TRAILS & CLEANING It has been an eventful week for the Whitecourt Trail Blazers. With our big, wonderful dump of snow it has created a lot of problems with snow press and we have experienced an unprecedented amount downed and overhanging trees falling onto the trails. Riders report cleaning trails and the same afternoon having to clean the same section of trail. The club started cleaning the trails in September and you would hope that task would come at some point to an end, but maybe not this season?
One section of trail that was particularly bad was the area around the Gundy Cabin on both the Manweiler and Gundy Trails which forced us to curtail grooming operations until the trail could be cleared. Today a group of members were able to clear from Eagle River to the Gundy Cabin and Paul Meadows of West Peak Forestry cleared the Manweiler section of that loop. It was an enormous effort to get this done so we can get back to grooming these trails over the upcoming week.

VOLUNTEER WORK-WOOD STOCKING:Earlier in the week the members refreshed the wood supply at the Summit Cabin and hauled and stacked a couple of cords of firewood in the woodshed. This was a big group effort as the wood had to be hauled in sleighs from the Groat Creek road. Supply wood at lookouts and shelters is a big job every year so thanks to those members for getting this done.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE: This upcoming week we will be opening the trail from Carson Cabin north to letter O near the Freeman River. While this trail was cleaned earlier this fall, the same snow press issues will have to be dealt before the grooming can be done. This section of trail is part of the Golden Triangle and we are anxious to get this piece open early so members can get out and ride the Triangle.
There is an awful pile of work that goes on behind the scenes to operate the club and make Whitecourt the Snowmobiling Capital of Alberta. The club is fortunate to have an excellent executive that work behind the scenes to make it all work. As a sledding community we are also very fortunate that have members willing to step up and share in the work, it makes a huge difference to the success of the club. When I met the group of trail cleaners today they were tired, sore and soaken wet but they had smiles on their faces and didn’t stop until they accomplished their goal, job well done.

I hope that all sledders that ride on the Whitecourt Trail system will do three things over the remaining riding season, 1) Buy a membership (Provincial Funding is based on Memberships sold) 2) volunteer some of your time to the various club activities and 3) Get out and ride

Thank You.  Jeff Brooks, President