Safety

MMBTS promotes safe mountain biking.

All Moose Mountain bike trails can be found on Trailforks, and all bikers, downhill, cross-country or all-mountain, are strongly encouraged to download the Trailforks app to their phone.   This map will aid in your locating and enjoying trails, but more importantly, may be a valuable resource if you ever have to communicate an emergency to Kananaskis Emergency Services.  Trailforks can give you a latitude and longitude of your location, or at least the trail name so that Emergency Services providers can have an easier time locating you.

Safety Hazards

Mountain Biking has unique hazards in addition to the normal hazards associated with other backcountry use and travel.   The sport involves somewhat high rates of speed on often narrow and sometimes very steep trails.  There is always a risk of crashing and proper protective gear should be worn.  As a bare minimum a properly fitting helmet is required.   For downhill trails, a full face helmet is highly recommended along with elbow and knee pads.  Aggressive riders (racers) and those that like to ride the technical trail features such as jumps and skinnies, should also consider the use of chest and spine protection.

Riders should always remember that natural hazards exist and trail conditions are constantly changing.  A jump that was safe last weekend may now have a fallen tree across the landing.  Always – look before you leap.  Never attempt Technical Trail Features (TTF’s) that you do not feel totally comfortable with.  Always ride within your ability.

TTF’s such as gap jumps are a desirable challenge for many riders.  However, these features should not be attempted by a new rider without coaching from a more experienced rider and never attempted when you are alone.   You must remember that the MMBTS trails are in an area with poor communication, limited access points and a long way from professional medical care.   A moderate to serious injury can easy become a life threatening injury in such a location.

If you notice conditions such as a deteriorated or damaged TTF please report that via email to info@mmbts.com, or a message on Facebook.  If you notice a tree has fallen or loose rocks are present on a landing zone, please either fix the problem or report the problem so that these safety issues can be addressed as soon as possible.   This should not be confused with maintenance issues that are not safety related (braking bumps, poor drainage etc).  These maintenance issues can also be reported via email or facebook message so that the issue can be addressed on a trail maintenance day.

Mountain Biking involves higher rates of speed than other backcountry activities such as hiking or trail running.   This increased speed increases the likely hood of wildlife encounters.  Potentially dangerous animals in this area include black bear and grizzly bears, moose, cougars and wolves   For information on the hazards of wildlife in Kananaskis country, please drop into the visitor centre for information or visit the website page wildlife in Kananaskis at Kananaskis Wildlife

An additional hazard in the Moose Mountain area is sour natural gas production operations.   The Moose Mountain fire road, provides access to several wells and pipeline valve stations on Moose Mountain.   The Canyon Creek road, past Ing’s Mine parking lot, also accesses a Pieridae Energy compressor station and several pipeline valve stations.   There is also a Cenovus access road off the Canyon Creek road accessing a sour well site and compressor station on Prairie Mountain.  “Sour Gas” refers to natural gas that contains Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S).  The wells in this area produce gas with up to 25% H2S concentration.  H2S is acutely toxic in concentrations of several hundred parts per million.  Pieridae and Cenovus are excellent operators with comprehensive safety and corrosion mitigation programs.  All you need to be aware of is that these facilities are strictly out of bounds and not to be messed about.  In the event of any sour gas emergency, the operators will activate their emergency response plans.   You should immediately follow any instructions given to you by Pieridae or Cenovus personnel and in the absence of any instructions, try to stay on high ground and upwind of any gas leak (H2S is heavier than air).

Emergency Services

Dial 911 and ask for the Kananaskis Emergency Services Dispatch

Fire – Report Forest Fires as soon as possible by calling 310-FIRE 403-310-3473