McTaggart-Cowan Wildlife Mgnt. Area

Here is one for all of you out there who still haven't figured out the value in joining a hike / bike / equestrian / trail-running group; Trail Advocacy!

This afternoon I attended an open-house at the Ramada Penticton atrium in order to review the proposed McTaggart-Cowan Wildlife Mgnt. Area, meet its proponents and learn how outdoor recreationalists might participate and secure ongoing access to the lands in question.  The event was well-described in both newspapers leading up to the presentation.

As it turns out, I met with officials representing several levels of government, as well as The Nature Trust and The Nature Conservancy.  I described the trail networks that we have running through the area; much to the surprise of most in attendance; none of who had yet seen sweetsingletrack.ca  :-)

It was agreed that we can retrain existing singletrack trails through the area, but we'll have to do some hard-nosed negotiations in order to open up future trail-access, should the proposed McTaggart-Cowan Wildlife Mgnt. Area reach fruition.

This, my friends, is what we as outdoor recreationalists face from now on; land up and down our valley will become components of management areas of one sort or another.  If we don't stand up and point out our existing trails prior to covenant implementations, we'll loose them - or have to fight like hell to use / reopen them!  The valley is really quite small, and a wide variety of groups have plans to segregate it even further.

Get off you ass and join a club, join a land-access movement, have a say in your region!


Here is the area under discussion; a lot of trails cross this land!




And here is a map showing other conservation groups and their land covenants in the South Okanagan



Details of the project are here: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012FOR0207-001647.htm

Andrew

I just got back from the open house. Seemed like they thought mountain biking would be okay? Did you get that impression? Just no stunts and building.

They also seemed to be interested in GPS tracks, they didn't tell me you mentioned Sweet Singletrack...

I talked to a couple of people about it last week. So long as there's few people around to make it clear that there is usage in the area, we'll be included in the management.

There's plenty of evidence that biking doesn't affect the sheep, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Also, all the trails are in RDOS's database, and as a stakeholder they should be sharing that info. I'll doublecheck with Mark about it.

A cool spinoff from today's meeting was getting to know the new Nature Trust rep' in the valley. He's a youngish dude, about our age, and he doesn't see mountain bikers as Satan :-|

The old dude that used to have his position didn't think much of two wheels and dirt, the 'new guy' (Nicholas Burdock) seems like he'll be a whole lot easier to get along with! Our discussion left the door open to cooperative ventures, though we didn't discuss any specifics. I'm [guessing] that he's thinking trail remediation / seasonal trail-closures / bridges / limited signage.

I gave Nicholas from the Nature Trust access to Sweetsingletrack.ca; Things are lookin' up!

A.

A few more sections of land were added to a Nature Preserve of sorts today. On the whole, its a good thing. Some rare situations may find outdoor recreationalists with area closures, if perhaps only seasonally...

Join an outdoor club - make your voice heard!

http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/202407481.html

Andrew

Had a meeting with the Climbers Access Society Rep' this evening and he wasn't the bearer of great news.  It sounds like the individuals who are managing the newly established McTaggart-Cowan Wildlife Management Area are not a really 'human-friendly' bunch -- despite the 'biker's happy face' that they put on during the March public meetings...

They have informed the Climber's Access Society that the climbers need to "pull up ropes" in the areas that are beyond Skaha Prov. Park and stay out of the new conservation area.  Apparently, the conservation agent was extremely rude, condescending and intimidating...

The climbers are up in arms, and seek our help in voice and action in order to make sure that we, as compatible user-groups, do not find ourselves excluded from using the area for non-motorized recreational purposes.

Its a real concern my friends, and this is yet another reason that you who have not joined the Penticton & Area Cycling Association or the South Okanagan Trail Alliance - to switch off the TV, push back from the PC, get off your duffs' and join us to have your say on what happens to your crown land!

You can do something today or sit back and find yourself whining voicelessly in the future.

Join the club, do yourselves a favor!

bikepenticton.com membership - http://bikepenticton.com/pics%20for%20Bike%20Penticton/application.pdf

southokanagantrailalliance.com membership - http://www.cdnav.com/sota/sota_application_and_waiver.pdf

Andrew Drouin
250.486.2443