Trail Cafe: Trip report - Skiing Pocaterra Wheeler-amos-woolley-meadow

Summary:

Title: Skiing Pocaterra Wheeler-amos-woolley-meadow
Trip type: skiing
Summary: A small set of the easier trails in the Pocaterra skitrail setting, in Kananaskis country. Trails are usually groomed, although this time the Amos-woolley section were not.
Author: M. Tanton
Date of Trip: January 4, 2009
Country: Canada
Province: Alberta
Location Route: Pocaterra ski trails. Wheeler-amos-woolley-meadow
Distance: 9km (including one extra going back for pack)
Weather Conditions:-10 Deg C, partail clouds
Directions to Set in or Trail head: From Hwy 2 (between Canmore and Calgary) South on Hwy 40, follow until the end turn right just before the road block (winter only), follow the Knanaskis Lakes Trail. Several parking spots, thsi trail starts at the Elkford parking lot
Directions to Take out: Loop, but there are several non-loop options if you have two vehicles.
Partners: Deb and James
Group experience level: Novice - serveral trips on tracked trails.
Author's Experience level: Novice - serveral trips on tracked trai
Authors Trip Rating: Enjoyable
Trip's Good Points: Good snow, well groomed, great sceanery.
Trip's Bad Points: 1hr drive from city.
Author's Email: myrlmungeattrailcafedotcom (remove 'munge', convert 'at' and 'dot' accordingly

Download Track, in GPX format (right click select "save as..." or 'download' as required)
Download Waypoint, in GPX format (right click select "save as..." or 'download' as required)

Trail Description:

One of the map signs at most, if not all intersections. One of the map signs at most, if not all intersections.

There are many trails in the Pocaterra system. Ranging from easy (wheeler- Amos) to some that I find difficult such as Packers.

The tracks we ran today were the easier ones, there were several ups and downs on the Woolley and Meadow section. And I think two or three on Wheeler and Amos.

I've not even come close to running all the trails. they seem to be a mixed of groomed and user tracked. Although they may have simply not gotten around to running the grooming machine over some of the trails as the weather has been quite cold prior to the weekend.

Wheeler is 2.5km, and runs fairly flat, with a section in the middle marked intermediate. where the trail drops down and up a bit near Marl Lake. This section of the trail runs along a bit of a ridge. There are 3 or 4 picnic sites along this section of the run... Lots of people on this section, as it is the feeder run for several trails.
View from Picnic site 1. View from Picnic site 1.


Take the first left, and you are on Amos (1.6k). this starts with a bit of a climb, then levels out. The trail seems more secluded. It was not groomed, but well tracked by previous skiers prior to us. Not being on a ridge the trees have more snow on them, and the trail is more serene than Wheeler. It does have a couple of hills that a first time skier may find intimidating, but not much.
part of the Amos Stretch of the trail system part of the Amos Stretch of the trail system


The first left keeps you on Amos, and takes you back to the parking lot on a flat run. We however continued strait on Woolley (2.2km) which has several small up and down hills.

the 1.2km return run on Meadow is similar to Woolley.

We finished the trip with a stop at the visitors center. My first time in. It is very nice, with a large fire place and large open windows in a sitting area. These overlook a meadow in the woods, and is very worth a stop. Interesting displays, washrooms, but mostly just a nice place to stop warm up and have a bite of lunch. You can stop before the trip and get info on the trails.


Gallery

Deb coming into the sss Deb coming into the first picnic site, James trailing in behind.

View from Picnic site 1.

view from picnic site one, looking a bit to the south through another crack in the trees.

Deb likes her wax just so... one of a few touch up stops.

Shot of the trail along the groomed portion of Wheeler

One of the map signs at most, if not all intersections.

Lots of folks on the trail.

Picnic site #3

part of the Amos Stretch of the trail system

Looking back at the hill on Amos

Hey a veiw.

last pic. At the fork in the trail go left to turn back to the parking lot, or right to go to the visitor center.


Content Copyright M. Tanton 2009

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