Trail Fee Increase.

[imdoo'n]

Snow the week before, ya just got to get out when the snow is good lol, No trail fees though lol

 

[dezmitchell]

its 5$ extra DONE aint guna change it its for the better of the club(s)

If you see some one harassing a booth worker step in its YOUR responsibility as a true enthusiast to let that other person know their in the wrong and that behavour wont be tolorated in our community. If every one in line had a back bone and a true passion for our sport it would be a no brainer to step in before the booth worker gets screamed at.

 

[imdoo'n]

Season pass is the way to go,

 

[Modman]

I really don't think the throttle blipping is to blame for washboard, have you ever noticed on inclines on the trail there are no moguls? I think flat trail inherently leads to washboard, and is compounded by high traffic as the driveline loads and releases going over them. just my thoughts

It has a lot to do with the snow conditions on the trail and how the base of the trail is laid down from the start, even if everyone went 20 km/hr and never varied the throttle, we would still get moguls. Trails get bumpy when the groomer cannot flatten the base and keep it as compact and consolidated as possible, of course this usually happens during times of heavy snowfall and warmer temps. Coincidentally, this is when most people go out and ride - when the snow is the deep - and therefore puts a lot of traffic on the trails. So a loosely packed trail that can move around and re-shape into moguls coupled with increased traffic means the trails get beat up faster. If its cold outside (say -25), most people stay home so less traffic but also the trail sets up much stiffer and harder than it would at -5. It freezes farther down through the base as well. Snow is an insulator, it will help insulate whatever is underneath it. If you are able to freeze it down in 1" increments, you would always have a great trail, unfortunately big snowfalls are why we ride in the mountains. Throttle junkies don't help for sure, but they are not the only cause of moguls. I've noticed this over the last few years, along with Doug's comments on here, and riding well setup trails in one area with lower snowfall amounts, and then jumping over a couple mountain ranges and riding areas with deeper snow on back to back days, same traffic volumes, same throttle jockeys, you notice a huge difference in the ability of the trails to stand up to the traffic where the groomers get a chance to smooth it out, freeze it down and help it consolidate.

 

[Pistonbroke]

All those 3" tracks are going to take their toll on the trails this year!

 

[Absledder]

Keep in mind that the $70 ASA membership that you pay once a year is good for all of Alberta's trails. Also Keep in mind that only a portion of that goes back to the individual clubs. The remainder of the costs to maintain the Alberta trails is picked up by the individual clubs to maintain their trails. Unlike BC where the trails have one way in and one way out (for the most part) Alberta trails can be accessed from anywhere on the trail. This makes it impossible for clubs to set up collection booths to catch the users entering the trails. That being said the trails and cabins get used buy non paying riders. This has put a real strain on some of the clubs. If I had $70 for every sled that I see on Bonnyville trails or at our cabins that Do Not display a seasonal trail pass, I would be a very wealth man. I speak only of my experience of Bonnyville Snodusters trails system, but I'm sure that there are many more that can share the same experience.

I for one believe in a user pay system and am not going to bitch about a $5 increase in trail fees. I will however bitch about the whiners that bitch about the increase. To those whiners I have only one thing to say. Buck up or buck off.

Yes lots of people don't buy passes, but there's also some who just don't want those super hard to remove stickers on there sleds.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Our club the most groomed trails and cabins in the province. Fee's are $20 for the day and $140 a season. For years I did gripe but paid. After spending time at club meetings and volunteering I came around and realized where the money goes. Even though its non profit its still a business and I tip my hat to you folks out there that run clubs. Its because of you folks we can enjoy our time on the snow.

 

[fnDan]

I appreciate the info in this thread. A little easier to explain to others why we need to pay the trail fees or buy a seasons pass.


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[Shredder]

$5.00 increase...I spend more than that in oil in a day.
No problem here.


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You spend waaaaay more than that on a cigar.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

You spend waaaaay more than that on a cigar.

You are Soooo correct....lol


Sent from my Phone while sitting on the side of the road.....maybe.

 

[rusty]

is there an online option to purchase the passes? (season)

 

[ferniesnow]

is there an online option to purchase the passes? (season)

I don't know of any. I doo know that BC club memberships can be purchased online through the BCSF or on the club websites and in most cases that includes the trail pass (VARDA and Elkford are two that I know of that need separate trail passes).

 

[bourgon]

I have no problom paying on the days it is groomed but I have a hard time when it is 25 bucks and the trail is pounded out!
Mi have no idea what it cost but I think that is a lot of money! Not 25 bucks but Allan with 250 people a day on weekends and 15 a day on the week days.
lets say average 100 a day sat sun and 10 a day week days that is 250 a week and 20 week riding season that is 125000 a year for each riding area! And I would bet my # are way low.

 

[bourgon]

Ps. Flame on

 

[maxwell]

I have no problom paying on the days it is groomed but I have a hard time when it is 25 bucks and the trail is pounded out!
Mi have no idea what it cost but I think that is a lot of money! Not 25 bucks but Allan with 250 people a day on weekends and 15 a day on the week days.
lets say average 100 a day sat sun and 10 a day week days that is 250 a week and 20 week riding season that is 125000 a year for each riding area! And I would bet my # are way low.

You make a good point but since you are talking about Allan creek let me break it down a bit. Allan creek trail is 9km long so it is the cheapest by a long shot to groom. Now you need to remember that there are also 2 other areas that get groomed on a regular basis. Both are 26+km long. Do you think it would be feasible to groom a 26km trail that sees only a handful of vehicles? (Chapel creek). It needs the funds from the other areas to keep going. Just because one area looks like a money maker to you does not mean that's all gravy it is going elsewhere. Like mentioned earlier the $ is not just for the passes. Any idea on the cost to mobilize a front end loader and skidsteer to move 3ft of snow in 3 different parking lots 30km apart? It adds up! Allan creek is also groomed midweek aswell when there are minimal users. Lots of costs associated in this. I hear you loud and clear about paying for a whooped out trail but this again has so many variables. The clubs try as hard as possible to maintain a perfectly smooth trail but when the weather isn't in their favour it's damn near impossible but they still need to recoup those grooming costs into the next day. Since your talking about Allan creek i have seen that trail take 500+ snowmobiles in 2 days and be a rock solid highway at the end of day 2. Weather -10 to -20. Flip to the following week same 500 snowmobiles and hovering around 0 degrees and it can barely take 50. So while I completely understand your complaint and it is a common one. You need to understand the economics of it. If a club pulled the pin on trail fees the following day after a groom you might not see it groomed again until the following week or worse. So sometimes paying to ride a whooped out trail is just how it goes! Buy some good shocks like I did and it really doesn't matter anymore anyways LOL

 

[fnDan]

I don't know of any. I doo know that BC club memberships can be purchased online through the BCSF or on the club websites and in most cases that includes the trail pass (VARDA and Elkford are two that I know of that need separate trail passes).

I'll have to go thru the process on the BCA website some time.
I tried to purchase a pass online last year but there was something along the way that prevented me from completing it.


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[S.W.A.T.]

Like mentioned before, the money doesn't just cover the grooming. Beacon checkers, insurance policies, maps, paper work fighting the gov't to keep our area's open, advertising, cabin up keep, the list goes on and on. In our case we have several km of road to plow just to get to parking lots, then the groomer can start on its 25km journey and that's just one of 7 area's. Like someone else mentioned after the snow is gone then the summer work starts, thinning back the willows, stalking wood, painting and repairs. All that is before some chit head steals something or breaks windows. This stuff all costs money and time. Fee's pay for our comforts.

 

[ferniesnow]

I have no problom paying on the days it is groomed but I have a hard time when it is 25 bucks and the trail is pounded out!
Mi have no idea what it cost but I think that is a lot of money! Not 25 bucks but Allan with 250 people a day on weekends and 15 a day on the week days.
lets say average 100 a day sat sun and 10 a day week days that is 250 a week and 20 week riding season that is 125000 a year for each riding area! And I would bet my # are way low.

I don't think there are any clubs with a huge back account. I may be wrong.

Successful clubs are run like a business (it has been said over and over in previous posts) and it costs a lot to operate equipment. Take a scenario of a breakdown with the groomer for example. Exhaust manifold cracks and the new one comes from England. Removal and installation, shipping time, and the groomer is down for 8-10 days. The trail is soooo whooped that it is embarrassing to collect trail passes (huge loss of revenue). Where does that money come from? Exhaust manifolds are reasonably cheap. How about pumps and gears, transmissions, motors??

There has to be reserves and there has to be money remaining at the end of the year. Otherwise the club is operating on a shoe string. If the club has no money in the bank at the start of the year, repairs can't be paid for until (credit is not normally given to non-profits) the memberships are in as that is the only other source of revenue that a club generally has. That usually takes until Xmas time. It is a fine line and there are a lot of fires to put out through the process because most people don't or won't try to understand the business aspect of running a club and a grooming program.

 

[Mike270412]

creepy wood stalker

Like mentioned before, the money doesn't just cover the grooming. Beacon checkers, insurance policies, maps, paper work fighting the gov't to keep our area's open, advertising, cabin up keep, the list goes on and on. In our case we have several km of road to plow just to get to parking lots, then the groomer can start on its 25km journey and that's just one of 7 area's. Like someone else mentioned after the snow is gone then the summer work starts, thinning back the willows, stalking wood, painting and repairs. All that is before some chit head steals something or breaks windows. This stuff all costs money and time. Fee's pay for our comforts.

 

[Mike270412]

just kidding