There Will Be no Forgiveness

John Hawkings made it clear that even expertly built trails that meet a need without contravening any of the concerns the Ministry has laid out could be on the chopping block. Based on the information I have been given, there will be no grace period, no effort to integrate any of these trails; they will not be approved, regardless of merit, the hours of labour or the popularity of the line. That doesn't mean resources are going to be dedicated to rooting out and decommissioning un-permitted trails,* but sanctioning is unlikely at best. This doesn't seem like the best way to honour the labour of those who built the world class resource that has contributed to making B.C. the most desirable tourist destination for many of the world's mountain bikers .

*I have been told that in both Squamish and elsewhere in B.C. tools have been seized and fines have been levied against trail builders

The Big Stick

Despite the heavy-handed press release, Hawkings admitted that no builders have been jailed and that fines assessed are generally not more than $200. So why did the ministry decide to take a Trumpian approach using threats and intimidation? Mr. Hawkings told me that while the message was sent by the Ministry of FLNRO, other players had a stake in the conversation; "There's also the compliance and enforcement branch. There was Parks, a number of agencies involved and in recognizing that, we needed to remind people that there actually is a legal requirement for authorization."

The timing of the press release was no coincidence. An increase in unauthorized building has been noted in some unspecified location in the Sea to Sky region. It's likely Squamish was the hotspot since much of the land on the North Shore is administered by entities other than the Province and much of Whistler is under Municipal control as well.

Cooper Quinn reminded me that it's not just the long arm of the government who has a stake in how and where trails are built. "It’s important to consider that many of the trails across North America have been there a lot longer than mountain bikes. It’s not uncommon for trails to be ‘built’ along traditional Indigenous routes, and almost assuredly on a traditional territory. Here on the North Shore, it’s the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Squamish Nations. Respecting that, and following the processes in place for consultation, should be important to everyone."

While I have some doubt that traditional peoples would disapprove of the way most trail builders, rogue or permitted, care for the land, it is important to realize that our trails can impact other users and stakeholders. Tunnel vision and selfishness is not the way forward for mountain bikers, but we're also unlikely to jettison our rogue ways any time soon. While more builders are coming into the fold, and some land managers are becoming more willing to approve trails that deliver more diverse experiences, it's unlikely we'll see the end of rogue building and riding in our lifetimes. And while I acknowledge the need for order and regulation, I have to admit that some of my best trail experiences have come on trails that were built under the radar. The Monster in Kaslo B.C., (built by Sam Brown - may he rest in peace) Ladies Only, Grannies and the now mostly unrideable GMG, The Flying Circus, and Bitches Brew on Mt. Fromme and Reaper, Coiler and virtually every trail on Cypress in West Vancouver; none of these were built with permits and none would have been sanctioned because mountain biking wasn't recognized as a legitimate activity when the builders toiled for hundreds of hours to create these masterpieces.