Questions re Fort St James

[Bigfish]

Posted this in the new members intro section, but I thought it maybe more useful here

Hi from Ontario. New to this forum, but have been on others mostly Freedom Sledder for a few years.
My reason for joining this forum is I am contemplating taking a job near Fort St James BC, and I thought I would ask if someone here can give me some details on sledding in that area.
Looking for things like length of season, are there trails, what condition are they normally, and what clubs are in the area, if any.

Thanks

BF

 

[snowdingo]

Not too sure about Fort St James exactly, but I'm sure its probably like most other towns in Northern BC. The mountain areas get snow earlier than the lower elevations obviously, so the sledding season can start as soon as you can get access up there. Its not uncommon for guys to get their first rides up in late October, but most wait until there is a good base to avoid rock "landmines" and such. Some places can ride much earlier than that.

There is no trail network in BC like there is in Ontario. Most towns have some form of snowmobile club, who often organize local trails and maintain access trails to the backcountry and mountains. There is NO groomed trail network like you're used to, but once you have experienced your first day in bottomless mountain powder, you WON'T miss it!

Fort St James is at the end of the highway though. Don't know where you're referring to!

 

[goodtogo]

Heres the closest snowmobile club www.pgsnowmobileclub.com you will have to trade your short track in for a long though

 

[Bigfish]

Thanks for the replies guys, still waiting to hear about the job, and yes I know that my short track sled will be staying in ON!

 

[snowdingo]

Good luck. If you end up coming out for work, be rest assured the sledding will be good! You'll be only a few hours from some of the best alpine riding in northern BC.

 

[Youbeteh]

There is lots of great trail and lake riding around fort st james, stuart lake is 60 miles long and there is a lodge you can stay in at then end of it. Once you get there you can ride trails to other lakes, bring a skimmer with spare fuel. Makes for a great weekend sledding trip.
There is some ok mountain riding close to the main logging road that heads north of town (north road), this is where the new mount milligan gold and copper mine is. You just have to ask the locals, they know all the spots. It is one of those towns almost everybody has had or has a sled.
There is a riding area north of town, its a long drive but well worth it, where there is some of the best, unknown mountain riding in the province. I have rode revelstoke and sicamous lots and can tell you this area blows them away, its just not down a paved major highway.
Good luck with the move, you will be blown away by fort st james scenery and history, ecspecially coming from ontario!