XC: Goat Creek

This is an exploratory trip up the Spray River and Goat Creek cross-country ski trails, starting from the Banff Spring Hotel parking lot: https://www.google.com/maps/place/51°09'42.0"N+115°33'40.0"W

Conditions can be variable with fresh snow in the forecast and dropping temperatures in the afternoon.

Expect 4.5 hours of steady skiing from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with only short breaks every hour or so. If we can ski up the Goat Creek trail, we will turn around after about 2h30 of skiing, and retrace our steps back to the hotel.

Trail conditions:

• Spray River West Trail Fresh snow Double trackset with skating lane. - Spray River East Trail Fresh snow Single trackset with skating lane. - Goat Creek, Single trackset with skating lane.
  https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/cond_e.asp?oPark=100092

Weather Forecast:
https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-49_metric_e.html
High minus 8. Wind chill minus 21 in the morning and minus 14 in the afternoon.

Let's meet at 8:50 for departure from North Edworthy Park at 9:00 a.m.