I will be in Calgary for the rest of the month for a couple of funerals.

I will have to pack light so nothing bigger than my 15m. Chesterman and Deer lakes will be closest for me ? I will have a vehicle full time starting on the 22nd and can go farther after that.
Not sure I can pack well enough to handle Spray Lakes? I will have to pack ski boots rather than snow boots???

Alberta kiters ride boards and skis interchangeably. There is usually wind somewhere, but a full quiver is advisable. Weather can vary from mild at around freezing down to minus forty. Down to minus ten, things are fine, but below that things can get unpleasant.
You can meet up with with Alberta kiters at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/441349399311580/953692918077...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/205979619417415/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/643704122325787/
More info at http://www.albertakiteboarding.com/groups/

Thanks Allen,

Great advice. I grew up in and will be staying in S.E. Calgary. Deer Lake will be closest for me.

The 14 day trend suggests that we will be out of the deep freeze starting on Monday. I will be busy until then.

I am aware of how the winds can really build there. Due to space I can't pack my full quiver. I will not be covered for winds under 5kts but well covered for the potential high winds. .

Sorry to hear about your family's losses Ken. We have lots of snow and the wind has been Chinooking west of town so we might get to try the studded tires on my buggy out at Ghost Lake next weekend (search Ghost Lake on WindGURU)

Chestermere is busy with quads & sleds - last time I kited there I ended up with black oily spots on the white backside of my kite I have some new lakes for us to try east and south of town. They hold more snow than Ghost or Cochrane because they get less wind. For info search McDonald Lake, Weed Lake, and Dalmead Lake using the WindGURU Quick spot input box.

Looking forward to getting together again. If the wind is light we might head north and try a meet up with kiteboyza and macboy. macboy needs to shake the cobwebs off of his quiver

Thanks Bill,

Next weekend is pretty free? If we can work a meet up for up north that may be a good time? Sylvan ??? Thanks for the heads up on Chesterman. Sounds like the same zoo there as in summer.

Definitely up for seeing your secret spots!

It would be nice to meet up with Prussik . I have huge respect for his knowledge !

Friday forecast is looking good for Sylvan but light Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Are kiteboyza and macboy available for a meet up Friday?

I have been down with the flu. Not Sure I am in form for a road trip but should be open to meeting up on the weekend.
if I have my energy back I will hit Red Deer lake for a quickie Friday.

Forget RDL. It has been unusable for years because of thick vegetation. Your best bet for a "quickie" would be McDonald or Weed or (less pleasant) Chestermere. But for more reliable winds you have to go west rather than east.

Thanks for the heads up.
Canuck warned me about Chestermere. Seems he got oil all over a kite there with all the ATV's and such.
Are you planning on heading anyplace in the next week Prussik?

P.S. can't find weed lake on google earth?

McDonald Lake is in the industrial area east of Cross Iron Mills Mall. From Cranston take Deerfoot Trail north, turn right at Crossiron Drive then go east until you see a windmill in WalMart's Distribution Centre. The lake access is south of the windmill.


Weed Lake is just north of Langdon. From Cranston take Deerfoot Trail north to Stoney Trail. Go east and north on Stoney Trail, turn right at Glenmore Trail (Hwy560) then east to Langdon. You can park on the west or east side of Weed Lake. For the west side turn left off Glenmore Trail at the 4 way stop go north on Highway 797 and turn right on Township Road 240 then go east to the end of the track (it is not a good road).
For the east side continue on Glenmore Trail past the 4 way stop turn left at Range Road 270 (Boundary Road), go north on the gravel, turn left at Township Road 240 and go west to the end of the road. There is a school bus turnaround at the end of the road so park as close to the concrete barriers as you can to leave room for the bus to turn.

Conditions are changing rapidly so I typically choose location at the last minute. Up to now snow has been quite nice at E locations but not much wind. So for me Ghost has been the best with lots of wind and snow covering old drifts. By Ghost I don't mean the chewed up area close by but 5 to 7 km from the boat ramp where I have exclusive rights to untracked snow - rights based on the fact that over many years I have not seen anybody there other than a few fishermen. Unfortunately yesterday winds 50-70 km/h blew off all the nice snow exposing old rough drifts and some ice and piled up new drifts which became wet concrete as temp rose to +8 quickly changing nice conditions to treacherous. With warm temps E spots are likely to suffer too in addition to unreliable wind. So in the near future I will be looking for clear ice like today at LDA where there were some puddles and puffy wind but kiteable. I expect water to disappear by tomorrow. Spray has a chance to preserve snow quality but it could get warm there too. I normally don't travel there till Apr and May when white velvet forms.

To find Weed look up Langdon. Weed is just NE of it. For me the best and safest access is from E, 3.2 km S from Hwy.1. SE of Langdon there is Dalemead Lk also kiteable but parking is on shoulder of a busy highway.

Thanks again Prussik.

Canuck and I will meet up today. Ghost was discussed as a 1st option. If you get a chance to catch up give a call. My # is
77 8 - 251 74Five Five.

If Ghost is icy with wind we will share CanucS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s " Stud Buggy " !