of other winter activies.  I know back-country skiers, snowboarders and ice climbers.  And in warm, dry weather like the current weather pattern, winter hiking is popular.  But these are all back country activities.

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Why Carry a Folding Pruning Saw

February 18, 2010

Think about carrying a folding pruning saw to lop off offending branches and clear encroaching alder as your contribution to the maintenance of both official and unofficial trails. Here are some pointers on selecting a saw and some locally available light-weight folding saws.

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February’s K Country Trail Users Group Meeting

February 12, 2010

A report of the Kananaskis Country Trail User’s Group Meeting, February 10th, 2010.

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Snowshoe Tryst Lake

February 9, 2010

A short, steep snowshoe trip to scenic but sunless Tryst Lake in the Smith-Dorrien valley. Best with snowshoes that have good grip on steep slopes. Not a beginner snowshoe.

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Snowshoe to Commonwealth Lake

February 3, 2010

Describes a snowshoe trip into Commonwealth Lake  and into the cirque below Commonwealth Peak where you have to be aware of avalanche hazard. The map shows other possible snowshoe trails in the area.

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A Winter Hike to Grass Pass

January 25, 2010

A winter hike to Grass Pass in the Highwood area of Kananaskis Country with a side trip to the Boundary Pine made famous by R. M. Patterson’s book Buffalo Head.

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Snowshoe North Bragg Trail

January 17, 2010

An updated description of North Bragg Trail that suggests an additional loop at the north end and urges the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association to include the trail in their plans for upgrading the West Bragg trails.

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Digging your Companion out of an Avalanche

January 13, 2010

Check out this excellent video on Strategic Shovelling from Backcountry Access (BAC). It highlights the research done by Dale Atkins and Bruce Edgerly on the most efficient method of digging your buried companion from under an avalanche. Accompanying text from Backcountry Avalanche Safety.

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Snowshoe Long Prairie Ridge

January 11, 2010

A 9.3 km snowshoe loop over scenic Long Prairie Ridge in the Sandy McNabb area of the Sheep River with a visit to twin viewpoints atop Pine Ridge. There are many options for shorter or longer trips.

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