Shannan, Kathy and I went snowshoeing today … OMG, was it great! The hike was a 5k loop, freshly groomed and relatively flat (a few ups and downs, but not bad at all).

I copied this from the web …

Mount Shark is a training area with some moderately challenging climbs. It has a number of loops of different lengths that can be combined and depending on which one(s) you choose, there will be more or less climbs. A nice feature is the trails are generally one-way & signed as such, so they have a pretty smooth flow. If you’re a biathelete, bring yer guns (call Canmore nordic Center for a range permit first). There are also some ungroomed trails just as you turn off the Smith Dorien Trail onto Mt. Shark road. Directions: From Banff, drive east to Canmore, then south on Spray Lakes Road. At 34.7 km past the Canmore Nordic Center turn, turn right (West) up the Mt. Shark Road. There are parking areas both beside the HeliPad and the main parking lot. If coming from the south, it is 27 km north of the junction of Smith Dorrien/Spray Lakes Road and Kananaskis Lakes Trail (ie Road). Spray Lakes Road is a gravel road, generally decent conditions but can be unpredictable. Stay away from the exterme edges, the snowplows plow the snow flat even though the road bed has dropped off and you can get stuck off the side of the road.

I posted a few pics under hiking. Stay tuned for the next one … Chester Lake, an 8k return.