Pics of Fording River Pass

[fnDan]

We rode from Etherington to Fording River Pass yesterday.
Had a great day even with the thin areas of snow and exposed rocks here and there. There is some deep snow back there. The creek crossing was a challenge coming back. I have a clutch side vent that took in water and caused the belt to slip enough to leave me stranded in the water. Also, there's 2 spots on the trail in where we had to go slow because of the angle. One the way out I chose to walk my sled thru cause at 5'-7", reaching over and blipping the throttle felt like it would roll.
Here's some photos. I ride the 900 RMK.

 

[Bucky]

Nice piks, where is Fording River Pass, and how deep was the creek you guys were crossing...just curious?

 

[fnDan]

Fording River Pass is about 12km west of Cataract Creek staging area in Kananaskis. The creek was about 1.5 ft deep. Enough to allow water thru my clutch vent. You can see my brother-inlaws 800 summit going thru the creek and the water easily runs over the hood.
I cropped the photos today so they look better.

 

[Scotty]

mac900rmk... Great photography!!! Nice job croppying the originals

 

[Nytro-Ryder]

great pics! looks awesome!

 

[BIGFOOT]

Great looking pictures 'mac900rmk'... That can't be to far from Bragg Creek hey? How large of a area can one ride?

 

[fnDan]

That area is southwest of Bragg Creek. West of Longview and then about 12km's west of Cataract Creek/Etherington Staging areas. Since I have started riding I have never rode Bragg Creek. My brother has ridden longer than me and he's ridden Bragg Creek once or twice. Not much snow typically. I see lots of trucks with quads heading that way lately. I live fairly close to hwy 22x and see quite a few heading down the road or gassing up in Shawnessy/Somerset.

Cataract Crk and Etherington is a trail system. No big areas to ride. The Fording River Pass trail is open only to sleds Dec 1 - Mar ? It basically takes you to the BC side where we were hoping to find big areas to play but we didn't make it that far. Problems finding the trail signs and one sled that was running so-so. Hopefully we can hook up with someone that can take us directly. As of Saturday though, the snow was getting thin at the lower elevations. Lots more dirt and grass showing. A couple of the ice flows on the trails were not fun for the newbie riders we had with us.

 

[Zar]

Pictures look great. I liked riding the Cataract Creek area. except that there was a few wet creek crossing ( like the the one that you have mentioned ). I imagine that there is a few riding areas south of the Cataract Creek parking lot ( hwy 940 to Colmen). I know the road is closed to vehicles in the winter south of the parking lot but I think you can go by sled and find other roads and cutlines that take you into the mountains. I started to go down the unplowed road and a few Km's in I blew my crank ( this was a few years ago ). I have never been back since. I would love to try it again

 

[fnDan]

We noticed lots of tracks southwest of the road on Saturday heading up into the mountains. Next time we ride there without the family, we'll have to do some exploring. Typically that road is closed in the winter but 3 weeks ago it was open north-bound only and there were quite a few tanker trucks coming from Coleman. They were travelling fairly fast for that road and I would hate to come around a bend to meet one.
On Saturday the road was completely closed though. Anyone travel that road in the summer? Looks like it would be a scenic drive. I wonder if my sportster would be OK depending on how deep the gravel gets.

 

[tmix]

Really nice pics, looks like you were ripping it up!

 

[ronmexico]

We went out this past weekend and staged at Ethrington/Cat Creek lot. saturday Feb.23 we went back into BC into the Fording area as well. The trail was super-sketchy ! not much snow to ride on at the top of the divide and I know the little side hill area Mac was talking about. It wasnt that long but a harder sidehill.
On sunday we stayed low and went south along the Cataract creek trail system and found some awesome tree riding! We didnt even get to the end of trail as there was so much good stuff about hlafway along it that we played in. The cut-blocks obviously saw the sun and wind lately and are little lean on snow but still fun in the areas tight to the trees that didnt see the sun.

 

[geordiep]

I took a quick trip out the Cataract this afternoon. I lucked out and made it to Fording Pass on my first visit to Cataract. I basically kept right on every Y from the first staging area.

I stopped at about 19Km from the staging area on the second mountain top (the one with grass and rocks). It was getting dark and I had to turn back.

How much further do I have to go to get to the area where those pictures were taken?

It started to snow as I was leaving.

Here is a link to map in found for the Cataract area:


Conditions: the trails were a bit bumpy but nothing major. A number to bare spots, especially over the first pass - nothing but rocks. I was hoping to find some powder but no luck. I guess I didn't go far enough.

Thanks for the heads up on this area. Very convenient from Calgary - 120 Km.

 

[ronmexico]

Geordiep - Sounds like you turned around on top the continental divide. If you had kept going down the hill to the left side of the plateau you would have hooked up with the trail and the snow would have started getting deeper. After about 2km (i think) of decent trail riding you would have come to a 'Y' in the road. I think the left path takes you towards Elkford (we didnt go that way and I have never been that way. A guy in our group had though) or the right path takes you to back bowl play area where we went last weekend and there was decent snow and terrain for playing back there. Still alot left for other guys to play.
From the 'Y' I would say another 4km on an awesome trail and you can haul on it - no 'whoops'.

 

[geordiep]

Thanks ronmexico for the info - I had a hunch I was close. I was planning on going back today but decided to try the Alexander bowls near Elkford - staging at Atlas (near Coleman, AB). See my report at:https://www.snowandmud.com/forum/8/atlas-conditions-4133-2.html

If we get some more snow I will try Fording Pass.

Oh yeah - I chewed up by Idler Wheel crossing the continental divide