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Her next appearance in provincial court in North Vancouver is scheduled on April 15. She was arrested at 5 a.m. Jan. 4 by RCMP as she was exciting the Quarry Court trailhead. As part of her bail conditions, she is to stay out of the woods.

In the investigation, RCMP said they obtained some citizen video footage of a woman allegedly placing rocks and logs in strategic locations.

Shortly after those shocking revelations, a female mountain biker and an elderly woman hiker with three dogs got into a physical confrontation on lower Fromme. RCMP have investigated but no criminal charges have been laid.

Wood noted the Watchmen concept has been a long time in the works and said it is just coincidental that the trail-tampering charges happened as they were set to roll out the new program.

“Despite what has happened of late, it is not policing the trails,” Wood maintains of the Watchmen. The program, Wood believes, is the first of its kind.

“We are not trail police officers,” he insists. “We just want to keep an eye on things. It is really comparable to a neighbourhood block-watch program.”

TRAIL TAMPERING

While Wood is hoping they only have to deal with weather-related trail issues, he does note the volunteers will be watchful for any signs of trail tampering or booby traps. “If there is criminal activity we would contact the proper authorities,” said Wood.

Pat Podolski is the lead trail builder for the NSMBA and feels the Watchmen program will allow them to get in and repair a trail quickly before more damage is done or someone gets hurt. He also thinks the program shows the District of North Vancouver that they care about the trails they build. “The land managers see we are taking positive initiatives up here,” Podolski said.