2013 Winter Snowfall

In #Sundre the snow is melting but in the mountains there is at least 6 more weeks of snow to come.

This winter we have had a good snowfall in the mountains. As of today we have accumulated the average amount of snow, at the source of the Red Deer River, the same that would fall from a full winter. And we still have a minimum of 6 weeks of potential snowfall that can accumulate. Things are looking good! On the chart the blue line is rising.

The guides can’t wait to get out on the river, paddling and brushing up on their safety skills. Bet they have learned plenty of new jokes to subject a trapped audience to.

Hopefully we get lot's more snow (in the mountains)!

Merry Christmas

It’s cold and snowy in #Sundre which feels right for Christmas. Otter Rafting’s present to you is a good river forecast for the 2013 rafting season.

It’s Christmas Eve and I want to wish all a Merry Christmas and for a very Happy New Year with plenty of high water.

Here is a link to the snow pack conditions at Skoki Lodge (the major head waters of the Red Deer River). It’s looking pretty good for early in the winter, even above last years level on this date. We have good things to look forward to in 2013 and a great rafting season seems to be one of them.

Meanwhile, all this snow means a good ski season too. So get out and enjoy the great outdoors and I’ll keep you posted for the river forecast. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Last weekend on the river

Yes, the rafting season has come to an end in #Alberta. Here are the final pictures of Coal Camp Ledge on the Red Deer River of the series that started in May.

The sequence follows the rivers cycle throughout the summer season. Every Sunday the photos were taken and they show how the river has changed in the previous week.

The photos start with ice on the river and is starting to melt. There is very little water flow. The photos end as there is no more melt happening at the headwaters of the Red Deer River. Essentially ice is forming up at the higher elevations and we have reverted back to very little water flow.

It would be interesting to be able to show how the river has changed though out the season, where there have been very dramatic changes to the river’s path but the inaccessibility of the river makes it difficult.

Here are the photos from last weekend and the previous weekend.