Scroll down to see posting on ski conditions or to post a comment yourself.
For photos from our recent Chili Sunday click here: Chili Sunday 2018.
For photos from this season’s skiing click here: Kane Valley Photos 2017-2018
Send photos for our gallery to: nicolanordic@gmail.com
Some important changes at the Kane Valley trails:
- Skiers with dogs are now allowed on two trails – the usual Matthews Loop (and the Chute access) and now also on Aspen between P5 and P6 (Please don’t take dogs on to any of the adjacent trails)
- There should be new signs for most of the snowshoe trails – PLEASE DO NOT SNOWSHOE ON THE GROOMED SKI TRAILS.
- We have a new membership drop-off location: Breathe Bikes at 1960 Quilchena Avenue. Owner Travis Fehr is our new membership coordinator. Merritt and area residents can now drop off membership forms with payments and pick up membership tags. Tags will still be mailed to out-of-town members.
Been skiing in the past day or so? Leave us a comment about which route you used, what the trail was like, and anything that needs attention. You can also leave (or respond to) questions on the Kane Valley Trails or about local weather.
We’ll also use these posts to tell you what’s been groomed, what is scheduled to be groomed, and anything else club members and trail users should know about. Our trails are not suitable for skate-skiing.
To join the club or renew your membership – click here
For photos from previous seasons go to our Photo Gallery
For instructions on how to leave a comment click here.
Good Evening All 🙂
Hey everyone skiing in the Kane is on, lots of new snow and lots of grooming today.
Hubby M., groomed the following: P3 to Kane, to P5, Aspen, Sundown, Ravine, Hill’s Homestead, Matthew’s Loop (all), Chute, Raven’s Ridge, Gulch (all), Cross-Over, ASP, Tillicum, Menzie’s, Vale, and back to P3. Tracks set wherever possible. I also mentioned to Hubby not to track set the major hills. No trees down 🙂 P2 was not plowed out but 4 wheel drives had been in there. Hubby reported awesome ski conditions for sure. So keep on skiing 🙂
NNSC- Director
Shelley CH
Ok, Alan and Ian, thanks for the feedback on grooming. It is always possible to forget to lift the track setter off on steep hills. We will watch for that. Also for future comments , it is good to let us
( and others) know which specific steep hill had the track setter mistakenly left down.
Have a great week!
Wow , I was surprised to see so much new snow on the groomed trails. Looks like 10 cm nice powder at about -5 . So Buster Brown and I layed down a few tracks on Chute , really nice!
Thanks for leaving it for us, LoL.
What a great season!
DP
Another WOW day on the trails. Weather absolutely perfect with a mix of sun and cloud, and just below zero temperatures. From P2, skied Kane and Aspen to P6 and back, and finished with a lap of Matthew’s. Missed the groomer’s U-turn at the end of Aspen and ate a snowbank. Lots of fun. Almost had to call a tow truck to come and pull me out (haha). Many thanks to the skiers who preceded me on the aforementioned trails and reset the track. Lots of kick and glide possible today.
Agree with previous poster Alan that steep hills should only be groomed but not track set. A nice wide groom would be ideal so herring bone climbers can work their way up one side and snowplowers can descend the other. Recommend that the Porter Bypass on Aspen be groomed as the hill skiing northbound is gnarly with little room for error. If your pet were to get tangled up in your skis as you descended, it could be ugly.
An exceptional snow year. Enjoy it everyone.
Skied Kane-Hill’s Homestead-Skyhigh loop this afternoon. Good skiing on nicely groomed trails with tracking. Some drifting snow in the high exposed areas but otherwise good grooming with a cm of fresh snow. Temperatures around minus 7-9C – good blue-wax skiing.
Skiing should be good on the weekend.
A note to the groomers – please don’t put tracks on the steep hills – they make it difficult and hazardous to snowplow coming down. Otherwise – thanks for the good grooming!
Wow! What a day! Brilliant sunshine, slightly below zero temperatures and abundant snow made for ideal skiing conditions. Skied both above and below the main road. Some great fresh tracks set by our hardworking groomers, Don and Hubby. Much appreciated!
Good Afternoon Skiers:)
Don and Hubby M., were both out grooming today. The report goes as follows: -18 to -10 in the Kane today, with 22cm of dry powder snow from the past few days and weekend.
Don reports that the ski surface came out very nicely, with a soft base with track setting. Ski conditions; Don reports on the trails are perfect now, come out and ski while it last.
The following trails were groomed today: Vale to ASP, up ASP to Raven’s lunchbox shelter and then down Gulch, across the road to Kane, down to January shelter, then Aspen to Harmon Lake ( doubled), Sundown, Hills Homestead, and Matthew’s Loop.
Don and Hubby M., are planning on finishing the North side loops tomorrow.
Enjoy this full winter weather and ski, ski, ski 🙂
Shelley CH
NNSC Director
Good Morning Skiers 🙂
Wow more wonderful snow fell yesterday, about a foot up here and it is currently -16. So our wonderful groomers will be out today and tomorrow to groom all the trails. This will take some time so be patient with their awesomeness and enjoy the trails. The sun is just starting to peek out to enhance our day. Enjoy the majestic Kane Valley in BC for all of us to share. ( Kane road may not be plowed yet and P2, our Iron Mountain Road is just being plowed now, safe travels).
Shelley CH
NNSC Director
Interesting day. Left P2 under bright blue skies although windy. Bushwhacked my way up Hill’s Homestead as drifting snow had obscured most of the trail. While crossing the ridge at the top, a near-whiteout squall blew through. Could barely see anything. Thank goodness for my sunglasses. By the time I had descended to Kane, things were relatively quiet. Blue skies once back at P2. Met a group of skiers from Bellingham, Wash. at P2. Kane Valley is an annual excursion for them, along with Logan Lake.
Just a quick ski today under blue skies with a light wind. Temperature -6 in the shade. Small amount of fresh snow. Starting at P1, skied Raven’s Ridge to Lunch Box shelter, then Vale (whee!) down to P3. Crossed over and did Matthew’s Loop and Chute back to P1. Hoping conditions will remain good for Friday.
Good Evening:
Skiing reports from Kane Valley today; fabulous 🙂 Roads are good for travel and there were several skiers out today and all reported that they had an amazing ski under the crystal blue sky; with a small blanket of snow on top of the old (3inches of powder). Consensus is leave it as is for now and ski, ski, ski. This is beauty and awe; so come enjoy these days of skiing; before mother nature changes the picture 🙂 Temp at noon -9, tonight -16.
Shelley CH
NNSC Director
Great skiing today under bluebird skies. 7 cm powder on a hard crust means you can ski off track over all those beautiful open fields with no problems what so ever! take advantage and try it while you can.
Epic day. From P1, skied the northern perimeter (Raven’s Ridge, Gulch, Harmon, North, Harmon) to P6. Snow conditions ideal for the grind to the summit at the top of North. Beautiful view from Moose Lookout. Virgin territory up there. No evidence of grooming at all. Snow-laden branches hiding many of the trail signs. Long descent on Harmon to P6 not so good as snow was wet and sticky. Walked the road from P6 to P5 rather than do the doggy trail (Aspen). Skied Kane, Matthews’ Loop and Chute back to P1. Snow continued to be very sticky. Had to wax a couple of times. Could have done with a klister. Would like to see daytime temperatures drop a good five degrees or more. Happy trails!
Good Day Skiers:)
Groomers completed their rounds on the 2nd and will leave this be until more snow falls or areas need special attention. Watch for icing patches and such. Enjoy Mother Nature and all her wonder.
Current temperature is -7 ( -3 to -5 in the day).
Shelley CH
NNSC Director
Skied Saturday, Feb 3, from P1 – Matthew’s, Kane, Easyover, Gulch, Menzies and back to P1. Good workout. Lots of debris on the south side (mostly needles/cones), a little icey in spots but amazingly beautiful and quiet. Hopefully Sunday’s snow covered it up. I saw the bus also – 48 or so skiers and snowshoers form the Vancouver Ski (Nordic?) Club, apparently the only ski club in BC without it’s own facility. They were going to stay overnight in Merritt and then ski Logan Lake Sunday. Only encountered 5 people. It always amazes me that the parking lot can be full and I only see one or two people, if any, on the trails. We have a good thing, folks.
February 4
From P1, skied Raven’s Ridge, Gulch, Asp, Tilicum and Raven’s Ridge back to P1. Fresh snow was wet and sticky. Strong wind out in the open. Still, nothing beats the peaceful solitude. Then, home to watch the Eagles win Superbowl LVII. Yahoo!
Currently -4 in Kane Valley with 4cm of new snow on top of groomed trails. It is a good day to come out and play!
quick ski p1 up ravens down gulch to P3. Saw the bus and driver at p3 and met two vancouver men on Raven’s ridge trail about 11:45 this morning. The snow was very soft. Amazing that a bus full of people were up there somewhere. Hope they all had a good ski.
Feb 2/18
Groomers extraordinaire Don and Hubby groomed the following trails today:
Vale, Gulch, ASP (cut out trees), Crossover, Niel’s Valley ( trees cut out), Menzies, Tillicum, bottom of Raven’s Ridge, Gulch, Matthews (except East on the South side) and Kane. * Hills Homestead is a higher elevation and will have last nights 10 cm on top of yesterday’s groomed . May be a bit crusty so be aware.
The temp was 2-5 degrees and 10 cm of fresh wet snow last night, with a slight bit of rain on top this morning. Mainly cloudy, but there were sunny breaks too.
Happy skiing
Shelley CH
Nicola Nordic Director