LAC LA BICHE - The snow hasn’t started to fly yet, but members of the Lac La Biche Back Country Riders Club are busy preparing for the upcoming snowmobiling season.
The group held its general meeting and snowmobile maintenance workshop on Oct. 18.
The meeting was held at Full Tilt Powersports & Off Road Rentals in Lac La Biche, owned by Rob Kruk and Norman Charest. The business owners are president and vice-president of the Lac La Biche Back Country Riders Club.
Going into the 2023-24 snowmobiling season, the Lac La Biche Back Country Riders Club has 55 members ranging in age from four years old, to those who are in their 80s, with Kruk saying that the recreational group is always looking to expand its ranks. He added that the group tries to organize a club ride at least once a month during the winter, weather permitting.
“We are always looking to expand our membership, and everyone is welcome to join by attending a meeting or purchasing an Alberta Snowmobile Association membership for $80 before Dec. 31 or $90 after Jan. 1, 2024,” adding that this membership allows access to all trails managed by any ASA-affiliated snowmobile club in the province.
Formally coming together as a group only in recent years, club members have many years of experience riding trails across the rural Lakeland region.
During the snowmobiling season, the club makes use of a 180 kilometres of trail system that runs from Beaver Lake through areas of the Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area.
Trail development, grooming and maintenance were top topics discussed at the meeting.
Kruk explained that many hours are put into maintenance long before the snow flies, cutting deadfall trees and trimming brush to ensure the trails are as smooth and safe as possible. Once the snow flies, members travel the trails and pack the snow, after which the grooming process begins.
“We currently have two purpose-built snowmobiles to pull our trail groomers and drags,” Kruk told Lakeland This Week. “It is a very time-consuming process as grooming and packing the snow can only be done at a max speed of no more than 12 kilometres an hour.”
The president of the Lac La Biche Back Country Riders went on to say that hundreds of volunteer hours are required each year to maintain the trail system, which also includes installing signage and completing the mapping process.
“We have many beautiful lakes and trails in our county, and some are only accessible by snowmobile, so there is the need for a proper trail system,” he said.
The meeting also included discussions on club business along with fundraising ideas and club events set to take place in 2024, including the annual chili fundraiser that will be happening on Jan. 20, the partnership with the Winter Festival of Speed from February 24 to 25, as well as the annual Hylo Sled Rally on March 2.
Kruk said the snowmobiling season usually starts in mid-December and goes until the end of March, depending on the weather.
The recent meeting also included some instruction for members on basic sled maintenance. Kruk says safety on the trails is the most important part of riding. Knowing basic maintenance is part of that safety.
“It is better to find an issue before going out on the trail than to have a breakdown,” he stated. “The most common issues with snowmobiles are the wear items, such as drive belts, worn steering, suspension components, fuel systems, and lack of lubrication.”
As with any power sport, there are always risk factors involved. Kruk explained that beyond machine maintenance and trail knowledge, the major risks faced by snowmobilers include inclement weather and rider ability.
The club, workshops and group rides are ways to bring more people safely into the pastime.
“We try to help our members be prepared by hosting maintenance and safety workshops throughout the year,” he stated.
The club does have a social media page where more details about membership and upcoming events can be found.
Along with Kruk and Charest, executive members of the trail riders club for 2023-24 are Rod Webb (Treasurer), and Collette Lessmeister (Secretary). There are also four directors and two junior director positions on the board.
