ATHABASCA – If you’ve spent a lot of time in the woods, there’s a good chance you’ve passed a tree or a rock for the third time in a row only to realize “wait that looks really familiar…”
Thanks to students from Edwin Parr Composite School (EPC), as well as Henrik Asfeldt, anyone out walking, running or biking on the Muskeg Creek Trails will hopefully be able to avoid that experience.
As part of their construction technology class, students built 96 handmade signs that were then attached to poles by Asfeldt, all in an effort to increase the accessibility of the trail system, which run through 17.5 square kilometres.
The school connection came from Asfeldt, who teaches science at EPC, but it also came about because of EPC’s principal, Desmond Nolan, who has been actively involved in the mountain bike trail.
“He had initially volunteered the school’s construction technology class to make signs for the mountain bike trail once we got it done. Once the signs for the current trail came up, we asked him if he would be willing to do them as well, and he said of course,” Asfeldt said.
Planning for the project began in the early fall in 2022, when Town of Athabasca Coun. Jonathan LeMessurier brought the idea forward after a few people had brought concerns up to him.
“I’d been getting complaints from some people that they had been out there and gotten lost,” said LeMessurier. “Some people lived in the community, some people didn’t, but there was a common trend of people being worried to use the trails. Some of the old signs had gotten lost, or damaged, so they just didn’t feel comfortable going out there.”
Once LeMessurier brought the idea up to the committee, who had been pretty focused on building a single-lane mountain biking trail, work was quickly started. The Public Works department from the town drilled the post holes, with the posts later being installed by the Athabasca Nordic Ski and Bike Club.
A total of 96 signs were made and installed, with locations being chosen by Asfeldt and LeMessurier. The trail has multiple entrances and exits, so the signs make sure to include distances as well in order to give users an idea of how much distance they have left to go.
Asfeldt reckons it took him four or five hours to get all the signs put up, which he said really was a one-man job. Now they’re all in place, Asfeldt is hoping that they’ll increase the accessibility of the outdoor facilities.
“I just hope that it makes it easier for people that aren’t that familiar with the trails to get out there and use them. They’re a great facility that we have here in Athabasca, so now they hopefully don’t have to be worried about finding their way around.”
It was a sentiment that was echoed by LeMessurier, who, as the town’s representative on the trail committee, is always working to get more people onto the trail.
“As a councillor, I’m extremely pleased with the outcome of the project, and we’ve gotten some really positive responses so far. The signs are pleasing to look at, and the directional/distance of the signs has been really well regarded. I think it’s just a great improvement to our trail system.”
