Official Cataract Creek Snowmobile Area Thread for 2020/21

[AxysAssault]

For the peeps without social media, we went out yesterday and the trails were great. Did 70kms. Aside from skyline, which wasn't groomed, as mentioned on the club website. Still passable....although everything is passable on a bike.
Averaged about 4-6" of fresh on-top of a good base. The snow is deep enough to hide the stumps but you can still hit em! Need another foot or two for sure.

Oh....and it was puking hard when we left. Prob a good 3-4" on the truck and still snowin.

Now it's just gotta warm up a bit.

Stay frosty.

 

[MP Kid]

As you can see, I've sat on this comment for a few days now. All I'm going to respond with is: refer to my post (#85) above.

As you can see... I’ve waited a few days to see if any reasonable response was given here... Looks like I assumed too much.

Are you saying that I need to be a member of the Calgary cub????

So my trail pass purchases over the past 20 yrs from my local club (yes, I have the stack of papers to prove it), isn’t good enough to get a trail conditions update...? We (club) have donated numerous times over the years to the clubs in S. AB that maintain trail systems, yet in the last 20 yrs I’ve probably rode these trails a handful of time (mostly the CNP, great club).

But you’re ok with sharing the parking lot with NON-PAYING hikers...???

You want more people to join your club, buy passes, and carry the “good” message about how sledder are good guys, then be a bit more open about what’s happening.

I like Sledderglen’s approach.... You catch more flys with honey than vinegar....

 

[Bunn]

I don't think the club is asking you to become a member of their club and will be very glad that you are an active ASA club member. The club has been using Teamsnap as means to communicate club rides, meetings, trail and grooming updates. It has been very effective for the club and even I will admit, since the club introduced it a couple years ago, I seldom sign into Snowandmud anymore. With so many social media platforms it's almost impossible to update all sites on a regular basis.

The club has always welcomed non-members to use the trails, in fact I would go on a limb to say that the majority of users are not club members. We all know this year has been a strange one for snow or lack of it in many parts of Alberta. Cataract Creek was blessed with a huge dump of snow just before Christmas and up until this past week, that's all they have had. There was a large amount of riders from all over Alberta riding on the great snow(record amounts of users I understand), the trails got wooped up really bad. Because the large dump of snow happened during the Christmas holiday season, the grooming team was not available and when they were available, the tempuratures and snow conditions were not good to work the trails. Also, the club was waiting for a new incredible piece of equipment that will advance their grooming abilities in all snow conditions. Now that the weather is starting to cooperate again, the grooming team has been able to put down a great pack on most of the trails.

The Calgary Club has a small but great volunteer grooming team and I thank them for everything they do. Perhaps once more people get out to the Cataract Creek Trail network now that there is more snow and the trails have had there first good groom, we will get more condition updates.

 

[Sledderglen]

I don't think the club is asking you to become a member of their club and will be very glad that you are an active ASA club member. The club has been using Teamsnap as means to communicate club rides, meetings, trail and grooming updates. It has been very effective for the club and even I will admit, since the club introduced it a couple years ago, I seldom sign into Snowandmud anymore. With so many social media platforms it's almost impossible to update all sites on a regular basis.

The club has always welcomed non-members to use the trails, in fact I would go on a limb to say that the majority of users are not club members. We all know this year has been a strange one for snow or lack of it in many parts of Alberta. Cataract Creek was blessed with a huge dump of snow just before Christmas and up until this past week, that's all they have had. There was a large amount of riders from all over Alberta riding on the great snow(record amounts of users I understand), the trails got wooped up really bad. Because the large dump of snow happened during the Christmas holiday season, the grooming team was not available and when they were available, the tempuratures and snow conditions were not good to work the trails. Also, the club was waiting for a new incredible piece of equipment that will advance their grooming abilities in all snow conditions. Now that the weather is starting to cooperate again, the grooming team has been able to put down a great pack on most of the trails.

The Calgary Club has a small but great volunteer grooming team and I thank them for everything they do. Perhaps once more people get out to the Cataract Creek Trail network now that there is more snow and the trails have had there first good groom, we will get more condition updates.

Well said.

Can we just get on with riding now. Trail reports come in here all the time if from the club or from a rider. lets have fun. You have a dedicated group of volunteers working to make this area a destination riding area for the future. All they are asking is for the users to support them on the effort so we all benefit. i wish I still lived close and could do my part in keeping this area improving as it is. Thanks to the volunteers. I will come down for a visit. Maybe bring my grooming tools and relive some beautiful trails in a beautiful area.

 

[Grouser]

I too rode Friday and it was as in great of condition as I’ve ever seen. Obviously owing to the excellent work put in by the CSC team. I think the main issue is non-ASA members using ASA sanctioned trails.......ie not paying into the system at all. What club you’re part of if any is up to you. I feel like Alberta needs to rewrite the rules a bit. Just got back from Manitoba where if you are on a sanctioned trail with no trail pass the fine is $486. Plus you can ride ANY ditch of any highway.
But yes let’s ride. Only seven weeks left. Winter is short.

 

[tucker_98]

Hey guys, sorry to kick the beesnest here so to speak, I am a club member, but I got rid of teamsnap and opted out of emails because I found it too "busy" with the constant notifications. What is the CSC intranet? Is that the teamspeak group or another source I should be checking? For updates I've just been looking on Facebook periodically, but it's usually pretty random, few and far between, etc. When I said earlier "since no one had an update" I meant that as a joke, sorry if that came across the wrong way. Either way, I'll just keep posting my updates here like I have been the past few years. Been a member since 2014 and will continue to do so. Appreciate all the effort put in by the club, fantastic job by all. I guess I'm more of a passive member in that I just want to pay my dues, and ride the trails. Hopefully this doesn't ruffle any feathers!

 

[Bunn]

Tucker_98
There is no harm in what you are doing and I am happy to hear you are a member. I too am more on the quiet side but support the CSC big time for all they have done to maintain and keep the area open.

 

[AxysAssault]

So?


Anyone been out lately?

 

[AxysAssault]

Well we went out today, and I took zero pictures.

Nuff said.

 

[catrutt]

Road yesterday and wow it was great . Fresh light snow on a beautifully groomed makes life worth living. Big thanks to the club for keeping the trails so nice.

 

[Bunn]

Went riding with the family on Saturday Feb 27. Temp was -11 at 10am when we arrived and was -4 when we returned to the parking lot 4pm. Stage at Cataract and parking lot was full with vehicles lined up the road, very busy parking lot but only passed 6 sleds all day riding the south trails. Noted that the 940 road going south out of the parking lot past the gate has not been plowed recently and a quick conversation with the Conservation Officer found the road has not been plowed since mid February. Trail heading west out of Cataract was supper smooth all the way down Oyster Excursion trail going south. Anywhere from 3"-6" of fresh. Pasque Trail was rougher with lots of moguls right up to the 940 road. 940 north back to the parking lot was smooth. Snow is very compacted under the fresh top snow so traction was excellent. Great base, lets just hope we get our normal snow falls over Mar/Apr and we should have good spring riding. Conservation Officer's have been out every trip we have taken to Cataract, Etherington of Sibbald FYI.

 

[snopro]

Went riding with the family on Saturday Feb 27. Temp was -11 at 10am when we arrived and was -4 when we returned to the parking lot 4pm. Stage at Cataract and parking lot was full with vehicles lined up the road, very busy parking lot but only passed 6 sleds all day riding the south trails. Noted that the 940 road going south out of the parking lot past the gate has not been plowed recently and a quick conversation with the Conservation Officer found the road has not been plowed since mid February. Trail heading west out of Cataract was supper smooth all the way down Oyster Excursion trail going south. Anywhere from 3"-6" of fresh. Pasque Trail was rougher with lots of moguls right up to the 940 road. 940 north back to the parking lot was smooth. Snow is very compacted under the fresh top snow so traction was excellent. Great base, lets just hope we get our normal snow falls over Mar/Apr and we should have good spring riding. Conservation Officer's have been out every trip we have taken to Cataract, Etherington of Sibbald FYI.

Are they in a decent mood or looking to make some money on tickets?

 

[Bunn]

The Officer was in a good mood. My experience has always been good when dealing with them. I always have my stuff in order so I've had no issues.

 

[AxysAssault]

The Officer was in a good mood. My experience has always been good when dealing with them. I always have my stuff in order so I've had no issues.

They were there a couple weeks ago as well....end of day. Have the required docs, don't be a drunken ass and there shouldn't be a problem.

Didn't give us any grief about the snowbikes either, so it's officially considered a non-issue.

Any updates on conditions from the warm weather?

 

[maierch]

Anyone out this week? How’s the snow holding up?

 

[Grouser]

I was out Wednesday and again today. The main trails continue to be decent except for the usual areas that receive intense sun, rocks and dirt are revealing themselves. During the day it is melting and at night it is freezing so there is an absence of quality snow, you are sledding mainly on hard base. More snow is needed or I’m thinking it’s all over by next weekend.

 

[tucker_98]

 

[tucker_98]

 

[tucker_98]

Great work CSC!

 

[Sledderglen]

Great job volunteers. The DOUBLE D team at it again. Thanks for all your work.