With the completion of placing tin siding and roofing on the Race Site shelters, upgrading the Start and Finish Gates and creation of a Weight Pull area in 2010, the Board of Directors is looking to transforming the race trail into a year-round sled dog facility. There are a number of different race site improvements being actively pursued as the Board of Directors looks to the future and the overall presentation of the facility. If you would like to make a donation to the Society to enable us to continue progressing with these projects, see our Donation Form at the bottom of this page.

Vegetative Enhancement

Located in the Chinook country of Alberta, throughout the winter months the Rosebud Run race trail is subject to abrupt temperature fluctuations. Because of the open landscape, exposure to sun and wind presents a constant battle maintaining the trail in a condition suitable to sled dog activities. Sun exposure and warm Chinook winds can devour the snow and trail in a matter of days. Winds blow snow off the trail and create massive drifts that have to be excavated and sculpted.

The most logical and natural method of addressing these natural liabilities is through the provision of shade, from both the sun and the wind. As such, in the spring of 2011 the Society will be undertaking the planting of almost 900 trees along the race trail. Although the trees are seedlings and will take several years to provide the shade desired, in time they will enhance both the stability and the aesthetics of the site. The initial planting, taking place in 2011, is the first of a five-year plan and consist of Colorado Spruce (430) and Cottonwood Poplars (440). Other varieties will be added in subsequent years.

Permanent Sound System

With the increase in competitive events (3) and workshops (2) early in 2011, the need for an adequate, permanent sound system became apparent. With the advent of transforming the site into a year-round facility, the requirement for an appropriate sound system was even more important than ever before. The Society had its sights focused on acquiring a 1/2 Mile Hailer system complete with wireless microphone, amplifier and two horn-type speakers. Thanks to CWT (Canadian Western Trust) the sound system was obtained late in 2011 and is now in place providing full audio coverage of the race site Staging Area. Please join us in sincerely thanking CWT for their support of and contribution to our races.

Creek Crossing Bridges

There are several obstacles that have to be overcome to make this possible, the biggest of which are the many creek crossing along the length of the race trail.

Although there was some consideration given to altering the current trail route to minimize creek crossings, maintaining the current length of the race trail was determined to be more important. As such, there are 8 creek crossings that need to be addressed (see map below, crossing marked in green lettering). It is our intention to place bridges at each of the creek crossings to eliminate the seasonal use of the race trail, to make it suitable for sled dog events and activities on a year round basis.

Currently, each of these creek crossings present impassible water obstacles during the summer months. Water depths vary from crossing to crossing, a foot of water at some crossings to over eight feet of water at other crossings. Once the cold weather comes in the winter, the creek freezes over making the negotiation of the crossings possible. If the Rosebud Run trail is to become a year-round sled dog facility, the only way to eliminate the water obstacles in the summer months is to construct bridges at each of the creek crossings.

Each bridge must be of substantial enough construction to support trail grooming equipment; snow machines and trail packers and shavers, quads and floats. While these are not particularly heavy pieces of equipment, the goal will be to build bridges capable of supporting much heavier equipment to assure the safe passage of all users.

The details of each of the crossings and specifications are as follows:

Crossing A Thanks to GTA Building Supply, Fortis, and the efforts of many volunteers, the bridge at Crossing A is now in place and serving trail users. The bridge is 48 feet long, rests on three power poles and is complete with railing, snow fence and entrance and exit wings. The race trail has been altered slightly to include the bridge in the trail route. This bridge eliminated a drop of five feet onto the creek and the wicked corner on the creek ice. It represents the first step in making the race trail available for year-round activites.

Crossing A Before

Crossing A After

Crossing B This particular crossing already has a bridge in place and demonstrates the effectiveness of the bridge crossing. As you can see in the picture, the bridge has eliminated the 4 foot drop to the creek bed across its 44 foot span. The entrance to the bridge and exit from the bridge are smooth with very little elevation change, an important factor when designing a sled dog trail. Span: 40 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 4 feet

Crossing C This will be one of our more challenging crossings, partly due to its 60 foot span and partly due to the fact that it will not be at a right angle to the creek; it has to cross the creek on a bit of an angle. The bridge here will eliminate the abrubt 4 1/2 foot drop to the creek bed and the abrupt 4 incline off the creek bed. Span: 60 feet Crossing: Transecting the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 4.5 feet

Crossing D This crossing will be relatively straight forward spanning 48 feet and eliminating a 3 foot drop to the creek bed. This crossing is particularly important because of the 8 feet of water retained in the creek. Special consideration for spring runoff will have to be consider when installing this bridge so erosion around the bridge placement doesn't occur. Span: 48 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 3 feet

Crossing E The banks on both sides of this crossing are solid and stabalized which should make the installation of the bridge relatively straight forward. The bridge here will span 60' and eliminate the 6 foot drop to the creek bed and 2 foot climb off the creek bed. The bridge will slope slightly down-trail so consideration will have to be given to side rails on this bridge. Span: 60 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 6 feet

Crossing F This crossing will be our most important and biggest challenge. Most important because both banks are steep dropping over 12 feet from the crest of both banks to the creek bed. Additionally, the creek channel is only about 2 feet wide but 3 feet deep and virtually void of water from mid-August to May. The filling of this trough with snow will be eliminated by the placement of the bridge. This bridge will be our biggest challenge because of the 76 foot span. Span: 76 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 12+ feet

Crossing G This crossing presents a bit of a challenge as it will present a 4 foot rise in elevation from the entrance of the bridge to the exit of the bridge over its 40 foot span. The bridge will eliminate an abrupt 6 foot climb off the creek bed and problems presented by slough grass on the entrance side. Water depth at this crossing is slightly over 6 feet. Span: 40 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 6 feet

Crossing H This will be one of the easier crossings. The bridge will span 34 feet with solid, stable banks on both sides. The banks are of equal height off the creek bed and will eliminate the 4 foot drop to, and climb off the creek bed. The bridge will be set perpendicular to the creek. Water depth at this crossing is slightly over 5 feet. Span: 34 feet Crossing: Perpenticular to the creek Elevation drop eliminated: 4 feet

This is no small undertaking both in time and cost. Securing the necessary construction materials and then employing adequate equipment to install the bridges will be significant. This is where memberships, donations and sponsorships will play a key role. The commitment of the community, users and other interested parties will dictate the success and timeline for this project. The more support the Society receives, the shorter the timeline will be.

The plan is to complete the bridges on the 2-Mile trail first making the 2-Mile trail a year-round facility as soon as possible. Crossings on the remainder of the 4-Mile trail will follow as funds and materials become available. Upon completion of bridge installations, the trail route will be cultivated and seeded to tame, lawn grass making the route easily identifiable and easier to maintain with leveling floats and lawn mowers. There will be many work bee weekends for members and other interested parties to be involved in the development of the trail.

The final stage of this project will be the planting of trees and shrubs along the trail route. Because the trail is located in the Chinook belt of Alberta, special consideration has to be given to the effect of temperature fluctuations and deterioration of the trail through Chinook melting in the winter months. Trees and shrubs along the trail route will have three benefits. First, they will protect the trail from the sun and Chinook winds that devour the trail's snow base. Second, they will have a tendency to trap snow on the trail and protect it from drifting winds. Third, trees and shrubs will create an aesthetically pleasing environment for conducting sled dog activities. Although this is identified as the final stage, it is not intended to indicate that it will be the last portion of the project to be attended to, only that the bridges and trail conditioning will take precedence. The planting of trees and shrubs will begin as soon as funding and materials become available.

Donation Form

First Name
Last Name
Address
Town/City
Province/State
Postal/Zip Code
Phone Number	--
Email Address
Donating To	Baby Fradette Memorial Plot Spot Memorial Bridge Bridge Construction Vegetative Enhancement General
Donation Amount	$20.00 $50.00 $100.00 $200.00 $300.00 $500.00 $750.00 $1000.00
Note: You do not need to have a PayPal account to make a donation to the Society with your Credit Card or Debit. Simply click "Don't have a PayPal Account?" on the first PayPal page and follow the instructions from there.