‘We’re in all places and we had been actually open to the thought of being a path supervisor for quite a lot of trails inside public lands and throughout a broad space,’ mentioned Trevor Julian, govt director of the Pals of Kananaskis Nation
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Greater than 70 trails on public lands in Kananaskis at the moment are being maintained via a brand new stewardship settlement guaranteeing repairs and sustainable use.
The Pals of Kananaskis Nation — the one path stewardship group that manages trails all through all the Kananaskis area — has entered an settlement with the Alberta authorities’s public lands division to help path care.
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“What public lands was in search of was a associate that may take care of the numerous different trails that don’t fall below jurisdictions managed by the Nice Divide Path Affiliation, which would be the path supervisor for the Nice Divide Path because it strikes via public lands; Bragg Creek Trails, which oversees designated space trails in and round Bragg Creek and West Bragg Creek,” mentioned Trevor Julian, govt director of the Pals of Kananaskis Nation.
“Moose Mountain Bike Path Society is one other instance of a non-motorized associate, and so they’re the path supervisor for sure mountain bike trails in and round Moose Mountain.”
The Pals 1,100 volunteers work in Kananaskis from the Bow Valley down via the Spray, Sibbald, Elbow and Sheep valleys. Previous to the settlement with public lands, the group was primarily a steward for provincial parks trails within the area.
“We’re in all places and we had been actually open to the thought of being a path supervisor for quite a lot of trails inside public lands and throughout a broad space,” mentioned Julian.
“It was a mutual curiosity, by public lands and by the Pals. They knew that we’d work throughout Kananaskis Nation and we had been considering doing that and increasing the work that we do.”
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Notable trails lined below the brand new settlement embody Cox Hill, Lusk Cross — which additionally ties into the Trans-Canada path — Prairie Mountain, Powderface and Powderface Ridge, Elbow Valley path and numerous others.
“A few of them are nicely used and beloved, like Prairie Mountain could be an incredible instance of that. Others are extra distant and haven’t been labored on in a very long time. So, we’ll be capable to give a few of these our consideration,” mentioned Julian.
Totally different trails require completely different upkeep
Many trails are multi-use, utilized by hikers, bikers, cross-country skiers and equestrian customers. Path put on and tear typically will depend on use and site.
“If there’s plenty of cattle and ranching within the space or equestrian use, like within the Sheep Valley, that’s going to put on a path in another way,” mentioned Julian.
“If it’s decrease within the valley and it’s wetter, a path will put on in another way than one thing that’s drier. If it’s south going through, it may be drier and tread may be tougher. It actually relies upon … many trails are in many various states and require completely different upkeep and work.”
In 2023, the province introduced it was funding refurbishment of the Prairie Mountain path, together with Powderface path, to the tune of $700,000 as a part of a $1.3-million funding in path work within the Kananaskis Public Land Use Zone. The Pals have taken the lead on each initiatives.
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The Pals’ settlement to handle further trails on public lands was made via the Trails Act — provincial laws created in 2022 that establishes a system for motorized and non-motorized path administration.
The act goals to enhance path planning for public lands, designates Crown-owned trails, ensures path restore, permits appointments of path managers and permits partnerships for path operations.
The act settlement, although it’s nonetheless thought of a draft between the Pals and the province, permits the Pals as a path supervisor to public lands in Kananaskis.
‘Extra use means extra put on, which requires extra upkeep’
The Pals of Kananaskis Nation have acquired a $200,000 grant to conduct path work in 2024 on each parks and public lands.
The funding is welcome as visitation to Kananaskis continues to extend, Julian famous. Alberta Parks recorded 4.7 million guests to the area in 2023, which is a 12 per cent enhance from 4.2 million guests in 2022.
“Extra use means extra put on, which requires extra upkeep,” mentioned Julian. “This enhance in funding and grants is absolutely good timing to guarantee that we are able to sustain with that.
“I feel the Kananaskis Conservation Cross is a contributor to that, by way of the income that they’re the province then capable of grant out to guarantee that we’re engaged on Kananaskis Nation.”
Julian mentioned the Pals are all the time in search of extra volunteers, however proper now’s pushing to spice up its variety of boots on the bottom.
“We’re actually in search of volunteers and may use extra, and that’s a push proper now by way of making an attempt to achieve individuals and get extra volunteers so we are able to ship on our promise, each as a newly appointed path supervisor, but additionally for the work we do with Alberta Parks.”
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