FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SNOWMOBILED, it’s really something you need to try at least once. Tere’s nothing comparable. As long as your well- prepared and dressed snug and warm in your insulated gear, you’re leſt to take in the crisp winter air, ride leisurely down well groomed trails, or, in some cases, and for the more experienced - cut through an untouched blanket of fresh powder snow. If you can, bring a camera as you stand the chance to see more than just one or two wild animals.
Day Trip From Calgary Travel from Calgary City proper, to Crowsnest Pass which is located in southern Alberta, where you’ll find yourself in the heart of snowmobile country during prime snowmobiling season. Tere’ll be plenty of time to explore the awesome rolling hills and rural pathways and still make it back to the city for dinner within a day. Te drive from Calgary south
to the town of Bellevue (225 km/140 mi) takes about two and a half hours, which includes taking Hwy 2 to Highway 22 (the scenic Cowboy Trail) to Highway 3. Te Crowsnest region features
an average winter snowfall of 7.6 metres/25 ſt. with groomed snowmobile trails and winter diversions including cross-country skiing and Canadian Rocky Mountain downhill skiing at Castle Mountain Resort. You don’t need to own a
snowmobile to play in the region. You can rent snowmobile gear from local operators. Keely Kibala is the operator of Mr. R Snowmobile Rentals with his wife, Laina, in the Crowsnest Pass, just three km east of Bellevue, right off Highway 3. Tey have Skidoo mountain snowmobiles with varying track sizes. Mountain snowmobiles have longer and more aggressive
David Gluns Photo
tracks with lugs that give you the traction to get up hills and through deep snow. You can rent all the rest of the gear as well, including helmets, suits, boots, and trailers to take the snowmobiles to local staging areas which link to trails. If you don’t have a hitch in your vehicle, they will deliver it to a staging area for a charge.
Explore Southern Alberta Routes One of the most popular staging areas is York Creek, which is number 48 on the Crow Snow Riders Map. Te Riders is a local snowmobile club that provides route maps of the area and maintains much of the trails. Te last town in the Crowsnest
Pass is Coleman, and the York Creek staging area is on the south side of town. A great route to consider from York Creek is the trail to the Lost Creek snowmobile shelter, says Kibala. Te shelter is at trail marker 34. When you start out of York Creek
you are on an old mine road that you continue on to Sartoris Road, past junctions that would take you further
into the mountains. Te full loop to the shelter takes about six hours. You’ll want to stay on the main
trail, which is good for novice and intermediate riders, but if you’re an expert, you might want to try branching off on one of the fingers off the trail that leads into mountain terrain. Otherwise, it’s mostly rolling hills with twists and turns. It takes about an hour to get from
the staging area to Sartoris. On the way, you travel through an area where you’ll see dead standing timber, and the odd patch of green. “Te moose like to stay where the snow is deeper and you have a good chance to see them,” says Kibala. “You’ll see hawks and eagles and owls, too.” “Eventually you’ll come to the
cabin with a wood stove where you can stop and warm up,” adds Kibala. “Tere are racks to dry your clothes, and a lot of firewood, and a it’s great place for cooking hot dogs.” It’s also a great place to meet
like-minded people and he says noon is usually the best time to chat with other snowmobilers.
rvsnowbirds.com 57
R V S N O W B I
R D S. C O M
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64