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ELKFORD, B.C.
A snowmobiler's heaven
Discover matchless mountain riding around B.C.'s highest community
by KIRSTEN ARMLEDER
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TAKE A RIDE INTO THE WILD: Around Elkford, which promotes itself as the wilderness capital of B.C., sledders will have no problem finding fresh powder on forested trails.
—Photo by David D'Andrea |
Enter the vast mountain playground surrounding Elkford and you will find hundreds of awesome alpine trails waiting to be explored. From huge basins and pretty mountain passes to beautiful valleys and powdery trails that seem to go on forever, the terrain around Elkford is truly a sledder's heaven.
"We have a variety of terrain, including groomed and ungroomed family trails, alpine areas and high-marking bowls," said Peter Cunningham, a member of the Elkford Snowmobile Association.
Follow the rivers
Apopular place to ride with superb scenery and lots of powder is Crossing Creek Trail (Koko Claims), which leads into the Bull River and White River areas.
According to Mike Bobak, president of the Elkford Snowmobile Association, Crossing Creek Trail will be groomed, depending on snow and logging conditions. Since avalanches can be an issue in this area, Bobak said it is important to wear proper avalanche gear and check the report before going up.
Other great places to snowmobile are Cordona and Abruzzi creeks to the north and Weary and Aldridge creeks to the east of Elkford. These areas feature large basins and snow-laden trails such as Mear Lake and Smith Basin.
Just south of Elkford, experienced sledders can also explore the challenging terrain of Alexander Valley and Line Creek. As well, there are a number of old logging and exploration roads surrounding Elkford that are just waiting to be discovered.
Extending a welcome
Elkford is a sled-friendly community that prides itself on having prime trails, many of which are accessible right from downtown.
"Elkford is unique as it has a trail system throughout town so you can ride your sled from home to the gas station and then out of town," said Sue Robitaille with the Elkford Chamber of Commerce.
The local snowmobile club, along with members of the ElkfordRecreation Development Society, do a lot of work to promote the snowmobile trails around Elkford. Each year, many volunteer hours are spent grooming and maintaining the trails for the winter enthusiasts.
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