a belated update from Nov 11 from our friends at K3 Catski:

Quick update from out west. It is a long weekend for some, and sunny (trust me) above this pesky valley cloud.
The Gorge road is well plowed, but the snow that did fall, has now been compacted into quite a slippery layer in places. The logging trucks are running extra sets of chains because of this.
Remember 4x4 does not make you stop faster.
Make sure you have the proper gear to be out there! I met 3 trucks without radios over the last couple days. Not everyone is a skier, granted, I think at least one was a guy looking for Moose.
Turn your head lights on.
Radios- winter tires, - think the ones with the mountain and snowflakes - cause that is where you are headed! M&S are not as good in snow or ice. Tire chains, and a tow strap and shovel. Make sure you know how to use all of the above. Just buying it and tossing it in the back of the truck is like buying a beacon or probe and not ever training with them.
There is more logging traffic than in other years past, and at all hours of the day and night - potentially 7 days a week. We all want to get to and from the hills safely.
1 side note - the bears are very much still awake and active - maybe bring your bear spray, or at least until your cardio catches up after the summer
Winter is off to a great start - this cold should cause some of the creeks to freeze over and be less of an issue than last year was.
Play safe - take lots of pictures, and spread the word to everyone to have the right gear to be out enjoying things.
Cheers from K3

we've added a section on driving on forest roads (resource roads) as this is a key component of accessing the Gorge ski touring terrain safely. Visit the touring page for more info. You absolutely need to have the following:

• VHF Radio with the RR9 channel
• 4x4 or AWD with good winter tires with good clearance
• chains
• shovel

Also, good to have items are:

• towstrap (fabric, not chains)
• truck antennae for VHF radio (remember, handhelds don't transmit very far)

With changing temperatures throughout the day and at different elevations, road conditions can go from good to super slippery in a matter of meters. Throw in loaded logging trucks and you need to make sure you are ready for anything.

Some more tips and requirements for the road:

• Logging trucks have the right of way. Pull over well in advance of them coming and wait for them to pass
• You need to be completely off the road when parking. If a parking spot is full, keep driving to the next spot

And finally, watch the below video and make sure that you follow this when travelling on the Gorge road. Please remember that it will only take an incident or two before the road is shut down for non industrial winter use.

The Gorge Ski Touring Association, lead by Gord Bose and Luke Grubbels attended the Shuswap Trails Round Table meeting on October 26, 2022. From the meeting minutes:

East Shuswap
Gord Bose reported the following new priorities: Sicamous bike park (currently in the process of a Section 57 and First Nations engagement), hoping to break ground next year; the Gorge Creek backcountry area for ski touring and snowmobiling, and working on mitigating recreational conflict and ensuring safety on the access road for all users; and understanding and adhering to closures due to caribou habitat and wildfires (post 2021 wildfire season closures).  

 The Gorge Ski Touring Association attended the latest Shuswap Trails Alliance Meeting. Good discussion was had and talks will continue with the key stakeholders.