The post-season is upon us and with a great snowpack to work with, the Resort is once again planning to groom through April on a reduced schedule. Please note that the Nordic Network is not "officially" open but as in previous years the Resort is grooming intermittently for those who choose to venture out. They are not advertising, but have given us the OK to spread the news by word of mouth and Nordic Club channels.
Here is what I have from the Resort: "We will be casually grooming some of the Nordic network in the coming weeks. Grooming will largely be based on weather and traffic so there is no set schedule. That said, it is not advertised and we are telling everyone via social media that it is closed. With the unusually high snowpack, Keith is taking extra measures to prepare the golf course the best he can. This means he will be clearing some fairways (with a snowcat) and certainly shady areas in an effort to speed up the melt. Consequently, the only access to the Nordic network will be by way of ...Vista Trail from the base of Orient and Mt Morrisey chairlifts. Village trail up #18 and #10, Cotton Tail on #11 and #12, McGillivray Lake trail on #12 and #13, plus hole #14 will all be compromised, tracked up and ungroomed. You will not be able to go through the wedding area at the south east end of P5 either. The cabin at McGillivray Lake will not be open."
So all of CottonTail, Village Trail to the covered bridge, and the new dog route as far as the base of WhiskeyJack are now closed. Since Vista is the only access to the network now, this means that from P5 you park at the west end, ski down past the Nordic Centre and the Orient and Morrisey Bases to get to Vista.
With the rest of the resort closed, we're fortunate to have trail grooming on our Nordic network, as limited as it is. With spring skiing, timing is everything, so look at Nordic Pulse and the weather, and aim for that sweet spot between morning refrozen snow and afternoon slush!