Author: Eric Matzner
General area: Tabor Mountain
Trip start date: 2021-02-15
The goal for this day trip was to reach Troll lake and the cabin, then maybe ski to the summit of Tabor. I began on the west side of the trail system, parking at the gravel pit near the end of the ploughed part of Groveburn. From there I began skiing up the troll lake trail. There was no signage visible, though I could see a well packed trail. I had also been on this trail before, and had a GPS map with me. I went out on my Rosignol BC90 XLs, SNS XA bindings. The snow was sugary and well set up with enough untouched for a pleasant descent. There was probably about 30-50cm of snow depending on exposure or modification. There was a noticeable layer about 20cm down where it became very hard and icy, a testament to the warm dry December and early January. The trail was well packed by snowshoers and in pretty good condition.
I enjoy skiing on the Tabor trails, but I have noticed a trend; the trails tend to feel longer than they are, and there is always trail maintenance to do. On my ascent to Troll lake I made 3 snow bridges across sharp angled depressions in the trail where it crossed (now frozen) streams and wet spots. V-shaped crossings are a skier’s headache, but with 5min of effort a stable crossing for all the future skiers that winter can be made. All I do is add snow into the hole and let it set up. The base of a crossing is always important, when its just ice or snow it only needs more snow. When water is present it gets trickier. Its best practice to not put anything in larger flowing streams to try and bridge them, these are rarely a 5min job. Crossing trickles of flow only needs a few logs/sticks/branches under the snow you place.
Troll Lake Cabin 
Another aspect of trail maintenance is cutting brush and blowdown. I cut two downed logs and a bunch of alders at face height. I always brush trails through the eyes of the person descending, or trying to make the trails as easy to see and understand as possible (brushing intersections is a great habit). I carry a small pruning saw that has proven to be extremely effective, capable, and safe (so long as you aren’t complacent). I almost never use a hatchet and find machetes to be more of a summer tool.
Aside from the stops to work on the trail the ascent was nothing of note. Though I wish my skis had more bite on the steep. I reached the cabin after 2.5hrs on the trail (lots of cutting!). I decided I had burned through too much of my time budget to reach the summit. I then had a lovely picnic in the falling snow on the stoop of the cabin. Someone has brought a cot and a small gas stove with fuel canisters, looks much more enticing for an overnighter now! No firewood stocked, but there are suitable firewood trees around the lake if one feels like bringing a saw and doing some more sweating.
The descent was quite nice, dreamy even, taking me 40min. There was enough untouched snow on the sides for some nice powder conditions. The trail is great for XC skiing as it is mostly a consistent gentle grade (its all old logging roads). I could see telemark or backcountry skiers enjoying this trail in the right snow in the right spots and with the right expectations, but this is a trail that will get skied out fast. It is quite narrow and tight with a fair amount of traffic (mostly snowshoes). There are about 6 short pitches that are pretty steep and pushed my abilities on fat steel edged XC skis. The last couple hundred meters before reaching bottom is probably the best descent terrain.
All in all it was a good outing and it feels good to help keep these trails in usable condition. The Tabor area is a real gem in the rough and I see great things in its future as demand backcountry close to town grows.