As one of the leading sled zones in Alberta, the Crowsnest Pass is home to an equally renowned snowmobiling club: the Crow Snow Riders. Established as an official society in July of 1991, this organization was formed with a great deal of help from members Dennis Plaza and Ray Mahieux. By 1992 the club was in full swing, hosting the first ASA Snowmobile Jamboree with an entertaining lineup of skits, guided tours and other activities that brought a festive atmosphere to the community.
Working hard and growing in number
One of the most extensive jobs for the Crow Snow Riders is keeping the trails open and maintained. They promote safe sledding and do their best to educate riders and make the trails a secure place for families to enjoy.
“The Crowsnest Pass has a wealth of potential,” said Lil Boone, communications director for the club. “Not only do we have 200 kilometres of groomed trails (providing we can raise enough funds to replace the old worn-out groomer), but we have over 1,200 kilometres of trails to ride.”
The membership base has grown substantially, with a current number of 164 members to date.
“We hope to continue to grow and be able to offer snowmobilers and the community a great opportunity for winter tourism to prosper,” said Boone. “We sold 64 day passes to people who came especially for our poker ride this year.”
Valuable contributions
The Crow Snow Riders are doing their part to encourage business in the area. They have corporate sponsors that pay a modest ($100) fee in exchange for a certificate, decal and the display of their business cards in the club’s newsletter, which goes out five times per year. This not only gives much-needed money to the sledding community, but also benefits the businesses through advertising.
“For the past 20-some odd years, snowmobiling in the Crowsnest Pass has indeed been a best kept secret,” said Boone. “The Crow Snow Riders do not benefit very much financially from the poker rides or the jamborees, but our community does with the people it brings in. Help us promote the jamboree activities for February 27 and 28, 2010 and let’s put the Crowsnest Pass on the map where it should be for the best snowmobiling in Alberta.”
Looking ahead
The club has plans for the future that include the purchase of a new groomer, building one or possibly two new shelters and extending some of the trails—to name just a few of their upcoming goals. They also plan to make detailed maps available in the next couple of weeks, so sledders will be able to locate important data pertaining to the trails.
“This map will be available at most of our motels, restaurants, gas stations and organized campgrounds for a small fee,” said Boone. “The proceeds from the maps will be used towards map upgrading, GPS tracking, etc. as the trails are being worked on and changing in conjunction with logging and other regulations.”
The place to be
There are distinct advantages to sledding in the Crowsnest Pass. With legendary trails and a dedicated club, it is one of the top snowmobiling locales in Alberta.
“In my opinion the Crowsnest Pass is the best place in Alberta to find the most versatile sledding for all levels,” said Boone. “The family and beginner sledders have many kilometres of groomed trails that will take more than a day to explore. There is a shelter to the south, as well as one to the north. For the more advanced sledders there are many bowls to play (in), and we are the only mountains in Alberta. That, along with being able to connect to B.C. over the Continental Divide, makes the Crowsnest Pass an excellent place for anyone to ride—winter or summer.”
