The Golden Snowmobile Club is developing a new Beacon Basin training facility to practice backcountry safety techniques.

At their Annual General Meeting on October 29, The Golden Snowmobile Club discussed their activities over the past year and looked towards developments in the upcoming season.

One of the biggest developments coming from the Club is the planned building of a new Beacon Basin training facility, one of the first in North America. It will consist of eight buried beacons that people can utilize to go out and practice. The club hopes to have the park finished by the new year.

President, Jon Simpson says that the new facility won’t replace an avalanche course, but it will let people practice their safety skills.

Over the past year, the Club has seen a growth in its membership to over 200 people. During the summer cleanup, the Club removed 1400 pounds of garbage from the highway pull out at Quartz Creek.

In the upcoming season the Club plans to work with the Canadian Avalanche Association to erect additional signage and promote local events for avalanche education. The Club will also tentatively be hosting a snowmobile race in March. They are asking anyone interested to help out or sponsor the event.

A recent article in Snowriders Magazine announced that in the 11th Annual Rider’s Choice Awards, Golden snowmobiling won a series of awards. Golden took home two gold prizes for Most Challenging Riding Area and Favourite Mountain Area. Golden also won a Bronze for Favourite Powder Riding.

Simpson says, “We have some of the best riding in North America, it’s award winning. Without all the volunteers that contribute this would not be possible.”

Golden Snowmobile Club memberships are available at the Snowmobile Rental shop located at 910-9th St North.