When you volunteer so much of your time and energy into something you have a personal connection to it, you feel a sense of loss when the reports come in about the damage incurred. It was almost overwhelming when the extent of it was revealed. The Sno-Drifters take pride in the quality of its pit stops and shelters, many of which burned along with the trees.
We were lucky that other areas such as our Gold awarded Stoney Mountain Trail were virtually untouched in areas. Although we were allowed back a month later, not everyone returned. Members of our board and club lost their homes and the aftermath of the fire, along with the emotional toll, caused a major shake-up.