Fatbikers in and around Banff will be enjoying some new terrain this winter. The Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance (BVMBA) has received permission from Parks Canada to mechanically groom trails in the Tunnel Mountain area for fatbiking as part of a three-year pilot project. BVMBA first proposed this concept to Parks a few years ago, but permission wasn't granted until BVMBA teamed up with AMPPE to turn this proposal into reality.
The pilot project includes an allowance to purchase and operate a snowdog to groom the trails-which have been packed until now only by snowshoe. A snowdog allows an area to be groomed that is narrower than a snowmobile. BVMBA was able to purchase this equipment through funding provided by the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation and will operate the machine through volunteers.
The BVMBA continues to contribute to the Banff National Park mountain and fatbike experience and is proud of the work they have done to develop the local trail network. now that winter has arrived make sure you get out and enjoy the trails.
AMPPE supports other BVMBA projects, proposals, and ideas for the future including improved wayfinding along the Tunnel Mountain trails and a proposal to make the Rundle Riverside trail more bikeable. Improving the Rundle Riverside trail would allow cyclists to connect from Banff to the Iliad trail at the Nordic Centre and ultimately would allow cyclists to circumnavigate Rundle mountain using the existing Goat Creek trail.
