Cataract Creek Snowmobile Trails offical thread 2016/17

[Kaz Dog]

Elderedo, honestly, we were unable to complete re-grading of both trails out from the trailhead parking lots at both Etherington and Cataract Creek, as planned. This had to do more with Alberta Environments' "fish window", and we have found knowing the timing of these "windows" and pre-planning is all important. This does not mean that the trails are not in very decent shape, they are, it is just that there may be a few more stones that we will have to kick off the trail before Dec. 1, or "the freeze" sets in, whichever comes first. December 1, is when the trails officially open. More maintenance time on the trails is on the calendar between now and then, it is just a matter of having enough volunteers to help out.

Wow, nice work, should make a big difference, especially during low snow to start off with smooth trails.

 

[Allseasons]

So what exactly do we need to be able to ride the trails at cateract creek? A CSC membership or ASA trail pass, or both?

 

[Sledderglen]

So what exactly do we need to be able to ride the trails at cateract creek? A CSC membership or ASA trail pass, or both?

We would love to see you buy both. But a trailpass is our trail fundraiser for trailwork. If your from another area and not interested in being a club member a trailpass will be fine. Its a small $$ token that helps fund trail projects across the province as well as out at Catartact Creek. This year we will have the packages at dealers around the area. This will all be in place by November. You can also visit our website at Calgary Snow Mobile Club Home and get what you need there and purchase using Pay Pal.

 

[Eldereldo]

Oh I didn't expect they would be a carpet, only so much you can do with a grader. Matter of fact I don't actually ever get to ride those trails anyways, I am always gone to the coast before they open, and by the time I get back there isn't enough snow. But I appreciate how much work you guys have been doing to make those trails a viable option for riding, and because I know that if you don't use it, you will lose it . And I may eventually stop traveling in the winter and want some where close by to go.

 

[Sledderglen]

Lots been going on for trail repairs this last couple of months. Snow is high on the mountains and should start moving down when the weather cools more. 2 new bridges this summer and lots of trail erosion removal by heavy equipment has been done.
Thanks to those who have helped and donated time and money to improve this area.
Will give snow/trail reports as season moves ahead

 

[JZ1]

Any snow on the ground out there yet?

 

[Sledderglen]

Any snow on the ground out there yet?

Had some but mostly gone. Maybe in the shade there may be a flake or 2.
Got to look positive its just the start of November. Lots can change in a week or so. snowdance!!!

 

[takethebounce]

Considering there isn't a lick of snow at 6500' in McLean I think you would be pretty disappointed lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ronaha]

So are you sayn there's snow at 7000' then?!? Braaaaap! Lol

 

[Kaz Dog]

Yes, this warm weather is not the best for hunting, or preseason packing of snow - especially when next to none is there.

Glen and his crew of snow groomers are eagerly anticipating getting on the new-to-us club sled to pack and groom snow, along side of his donated one, this season. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow........

 

[Kaz Dog]

For those of you who have not seen this.

Sledderglen wrote this in a new thread he started in the S.W. Alberta section here entitled "Help Calgary Snowmobile Club". It is great information:

"Calgary Snowmobile Club has been working on bringing the Cataract Creek Snowmobile trail area back to life after the government left it years ago and the big flood in 2013 damaged it badly.
With help from the flood recovery program we have had 4 new steel bridges + 1 wood bridge built out there. The CSC has been active for years trying to keep it as best as they could. Since the flood the club has become more focused on trail improvement and grooming the trail as best as they can. We have a agreement with ALL TRACKS to have use of a new prototype trail groomer again this early season to help set and groom the trails. With the 2 old Skandic SWT tracks last year we also tried best we could to keep the trails smooth. This fall the CSC received a trail grant for the Alberta Snowmobile Association and have done even more work out there on the trails. With this grant money the club had financial assistance to purchase a used utility snowmobile as well as sign posts and trail maintenance equipment such as chainsaws and safety equipment. We were also able to have a great contractor donated many hours of heavy equipment work to smooth out and repair much of the trails from erosion damage from years of no summer maintenance. Thank you K and C Gravel. We also want to thank the Alberta Snowmobile Association for the funding for this project.

As some of you may know its not cheap to maintain a trail system of this size. We are asking for people to help us by purchasing a trail pass and club membership if you can. Clubs need members to be successful and funds to achieve their goals.
This year we are trying to increase our sales of trail passes and memberships.
Trail passes and memberships are available at these locations.

The Accessories Shop in High River
Bow Cycle North and South
Cycle Works Calgary and Okotoks
Ralphs Arctic Cat in Balzak
more coming soon."

 

[Sledderglen]

I know you are all itching to find out snow conditions out at Cataract Creek. We are heading out there to do some snowfencing up on Skyline this weekend. Will report Sunday and try to post pictures here.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Glen, I hope this is the last weekend committee members are out there on our quads! I am really looking forward to getting on the club's new grooming sled and packing the trails.

 

[Bunn]

Scott, what is the word on the logging activity out there this year. I was wonder where they will be harvesting and what effect it is going to have on the trail system. Will there be any closures?

 

[Kaz Dog]

Scott, what is the word on the logging activity out there this year. I was wonder where they will be harvesting and what effect it is going to have on the trail system. Will there be any closures?

Great question, and let me try to be concise in my answer, but informative.

One partial trail closure again this winter is Wilkinson Summit Trail, better known as the Forestry Trunk Road (FTR)/Highway 940. It is yet to be fully determined, but when a large cut is undertaken around Oyster Excursion Trial, we will work with Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS) to route a snowmobile trail safely in the area. Snowmobilers have often used the Lost Creek Road as a snowmobile trail, but this will not be available during the active logging and hauling operations time period, as it will be graded. FOR SAFETY SAKE, PLEASE STAY OFF OF THE LOST CREEK ROAD AT ALL TIMES. The CSC Trails Committee will have signage (STOP SIGNS) when snowmobile trails cross the graded Lost Creek Road. As well, other locations - where snowmobile trails cross logging spur roads to active cuts - will be signed.

MORE:

There will be logging activity off of the FTR and the LCR by Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS), through to the end of January, at their earliest departure, that I know of so far. Our original discussions had them within the snowmobile area until the end April, but current information is that they anticipate ending their harvest and departing, possibly, by Feb. 1.

What I know for sure:
- The FTR, south of Cataract Creek parking lot, will be kept cleared/graded all winter long, for their vehicles, until they leave.
- In conjunction with SLS, we are to build a snow trail along side the road to see if we can groom and run sleds on the downhill side of the road to the Pasque Trail turnoff.
- This will be signed - stay on the snow trail and please obey and keep yourself and vehicle drivers safe.
- There will be no snowmobile activity or trail, further on the FTR, and snowmobiles will not be allowed south from here along the road: too dangerous, and a safety concern.
- This will not be a continuous snow trail, as in some spots the road is to narrow for the trail, watch for signs.
- Currently, the Government of Alberta is not allowing SLS to be on the FTR on any Saturday, or Sunday, this winter season.
- S.L.S. is trying to have limited use of the FTR on a weekend day(s) - in a special circumstance - to either leave the area sooner, or supply the mill.
- SLS will not operate, no matter what, on the January 14-15, 2017, allowing for the Snowmobile Festival & Poker Rally on Sunday, the 15th, and our Club Ride on the 14th.
- They have two (2) very large cuts, one (1) large cuts, one (1) medium cut, and two (2) smaller cuts to accomplish - and might not be able to complete them all, given terrain limitations.
- There is a small work camp along the LCR - and no snowmobile trail to it. DO NOT GO THERE, IT IS OFF LIMITS TO SNOWMOBILERS.
- SLS is currently working to finish a large cut they began last winter, on the eastside of the south end of Raspberry Trail, up on the ridge.
- There will be a medium cut accessed at the north end of Cummings Trail, over the LCR bridge across Cataract Creek, watch for re-routing and signage. (timing unsure)
- There will be a very large cut crossing Oyster Excursion Trail, watch for re-routing and signage. (timing unsure)
- There will be a very large cut past the Pasque Trail turn off on the FTR, within the Wilkinson headwaters basin. Do not go further south here, past the Pasque Trail turn off. (timing unsure)
- There will be two small cuts along the FTR before the Pasque Trail turn off, watch for signage. (timing unsure)

 

[Bunn]

Thanks for all the info. Is there anyway to get SLS to run a D9 cat or something over the cut area to clear stumps so that it will be usable to snowmobile on. With the amount of cutting they are doing and the vast area they are covering, there would be some great open areas created for more playing. I seem to recall you were also discussing with SLS to cut the stumps as low as they could for this reason, are they doing that? Sorry for all the questions but you were busy at the club meeting and i didn't get a chance to talk with you

By the way, we really, really, really appreciate everything you have been doing for the area and for all of us who use the area. You and Glen are AWESOME,​ thank you.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Just a quick note on yesterday - Saturday's - activities and conditions on the snowmobile trails. Glen will respond with more information and pictures in a later post, as he was able to stay overnight with a small crew and do more work today.

There is not enough snow to operate your sled from the either Etherington or Cataract Creek trail heads/parking lots, unless you really do not like you sled/have a ton of money to fix it. We have not began packing snow on the trails yet, not enough - only a skiff on all trails off of the Forestry Trunk Road.

There was more snow than we expected going up to the summit of Skyline Trail on our quads, so have not got the snow fence we wanted to install there up yet. Fear and common sense had us deciding to leave the snow fence to be installed along the trail, and we will go back with either snowmobiles and trailers, or the All-Tracks unit, to complete this project.

We were able to install some snow fence along Cataract Loop Trail and the top of Etherington Trail - along the groomer trail behind "the lookout" trail on the top of the ridge. Every year we have a problem with snow blowing over the trails in these locations and building up, creating a safety issue. We will monitor and improve our initial installation concept, if we can figure out a way to effect change at both locations.

Glen led the efforts on installing new signage, especially where we have a new temporary bridge crossing of Cataract Creek for snowmobiles. It is straight out from Cataract Creek parking lot/trail head where last year we had a flooded ice crossing of the creek until it melted at the end of January. As well, a new routing of Cataract Creek Trail, approximately 1 kms. "down" the trail from the parking lot, has been opened to accommodate grooming and continued use. We are trying to get out of the marshy areas of the valley bottom of Cataract Creek, and working with Public Lands and other people in Alberta Environments & Parks - eventually - we will have a more sustainable trail system.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Thanks for all the info. Is there anyway to get SLS to run a D9 cat or something over the cut area to clear stumps so that it will be usable to snowmobile on. With the amount of cutting they are doing and the vast area they are covering, there would be some great open areas created for more playing. I seem to recall you were also discussing with SLS to cut the stumps as low as they could for this reason, are they doing that? Sorry for all the questions but you were busy at the club meeting and i didn't get a chance to talk with you

By the way, we really, really, really appreciate everything you have been doing for the area and for all of us who use the area. You and Glen are AWESOME,​ thank you.

On behalf of Glen and I, as well as Darryl (who we have not often mentioned here - but is a driving force on summer trail maintenance as the committee's "Trail Boss"), you're welcome. Just know that we get great personal satisfaction from our efforts, and we would not do it if we didn't love to do it. There are a number of others that come out and work when they can, but it is hard to quantify the amount of hours Glen, Darryl, and I spend on the phone and in person working to improve the trails for snowmobilers, as well as all other summertime users. Glen's duties kick into overdrive now as "Grooming Lead", but I would find it difficult to fully convey all he has brought to the club with his expertise from his years spent in other parts of the province building, maintaining, and grooming snowmobile trails.

With regards to your inquiry for SLS running a D9 over the cut blocks, please know and understand that this area is both a Forest Land Use Zone, as well as a Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone. Therefore, we share the use of the land, now working together to maximize both groups goals. Currently, the Alberta Governments want to maximize the forest regrowth for future harvest and stumpage fees (i.e. hopefully less personal and corporate taxes). THIS MIGHT GET BORING, MY APOLOGIES. I always say "never say never", so if we/the public can make a valid argument for a change in the current practices - say in a very specific area/location - we may get what you ask for. As we are undergoing the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan process, once it is finalized and a plan is accepted by the Public/Government, perhaps change will come. Until then, SLS will continue to operate as they have, under government instruction/regulations - which includes leaving tree stumps and "scarifying" the blocks. This means that the cut blocks will not be safely accessible for snowmobilers, as we do not receive as much snow as they do over in B.C., at Cataract Creek.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[Kaz Dog]

Some of the work done this past Saturday - Darryl and Darrell rockin' the volunteer work!

 

[JZ1]

Where abouts are those pics from?