Cataract creek snowmobile area offical thread 2015/16

[Sledderglen]

So is there gonna be a actual groomer out there this year?

I say YES. Was at the business today and they were working on it. Blade will be installed this week and a test drive is in order very soon. This is a new unit and a prototype as well. It will be driven and tested and then if all good will be doing some type of grooming as soon as we can.
This unit will be just the right size to make a difference to this area. This is a start of what can happen for this area. Many things need to be done such as trail ground work, signage, and huge amount of work with the government. Scott is a busy man and he is doing it as fast bas he can. It would be great if we could get helpers when we ask for them in the future. If you could help us get the area up and going it would be much appreciated.

I do have my small trail setting equipment ready to go as soon as we can get approval to get out there early or we wait till December 1st like you all.

 

[Sledderglen]

I'll be there next Tuesday bright n early

If I`m not called out for work will see you there also. I`ll be on a Skandic pulling a tracksetter type drag. If the snows deep, look for me I`ll be the unit stuck.

 

[X-Treme]

I say YES. Was at the business today and they were working on it. Blade will be installed this week and a test drive is in order very soon. This is a new unit and a prototype as well. It will be driven and tested and then if all good will be doing some type of grooming as soon as we can.
This unit will be just the right size to make a difference to this area. This is a start of what can happen for this area. Many things need to be done such as trail ground work, signage, and huge amount of work with the government. Scott is a busy man and he is doing it as fast bas he can. It would be great if we could get helpers when we ask for them in the future. If you could help us get the area up and going it would be much appreciated.

I do have my small trail setting equipment ready to go as soon as we can get approval to get out there early or we wait till December 1st like you all.

If you haven't already, have a chat with Ministik Man. He looks after the trails in the Ministik Bird Sanctuary and is in the same boat as you. Not open until Dec. 1, and ONLY with at least 6" of snow. But he gets a temporary field authorization to go in for the weekends in November with ATV's to clear trails. I gladly helped out this year. I was a really good time, and the bonus of breakfast, a weenie roast lunch and being able to ride the trails on the quad. Had 18 helpers a couple weekends ago. More hands make light work. Maybe if you could get the same type of TFA, you could get some helpers out.

 

[JZ1]

Will this groomer be able to groom all the trails? A lot of the trails are fairly narrow.

i was hoping to make a donation the the calgarybsled club through work this year but with the price of oil I won't ne able to do that.

i will be able to help another way though. Check your PM box Glen.

 

[Stickman70]

If you haven't already, have a chat with Ministik Man. He looks after the trails in the Ministik Bird Sanctuary and is in the same boat as you. Not open until Dec. 1, and ONLY with at least 6" of snow. But he gets a temporary field authorization to go in for the weekends in November with ATV's to clear trails. I gladly helped out this year. I was a really good time, and the bonus of breakfast, a weenie roast lunch and being able to ride the trails on the quad. Had 18 helpers a couple weekends ago. More hands make light work. Maybe if you could get the same type of TFA, you could get some helpers out.

That good info. We have been going down that road for the past couple of years. Kaz Dog has been doing great work with the government getting us the proper TFA's. And you are right, many hands make for light work.
Thanks for the post.

 

[Sledderglen]

Will this groomer be able to groom all the trails? A lot of the trails are fairly narrow.

i was hoping to make a donation the the calgarybsled club through work this year but with the price of oil I won't ne able to do that.

i will be able to help another way though. Check your PM box Glen.

Thanks. We will talk in the future for sure. Maybe we will see you Tuesday. I will be driving a silver dodge dually. Also have a couple of old fat girls on the deck (Ski doo Skandic SWT) with drags.

 

[TylerG]

Thanks. We will talk in the future for sure. Maybe we will see you Tuesday. I will be driving a silver dodge dually. Also have a couple of old fat girls on the deck (Ski doo Skandic SWT) with drags.

You got both the old fatty's down there? Poor truck must be crying!

 

[Sledderglen]

You got both the old fatty's down there? Poor truck must be crying!

Its a Dodge they like big girls. Have Dually just for this reason

 

[JZ1]

staging at Etherington be the better of the stages areas? Any idea if there is enough snow to cross the creek/rocks at Cataract? Are we allowed to use Wilkinson trail/road, last year it was closed to logging right? Is there enough snow on it? Is that trail/road normally plowed?

 

[Kaz Dog]

staging at Etherington be the better of the stages areas? Any idea if there is enough snow to cross the creek/rocks at Cataract? Are we allowed to use Wilkinson trail/road, last year it was closed to logging right? Is there enough snow on it? Is that trail/road normally plowed?

Staging at Etherington is better, yes. Most of the work that was done this off-season was to the "north-end" of the trails system, out of Etherington.

At Cataract Creek there is an issue with the Cataract Creek Trail going west. The new routing of the Lost Creek Road lease owned by Spray Lakes Sawmill goes over part of the original Cataract Creek Trail. We have to "sign" a safe route down the valley and crossing the road onto the remaining Cataract Creek Trail as the L.C.R. is an active log hauling road until mid-January, 2016. If the road is graded, it is illegal to operate a snowmobile on it. It is also unsafe to do so, as a fully loaded logging truck can not stop quickly - or safely - if a snowmobiler appears in front of them on the road.

My best routing recommendation for the best trails - currently - would be:

Etherington parking lot west on Etherington Trail and on to Baril Loop Trail, then

around Baril Loop Trail and back to Etherington Trail, then

turn south onto Etherington Trail and go up and over the ridge onto Cataract Creek Trail, then

choose either Cataract Loop Trail or the valley bottom Cataract Creek Trail and head back east to Fallers Trail, then

turn south on Fallers Trail until it comes out at the junction with Oyster Excursion Trail, then

go east over the bridge, onto the Lost Creek Road (safely) - turning south for a very short distance (safely) to the Cummings Creek Trail off-shoot/crossover road/trail, then (safely)

keep left and onto the Trail from the road and turn north (left) onto Cummings Creek Trail and travel to where it comes out at the Cataract Creek S.L.S. bridge/Lost Creek Road, then

scoot across the bridge when safe and proceed north (via a bit northeast of the bridge) to Raspberry Pass Trail, then

head north to Etherington Trail , via Upper Raspberry Pass Trail is recommended, then

turn east and head back to the parking lot.

See the attached map to follow the directions above:

 

[Sledderglen]

Staging at Etherington is better, yes. Most of the work that was done this off-season was to the "north-end" of the trails system, out of Etherington.

At Cataract Creek there is an issue with the Cataract Creek Trail going west. The new routing of the Lost Creek Road lease owned by Spray Lakes Sawmill goes over part of the original Cataract Creek Trail. We have to "sign" a safe route down the valley and crossing the road onto the remaining Cataract Creek Trail as the L.C.R. is an active log hauling road until mid-January, 2016. If the road is graded, it is illegal to operate a snowmobile on it. It is also unsafe to do so, as a fully loaded logging truck can not stop quickly - or safely - if a snowmobiler appears in front of them on the road.

My best routing recommendation for the best trails - currently - would be:

Etherington parking lot west on Etherington Trail and on to Baril Loop Trail, then

around Baril Loop Trail and back to Etherington Trail, then

turn south onto Etherington Trail and go up and over the ridge onto Cataract Creek Trail, then

choose either Cataract Loop Trail or the valley bottom Cataract Creek Trail and head back east to Fallers Trail, then

turn south on Fallers Trail until it comes out at the junction with Oyster Excursion Trail, then

go east over the bridge, onto the Lost Creek Road (safely) - turning south for a very short distance (safely) to the Cummings Creek Trail off-shoot/crossover road/trail, then (safely)

keep left and onto the Trail from the road and turn north (left) onto Cummings Creek Trail and travel to where it comes out at the Cataract Creek S.L.S. bridge/Lost Creek Road, then

scoot across the bridge when safe and proceed north (via a bit northeast of the bridge) to Raspberry Pass Trail, then

head north to Etherington Trail , via Upper Raspberry Pass Trail is recommended, then

turn east and head back to the parking lot.

See the attached map to follow the directions above:

What???
I'm confused. I need to find my way around there for sure. LOL In time and much help signage will improve and we will all be able to find our way around. This area has gone thru hell since the flood and will take a few years to get up to speed as far as excellent trails systems go. Lots of on the ground trail work is still needed as well as finding reroutes and routes around hazards and such. Logging is very active as well in this area and we need to work with them as well.
I'm looking forward to helping the Calgary Snowmobile Club with this huge project. If you also want to get involved and help improve this area come on out and help. I'm sure Kaz Dog will be posting here on work days ahead.

 

[JZ1]

I'm assuming there is more than enough snow to ride this coming Tuesday? Hasn't snowed in almost a week at CC

 

[awkwardmoose]

What???
I'm confused. I need to find my way around there for sure...

Go west…just keep going west.


One positive memory, regarding the trail signage, was that there was an area map and a ‘you are here’ reference at every trail junction. The less familiar users felt that this was a definite help.

Hopefully any new signage continues that tradition.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Snow/grooming report available at the end of the day, but it might be later tonight.

 

[Bunn]

Hey Kaz Dog.....Where is our snow report ?? The suspense is killing some of us.

 

[DoCDoo]

I would like to go out Tues. will be first ride in years so patience would be nice if anyone else is going and wants a tag along. My buddy might not be able to go but I'm wanting to if there is enough snow.

Someone?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JZ1]

So are all bridges repaired? Two of them I found a way around but one on I believe valley bottom trail there was no way around.

 

[TylerG]

I saw photos. Not sure I should share them though

 

[JZ1]

I saw photos. Not sure I should share them though

Thats ill I needed to hear, cya guys out there on Tuesday

 

[Sledderglen]

2 days of laying trail. Saturday was good had 2 units laying down some great track. Today only me. Snow is all good. Only groomed from Etherignton. So far good. If it stays cold this snow will be a great start for the season. Thanks to Darrell from High River for the help Saturday. Gates are still closed but you can get around them. Couldn't totally groom up Etherignton because snow was to deep and only one track to follow. I packed up to the top with just my sled. To steep for the old fat girl without a packed trail to grip on. Number of trails we were the first on them breaking trail pulling our little trailsetters. Don't have a report from Cataract staging area didnt make it that far yet. Lots of logging has been done and the area has changed a bit as you may have remembered it. STAY OFF THE ACTIVE LOGGING ROAD. Those trucks are huge and are running on ice and snow. Lets not stain the good snow.
People this area is being maintained by the Calgary Snowmobile Club and they need your help in raising some cash for maintenance and repairs, signage. Please buy your trailpasses from them.
I will try to post a pic but I think they are to big for this site.