February is ending with a heat wave and that is not good news for trail conditions at West Bragg Creek.
The thin snow pack this winter will respond quickly to warm temperatures and sunshine by softening and melting. On single track trails, soft or slushy snow will result in ruts from any bike or foot traffic. So, please avoid travel on any trails if you are leaving ruts or footprints. When temperatures drop below 0C overnight, the snow, slush and puddles will freeze, solidifying every rut and footprint. The best travel conditions will exist in the early morning, after a good overnight freeze. If there is only a minimal freeze or no overnight freezing, the trails will not be suitable for travel for the next day. Check individual trail reports for current conditions.
The XC ski trails were last groomed about a week ago, when it was very cold. Several days of melt-freeze cycles have resulted in icy trails in the mornings, which soften and become slushy during the heat of the day. With the forecast temperatures, expect to see rapid melting of the very thin snow base. Additional ski grooming is not possible at these temperatures.