Free-wheeling fun this summer? Share the record of your Sparwood Trails adventure

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Did you get your wheels rolling on some East Kootenay trails this season? It’s time to share your adventures!

The trails and views around Sparwood are set to get some love, with the Sparwood Trails Alliance creating a calendar showcasing riders’ trail adventures. The aim is to raise funds for the completion of the Lunch Loop trail network.

STA board member Christina Bilski says the calendar is a first for the STA and participation was good so far.

Anyone is welcome to send in photos to be considered for the calendar. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 30.

“While we would love to put focus on photos of the beautiful Elk Valley area, we’re open to photo submissions from all locations that people have taken on their trail adventures. We’re also looking for photos from all seasons of the year.”

Bilski says one of the most photographed locations around Sparwood was the Lookout – a section on the Great Trail / Coal Discovery Trail between Hosmer and Sparwood providing a beautiful view of the valley looking south towards Fernie.

“Photos from The Lookout are easily identifiable as they usually include our Sasquatch. The many trail creatures along the trails have been a great incentive for trail users to get their families out on the trails in search of them,” she says.

Bilski would know. “Having a young family, my husband and I are always out biking or hiking the trails and we were really excited to explore the newest STA built trail this year. I am also thrilled that the STA has put so much effort over the past few years to install signage at existing trails. This allows those who are new to our trails the ability to explore without the worry of getting lost. We are working on the installation and signage for two map kiosks in town, one at the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce and one at Mountain Shadows campground.”

Work on the Lunch Loop network is ongoing. Another 900 metres still needs to be completed on the current trail network, and the STA has applied for funding through the Columbia Basin Trust for a grant to build another 1,408 metres of trails.

“Depending on the terrain, building a metre of trail cost approximately $20,” Bilski says.

“In addition to seeking out grant applications to achieve our goals, we are trying out a few new fundraising ideas. If the calendar fundraiser is a success, there is the possibility that it could be a yearly fundraiser. After all, who wouldn’t like beautiful photos of the Elk Valley displaying in their home?”

Information on how to submit photos can be found by visiting sparwoodtrailsalliance.ca and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Email any questions to sparwoodtrails@gmail.com.

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