Winter Storm Warning

Mon. 28 December:  Murphys Point Trails

Murphys Point ski trails all ready for the first winter storm of the season

Everything’s ready for winter.

The signs are in place, with the trails marked to show the different routes for classic and skating skiing.  There are even signs showing the separate snowshoe trails in the park.  And the temperatures are now firmly sub-zero.  But so far there’s no snow.

This will all change in a few hours.  A large winter storm is heading our way from the US mid-west, and there’s a warning issued for heavy snow overnight.  So by the time the reader sees these pictures, the scene will look very different.

I strolled around Murphys Point Provincial Park today on a roughly clockwise, but largely random, route as the map shows.  A biting easterly wind was blowing across the lake, and temperatures were around minus nine Celsius.  The hazy sun was gradually being swallowed up as the clouds started to build from the southwest. 

The ski club has done a great job preparing for the season, and this beautiful campground with its thick carpet of leaves will be transformed overnight into a spectacular winter paradise for cross-country skiers. 

Grab your skis and head out there tomorrow.  The trails are ready.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately.

Statistics:

Total Distance:         7.5 km (hike)

Height Gain:            Say 60 ft.

Max. Elev:               158 m (518 ft.)

Time on Trail:         1 hr. 39 mins.

Access Gate:          10.42 am

Point Trail:              11.42 am

Ret. to car:             12.21 pm

Temp:                     Minus 9C
Weather:                 Hazy sun, clouds moving in, snowflakes

Minus 9C and a cold wind across the lake

Ski trail signs all set

This scene will look very wintry 24 hours from now

Clouds building from the southwest

Eve of the storm

My route wandered through the Provincial Park