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A battle is brewing in the B.C. backcountry between trail builders and government officials tasked with preventing the construction of unauthorized trails.

Trail builders in the Fraser Valley claim the provincial government is “blockading” trail development by cracking down on trail building on Crown land, while being slow to respond to applications by groups seeking to go through the proper channels.

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“If their object is to shut down all volunteer trail building in the B.C. backcountry, they’re on the right track,” said Sam Waddington, owner of Mt. Waddington’s Outdoors in Chilliwack and a former city councillor.

Waddington said he recently received a visit from officials with the ministry of forests telling him to “cease and desist” trail building on Chilliwack’s eastern hillside. He has heard from several others who have received a similar message, including some who were identified on hidden trail cameras.