Cataract creek snowmobile area offical thread 2015/16

[101110101101]

I am wondering something here and hope someone can let me know. While out at Etherington a week or so ago, I was touring my brother around Baril loop. My brother noticed, on that loop, that there were a couple (at least but maybe more) small little "trails" that lead off the main loop. These trails lead to open fields and seemed almost untouched.

The question is, are we allowed playing in those types of areas?

 

[shawnmcgr]

Can anyone provide some conditions on the trail over Fording and the conditions in the BC bowl? Looking to possibly take a friend out there to break in a new sled. I expect the trail to the pass is lumpy but hoping it's at least snow covered and all the creeks are passable.

 

[DoCDoo]

I am wondering something here and hope someone can let me know. While out at Etherington a week or so ago, I was touring my brother around Baril loop. My brother noticed, on that loop, that there were a couple (at least but maybe more) small little "trails" that lead off the main loop. These trails lead to open fields and seemed almost untouched.

The question is, are we allowed playing in those types of areas?

Last time I was out there these areas you speak of were pretty tracked out.

Prob not allowed but I don't see the issue. I never will when it comes to this stuff. In the summer in fluz areas I get the staying on trail part with water, swamp, muskeg etc but in the winter especially snow machine the damage to the ground is minimal to none.


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[solarguy]

Can anyone provide some conditions on the trail over Fording and the conditions in the BC bowl? Looking to possibly take a friend out there to break in a new sled. I expect the trail to the pass is lumpy but hoping it's at least snow covered and all the creeks are passable.

Very little snow on top, better in BC

 

[Teth-Air]

Wecall this area, "The Moon" because it always looks like that.

Very little snow on top, better in BCView attachment 193150

 

[solarguy]

It is definitely "the moon", was my fist time riding CC. Found some good snow and no tracks on the BC side.

 

[raceu4it]

looks like the norm, even in the 80's, 90's and 00's.

 

[shawnmcgr]

looks like the norm, even in the 80's, 90's and 00's.

Yup, every time I've been over the pass it's looked just like that. I think I'll put my wife's skis on my sled for this trip!

 

[Kaz Dog]

........to break in a new sled. I expect the trail to the pass is lumpy but hoping it's at least snow covered and all the creeks are passable.

If you are looking to break in a new sled, why don't you just run some trails, get some miles on it?

I spoke with Glen last night, and he and Dan were able to do some needed grooming yesterday. From what he told me, Etherington, Baril Loop, Upper and Lower Raspberry Trails were all double groomed yesterday......Glen says smooth as a baby's butt.


This means the path from Etherington parking lot to the "Y" on Baril Loop Trail where Baril Creek Trail to Fording Pass starts is now back in great shape.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Last time I was out there these areas you speak of were pretty tracked out.

Prob not allowed but I don't see the issue. I never will when it comes to this stuff. In the summer in fluz areas I get the staying on trail part with water, swamp, muskeg etc but in the winter especially snow machine the damage to the ground is minimal to none.


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The trails back to this area are now groomed again. Again I will reference "the official line"/regulations - no off trail riding. That said.......you are correct, the ground, wetlands, and marshes are frozen solid. And given the large amount of snow in the area you speak of.........if there was a real concern, enforcement would be there.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Got out yesterday for the first time this year. Started off in Etherington and ventured over to Cataract covering a lot of the trail system. Went over Skyline and checked out some of the logging that is being done in the area. So many new roads to follow, new cut blocks. A few times we had a general idea where we were so I wont say that we were losts but wow it was pretty cool. Hope they do not deactivate the roads entirely, sure will be a huge upgrade to the area if they leave it as is.
I was a little worried about hearing they were logging in the area but depending on what they do next this could be a very good thing.

We are working with the government on this.

 

[Sledderglen]

If you are looking to break in a new sled, why don't you just run some trails, get some miles on it?

I spoke with Glen last night, and he and Dan were able to do some needed grooming yesterday. From what he told me, Etherington, Baril Loop, Upper and Lower Raspberry Trails were all double groomed yesterday......Glen says smooth as a baby's butt.


This means the path from Etherington parking lot to the "Y" on Baril Loop Trail where Baril Creek Trail to Fording Pass starts is now back in great shape.

My baby`s butt still might have a few bumps on Baril. This trail was mogguled pretty good. Did what we could with what I have. Much better than what it was. This is your Trailpass Dollars in action. Do you have a trailpass to continue the trailwork going on out there?? We used our full tanks of fuel grooming yesterday. 1 sled ran out of fuel way down on Raspberry. Lucky made it to truck for fuel on other sled. Would of been a long walk at 5:00 PM.
Bigger groomer coming next week I hope. Need to prepare the trails for the rally.

 

[Calgarymike]

We have only ridden around our cabin on buffalo lake, we do not have trails or anything. My question is how easy are the trails access wise anything that can not be done by absolute beginners? And do we need a pass to ride here?

Thanks in advance for help

 

[Highfly]

The area rocks for beginners! Unload and trail heads are right at the parking lots. Stay away from Skyline area as trails can get drifted in which requires side hilling skills. If you stay on the valley bottom you can go a long ways with out worrying about hills.

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[shawnmcgr]

If you are looking to break in a new sled, why don't you just run some trails, get some miles on it?

I spoke with Glen last night, and he and Dan were able to do some needed grooming yesterday. From what he told me, Etherington, Baril Loop, Upper and Lower Raspberry Trails were all double groomed yesterday......Glen says smooth as a baby's butt.


This means the path from Etherington parking lot to the "Y" on Baril Loop Trail where Baril Creek Trail to Fording Pass starts is now back in great shape.

Thanks, we may do that but he's really keen to see it perform "in the mountains".

 

[Kaz Dog]

We have only ridden around our cabin on buffalo lake, we do not have trails or anything. My question is how easy are the trails access wise anything that can not be done by absolute beginners? And do we need a pass to ride here?

Thanks in advance for help

If you're interested, on Saturday, January 16, the Calgary Snowmobile Club is hosting a Poker Run. If you would like to do some trails riding and learn some of the system, come on out. We can send you out with an experienced leader - which means help if anything is too dicey for you.

 

[Kaz Dog]

BTW - there is no mandatory Trail Pass needed, but support through buying an A.S.A. "provincial" Trail Pass in support of the Calgary Snowmobile Club (C.S.C.) is greatly appreciated. Otherwise, a donation to the C.S.C. for trail maintenance and grooming is excellent as well. Thanks to all that do this!

 

[GasCan]

Thinking I'll head out next week to check out the trails during the poker run. Hope there's one more good dump of snow before then. The one this week was decent around Okotoks

 

[DoCDoo]

Was thinking of heading to Cataract tomorrow but heard from someone that was there today (second hand) that there is no snow and it sucked. I can't see that really from the snow that the city has gotten and that Eden Valley got.

Can anyone confirm?

I'm thinking one persons idea of crappy snow might be different than someone elses. Crappy because there isn't a foot of fresh or crappy because bare spots etc.

Thoughts?

 

[TylerG]

Was thinking of heading to Cataract tomorrow but heard from someone that was there today (second hand) that there is no snow and it sucked. I can't see that really from the snow that the city has gotten and that Eden Valley got.

Can anyone confirm?

I'm thinking one persons idea of crappy snow might be different than someone elses. Crappy because there isn't a foot of fresh or crappy because bare spots etc.

Thoughts?

A little birdie told me that Sledderglen was out there today with a larger groomer working on the trails. He may be able to comment if he comes online tonight.