Vancouver Island Spine Trail Association V( ISTA) Newsletter July 2014 Prepared by Andrew Pape-Salmon, VISTA President email:
[email protected] Vancouver Island Spine Trail Association– President’s Report This is the inaugural issue of the VISTAP resident’s Report, providing an update to members, volunteers, sponsors and partner organizations in the planning, construction and maintenance othf e 700km Vancouver Island Spine Trail from Victoria to Cape Scott. It includes a concise summary of VISTA Board of Director meeting minutes, VISTA project activities and the communications by the VITN with partner organizations, outdoor enthusiasts. Its erves as a table of contents of a member “newsletter” with links to the VISTA and VITN websites for more depth. Trails Update Winter is not a busy time for trail building, but is commonly used to conduct trails feasibility studies, consult stakeholders, select routes, raise funds and build momentum for the trail construction and maintenance season (April-November). The following activities pertaining to the VI Spine Trail in recent months are noteworthy: In April 2014, a family of four with 7 and 9 year-old children hiked the Tuck Lake Trail (30km, west of Lake Cowichan) and Runner’s Trail (20km, to Alberni Inlet as a spring break getaway. The former trail was constructed by VISTA in 2012/2013 and the latter by the Tseshaht First Nation in 2010. The CVRD and CRD received funds from the Trans Canada Trail Foundatio,n among other sources, to conduct studies for completion oft he “Malahat Connector” between the CRD’s Galloping Goose Trail and the CVRD’s Shawnigan Lake trail and Kinsol Trestle; both part of the Trans Canada Trail and VI Spine Trail.