[Ricksom]

This thread is just to talk about Albion Hills conditions......O.K. Singlesprocket is not welcome here !

As of this past Saturday, Albion Hills has awesome XC skiing. Best conditions I have seen in a long time. Take the Red Trail to avoid the beginners and the snow craters they leave behind. For a great skate ski workout, take the black trail across the road (east side) where you will be greeted by many steep rolling hills and fast and twisty downhills.

Single track trails are awesome for snow shoeing.

 

[Ricksom]

As of Tuesday, Jan. 6

Snow conditions were very good, and the ski trails were fully covered with fresh snow mixed with granular snow. The black ski trail was also in good skate ski condition. If you live about 30 minutes from Albion and own a pair of skate skis, do this black loop 1 to 3 times for an intense workout. Lots of up and down, and some thrilling downhill sections reminescent of Hardwood "Waterfall" or Horseshoe Valley north red trail.

The singletrack is covered with about 5cm of soft snow with about 10cm of crusty snow underneath. Not bad for some fast paced snowshoeing.

Today's snow should make things perfect!

 

[singlesprocket]

This thread is just to talk about Albion Hills conditions......O.K. Singlesprocket is not welcome here !

need a hug there? your always welcome in any thread i post big boy... if the conditions are good in albion hills there are good around albion hills. try the bruce trail the starts at mono center and explore it down to albion hills/palgrave or vice versa. the trail has one of the biggest downhills in the area and lots of side trails through cedar swamps etc... plus it is free

more info here

http://www.caledonbrucetrail.org/

 

[garage monster]

Yoohoo, Ricksom, I'm planning on skiing at Albion for the first time on Saturday. Is the tracksetting there suitable for wax skis or should I use my "rock & logs" waxless skis?

Either way, I'm really looking forward to it. Like many of us, I've probably logged thousands of kilometers on my bike at Albion but I've not done a meter in there on skis. I hope I don't make a wrong turn down the Italian Pavement just out of habit!

 

[nogearshere]

dear ricksum;

hi.
new to winter and really enjoy things like stuff and that outside, in the outdoors...but my question is, is there a Winter TRAIL PLAN for albion that includes an appropriate cross-section of the pseudo demographic graphic for the regional area of here?
i'm a big fan of snow fires and flake watching but i'm concerned that my interests won't be represented...

Hugs.
Pedro.

BTW - anyone know what or if there is a policy (unofficially) concerning MEMBERS xc skiing at night?

 

[nogearshere]

so.
we saw fresh sno-shoe tracks.
if it was you, you were being hunted...

met a nice chap from the conservation authority (he was skiing lightless at 1030), very cordial, very polite and he simply advised that it was against albion policy to allow night skiing - as we were wearing bike helmets (for safety) - he used obvious logic and said that coverage wasn't the same as mountain biking after hours.

like i said very good about it, no threats, no 'warnings' just a pleasant statement of fact.

for what its worth - the conditions were awesome - but i guess i need to shop around for a night skiing venue close to home.

 

[Ricksom]

Sorry g.m., I am strange as I don't hang out on the internet during the weekend.....better things to do!

Yes, Albion was perfect for waxable skis this weekend, and I took my favourite Fischer Superlights for the ride on the Red and Black trails. However, you will note that grooming is not up to par as Hardwood. I like it better that way as you need better balance, stability, and turning skills to maintain control......making for more white knuckle excitement on the downhills.

There was a a huge turnout this weekend....lots of fit runners, triathletes, and bikers.

 

[Ricksom]

Yes, there is an official Winter Trail Plan.

Everyone is allowed to show up and do something. Some bring their own skis, some rent, and some don't ski at all but toboggan or snowshoe or pickup women. The beginners take the easy trail, the experts take the hard trail. Where the two converge you say Hi and work things out like passing or waiting. When you are finished skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, or whatever (naughty activities deep in the woods), everyone gets to come together in the same chalet to eat the same food (unless you bring your own which you are allowed).
Very organized, documented, and politically correct.....and approved by the TRCA.

 

[Ricksom]

Yes, night skiing is at your own risk. Give Palgrave a try, as this used to be a XC centre (and blaze your own trails).

We just do the night snowshoe thing, far from public view.

 

[nogearshere]

Yes, there is an official Winter Trail Plan.

regrettably i don't feel that this plan is either pseudo, menudo or playdough enough for me.
i'm just one person, ricksom, you are my only hope.

palgrave is up for a try this week but as a terrible xc skier the quasi groomed trails (of albion) are quite helpful until i fully convert my mad downhill ski skills. pioneering trails only makes for wet arses and yardsales.

SKI ONTARIO tracks albion conditions for those interested.

as for after hours skiing, i was left uncertain if it is NO, YOU ARE TRESPASSING (membership or not) or WHATEVER, WE DON'T CONDONE IT.

i know they publish HOURS on the site.
where as for mountain biking they do NOT.

 

[garage monster]

Albion was awesome on Saturday! We did every trail and came away very impressed. It was as busy as I've seen it some Tuesday nights! It was cool to see how it morphs into to something so different (yet very familiar) in the winter!

Since there was no wax room (that I could find) we opted for the waxless skis which was probably the right choice given that they track better and the tracksetting was washed out in a lot of spots (and the Black loop was absent of any tracksetting at all).

Every loop (even green!) has enough technical elements in it to keep things interesting but it does mean that the level of carnage out there was pretty high. The generally lower skill level (than you might see at Hardwood) meant there were a lot of downed bodies all over the place but it wasn't anything a little patience couldn't fix!

Big thumbs up TRCA; we'll be back! :thumbsup:

 

[singlesprocket]

they also keep accident/injury reports of winter activities which from what i heard is higher than summer mtbing (have to see one though to prove it).

for people who want to try something different i use these.
https://www.salomonsports.com/others/#/nordic/skis/backcountry/xadv-89-classic
great for in the woods, backcountry, going up, going down steeps, can carve turns in powder, go almost anywhere snowshoes can. they are a blast to follow mountainbike trails with or take them to 3 stages to hack on the downhills in the trees.
i would even use them to mark trail to build singletrack. a breeze to figure out the flow...

plus long skis are such a pain in the ass to catch air with...

 

[Ricksom]

Since there was no wax room (that I could find) we opted for the waxless skis which was probably the right choice given that they track better and the tracksetting was washed out in a lot of spots (and the Black loop was absent of any tracksetting at all).

Too bad......you missed out on going full speed down the hills with waxables!!
I come with skis prewaxed, or do the old fashioned rubbing wax on crayon style and cork in. No, there is no wax room.

Every loop (even green!) has enough technical elements in it to keep things interesting but it does mean that the level of carnage out there was pretty high. The generally lower skill level (than you might see at Hardwood) meant there were a lot of downed bodies all over the place but it wasn't anything a little patience couldn't fix!

Got to hand it to the Polish and other eastern Europeans that show up. Nothing scares them, even with kids in tow, when they go down a hill over their ability. Real outdoor troopers. The many left over potholes make for more exciting technical challenges for the rest of us

 

[Ricksom]

As of Sunday, Jan. 18

*** Awesome!!!! ***

20 to 30cm of snow fell, giving Albion that "deep powder pit" and "I fell and I can't get up" feeling that is normally reserved for places much further north.

Go for a "blaze your own trail" snowshoe through the woods, and you will be whacked in minutes. Excellent high intensity workout for those bike leg muscles. Now think of doing a snowshoe adventure race in that stuff for 2 hours like I did on Sunday in Glenn Haffy conservation park. Crank the Shield was easier!

XC skiing perfect for classic technique.

 

[garage monster]

In other news, we skied Mansfield for the first time on Saturday. Like Albion, I've done hundreds (thousands?) of kilometers there on my bike but had never made the trip up in the winter.

It was great! The snow was excellent and I'd say the grooming was superior to even Horseshoe and almost on par with Hardwood. We put in about 40 km all told and I think the Blue trail is probably my favourite but they're all pretty fun. Verdict: well worth the drive! :thumbsup:

Sunday, the snow was so perfect that we opted for about 7 hours of touring in the Dundas Valley. We saw probably double the number of skiers in there than we've ever seen. Total hero snow!

 

[Ricksom]

As of Tuesday, Feb 3

WOW

Is there another ice age coming????? I haven't seen so much snow here in decades!

Anyone looking for a high powered workout should just strap on some snowshoes and blaze your own trail through the woods. Your heart rate will quickly rise after 100 feet. Still not enough.....then pick a hill and try walking (or should I say mountain climbing) up without throwing up your cookies. Then do 2 or 3 more.

XC skiing also excellent.

 

[Stosh (Canada)]

As of Tuesday, Feb 3

XC skiing also excellent.

So I should bring the skis here after the THOMASS race? :thumbsup:

Stosh

 

[Ricksom]

Absolutely! The warm temps may screw things up if Saturday turns out as warm as they say.

 

[s-worksalot]

Singlesprocket Ski Report!

Hilton Falls x-country ski trails are in the best shape I have seen. They have had enough snow to get the groomers out there. Yesterday it was machine groomed and track set. Lots of room for skating and classic (and waxing was just like I remember from growing up in Sask. Green from November to April) Now if the mind could only stop trying to get the body to do those things I could do 30 years ago as well... whatever happened to my balance??

One small section on the beaver loop trail is not track set and groomed (2km) due to the narrow terrain, but it has seen lots of traffic and is in good shape with NO rocks!

 

[Ricksom]

As of Saturday, Feb. 14

GLADE SKIING!

What.....no, not at Albion......Hardwood. Albion is crap for skiing now.
Hardwood Hills is still ideal for skiing, but the very hard pack surface with some dusting of snow off trail in the woods makes for some great glade skiing. Give it a try! Pick your terrain just off the trail, find a downhill slope you are comfortable with.....then go for it as you dodge between and around trees.

Albion is probably just good for trail running, and maybe some sneaky riding on the crusty ski trails.