For Rebecca Bromberger, family and snowmobiling go hand in hand. The 26-year-old was born and raised in Barrhead, Alberta, and she was introduced to sledding as a youngster while cruising the nearby trail system of the Pembina Drift Busters snowmobile club in Westlock with her parents.
“I started riding with my mom and dad when I was little and took over when I was about 14 (years old),” Bromberger said. “Our whole family sleds and we’ve managed to convert my boyfriend and my brother’s girlfriend. We took them out a few times and sucked them in."
Westlock sits just over an hour northwest of Edmonton and offers a 150-kilometre trail system that features three main riding areas. The area guarantees top-notch powder for sledders. Bromberger recommends the Main Loop for an enjoyable family outing. This 40-kilometre ride is virtually flat, is surrounded by rolling hills and takes you through treed areas, a lake and an open meadow and then crosses sandpits. It circles north and links with the West Loop and the North Loop, the latter allowing access to the Trans-Canadian Snowmobile Trail.
“There’s nothing too challenging along the Main Loop,” she said. “It’s groomed frequently and is shorter so it's perfect for kids. It’s really a nice ride with lots of hills alongside the trail so you can take lots of photos of the surrounding area. You may also see deer, moose and possibly a bobcat. There are a few places to make pit stops but the best is the cabin. There’s a firepit there and there’s space for kids to play. I have some great memories from riding the Main Loop with my folks and now as an adult.”
Access to the Main Loop is simple as the ride starts at the staging area on Highway 801. Take Highway 44 north from Westlock and at the Dapp Corner Store, head north on Highway 801 for 13 kilometres.
