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SNOWEST DECEMBER 2009 47 Yes, we know much of Alberta is wide open prairie and forested roll- ing hills. We also know that Alberta's western border with British Columbia is marked by one of the most dramatic and inspiring mountain ranges in North America—the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Rockies are impressive indeed as they rise from the valley floor of Al- berta's more tranquil landscape. Alberta's portion of the Canadian Rockies offers some astounding mountain riding with Crowsnest Pass by far the most popular mountain riding area in the southern part of the province. Ironically, Crownest Pass also is home to the province's largest and most exten- sive snowmobile trail system, which is saying something since much of the rest of Alberta is nothing but trails. Riding in Crowsnest Pass begins at about 4,000 feet and goes up from there—to between 7,500 and 8,000 feet. Snows are deepest in the bowls that dot the Canadian Rockies on both sides of the Alberta/British Columbia border. Crowsnest Pass is about 50 miles (as, well, the crow flies) north of the Canada/ U.S. border, basi- cally due north of Kalispell, MT, and Glacier National Park. Access from the British Columbia side is through Fernie and Sparwood and through Lethbridge or even Card- ston on the Alberta side. Between 200-225 inches of snow fall on the Crowsnest Pass area during the winter months. Full services are located in Bellevue, Blairmore and Coleman with the nearest airport in Calgary (150 miles) or Lethbridge (89 miles). We've all had a taste of what good snowmobiling is like. And once we've tasted it, we keep going back for more. One of the best places in western North America to keep going back for more is western Canada. It is the buffet of snowmobiling—there's more of everything you love about snowmobiling and mountain riding. It doesn't matter what your favorite is when it comes to snowmobiling, western Canada is bound to have it in abun- dance. Everything except maybe a really long trail ride and even then we're sure you can piece something together if you work at it hard enough. Those craving the steep and deep know just what western Canada offer and that's why it's become a five star riding area—or rather, collection of riding areas. Western Canada includes British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and parts of the Northwest Territories. It's a huge swath of land and volumes could be written about just the snowmobiling opportunities in each place. We will focus on the mountainous regions of southern BC and Alberta, know- ing full well that these aren't the only places (and some will argue, nor the best) to sled. Our purpose in focusing on these mountainous areas is that they're pretty much just a day's drive from the United States. Most riding areas are easily accessed, regardless of what side of the border you're on. wesTern canada The bUffeT of snowMobIlInG wesTern canada The bUffeT of snowMobIlInG alberTa Travel Alberta—www.travelalberta.com Alberta Snowmobile Association—www.altasnowmobile.ab.ca Groomed Trails—3,100 miles Highest Point—Mount Columbia (12,293 feet) ALBERTA GUIDE alberTa Valemount, BC