Top of Smythe Dr. (Gillies Creek)

The road to the new Skaha Bluffs climbing area is nearly complete, a bit of paving here and there is all that remains to be done. At the 'end' of the road we have a left turn up to the climber's parking lot and a new yellow gate across what used to be the continuation of the road to the right. I visited the area this weekend and rode far beyond the yellow barrier bar to one of the many single-track trails above it. There currently exists a sign at the barrier stating:

"This ecologically significant private property is protected by The Land Conservancy of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. Motorized vehicle access and use is prohibited. Unauthorized activities are prohibited."

That last bit about 'Unauthorized activities' got me - so I trundled down to the local land titles office, spent some time on their computer system and found that the main owner is the Province of BC and the ministry of the environment. I was directed by land-titles staff (who are also hikers - bikers), to the M.O.E. office where I spoke with one Mark Weston. I was informed that the land was in fact open to hikers and mountain-bikers, just not dirt-bikes and quads. Furthermore, there was not yet a consensus on whether the many single-track trails were going to be left open to the public - perhaps only the roadbed itself being legally of use to us as riders in the future.

This, my friends, is our opportunity to demonstrate that we are responsible users of the land and are willing to pitch in any way possible in order to secure future access to the many trail networks in the area (VanCarp, Bordin, Caskey, Davis, Haverkamp, Rock Oven & R.O. Extension, Powerline, Wiltse Highlands, Derenzy & Culper Lake trails etc.)

Contact the relevant parties listed below and let them know that you request continued future access to the area's single-track trails and are willing to work for it. If this means physical labor by way of trail maintenance, planting native vegetation to ensure wildlife blinds, constructing water drainage or whatever. This area is too valuable for non-motorized trail user groups to lose! Here are the key contacts:

The Land Conservancy - https://secure1.conservancy.bc.ca/contactus

Nature Conservancy Canada - http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ncc_about_contact

Ministry of Environment - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/esd

The Nature Trust - info@naturetrust.bc.ca


Andrew D.