For some trail users, autumn is the best season to be out in West Bragg Creek. The crisp air and the crunch of the leaves underfoot leave us re-energized after the heat and the smoke of this past summer. Best of all, the bugs are gone!
You may have noticed some straggler cows out on the range who have gotten a bit too comfortable. The trail gates should now be left open to allow them to find their way to the cattle pen along Mountain Road. Another activity that you should be aware of out in West Bragg is hunting. This is a designated hunting zone so avoid wearing your fur coat and opt for your retro orange bike jersey instead. The BCT work crews have been busy on trails this summer so you may see their awesome work in your adventures. Many thanks to all who volunteered their time and skills this summer to keep the flow going.
There are two projects worth mentioning this month that show how diverse BCT has become in the work we do.
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) paving project completion is the icing on the cake
The TCT project has been the longest running and most expensive project that BCT has ever undertaken. First conceived in 2005 to be included in Rocky View County (RVC) planning, this project has puttered along through numerous renditions, consultations, and fundraisers for 18 years to what you see now. This 7 km newly paved trail follows the West Bragg Road out to RR 54 where it heads south for 1.7 km before connecting into Kananaskis Country at Iron Creek Trail. The final section 3.1 km of trail was paved this September to officially complete the project.
The final cost of the project was $3.5 million which included adding a pedestrian component to 1 bridge as well as strong post guardrails where the trail pinched too close to the road. Major funders for the project included the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, the Alberta and Federal Governments and Rocky View County. An estimated 5,000 volunteer hours went into this project. If patience is a virtue, I think BCT nailed that down. Thanks to Eric Lloyd for taking the hand off from Robert Sadee to see this project completed.
The paving component of the project, which was $1.15 million of the total cost, has led to a significant increase in trail users. The ultimate goal of the project was to improve safety and connectivity within the community along this busy road. The satisfaction of seeing the trail being used year round by so many is proof that trails are an essential amenity in any community.
Conrad Schiebel(President)
Leave it to Beavers
If you are a regular out in West Bragg Creek, you’ll have noticed that the beavers have been busy west of the parking lot along Mountain Road. Nature’s dam builders have provided BCT with some challenges over the past 3 years but we had a chance to get even this summer. With the help of Cows and Fish, Elbow River Watershed Partnership and some Alberta Environment grant money, BCT volunteers helped install a pond leveller which acts the same as the overflow drain on a bath tub. The water can only go so high before it drains so this device has added some security to keeping our trails from getting flooded out. Besides, the benefits of having beavers as part of the landscape shouldn’t be overlooked. They have created a marvelous wetland and aquatic habitat that helps regulate the watershed. It’s also a perfect spot to marvel at what nature has to offer.
