Cataract/Etherington 2012/13

[neddacsac]

Lets hope this is a sign of good things to come!

 

[fnDan]

We're planning our family day ride there on International Take a Newbie Sledding Day.
Let the snow fly!

 

[calgarysledguy]

Thanks a lot for the pictures.

I know i will sleep better tonight knowing i couldn't have gone for a road ride today. I had the sled started and ready to go on the truck for a rip. But there wasn't quite enough buy the looks of it. I was so ready to head out this morning.

 

[neddacsac]

They gotter down south to! Castle is reporting 15cm.

 

[BRP QSC]

does anyone from the calgary snowmobile club ever look on here

 

[The_Plagued_1]

We usually hit up Corbin... or dutch creek..... but plan to try out Cataract this year also... thanks for the pics....

 

[sledrat403]

Any one been out that way after this recent snowfall Oct 22-24th?

 

[foothills m8]

Today at etherington Oct 24

 

[neddacsac]

Looks like its comin along nice in the back! You going to the sled show Ian?

 

[BRP QSC]

This is the email that I recieved from the calgary snowmobile club regarding the fording pass issue (copy and pasted from a email)

... The Calgary Snowmobile Club has been tryingfor 40 years to build Bridges on that particular Trail and has not succeeded...Our Club has had many Work bee's in the Cataract Creek and Etherington areaover the years... The Club had a great working relationship with ForestryService/Sustainable Resources Development in that area... Of course with theGovernment cutbacks they pulled the Grommer out of there and we haven’t had aWork bee since... We even had a Dealership come to the Club and propose aGrooming Program but that was gonna cost us about $30,000 for the season... Ourmembership didn’t want to be on the hook for all that money simply because ourmembership is only around 120 members and the Government will not allow us tocharge for Trail fees because the area is Crown Land... We as Sledders havebeen VERY fortunate enough to use Fording Pass as a passage to BC because it isNOT a designated Trail... Its actually in the Don Getty Wilderness area... Sothis is a very sensitive area... And the Government wants to leave it just theway it is most likely to keep us all out of there??? Our Club is a member ofthe Alberta Snowmobile Association and they are our Governing Body whichlobbies the Government to keep areas open... Unfortunately the best thing I cantell you is to join the Calgary Snowmobile Club that's what the Governmentrecognizes more than a group of people...

Well now!!! reading this email has kinda put a bad taste in my mouth as they took away the groomer for crosscountry ski trails "from what I understood last year" So why would I buy a membership if there is no grooming or news of future developments for new areas or improvements. I use to ride on crown land in Ontario many moons ago and they charged a yearly trail pass fee and patroled it as well and I owned a cabin next to crown land the trail came off crown land onto my land and then back to crown land. Maybe Im missing something but I think that Quartz creek area and Boulder mountain are not privately owned. If there is only 120 members is that for the Calgary club? Why do you think this is? and saying that you have been fighting for this for 40 years thats great!! But look at the money that is spent on sledding and skiing "huge difference" Sorry for the rant but you know what they say "bullsh*t baffles brains" and i dont buy it.

 

[canucklehead11]

I personally feel this is one of those situations where the less attention we draw to it, the better. Yeah, it is tough getting to the area sometimes, yeah the creek crossings suck, yes, rocks are not easy on the ski's, but that is what keeps it quite back there. If the trail went right over the pass without any of the obstacles, it would trampled down to nothing back there. The guys who go over the pass do a lot of work to make it possible for anyone to get there, and if it was easy, we would have 100 people over the pass daily wrecking the trails and going of trail in the Don Getty, and getting into terrain they don't belong. Then, it would be only a matter of time tell no one would be aloud through there. I am not trying to step on anyone's toes, I am just someone who rides the area on a regular basis and appreciates it the way it is, just as many others on this forum do.

 

[Sledderglen]

This is the email that I recieved from the calgary snowmobile club regarding the fording pass issue (copy and pasted from a email)

... The Calgary Snowmobile Club has been tryingfor 40 years to build Bridges on that particular Trail and has not succeeded...Our Club has had many Work bee's in the Cataract Creek and Etherington areaover the years... The Club had a great working relationship with ForestryService/Sustainable Resources Development in that area... Of course with theGovernment cutbacks they pulled the Grommer out of there and we haven’t had aWork bee since... We even had a Dealership come to the Club and propose aGrooming Program but that was gonna cost us about $30,000 for the season... Ourmembership didn’t want to be on the hook for all that money simply because ourmembership is only around 120 members and the Government will not allow us tocharge for Trail fees because the area is Crown Land... We as Sledders havebeen VERY fortunate enough to use Fording Pass as a passage to BC because it isNOT a designated Trail... Its actually in the Don Getty Wilderness area... Sothis is a very sensitive area... And the Government wants to leave it just theway it is most likely to keep us all out of there??? Our Club is a member ofthe Alberta Snowmobile Association and they are our Governing Body whichlobbies the Government to keep areas open... Unfortunately the best thing I cantell you is to join the Calgary Snowmobile Club that's what the Governmentrecognizes more than a group of people...

Well now!!! reading this email has kinda put a bad taste in my mouth as they took away the groomer for crosscountry ski trails "from what I understood last year" So why would I buy a membership if there is no grooming or news of future developments for new areas or improvements. I use to ride on crown land in Ontario many moons ago and they charged a yearly trail pass fee and patroled it as well and I owned a cabin next to crown land the trail came off crown land onto my land and then back to crown land. Maybe Im missing something but I think that Quartz creek area and Boulder mountain are not privately owned. If there is only 120 members is that for the Calgary club? Why do you think this is? and saying that you have been fighting for this for 40 years thats great!! But look at the money that is spent on sledding and skiing "huge difference" Sorry for the rant but you know what they say "bullsh*t baffles brains" and i dont buy it.

I think your club should still do some basuc preseason maintance out there. If no basic maintance why should the Government ever get back onboard? Just asking

 

[Masterquadman]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the less is more on this one

 

[neddacsac]

Well getting back to the topic at hand... it is most definately snowing across SW alberta!

 

[Highfly]

Anyone been in the Cataract/Etherington area??

 

[dvst8r]

Probably good for a cautious ride now, that area was supposed to get about 40cm. I would still like to see pics if one of our closer members happens to be in the area.

 

[smokindave]

Probably good for a cautious ride now, that area was supposed to get about 40cm. I would still like to see pics if one of our closer members happens to be in the area.

I am thinking about heading there today for a test and tune ride....

 

[Polar Sled Guy]

Post some pics if you can....Thinking of going out Sunday.

 

[07summit]

I feel like a kid at Christmas, can someone PLEEEEEEASE post some pics?! Wondering about a trip this weekend or next if work goes well?!

 

[smokindave]

Okay here's the way it is....I am fishing!
I got my sled loaded on my truck but wifey won't let me head out on my own,anyone wanna go for a ride today?
403-708-2647