Cataract creek snowmobile area offical thread 2015/16

[Kaz Dog]

Cataract Creek P.L.U.Z. Snowmobile Trails - Trail Maintenance Days

For all club members and interested non-members/"the public", the Calgary Snowmobile Club has arranged for Trail Maintenance Days on the snowmobile trails at Cataract Creek Public Land Use Zone (P.L.U.Z.). We have scheduled two weekends - Sept. 26/27 & Oct. 3/4 - as trail maintenance clean up days. ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

If you are interested in helping out, please bring with you; work gloves, safety gear for equipment you will bring/be operating (eye & ear protection, safety vest, hard hat, etc...) and BEAR SPRAY (this is not mandatory, but requested, given what has gone on with bears/trail workers/ATV'ers this past few months). Also, shrub shears, pruners, hand saws for trees, chainsaws, large pry bars, and timber/log jacks are most welcome.

We will be accessing the area on our own ATV's and Side-by-Sides. To this end, you must have your registration and insurance available to be checked by government personnel before you are let on the trails.

We are currently arranging for a group area for those who would like to stay over on the Saturday nights of each weekend. More to come on this later.

All people interested in helping out - please send me a direct message so that I can get a head count and layout plans for trails to be attended to.

There is much work to do in advance of these days, as S.L.S. is actively operating in the area (coordination for safety) and ongoing Backcountry Trail Flood Rehabilitation Project (BTFRP) work too. Currently, the BTFRP work is concentrated in the "northend" of the trails area, along Etherington Creek. We are looking to coordinate some volunteer work with them on a couple of small projects along the trail system there, but they are also working with contractors to replace/re-route/re-build trails and bridges. Of note, they have a large project on the north-south section of Etherington Trail south of the Baril Creek Loop Trail intersection, in the west, to Loggers Trail. As well, they are replacing the bridge and re-routing the trail leaving the Etherington Campground heading south on the Valley Bottom Trail, if this project can be completed this fall.

 

[Highfly]

Map ....

 

[Sledderglen]

Will be there for the Oct 3-4 weekend. Can we camp there that weekend?

 

[Kaz Dog]

Sledderglenn, we will be camping there on the Friday and/or Saturday night, for those that chose to. I am just nailing down if it will be the parking lot or a group camping area.

 

[101110101101]

Cataract Creek P.L.U.Z. Snowmobile Trails - Trail Maintenance Days

For all club members and interested non-members/"the public", the Calgary Snowmobile Club has arranged for Trail Maintenance Days on the snowmobile trails at Cataract Creek Public Land Use Zone (P.L.U.Z.). We have scheduled two weekends - Sept. 26/27 & Oct. 3/4 - as trail maintenance clean up days. ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

If you are interested in helping out, please bring with you; work gloves, safety gear for equipment you will bring/be operating (eye & ear protection, safety vest, hard hat, etc...) and BEAR SPRAY (this is not mandatory, but requested, given what has gone on with bears/trail workers/ATV'ers this past few months). Also, shrub shears, pruners, hand saws for trees, chainsaws, large pry bars, and timber/log jacks are most welcome.

We will be accessing the area on our own ATV's and Side-by-Sides. To this end, you must have your registration and insurance available to be checked by government personnel before you are let on the trails.

We are currently arranging for a group area for those who would like to stay over on the Saturday nights of each weekend. More to come on this later.

All people interested in helping out - please send me a direct message so that I can get a head count and layout plans for trails to be attended to.

There is much work to do in advance of these days, as S.L.S. is actively operating in the area (coordination for safety) and ongoing Backcountry Trail Flood Rehabilitation Project (BTFRP) work too. Currently, the BTFRP work is concentrated in the "northend" of the trails area, along Etherington Creek. We are looking to coordinate some volunteer work with them on a couple of small projects along the trail system there, but they are also working with contractors to replace/re-route/re-build trails and bridges. Of note, they have a large project on the north-south section of Etherington Trail south of the Baril Creek Loop Trail intersection, in the west, to Loggers Trail. As well, they are replacing the bridge and re-routing the trail leaving the Etherington Campground heading south on the Valley Bottom Trail, if this project can be completed this fall.

Hypothetical here....... Let's pretend the wife and I have some free time once in a blue moon and would like to help.... but we don't own any form of summer ATV... no quads or the like. Could we still be of use? We are not members of any club.

 

[Kaz Dog]

We at the CSC Trails Committee would never turn down any assistance/volunteer.

Today I am on the trails with Spray Lake Sawmill staff to view their current work, and look for synergies for recreationalists. SLS has reinstalled the bridge over Cataract Creek, and I will see if we would be allowed to have a bunch of people in a crew cab truck utilize their road (Lost Creek Road - an L.O.C. designated road they control) to dispurse down the trail system.

I will let you and all others know tomorrow morning, as I am attending a meeting in Crownest Pass tonight, on behalf of snowmobilers.

Hypothetical here....... Let's pretend the wife and I have some free time once in a blue moon and would like to help.... but we don't own any form of summer ATV... no quads or the like. Could we still be of use? We are not members of any club.

 

[101110101101]

We at the CSC Trails Committee would never turn down any assistance/volunteer.

Today I am on the trails with Spray Lake Sawmill staff to view their current work, and look for synergies for recreationalists. SLS has reinstalled the bridge over Cataract Creek, and I will see if we would be allowed to have a bunch of people in a crew cab truck utilize their road (Lost Creek Road - an L.O.C. designated road they control) to dispurse down the trail system.

I will let you and all others know tomorrow morning, as I am attending a meeting in Crownest Pass tonight, on behalf of snowmobilers.

Sounds good.... I spoke with the wife last night about this, and she would also be in to helping out one of the two weekends (depending on her work schedule). I admit I have a very limited knowledge of the trails and their names, only having been there a few times and really sticking pretty close to the staging areas. Anyway..... we enjoy the outdoors and lending a hand... if you want to put us to use, PM me when you have any details.

 

[Bunn]

Kaz Dog...I just want to say that You Rock....thanks for ALL the hard work you have and continue to put in. My family appreciates you a lot. I will be down there on Saturday Oct 3 to help out. I do not have Side x Side access this year but will bring chain saw, axe and other items to help clear if i can get a lift from someone.

 

[Kaz Dog]

First two days of Trail Maintenance complete, two more to go!

We were able to clear logs from and de-brush quite a bit of trail this past weekend.

Cataract Creek Trail, from the newly re-installed bridge over Cataract creek (by Spray Lake Sawmill), westward to the end and back on the "Loop" portion is wide open.

Etherington Creek Trail, from Cataract Creek Trail north to Logger's Trail is cleared the same too.

Cummings Creek Trail (north portion to the cross-over trail to Skyline Trail) is cleared, with an old snowmobile trail re-opened in anticipation of S.L.S. activity at the very north end for a period of time this winter (Dec. 1 - Jan. 30 currently, but only for a short time until they have hauled all the logs out and leave the area here). Still to be addressed is a small landslide covering 1/2 of the trail at one point, and the large "landslide area" - which has been opened up approx. 10 feet wide, but still needs work by a bobcat/dozer/hoe.

Skyline Trail is cleared.

Pasque Trail is cleared, but requires some work by a bobcat or dozer.

Oyster Excursion Trail: S.L. S. will be logging and hauling at the start-to-mid of the season (Dec. 1 - Jan. 30 currently), on the middle section. A re-route is planned for snowmobilers, and we will clear what is needed to keep it accessible.

The government of Alberta's Backcountry Trails Flood Rehabilitation project team is replacing the bridge and trail at the worst section left on Etherington Trail, starting just south of Baril Loop Trail where it comes back to Etherington Trail on the west end. Once complete, the trail leaving the parking lot at Etherington P.R.A. parking lot westward is complete. One bridge may be installed in the future, but a snow bridge will suffice for the time being.

The BTRR team is also replacing the washed out bridge that leaves the Etherington Campground on the east/FTR side and heads south on Valley Bottom Trail, by Dec. 1 - I have been informed. Volunteers may be assisting on trail clearing/re-route from the bridge to where the trail is "good", but this is not yet set in stone.

If you have the time, let me know if you are able to help out next weekend, Oct. 3 -4, via P.M. Bring ATV/quad (preferred, but a two door/light weight side-by-side is okay too). Chainsaw, gloves, lunch, water, and strong back will go a long way. BBQ for all volunteers when we are finished - burgers & condiments, chips, soda pop and water supplied on Saturday. I need a head count!

 

[Kaz Dog]

Looking ahead to Trail Maintenance Days on Saturday, and Sunday;


Saturday looks to be chilly! With a current high of 0 Celsius in the afternoon, don't be deterred. Bring appropriate clothing (Cool and wet) and "volunteer through it"!


Sunday looks a bit better: 9 Celsius at the highest (afternoon), cool in the A.M.

 

[Sledderglen]

Will be camping there Friday night. We wait all summer for snow so lets all come out to the first snow of the season and give a hand to prepare the area for the upcoming season.

 

[Sledderglen]

Was a really good weekend. We cleared some trail and checked out the area for further repairs. Was fun with good people and great meals. Will be there next time for sure. Forestry is really active in there this year hope we can all get along and continue the relationship Scott has developed with them.
There was about 4 inches of wet heavy snow way back there as well as 4 Grizzly bears. Seen tracks in snow

 

[Sledderglen]

I wonder how the area is doing for snow. May have to drive out and check it out

 

[knocksum]

Should be a decent base building.

 

[Highfly]

Should be a decent base building.

\ Could be but if its like last year that base could all disappear before we know it. Last year it never had a real base all year :-(

 

[Kaz Dog]

\ Could be but if its like last year that base could all disappear before we know it. Last year it never had a real base all year :-(

True that! But with the groomer being available from All-Tracks this winter, the C.S.C. hopes to groom and pack snow as much as possible, this will make for a better and longer riding season at C.C..

This is a prototype groomer, so early season testing/grooming will be limited to when the snow starts and how much All-Tracks wants to accomplish - and how quickly. The club and I are working on securing diesel fuel for this groomer. Anybody on this forum have any suggestions to allow us to groom more often? We are looking at sponsorships, donations, trail fees through A.S.A. Trail Passes (do you have yours?), and any other means to keep the groomer working this winter. PM me anything you would like, if you do not want to post it on the open forum. Scott

 

[101110101101]

True that! But with the groomer being available from All-Tracks this winter, the C.S.C. hopes to groom and pack snow as much as possible, this will make for a better and longer riding season at C.C..

This is a prototype groomer, so early season testing/grooming will be limited to when the snow starts and how much All-Tracks wants to accomplish - and how quickly. The club and I are working on securing diesel fuel for this groomer. Anybody on this forum have any suggestions to allow us to groom more often? We are looking at sponsorships, donations, trail fees through A.S.A. Trail Passes (do you have yours?), and any other means to keep the groomer working this winter. PM me anything you would like, if you do not want to post it on the open forum. Scott

I'm not opposed to contributing something... I do go there a few times a year (unless Etherington is considered a different place?)... but how do I do that, exactly?

 

[Kaz Dog]

I'm not opposed to contributing something... I do go there a few times a year (unless Etherington is considered a different place?)... but how do I do that, exactly?

Technically (and in the governments' legalise) "Etherington" is within the Cataract Creek Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone (P.L.U.Z.), as part of the Cataract Creek Snowmobile Trails. The two P.R.A.'s (Public Recreation Areas - "Cataract" and "Etherington") are the locations of the parking lots/areas, to access the trail heads.

The Calgary Snowmobile Club is spearheading the ongoing maintenance and - new this year - trail grooming at the area. To start the season, all grooming activity will be west out of the Etherington parking lot. If you would like to contribute, let me know what you are thinking. I can be reached at my Trails Committee e-mail address of trails@calgarysnowmobileclub.net. I look forward to hearing from you. Scott

 

[Highfly]

This was brought up by me last year and I would like to bring it up again so no one gets a huge fine for riding in an area that looks to be in the P.L.U.Z. zone but is not.
In the link below is the area map. In the map you see a P.L.U.Z. zone up in the top right corner. It clearly says this is all P.L.U.Z. zone but after talking to a friend of mine that works for E.S.R.D. the right hand side of the map is a "reserved" area and is out of bounds at this time. It is a protected area for wildlife.

I raised a lot of stink about this and said I'm printing the map and if I get pulled over i'm presenting it. My friend said he was going to bring this up and possibly get the map corrected or clarified. From his side and his documentation that he sees this area is clearly out of bounds (Not so clear for us).

 

[101110101101]

This was brought up by me last year and I would like to bring it up again so no one gets a huge fine for riding in an area that looks to be in the P.L.U.Z. zone but is not.
In the link below is the area map. In the map you see a P.L.U.Z. zone up in the top right corner. It clearly says this is all P.L.U.Z. zone but after talking to a friend of mine that works for E.S.R.D. this is a "reserved" area and is out of bounds at this time. It is a protected area for wildlife.

I raised a lot of stink about this and said I'm printing the map and if I get pulled over i'm presenting it. My friend said he was going to bring this up and possibly get the map corrected or clarified. From his side and his documentation that he sees this area is clearly out of bounds (Not so clear for us).

Can you explain which area you are referring to that is out of bounds? I am not sure which part... maybe highlight it with Windows Snipping Tool?