The Bow Valley needs more approved trails in new developments such as Smith Creek, or it risks creating yet another illegal network, according to longtime trail builder and advocate Ken Davies.
As a volunteer member of the Smith Creek Advisory Group, Davies said the community doesn’t need another mess of illegal trails similar to those found in the Peaks of Grassi and Benchlands neighbourhoods, where hundreds of kilometres of illegal trails are scattered through protected parkland.
What it does need is recognition of how good trails can positively affect the landscape, and how trail users can help.
“There are plenty of trails, but as Canmore grows geographically and in population, the demand for trails goes up,” Davies said. “To deny the importance of trails, to say stop building trails, is to put one’s head in the sand.”
Unhappy with the proliferation of illegal trails built in wildlife corridors, but also unhappy with how mountain bikers and trail builders have been stigmatized as environmental enemies through discussions and in the media, Davies sees two impediments to newly sanctioned trails in the Bow Valley – uneducated, illegal trail builders, and a lack of partnership and understanding from trail opponents.
“People move to town, see the illegal trails and assume they can do their own thing. Trail users get a black eye, and illegal trails make the paper,” Davies said. “I don’t fault them. I can see how things look. We go out of our way to tell them there is a proper way to do this. It’s an education process.”
Those who want to build a trail in Canmore can use the Trails Alliance Group, or apply to Alberta Parks, who will in turn review the application, and if successful, help build the trail. A recent Town of Canmore study found trails are the most popular public facility used by residents.
Secondly, Davies believes the faction of the community who is simply opposed to all trails is a very small minority. Town of Canmore studies have revealed the local network to be its biggest and best asset, but anecdotal stories about hostility towards trail builders continue to mount. Davies said he’s been accosted while building trails, seen provincially approved trails destroyed, his trail building equipment thrown deep into the woods, and witnessed dangerous hazards purposefully placed on trails, including a board full of nails placed on the Reclaimer trail.
“Even though we have a process, the town has a difficult balance between trail builders and the people who say we should never build a trail,” Davies said. “We build trails using BCEAG guidelines when using a corridor. We’re respectful. We try to stay out of the corridor as much as possible, but we’re told we shouldn’t be doing this by those who believe their beliefs are greater than the interests of the community.”
He cites Highline Trail as an example of good trail use, noting illegal trail building has decreased in Peaks of Grassi since the Highline was finished in 2007.
Davies has submitted an application to extend Highline Trail eastward towards Wind Valley which, if approved by the province, would see construction begin this spring. If approved, it will pick up at Three Sisters Creek and carry over to Stewart Creek.
The proposed trail does traverse the wildlife corridor, as does the rest of Highline Trail, but Davies said that is the best way to combat illegal trail building. Planning for the application began in 2010.
“Unless we manage that process, we will have anarchy reigning,” Davies said. “Trails are just as important to this community as wildlife corridors and affordable housing. The town has always been supportive of managing them in a supportive way.”
Volunteers have also done a great deal of work on the new ‘long loop’ at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
Twenty-five years ago, when Davies first got involved with trail building, he said there was a “free for all” on provincial land, as everyone built their own mountain bike, quad and dirt bike trails on both sides of the valley. Today things are better, as there is a proper approval process for trails that relies on environmental expertise, and has more guidance from Alberta Parks.
“There is a process. (Alberta Parks) do their due diligence. They bring in environmental experts. They do an overall, balanced analysis of the proposals, and if they come back with an approval, they contribute their expertise in completing the trail,” Davies said.
In order to improve the valley’s trail system, more volunteers are needed. Parks staff Jeff Eamon and Don Cockerton are responsible for building and repairing most of the Bow Valley’s legal trails, and decommissioning illegal trails, but they are in need of volunteer assistance. Friends of Kananaskis has many trail workshops and constantly accepts new volunteers.
The majority of volunteer trail builders are mountain bike riders, and Davies would like to see all trail users contribute to the cause.
“The vast majority of people who encounter us building trails ask how they can help. They even offer money. But there are people who are affronted by what we are doing,” Davies said. “We all have different values about how much impact trails have. It’s about balancing those out.”
