It was a Dark and Stormy Morning
By Rich (Couch) Vigurs
Photos by: Candace Shadley
Click on the photos to enlarge.

It’s pitch black, pouring rain and my alarm clock must be wrong because the incessant ringing is telling me that I should be getting up now. But it is Sunday. Wait a second! Today I am doing my first trail building day. After this has registered I find the strength to crawl out of my warm bed.

The location is the Old Orchard Hall in Port Moody. When I pull in at 8:00 am the parking lot is packed and there is a line up to register. Very cool! Breakfast is served, cinnamon buns, muffins, fruit, juice and coffee.

First on the agenda is Joey Klein from IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association). He has driven up from Oregon to help TORCC (Tri-Cities Offroad Cycling Coalition) put on this event. He did a slide presentation explaining what type of trail access issues other areas of North America have faced, including Mexico (I would never have guessed Mexico) and the solutions that have been negotiated. Two things that I came away with after listening to Joey are; The North Shore is unique to the rest of the world and has it's own unique problems and we in the Lower Mainland are miles ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to negotiating solutions for trail access with land managers. I walk a little taller thinking that the eyes of the mountain bike world are following our every move and that we are THE leaders.

After Joey, we had Ken Neave from NSMBA (North Shore Mountain Bike Association) and Brad Walkey from SORCA (Squamish Offroad Recreation Cyclists Association) take us through proposed and proven solutions to problems from their areas in relation to stunts, illegal trails and access issues. The final speaker was Julie Pavey from the City of Port Moody. She has been instrumental in helping TORCC build a reputation within the Port Moody municipality's circles of power. She explained in simple terms that everything that we do is being watched with a magnifying glass. She also brought to our attention that there are older, established groups which need to brought on line such as the City council, environmental groups and land managers. It is going to be a challenge but it will be worth it.

After lunch we headed up to the do our big project; the reroute of B & A. The trail had been flagged the week earlier so it was a matter of dividing the 75 volunteers into groups, handing out tools and assigning portions of the trail.

IMBA Joey acted as a "floater" and moved up and down the trail helping the volunteers with ideas for drainage or how to keep the "flow" through a rocky or rooty section. Trail building is FUN! We were outside for approximately 2.5 hours in the pouring rain and I did not hear a single negative comment. People were working hard and enjoying it. We cut the entire trail and armored (a building technique were you use rock to harden an area that will receive a lot of wear and tear) about half of the areas that needed it. It should be recognized that the conditions are not ideal for trail building and will not be until things dry out, July anyone? but because of the agreement that TORCC has with Parklane Homes it was felt we had to get in there right away. That is not to say that conditions are not good for trail maintenance, ANY time is the right time for trail maintenance.

The B & A reroute is not finished. Please do not ride it. As stated earlier, we have armored only half of what needs to be done and we will have a mud bog on our hands if it is used right now. The follow up trail days will be soon so keep checking the BB here on NSMB.com

The day was finished back at the Old Orchard Hall were we chowed down on burgers and salad. There was a bunch of swag donated by Norco, IMBA, The Ridge Bike Shop, Overtime Sports, Womens Only.com, Sports Junkies, Blak Dogs Bike Shop, Caps Bike Shop and Bike Jewelry.

I am proud to say that the whole day was a great success. It was encouraging to see so many groups come together. Spoke, TORCC, SORCA, West Coast School of Mountain Biking, Cycling BC, IMBA, Womens Only.com, West Coast Mountain Biking Club and NSMBA all with a common goal of preserving, improving and building trails for you and I to ride. We even had people from Bowen Island and Seattle. It was a great day for all mountain bikers.

A special shout out to Candace Shadley of Cycling BC for the pictures and John Gowan for pulling the whole thing together.