Menu
Log in

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   
  • 12 Jan 2014 8:35 AM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    We strongly recommend that you not ski on the Kolapore trails until there is a substantial amount of new snow.  The thaw and subsequent freeze will have left the trails very icy and rutted.  There is only a dusting of new snow so far (Sunday morning).
    Kolapore Trail Guide 
  • 08 Jan 2014 9:01 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    Winter has definitely arrived at Kolapore.  We had a great ski today on the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop, breaking trail part of the way and then having a broken track.  Skiing was excellent - as noted in the previous post there is over 2 feet of snow in the forest.  You can probably leave your rock skis at home now.  When you are planning your route, think about how much trail breaking you want to do - we did not see any tracks leading off the Kolapore Church - Paradise Highway loop, and no one had been in at the east end of the County Forest.  If you can get out, do so on Thursday or Friday, because the weather forecast for Saturday is depressing.
    Grey County has done an excellent plowing job at the Kolapore parking lot.
    Kolapore Trail Guide
  • 05 Jan 2014 8:40 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    Since Saturday night the Kolapore area has received about 30 cm of snow.  We received about 18 cm Sunday night - Monday morning.   The Kolapore snow gauge is at 63 cm (25").  FYI, this is the total depth of snow in the forest.  The snow depth on the trails is about half this, which still gives a good base.  
    Skiing should be very good this week, as long as you are willing to break trail.  This morning we skied in through County Forest and up Kingsway to 15, and it was "walking on skis" outbound.  Coming back in the same track is was possible to ski a bit.  No hint of rocks - it is probably time to stop using rock skis.
    As noted above, we encourage other Kolapore skiers to post updates regarding trail conditions. 
    Kolapore Trail Guide
  • 01 Jan 2014 1:03 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    I skied County Forest and the lower parts of Kingsway and John's Portage this morning.  Skiing on the flat to gently rolling trails in the County Forest is fair to good.  There is a very firm track, and the 5 cm of snow we've had in the past 24 hours softens it slightly.  I would not recommend skiing the steeper hills on the trail system unless you are a very good skier - the hills are rutted, and it will be difficult to snowplow.  In some places the safest way to go down a hill is to ski off the trail - there is a very firm crust under the fresh snow.  
    Kolapore Trail Guide
  • 31 Dec 2013 9:31 AM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    I continue to recommend not skiing on the Kolapore trails.  Kolapore had a slight thaw on Sunday which glazed the trails, which were already suffering from the freezing drizzle the previous weekend.  (See my previous post for more info.) Since Sunday Kolapore has received 2 - 3 cm of new snow - not nearly enough to freshen the trails.
    At the moment, the best local classic skiing is probably at Wasaga Nordic.  A number of Kolapore skiers had a good time there yesterday.  A squall was parked over the east side of Wasaga Beach, and the Wasaga trails had about 20 cm of fresh powder.  If you go there, be sure to do the outer loop including Monument Hill and High Dunes.  This is probably the most scenic and most enjoyable groomed trail in the region.
    Kolapore Trail Guide
  • 27 Dec 2013 2:37 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    Trail conditions at Kolapore today ranged from fair to poor to terrible.  The Kolapore area has over 40 cm of snow, but the crust created by last weekend's freezing drizzle is covered by a limited amount of new snow.  The best skiing is on reasonably level trails that have been skied in, like parts of the County Forest.  Even there, it is possible to break through the crust, and poles are constantly going through the crust.   
    I would strongly recommend against trying to ski any steep hills, because the trails will be rutted and it will be easy to break through the crust.  The worst skiing we encountered today was on Southern Crossing west of the 10th line.  Snowshoers had been through at some point, and had broken up the crust, which left a very rough surface for skiing.
    Yesterday we skied at Wasaga Nordic, and the skiing was excellent.  They have some challenging single track trails that many Kolapore skiers would enjoy.  There are times when it is worth going to an area with groomed trails!
    We need a substantial amount of new snow to improve conditions on the Kolapore trails.
    Kolapore Trail Guide          
  • 25 Dec 2013 4:21 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    The trails are still suffering the results of the freezing drizzle on the weekend.  There is a crust on the snow everywhere, and on the trails there are very firm tracks.  This is marginally OK on flat trails, but not on hills, which will be fast and rutted.  As a result I don't recommend using the trails until we get about another 10 cm of fresh snow (we've had about 3 - 4 cm as of 4 pm Christmas Day).
    Some nearby areas have had more new snow.  Several of the Kolapore Trail Guides skied at Scenic Caves today, and there is about 10 - 15 cm of new snow there.  Skiing was pleasant, although there were a lot of twigs and branches on the trails (another result of the ice storm.)  I hear that Wasaga Nordic has had quite a bit of new snow, so I will probably try it tomorrow, unless Kolapore gets a decent amount of snow.
    Kolapore Trail Guide  
          
  • 23 Dec 2013 8:30 AM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    The Kolapore area received freezing drizzle both Saturday and Sunday.  We recommend not using the Kolapore trails until we receive a reasonable amount of fresh snow.
    Kolapore Trail Guide
  • 21 Dec 2013 8:09 AM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    Last night the Kolapore area received freezing drizzle, and there is now a layer of ice on the trails.  We do not recommend using the trails at the moment.  If you insist on going out, probably the best areas would be where the trails haven't been skied recently.  You will break through the crust into fresher snow.  If I ski today (and the weather forecast isn't promising) I'll go to an area with groomed trails.
    Kolapore Trail Guide 
  • 17 Dec 2013 3:53 PM | Bruce King (Administrator)
    Conditions continue to improve.  Since my last posting Kolapore has had about another 15 cm of snow.  The snow gauge is at 35 cm.  I know that this doesn't add up, but it means that the snow is settling, giving a better base for skiing.  Today we started at Entrance E in the County Forest, skied up Kingsway, and then did a loop around Wild Mouse.  Although I did scratch a few rocks, conditions were quite good overall (very good for mid-December!).  Get out and enjoy the snow.
    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.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software