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CRANBROOK, B.C.
Go crazy in Cranbrook
Find plenty of powder, lots of sunshine and a variety of trails to ride
by KIRSTEN ARMLEDER
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NO BULL: A couple Cranbrook sledders discovered beautiful bowls and a great view at the top of a mountain while enjoying some spring riding in the Bull River area.
—photos by Harvey Sims |
Situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the community of Cranbrook provides its winter guests with an abundance of snowmobiling possibilities. There are hundreds of excellent sledding trails surrounding Cranbrook that offer sledders everything from beginner to extreme mountain riding, according to long-time resident Harvey Sims. And with more sunshine hours than any other city in B.C., blue skies are easy to find.
So many choices
One of the most popular places to ride is the Lumberton area, located about 25 minutes south of Cranbrook off Highway 3/95. With groomed and ungroomed trails, this large area is perfect for the family or expert rider. Lumberton features high elevations, big basins and great high-marking spots.
The area is complete with a club cabin, maps and signs that Sims said lead into some pretty interesting terrain and lots of fun riding.
The local snowmobile club does a lot of work to ensure sledding conditions in Lumberton are at their best. Many volunteer hours are spent grooming the trails in the winter, as well as maintaining them during the off-season.
There are plenty of other places to sled near Cranbrook, including Perry Creek, Moyie, Gold Creek, Teepee Creek, Tanglefoot Lake and Cliff Lake.
For the more experienced riders, there is the Bull River and Wild Horse. Caution is needed when riding in the Wild Horse area as avalanche danger is very high at times, according to Doug Williamson, a member of the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club.
No shortage of fun
Sledders won't have a problem finding something to do after riding the trails. As the largest city in the Kootenays, Cranbrook provides a host of excellent shopping, entertainment and accommodation options.
"Cranbrook is a great place to ride because you can ride all sorts of terrain," said Sims, "and most days you can find untracked powder if you look a little for it." |
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