Crowsnest Pass, Canada - May 2011 Trip Report

[rickashay]

I will let the photos tell their own story but it was a great day and it was AWESOME to get out and 4x4 for the first time this year. (for me anyways) Only some minor damage was suffered (see if you can find it!! haha) but on the good side, we picked up a TON of trash on the trail including some fenders and a lawnmower!

enough words....on to the photos:


20110521-IMG_8578 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8583 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8587 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8590 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8598 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8593 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8604 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8619 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8616 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8614_ by RickaShay24, on Flickr

This is COOL!

20110521-IMG_8622_ by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8603_ by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8630 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8633 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8641 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8648 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

At the old ruins of the Lille townsite

20110521-IMG_8673 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8653 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8659 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20110521-IMG_8681 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

 

[Victor]

Great pictures Addison! Looking forward to wheeling with you and your to be newly lifted 4Runner!

 

[thorrunner]

Great pics!

 

[Mechanic]

Where are these trails you went on? I live just south of Calgary but almost every weekend of the summer drive out to pincher creek to camp, my family have a permanate campsite out there. That looks like a blast and a half. Are you planning any more runs up that way in the future?

 

[rickashay]

Great pictures Addison! Looking forward to wheeling with you and your to be newly lifted 4Runner!

Thanks Vic! Soon enough we'll see each other out on the trails... and yes, with my new lift. haha

Great pics!

Thanks!

Where are these trails you went on? I live just south of Calgary but almost every weekend of the summer drive out to pincher creek to camp, my family have a permanate campsite out there. That looks like a blast and a half. Are you planning any more runs up that way in the future?

Oh cool! Yes it's definitely a great area. TONS of terrain to explore and wheel on. The ruins are actually the remains of an old town called Lille. The other trails we ran that day were all in behind the interpretation center for Frank Slide. You can actually see the slide in the background in several of my photos above.

As per future runs, yes, there will be many this summer! I am actually involved in the Canada Toyota 4WD Association which is now Canada-wide but started in your area. Check out the forum and website here: CT4WD Forum - Powered by vBulletin or Canada Toyota 4WD Association - CT4WD

Tons of info and an AWESOME group of people to hit the trails with. Everybody is on the same page too as far as responsible trail usage etc. They regularly run "official trail runs" to locations around Alberta and BC plus there are always "unofficial runs" taking place on any given weekend. If you'd like to come out for a run with us or need more info just shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to help!

Cheers,
Addison

 

[Mechanic]

Well thats AWSOME! So the CT4W does trail runs, officially and non-officially all over south Alberta and BC? That sounds like a great deal.

I will openly admit though, I've got a bit of a problem, I have had almost no trail experience to speak of. So I'm not what you'd call "seasoned". And then the other problem, my runner is stock and I don't plan on doing many mods to it(no factory locker either) AND I'm hoping not do destroy it either as right now it is my one and only driver. Would this still fit into some of your trips? Or is that to long a lost of restrictions?

I am plannning on building a budget trail dedicated rig this June/July, but it's not going to be a 4runner, or even a toyota for that matter. So it probibly wouldn't be welcome.

 

[Mechanic]

Just so you guys understand the depth of my inexperiance, here is a video of my first and only experience with a trail. Cnsidering it's on YouTube now, give a guess how it went.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

[rickashay]

Well thats AWSOME! So the CT4W does trail runs, officially and non-officially all over south Alberta and BC? That sounds like a great deal.

I will openly admit though, I've got a bit of a problem, I have had almost no trail experience to speak of. So I'm not what you'd call "seasoned". And then the other problem, my runner is stock and I don't plan on doing many mods to it(no factory locker either) AND I'm hoping not do destroy it either as right now it is my one and only driver. Would this still fit into some of your trips? Or is that to long a lost of restrictions?

I am planning on building a budget trail dedicated rig this June/July, but it's not going to be a 4runner, or even a toyota for that matter. So it probibly wouldn't be welcome.

Yup, CT4WD does a ton of runs in our area and there is a huge number of members in/around Calgary (I am from Lethbridge).

As per your previous off-roading experience.... beginners are entirely welcome. I would actually say that probably 75% of the members started with ZERO off-road experience themselves, myself included. There is a great attitude at CT4WD where beginners are not frowned upon for being new, but shown and helped along the way to become better drivers/trail users. They even have courses that you can take to learn more about off-roading. There is a general course (Trail Ethics and Safety Course), Intro Drivers Course (the "101"), and a more advanced drivers course (the "202"), and even a Wilderness First Aid and Safety Course. I have taken the first 2 courses and they are great. The purpose of the courses is to help people learn many new things but also to make sure that everyone in the group is on the same page and it makes the trail runs way smoother and safer. In the 101 course for example you learn basic spotting techniques, basic recovery techniques (winching, hi-lift, recovery gear, recovery straps etc...) and some basic driving techniques.

As per your dedicated off-road truck not being a Toyota, thats not really an issue as there are several members who drive: Ford's, Nissan's, Jeep's, and Landrovers. As long as you don't mind hanging out with mostly Toyota's you should be ok! And I bet when you see what your 4Runner is capable of without any mods, you may change your mind into what vehicle should become your trail rig:

 

[Mechanic]

So, do i have to become a member or something then to join up? I've been looking around for an off road club to help get me started and this sounds as perfect i could of hoped for.

For a first trip, If you think there is a day trip or something that would give me a reasonable chance at not breaking anything, I would be pleased as punch if i could tag along on your next run and bring my runner. If I decide i like it I'll probably take those two courses you suggested.

That said, i don't want to be a liability or put a restrict what trails you we're planning on taking.

Quite excited about the prospect, only worry is wrecking my 4runner. Shoot me a PM or an Email if you think there is a trip I could tag along for that's close(ish(lethbridge and area would be about farthest, that's about 3 hours drive for me))

Edit: I'm also glad that you guys are accepting of different makes and models, i thought about joining a jeep off road thing but they denied me because I wasn't going to be wheeling a jeep.

 

[rickashay]

So, do i have to become a member or something then to join up? I've been looking around for an off road club to help get me started and this sounds as perfect i could of hoped for.

For a first trip, If you think there is a day trip or something that would give me a reasonable chance at not breaking anything, I would be pleased as punch if i could tag along on your next run and bring my runner. If I decide i like it I'll probably take those two courses you suggested.

That said, i don't want to be a liability or put a restrict what trails you we're planning on taking.

Quite excited about the prospect, only worry is wrecking my 4runner. Shoot me a PM or an Email if you think there is a trip I could tag along for that's close(ish(lethbridge and area would be about farthest, that's about 3 hours drive for me))

Edit: I'm also glad that you guys are accepting of different makes and models, i thought about joining a jeep off road thing but they denied me because I wasn't going to be wheeling a jeep.

No, you dont need to be a "premium" (paid) member. You are limited to access of certain parts of the forum (you can access 90% of it) once you sign up regularly. Once you become a premium or paid member you get full access to the forum. You are then eligible to register in the driving/safety courses, and then once you have taken the appropriate courses you can go on the "official trail runs." As an added incentive you can also go to the Calgary meets and win prizes (really useful offroad oriented ones) and you get a 15% discount on parts, labour, and body at certain Toyota dealerships.

I think you should just go to CT4WD right now, register on the forum, and introduce yourself in the new members section. The rest will come easy!

Hope to see you over there!! (my username is the same on that forum!)

 

[Mechanic]

I'm already there and registered. Thanks!