Fernie Snowmobile Association is hoping a new staging area will help reduce snowmobile congestion in Coal Creek this winter.

Volunteers from the club spent a weekend excavating, filling and levelling an area up Coal Creek Road to make a staging platform where snowmobiles can meet and prepare for their rides.

Tembec donated the land, and contractors loaned the group an excavator, seven trucks and other equipment for the job.

Paul Kramer, President of the Fernie Snowmobile Association said he was really pleased with the efforts of the volunteers. “I am really proud of what the volunteers have achieved, and really grateful for the contractors that helped.

“Over the last few years there has been increasing snowmobile traffic and it was becoming almost impossible to marshall.

“This new area means there will be an area which will keep snowmobilers away from cross country skiers and dog walkers and make the whole thing more organized.

“Having a well designed staging area will also attract more snowmobiler tourists to the area, which will benefit the whole town.”

Kramer said the project would have cost about $20,000 without the support of the community.

He hopes the City of Fernie will agree to plough the area, and plans to put a garbage bin and a portable toilet on the site.

Volunteers at the site included Dave Hozjan, JC Pace, Cliffton Mitchell, Skeet Podrasky, Mike Scarpelli, Richard Garlock, Dave Blackwell, Rick Stratton, Mick Pace, Marty Garrett, Roy Vicic, Monty Sosnowski, Paul Kramer, Rick Mercier, Jim Thorner, Kevin Hutchinson, Chuck Shoesmith, Wayne Stamler, Rick Mitchell and Ken Brockanier

Contractors that donated equipment included Pace Excavating, Mitchell Excavating, Morrissey Aggregates Ltd, Scarpelli Trucking, Snow Valley Sand & Gravel, Garrett Ready Mix, Al Komarevich Trucking, Foothills Silvaculture, Mercier Excavating, Fiorentino Bros Contracting Ltd, Tembec Enterprises Inc, Walter Ingram Building Material Ltd, Shoesmith Construction Ltd and Elk River Mountain Homes.

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