Moose Mountain Bike Trail Society (MMBTS)

Posted: May 4, 2009

This winter has been revolutionary for the Calgary and area mountain bike community. With the record cold snaps and the trails buried under snow for the past 5 months a group of builders and riders have come together to organize and begin building a relationship with the Alberta government.

A network of riding buds have been hard at work for close to ten years; And the work done this winter has given way to the creation of the Moose Mountain Bike Trail Society (MMBTS).

This winter gave birth to a new era in mountain biking for Albertans in and around the Calgary area. Moose Mountain has been an Alberta destination for recreation, that is within an hour drive from Calgary, for decades. Equestrians, Hikers and Mountain Bikers have access to hectares upon hectares of land that would put shivers down an easterner's spine. Rugged shale peaks covered by snow most of the year, despite the pandemic of global warming, are the POD. Over the past few years the Moose area has seen an explosion of mountain bikers of all disciplines. Playing host to some of the best XC and All-Mountain trails in the world. The downhill and freeride scene is no exception. The trail system would give any lift accessed mountain bike park a run for its money. A good mix of beginner to advanced, with a spectrum from mellow XC to the hardest of core downhill runs, to snuff out the yearning of our thirsty riders.


As riders and builders, we have a vested interest in the trails and are committed to creating, maintaining and growing the network that would allow us to cut back on the "commute" we are all to familiar with. We are known as the Red Tide. For years we have been forced by our own hands to ride other people's trails. Fleeing to BC to ride every weekend has taken its toll. A few years back, a small group of us decided that enough was enough. We figured if we took the time we’d be driving to Invermere or Golden and put that time back into our own trails then we’d have a place to call home. We began carving out trails that we could ride after work and on the weekend when we weren't riding across the border.



This winter the timing and conditions were right to band together, as a unified brotherhood representing all lovers of bikes for dirt, to pool our resources and channel our efforts. We needed a body that can be a voice for the community, one who can fight the good fight. MMBTS was formed out of the passion we have for our trails. In our first few months our list of goals was quite substantial. We have worked hard at all of them. Our trails are now recognized by the Alberta government as being legitimate. We no longer have to fear the long arm of the law for riding and taking care of the trails we love. Mountain bikers can rejoice in the fact that we are now able to conduct trail days without having to look over our shoulders, without having to worry that we’ll be fined for coming out of the bush carrying a chainsaw and a pick. We are now able to grow our trails and expand the network to suit our needs.

So now it’s your turn, MMBTS needs your support to make all our dreams a reality. The 2009 season promises to be the best ever for our community. With trail days, riding parties and races planned... so stay tuned for lots of fun dates where riders can begin giving back. It’s time to grow the flow!

Check us out at www.MMBTS.com for more information on how you can become a member and get involved.