The wind was wild when we cross-country skied Pyramid Lake Road. I’ve cross-country skied since I was a young child. I should’ve known better but I still make poor decisions at times. As an experienced skier, I want to share my experience so you don’t end up with the same miserable experience I had. Things don’t always go according to plan when planning your day. Hoping for the best while not preparing for the worst was a mistake I made on this day. Although a wonderful trail when the conditions are calm, below are a few lessons I learned when skiing Pyramid Lake Road in the wind.
Table of Contents
Enchanting Pyramid Lake
It was windy when we started but the trail was in the trees. My parents, Kris and I figured we’d warm up as we skied and the wind wouldn’t bother us. I decided to leave my Chaos Multi tubular headwear in the vehicle since they had forecasted that the wind would die down later. However, the tree coverage didn’t provide us with relief from the wind. We persevered and skied until we reached the end of Pyramid Lake. The wind at this bridge was intense preventing us from staying a long time but the water was beautifully covered in ice and snow allowing for a couple of photo opportunities.
Achieving Varying Skiing Distances
Just past the bridge, you’ll encounter a sign posting different distances along the road. Still in the process of warming up and hopeful the wind would die down, we thought we’d be able to reach Pyramid Lookout at 4.5 kilometres in one direction and come back for a total of nine kilometres. The trail is nicely marked along the way indicating when you’ve reached your destination. If you’re ambitious, it’s possible to continue to the end of Pyramid Fire Road for a total of 13.2 kilometres return.
Ski Pyramid Lake Road
Our trail had been previously track set but due to the wind, the snow had blown over and it wasn’t in pristine condition. For up-to-date trail conditions and to see the last time it was track set visit Park’s Canada site.
The wind caused debris such as branches and pine needles to accumulate quickly on the trail.
Tip: If possible, try to avoid cross-country skiing on the debris to prevent it from sticking to the underside of your skis and stopping you in your tracks. if there’s too much build-up throughout your outing, it could be handy to bring a scraper with you to remove the gunk from your skis.
Progression from Gradual to Steep Incline
The cross-country ski trail was gradual initially with a few minor uphills and downhills. The elevation turned into a steeper climb the further along the trail we went. We were hoping as time went on and we skied further into the dense trees, we’d get out of the wind and it would die down but unfortunately, it didn’t. It turned for the worse with windier conditions and colder weather. It would have been a wonderful outing otherwise getting exercise for a gorgeous view but it didn’t make for the most pleasant experience.
Adapting to Conditions
Know that you’re in the mountains when in Jasper and conditions can change in a split second. Even if the weather forecast is predicted to improve, there’s always a chance that it doesn’t change as planned. It would have been a much more enjoyable ski had the wind not been so strong trying to blow me over. Having not worn my Chaos Multi tubular headwear, my whole face was frozen from my cheeks to my nose and even my neck. I became unhappy being frozen.
Tip #1: It’s always best to hope for the best and prepare for the worst by staying happy and warm cross-country skiing. It’s important to have realistic expectations that things might not change for the better to not end up disappointed like me.
Tip #2: Pack the tubular headwear with you. It’s light and doesn’t take up much space. It would have been great to have it with me to put on. It was upsetting to put myself in that position when I had the gear in the car! Deciding, nah, I don’t need it, it will warm up outside was a poor decision. I ate my words and had an unpleasant ski because I was cold. The conditions weren’t perfect but had I been warm, it might have been an enjoyable ski on Pyramid Lake Road.
Pyramid Lookout
Photo credit: James Ross
By the time I got to Pyramid Lookout, I was so frozen that I took a quick look and turned around. I didn’t wait for my picture to be taken or for Kris to get to the top of the hill (not a proud moment). My dad took a picture of Kris and he went back with my parents. When you’re body is cold like mine was, it turned into a fight or flight response and I took off. I wanted to rush back to the car as quickly as possible to find warmth in my vehicle. I wasn’t thinking of my responsibility to stay with him or to care for him, I just needed to be warm as soon as possible. Even my legs were cold wearing the Merino Pant Base Layer. I was so chilled to the bone that my layering system wasn’t working.
Final Thoughts
Pyramid Lake Road in the wind while not being prepared turned out to be a miserable experience. Bring all your layers to be prepared should you encounter the worst temperature and weather. Don’t expect the weather to change for the better. You can be hopeful for the rest of your day but expecting it will lead to disaster. Even if you’re with a group of people, don’t leave your husband behind with them. Discuss a plan of action before you’re frozen and turn around earlier than your destination if you’re too cold to reach it. Communication is key when you’re cross-country skiing with other people. If you follow this advice, you should have a successful outing! I wish you a pleasant trip the next time you’re out skiing. I’m planning to be better prepared the next time I get out skiing!
Additional Links
- What are the Benefits of Skiing?
- Review: FJELLTECH M44 Skin Skis
- 10 Reasons to Love Cross-Country Skiing
- Hiking to Cross-Country Skiing Near Edmonton
- XC Skiing Near me
Jasper Trip Ressources
- Book your flights with Expedia
- Book your hostel through Hostelworld.com
- Book your hotel with Booking.com or Hotels.com
- Book your vacation rental with Vrbo
- Book your experiences through Manawa or GetYourGuide
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