Frank Slide Navigation

UPCOMING PROJECT: One of SABA’s long term goals is lobbying for, planning and development of a loop trail through the Frank Slide and working with and lobbying local government and other stakeholders to allow it to be built. From SABA’s perspective, a proper trail is needed in order to increase accessibility to various climbing areas and the ease of mobility for hiking around in the slide to and from major boulder clusters.

Sustainable and responsible use of the Slide by multiple user groups will require access points and ease of mobility in and around the area. Because the Slide is a heritage site, special care must be taken to work with local stakeholders and government land managers to ensure that any project is approached with respect for conservation of the area and sustainable development practices first and foremost in mind.

Although no loop trail has been developed yet, with the increase in climbers to the area and the increase of other, non-climber visitors, SABA believes there is a need for such a project. Aspects of how this might come together are still unclear as the Government of Alberta is still in the process of passing the Trails Act which may or may not have implications for how SABA could approach a project such as this, but its an exciting project.

There’s no two ways about it, this will be a major undertaking. The Slide is a tough environment in which to move around, and in order to make travel safe and enjoyable through this area in the long run a proper trail is required. A proper trail is also the first building block for SABA’s other major long term projects, such as the development of a guidebook and the development of access points.