Powell River Cycling Association (PRCA) representatives were excited to learn they received official authorization for a new trail along the north side of Blackwater Creek. “This is a first for us,” said Wayne Brewer, a PRCA director. “Although we have several hundred kilometres of trails in the area, very few of them are actually authorized or have official status.”
With its arresting views of David Lam Falls and Kelly Falls, the Blackwater Creek Trail is one of the most popular in the area. The new 700-metre trail from Green Road to Kelly Falls creates a loop both for hikers and cyclists. It includes existing viewpoints for both falls, as well as creating new ones from the opposite side of the creek.
Association members walked the ground with Chris Laing, managing forester for Powell River Community Forest Ltd., and also consulted with Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation, Wayne said. Both groups provided the association with letters of support that accompanied its application. The provincial government gave the trail official authorization under Section 57 of the Forest and Range Practices Act.
PRCA is a member of IMBA Canada (International Mountain Bike Association), which for several years has sponsored trail care crews who travel across North America offering workshops on building sustainable trails. Two of the Canadian trail care crew will be in Powell River on Saturday, December 1, hosting a workshop which includes a classroom session, followed by a hands-on trail building session in the afternoon. “Because we received authorization in time, the trail care crew will actually be joining us to begin building this new trail alongside Blackwater Creek,” Wayne said.
A trail that has never been authorized has no status, he explained. “It may be lost forever.”
Authorized trails show up on official provincial government maps, Wayne added. “When planning is going on for harvesting or for whatever, all the stakeholders are aware of the trail being there and they can work with us to see whether we can preserve or restore it.”
Having authorization gives trails legitimacy, Russell Brewer, another PRCA director, said. Forestry licensees have more accountability to build established trails into their plans so they can be re-established after logging is completed in an area, he added. “One of the main reasons for getting trails established is to access funds from various grants to maintain them and help build structures,” he said. “Obviously, a lot of the trails have been worked on by volunteers, but we’re able to bring in money to help with some of that.”
Many groups in the Powell River area have created and maintain trails, including PRCA, Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society, the BOMB (Bloody Old Men’s Brigade) Squad and Powell River ATV Club, said Hugo Sloos, PRCA president. “There is a small army of volunteers who go out every year, to cut the deadfall, clear the trails, build them,” he said. “It takes a lot of work, time, effort and energy. This is a resource that is available to everyone in Powell River and everybody who comes here.”
For example, participants in the BC Bike Race rave about the trails in the area, said Sloos. “They just love coming to Powell River.”
People tend to take the trails in the area for granted as an asset, Russell explained. “But getting them established helps us to sell them outside of Powell River, to show people it’s just another reason to come visit or come stay,” he said.
Another benefit of having trails established is that organizations tend to take ownership to maintain specific ones, Russell said.
Members of the Outdoor Recreation Users Group have been working on a trails strategy for the area, Russell pointed out, which will assist in obtaining authorization for more trails. “A network of trails will be identified that we all think should be established,” he said.
Interested readers who would like to attend the trail-building workshop need to register with IMBA and also sign up with PRCA. To register, readers can go online and follow the Events link. To let PRCA know, readers should email [email protected].
