Cataract Creek Snow Vehicle riding area official section 2017/18

Kaz Dog

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The trails are on Public Land, on a designated Snow Vehicle PLUZ. The Information I have received from a government official is that they will not be issuing tickets to snow bikes, on the trails. When ANY Snow Vehicle leaves the trails, all bets are off. I have never heard of a snowmobile or snow bike being ticketed or causing a problem off trail, but maybe all users out of Cataract/Etherington are well behaved.
 

Kaz Dog

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Is there much off trail riding or limited to trail only

Within the trail system there is limited “off-trail” riding area/space - the system is within a regulated, harvested forest. It is not recommended to go into cut-blocks, as there is much debris, stumps, and low snow. Outside of the system - to the south and also west into B.C. - there is more off trail areas. To the south there are open areas, just do not go into identifiable cut blocks in AB, the snow is not near as deep as B.C. and there are many stumps and much debris. Across Fording Pass into B.C., utilizing the designated trail, there is usually much deeper snow, wide open areas and slopes. There is avalanche danger there, so wearing a transceiver and having a probe and shovel is highly, highly recommended- and should be mandatory equipment.
 

Sledderglen

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Grooming update

I was out yesterday sled grooming and snow is very good. I groomed Cataract Creek Trail to Fallers Junction as well as Lower Raspberry and Etherington trail to Staging area.
Big groomer heading out thus weekend. He will be doing North Trails this weekend so be aware of him out on the trails

Its getting warm now and this will have a negative affect on trails conditions. The heat will soften the trails and moguals will be coming. With the increase in temperature this will be very hard to groom. Snowball snow and slush does not groom. It could just make for a ice trail and lubrication could become a issue. Sled grooming will come to a end as well. Wet heavy snow will not flow through the sled drags. Lets all wish for warmer weather but not days of sunshine and above 0 temperatures.
We are going to do our best to continue to keep trails best as we can for conditions out there.
There is a rumor going around that the club was given diesel by the government to groom the trails. This is FALSE. The grooming out there over the last few years has all been paid for by the Calgary Snowmobile Club and donated diesel by supporting business who help us out. The trails are funded by trailpass sales and fundraising by the club. Many businesses help and its all appreciated. Get a map and support those businesses who support the area you ride.
Tuesday we had a "Mother Nature Issue" on the trail. Seems wolves took a moose down on Etherington Trail just East of the Raspberry, Barril Junction. I seen blood on the trail and seen whats left of the moose as well. Don`t disturb the site and let the critters clean up the Moose. Seen more Moose out there this year than any other year. Seen more Moose as well as wolves also. 2 trappers work the area and 1 trapper harvested a wolf from the Cataract Trail this season. Life goes on and its good to see that type of activity is going on. Sucks to be the Moose but that`s the way it goes.

Thanks for all the support this season. its not over yet but it will be changing. History says to be ready for more snow storms and we will be there to help as best as we can. Spring is hard on grooming efforts
 

Sledderglen

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There were 2 sleds stuck back in Fording. Did they get them out this weekend?

Club was grooming with the big cat. Haven`t heard how they were doing. Did anyone see them out there this weekend?
 

Sledderglen

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Darryl called last night with a groomer report.

Darryl and Darrel the big groomer team groomer this weekend out at Cataract. They groomer up and over Etherington Trail and for the first time with the big groomer down the Fording trail a way. This will make it a bit smoother now.
Did thr Upper Raspberry as well as to the staging area in Etherington.
Had a tire come apart on the groomer Saturday and thanks to the Park officer for the ride back to Cataract to pick up a new rim and tire. Riders were happy for the warmer weather and smooth trails. He was given some groomer fuel donations and had a good groomer back. Weather is changing and the sun is warming up the snow. Makes a icy surface when it gets cold. Please be carefull out there.

Thanks Darryl and Darrel for doing the grooming this weekend
 

TylerG

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Darryl called last night with a groomer report.

Darryl and Darrel the big groomer team groomer this weekend out at Cataract. They groomer up and over Etherington Trail and for the first time with the big groomer down the Fording trail a way. This will make it a bit smoother now.
Did thr Upper Raspberry as well as to the staging area in Etherington.
Had a tire come apart on the groomer Saturday and thanks to the Park officer for the ride back to Cataract to pick up a new rim and tire. Riders were happy for the warmer weather and smooth trails. He was given some groomer fuel donations and had a good groomer back. Weather is changing and the sun is warming up the snow. Makes a icy surface when it gets cold. Please be carefull out there.

Thanks Darryl and Darrel for doing the grooming this weekend

they need a 3rd person named Larry to make that team complete!
 

calgarysledguy

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Darryl called last night with a groomer report.

Darryl and Darrel the big groomer team groomer this weekend out at Cataract. They groomer up and over Etherington Trail and for the first time with the big groomer down the Fording trail a way. This will make it a bit smoother now.
Did thr Upper Raspberry as well as to the staging area in Etherington.
Had a tire come apart on the groomer Saturday and thanks to the Park officer for the ride back to Cataract to pick up a new rim and tire. Riders were happy for the warmer weather and smooth trails. He was given some groomer fuel donations and had a good groomer back. Weather is changing and the sun is warming up the snow. Makes a icy surface when it gets cold. Please be carefull out there.

Thanks Darryl and Darrel for doing the grooming this weekend

The grooming part way of the Fording trail would have come in handy last week after having to ride about halfway out on a bandaged A arm over moguls. Lol.
Thanks for the future rides in :)
 

Sledderglen

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when will the CSC wrap up the grooming program for this season out at Cadillac Creek?

Thanks for the question Tyler

Few reason to call the season
1 we run out of diesel for the big groomer.
2 we run out of Gas money for sled grooming. (very close already over budget)
3 mother nature melts the snow.

Good thing is its still cold at night and snow not getting to warm till afternoon. Sled grooming will be limited by heat of the sun on the snow. We are still getting trailpass membership sales. Love it shows people are interested in supporting our efforts out there.
 

TylerG

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Thanks for the question Tyler

Few reason to call the season
1 we run out of diesel for the big groomer.
2 we run out of Gas money for sled grooming. (very close already over budget)
3 mother nature melts the snow.

Good thing is its still cold at night and snow not getting to warm till afternoon. Sled grooming will be limited by heat of the sun on the snow. We are still getting trailpass membership sales. Love it shows people are interested in supporting our efforts out there.

Is there no hard stop date for your club from AESRD?
 

Kaz Dog

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Is there no hard stop date for your club from AESRD?
The designated snowmobile trails close at the end of April, but I doubt we will make it anywhere close to that date, because of snow availability in the valley bottoms, out from the Maintenance Yard.
 

TylerG

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The designated snowmobile trails close at the end of April, but I doubt we will make it anywhere close to that date, because of snow availability in the valley bottoms, out from the Maintenance Yard.
That's not very optimistic Scott!
 

TylerG

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Nope Realistic. With the sun comes heat. Lots of sun in the future. Trails closed by government April 30th even if there is snow.
That's okay. That's camping season :)

Just putting the questions out there to inform the public and myself!
 

calgarysledguy

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Anyone riding tomorrow? Either Fording or south Meadows/cut blocks. Im Not looking to just blast 70 miles of trails and sit on my seat all day. I like to make new tracks and pull my shovel out when my sled gets stuck from exploring :)
 

Bunn

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There are some people from the Club heading over Fording tomorrow(Saturday) leaving Etherington parking lot at 9am. It a Unofficial Calgary Snowmobile Club ride that's posted on the clubs Team Snap App. Make sue you have your AVI gear working. It should be a good day.
 

catrutt

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If I could down load a pic of today OMG it was great FIRST tracks down the trail SMOOOTH I tooks some newbies to the area and they had the best day ever. THANKYOU GROOMERS !!!!!! Can't say that enough . Sure glad we cleared the skyline trail for the groomer because it was great!!! I know there is a cell phone under that snow some where.
 
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