Cross Country Skiing P.L.P.P. Blueberry Hill.

Start of Elk Pass Trail PLPP

Start of Elk Pass Trail PLPP

February 25th Wednesday 2015

What a beautiful day to go cross-country skiing at P.L.P.P.and go up Blueberry Hill to the lookout.There was a fresh light covering of snow to hide the frozen tracks. Temperature somewhere in the region of -10 c to -5 c. The perfect temperature for blue wax. Todays route would take us from Elk Pass Parking up The Elk Pass Trail. A steep climb to test the chose of wax. Today I walked up no problem with just the right amount of clumping to help.

Cam & Joy at the top of the first hill Elk Pass

Cam & Joy at the top of the first hill Elk Pass

At the top of the first hill. Time to test the downhill breaks. A little snow cover helped and we emerged at the bottom of the junction with Fox Creek in one piece. The next junction is Hydro Line coming in from the left down the steep hill we would return on. It is  2.6 km to Patterson and the sun was out and layers should have been shed but we waited until we reached the picnic table at Blueberry.

Start of Blueberry Hill

Start of Blueberry Hill

Blueberry is not a constant up hill climb there are two sections rated green that are flat.

View of Blueberry Hill it is not all hill

View of Blueberry Hill it is not all up hill

Approaching the lookout. Bleberry Hill

Approaching the lookout. Blueberry Hill

The 3.2 km trail from the picnic table took about one hour. I did not time the descent but it felt like about 15 mins.

View of Upper & Lower Kananaskis

View of Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes

On the way back we diverted up Patterson and came back down the Hydro Line. A very challenging downhill section back onto Elk Pass. I had to check my speed with a bottom sitting manoeuvre before carrying on.

Total Km 17.3                8.1 km out   9.2 km back

Start of Elkpass trail PLPP

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Start of Elkpass trail PLPP