Dear AWTA Members,

At our AGM in April, I made a commitment to keep our members better informed and more involved in what the AWTA Board has been working on. With that in mind, I would like to share a mid-year update on our activities, accomplishments, and plans moving forward.

I feel we have accomplished a great deal this summer, thanks to the dedication and support of our members and volunteers.

Membership Events & Trail Activities

We had a great turnout at the Cutoff Creek Membership/Poker Rally in May, with seven wagons and approximately a dozen riders participating. It was also great to welcome some new members to AWTA. Hopefully, with the continued support of our organizers and volunteers, we can make this an annual event!

This summer also brought some significant challenges, particularly with the overland flooding at the end of June.

The Panther Wagon Trail, through the Gap, experienced a major sinkhole and washout that forced wagons to divert upstream to bypass the damaged section. This situation has opened discussions with Forestry about the possibility of establishing a permanent re-route between the second and third crossings. These discussions are still in the early stages and will continue into the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.

In early July, a dedicated crew of AWTA members headed into the Clearwater area with skid steers and equipment to repair sections of the wagon trail leading to 40 Mile that had become impassable. Floodwaters had run directly down the trail, creating holes and deep trenches along multiple 100-metre sections.

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, equipment, and hard work to get these trails back into usable condition.

 

Our Biggest Priority – Becoming Official Trail Managers

One of the Board’s biggest priorities this year has been working toward becoming officially recognized as Trail Managers.

In early 2026, the government changed how grant funding is allocated for backcountry trail maintenance and repairs, including snowmobile, OHV, and non-motorized trails.

Previously, societies could submit applications for trail improvement projects and, if approved, proceed with the work outlined in their applications. Under the new requirements, organizations must now be designated as the official Trail Manager for a trail to qualify for this funding.

This is a significant change, and one that the AWTA Board has been actively working to address.

With the help of our members, we have identified, mapped, and named several candidate trails that align with AWTA’s interests and objectives. We are approaching this initiative in three phases:

• Phase 1 – Panther, Clearwater, and Ram Areas: Our initial trail submissions were completed in September 2026. We are hoping to have our first meeting with Rocky representatives before the end of October to discuss the next steps.
• Phase 2 – Southern Areas: Explore additional trails to the south that may fit AWTA’s objectives and trail management profile.
• Phase 3 – Northern Areas and Willmore: Revisit potential trail management opportunities in the north, including the Willmore Wilderness area.

Becoming an official Trail Manager will provide AWTA with opportunities to access funding and take a more active role in maintaining and protecting the trails we all enjoy.

However, it also comes with additional responsibilities. As we move toward managing trails and completing some maintenance work ourselves, AWTA will need to establish a formal Safety Policy and secure $5 million in liability insurance coverage.

These are important steps to ensure we can safely and responsibly carry out trail maintenance activities while protecting our organization, members, and volunteers.

Looking Ahead

There is still plenty of work ahead, but I believe we are making good progress toward establishing AWTA as a recognized voice in the management and preservation of wagon trails.

Our goal remains the same: to preserve, maintain, and promote the trails that allow us to enjoy the backcountry with our horses, wagons, families, and friends for generations to come.

On behalf of the Board, I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported AWTA this year. Whether you volunteered on a trail project, helped organize an event, provided equipment, shared your knowledge, or simply continued your membership, your contribution matters.

As promised at the AGM, we want to keep our members informed and encourage more involvement in the association.

If you are interested in getting more involved, volunteering on future projects, or sharing ideas, please reach out to me or any member of the Board. We would love to hear from you!

Thank you again for being part of AWTA and for helping us keep our wagon trails open and accessible.

Yours truly,

Brett Fulford
AWTA – President