Baker Creek to Castle Mountain Cross Country Skiing

The only small hill on the entire route.This must be an old rail line

The only small hill on the entire route.This must be an old rail line

 

March 6th Thursday.

This week the  ski trip was organized to go from Baker Creek to Castle Mountain Cross Country Skiing. This is a one way route of 15 km so a car  has to left at Castle Mountain Chalet at the junction of Hwy #1 and 1A.

Start of the trail from Baker Creek to Castle Mt  Jct. Also having to break trail

Start of the trail from Baker Creek to Castle Mt Jct. Also having to break trail

The conditions have to be good to take this route as it can be a bit thin of snow but we lucked out and had 15 cm of fresh snow. Any track setting was hidden by the new snow and as the above photo shows we had to break trail all day.

Typical terrain on the first section

Typical terrain on the first section

The first section takes you along the power lines for 3km to the Castle Mountain Camp Site.

Passing through Castle Mountain camp site

Passing through Castle Mountain camp site

The trail contiues for another 3 to 4 Kms until it crosses the Hwy. Today there was enough snow on the hwy that we did no thave to remove our skis in fact with all the snow we could have skied down the road.

Crossing Hwy #1A over to the rail track side

Crossing Hwy #1A over to the rail track side

After crossing the road you follow the rail line and the Bow River. Also as the picture shows you encounter the only small hill.

The only small hill the entire route.This must be an old rail line

The only small hill the entire route.This must be an old rail line

The whole group arriving for a break

The whole group arriving for a break

The snow continued for most of the day but the temperature was in the blue wax zone.

Crossing back over the road at Castle Mt Lookout.

Crossing back over the road at Castle Mt Lookout.

After the rail line the route again crosses the road at Castle Mountain Lookout. There is a small steep hill into the parking lot but this could be missed by walking or skiing down the road to the parking lot enterance. After this it is a short ski through the woods to Castle Mountain Chalet.

Facts from the trip:  Length 15 kms  Time  4 hrs total   3 hrs  moving  1 hr stopped  Avg speed 3.7kph   Moving speed 4.8 kph. Total ascent 169 m Max elevation 1512 m

Open area before headinfg into the shelter of the trees

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Open area before headinfg into the shelter of the trees