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WORCA preserves River landmarks

Massive trail work project expected to take eight weeks With more than 14,000 riders recorded over a three-month period last summer, it’s safe to say that A River Runs Through It is one of Whistler’s most ridden bike trails outside of the W

Massive trail work project expected to take eight weeks

With more than 14,000 riders recorded over a three-month period last summer, it’s safe to say that A River Runs Through It is one of Whistler’s most ridden bike trails outside of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

Time and popularity have definitely caught up to the trail. At the beginning of this season, the old log crossing of 21-Mile Creek finally buckled, and WORCA constructed a new log crossing a little further along.

The old water tower, which was located just past the log bridge, also met its end this year. Strong winds from a storm a few weeks ago knocked down three large poplar trees, which damaged the tower as they fell.

WORCA was in the middle of a municipally approved Trail and Habitat Rehabilitation Project at the time and discovered the effects of the storm on July 14. As part of their rehabilitation project in the area, they decided to commemorate the tower by building a trail feature from the usable wood. WORCA also provided the Whistler Museum and Archives with a picture of the old water tower, taken in 1995. The picture was taken from Environmental Review: Rainbow Wetlands Park, Green Lakes Conservation Area, Wedge Park, prepared by Cascade Environmental Resource Group and Brent Harley and Associations Inc.

According to Ted Battiston, WORCA’s director of trails, the entire trail is getting a major makeover this year.

"The long and short of it is that this area is going to be part of the Protected Area Network Strategy, and the ideal situation for the area is that it shouldn’t have a mountain bike trail running through it," he said.

"That said, there was an opportunity to grandfather the trail because it has been around for a long time, and I don’t think you could ever stop people from riding it. WORCA has taken care of this trail for a long time and we’ve put a lot of groundwork in there to minimalize the environmental impact of so many riders. We went even further by submitting a proposal, and getting a sizeable chunk of funding to really work on the trail."

WORCA made the proposal for River to the Community Foundation of Whistler’s Environmental Legacies Fund, and received a grant of $7,000. The Whistler-Blackcomb Foundation matched that grant with another $7,000, and WORCA and the RMOW both contributed over a thousand dollars each to bring the budget for the trail over $16,000 this summer. That pays for approximately eight weeks of trail work for Sean Dixon, who was hired to do the work.

In addition, they have been donated the use of vehicles by the Municipality, and Nadeau and Sons has donated scrap wood from housing projects to the rehabilitation.

Many of the most noticeable changes are on the first section of the trail, which is always wet. The trail was further elevated even further and water flow through the area was restored to its natural pathways.

The area around the teeter totter was also fenced off and will be re-vegetated in the future.

The stunt at the water tower site will commemorate the tower, which is believed to have been used in the 1930’s by miners and/or loggers in the area.

Other changes have been made to areas where the roots, soil and wetlands have been impacted by riders.

"All of the changes we made I feel are in keeping with the style of the trail, with things like elevated bridges that the riders seem to like," said Battiston. "We also ripped out a few of the old stunts and replaced them with newer ones that are in bit better shape, and more in keeping with the natural aspects of the trail," he said.

Battiston walked the trail with members of AWARE and the Naturalists, identifying areas that need work – such as a raised bridge over roots or a complete rerouting of the trail away from sensitive areas – and then leaving it up to the trail builders to decide how to handle it.

"What I think is important to get out there is how the work is really bringing together a lot of different parts of the community. It’s a good story for WORCA obviously, but it also helps people to understand the stewardship aspects of riding, taking care of the trails," said Battiston.

The overall goals of the habitat improvement project in river are to:

* Improve the integrity of the sensitive habitats located near the River Runs Through It trail network,

* Raise stewardship awareness through volunteer involvement, creative signage and media exposure,

* Engender a practicable environmental ethic related to the impacts of poorly managed trail use, and

* Improve the recreational riding experience for both local riders, and our growing destination mountain-bike tourist market.

Whistler also has a vested interest in keeping the trails open, and environmentally sound.

"Mountain biking is a huge part of this town, and it’s a big economic driver – the (Whistler Summer Gravity) Festival went off huge – and sustainable trail design and stewardship are important to the riding community. Hopefully people will see our work, and start to think about all thought that went into it."

Other trail projects this year include trail maintenance in the Spruce Lake area, and regular trail maintenance nights with volunteers. In addition, Boyd McTavish has an $8,000 trail maintenance contract with WORCA to work on trails. Another trail bed restoration project is being planned with the Whistler-Blackcomb Habitat Improvement Team.

WORCA volunteers are also pitching in to help local trail builder Chris Markle to build the middle section of a trail that will one day connect North Secret Trail to Foreplay. The goal is to have that project completed by the end of the summer, but there are still several kilometres of trail to be constructed by scratch.

"When it comes to sustainable trail designs, Chris is really leading the way in Whistler. Any chance we have to compliment the amount of work he’s done, and the quality of that work, and all the personal energy he’s put into the trails, we’ll take it. The goal is to keep the bikers on the trail and the water off the trail, and he’s really done that," said Battiston.

Through the month of August, WORCA will be helping Markle to finish the trail with volunteer days every Saturday. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Tony Horn at 604-938-1680.

In addition, Battiston is asking cyclists to report any damage or suggestions for trail work to WORCA at trails@worca.com.

"It’s helps Boyd to organize his work, and makes it easier to know what’s going on on all the trails out there," said Battiston. "We also want people to start taking more stewardship over the trails out there, looking out for them and keeping the trails and the environment is better shape. Our ability to look after these trails reflects on WORCA, and makes it easier to get the things we need from the community."