TRAILS
BC TrailNewsletter of the Trails Society Talk of British Columbia Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 www.trailsbc.ca
Contents Twelve Myra Canyon Trestles Destroyed, Work Underway to Rebuild... See page 2. The Phoenix will rise from the ashes... 2 Royal Engineers deck two trestles… 4 Rotary Club upgrades Shawnigan Lake section of Cowichan Valley Trail… 5 Trails BC AGM report… 6 Coquihalla Summit Challenge a success… 7 Victoria Trans Canada Trail Pavilion Panel Unveiling…7 Adopt a trail… 8 Trails BC 2003-2004 Board… 8
The Trails BC Board of Directors and the Editorial Committee wish you happy holiday season and a crisis-free winter.
ISSN 1705-4559 Fire ravaged the historic Myra Canyon Kettle Valley Railway trestles in the first week of Published quarterly by: September, 2003. Work is underway to assess the damage, begin rehabilitation and raise Trails BC funds to rebuild or replace the trestles and open up Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and the 315 – 1367 W. Broadway Trans Canada Trail early in 2004. See the “ Phoenix will rise” article on page 2 for details. Vancouver BC V6H 4A9 Photo courtesy of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society. Editorial Committee Ava Caldwell, Sue Burnham & Murphy Shewchuk Engineers pay a surprise visit to the Boundary… Forty-seven men and three women from the 7 Headquarters Squadron, part of 21 Engineer Regiment of the British Royal Engineers, based in Osnabruck, Germany, decked two Kettle River trestles. See page 4 for the details. No summer holiday… While we did miss sending out a July Trail Talk and the October issue has turned into a November issue, it isn’t because we spent a lot of time at the beach. Instead, the surprise arrival of the Royal Engineers and the devastation of the Okanagan Mountain Park fire has meant that “news” never slowed down enough to take a written snapshot. Now that BC is in that transition between hiking and skiing, we bring you up-to-date on a few key stories. 1 The Phoenix will rise from the ashes... Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 The Phoenix will rise from the ashes... Article and photos by Murphy Shewchuk The Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley On September 3, 2003, the Okanagan Mountain Park Railway, besides being recently declared a National forest fire destroyed 12 of the 18 original Myra Historic Site, was a magnificent tourist attraction, Canyon Kettle Valley Railway trestles. Despite the drawing people to British Columbia from all over the unstinting water bombers and ground crews, the globe. It had become the focal point of travellers on shifting winds turned the chimney-like steep-walled British Columbia’s Trans Canada Trail as well as a canyon into an inferno. Three months without must-see destination for those who would never significant precipitation, coupled with nearly a century consider crossing the province by bicycle or foot. worth of wood debris, created ideal burning Donations from around the world… conditions for the creosote-treated wooden trestles. An outpouring of support to rebuild the trestles Smouldering ruins… started immediately upon their destruction and When crews were continues to gain finally able to sift momentum. through the Donations have smouldering ruins, come in to Trails they found four BC and other wooden trestles groups, such as the intact and two Myra Canyon steel bridges Trestle Restoration damaged, but Society, from as far intact. The intense away as Hawaii. heat had In order to get completely the groundwork obliterated 12 done before snow wooden trestles, blanketed the destroying mountainside, the foundations and Myra Canyon leaving little more Trestle Restoration than ash behind. In Steering what seemed like Committee was the luck of the established soon draw, but may Members of the Myra Canyon Trestle Ken Campbell, of the Myra Canyon after the fire died have been more Restoration Society view the remains Trestle Restoration Society, views the down. The of Trestle 18. fire-damaged canyon from Trestle 16. the result of committee physical location included and the efforts of the fire fighters, the surviving representatives from the federal and provincial trestles were not grouped. governments plus the Regional District of Central Using a numbering system established by the Myra Okanagan and Tourism BC. Non-profit groups Canyon Trestle Restoration Society as they installed including Friends of the South Slopes Society, Myra decking and safety railings in the late 1990s, wooden Canyon Trestle Restoration Society and Trails BC and trestles number 1, 12, 16 and 17 survived. While the other volunteers were also at the table. winter rains may wash away the fire retardant, in The Province of British Columbia, the Government of October they still had a distinct red look to them. Canada, and the Canadian Pacific Railway provided One of the steel trestles, 220-metre-long number 6, initial funding for the site assessment. suffered severe damage to the decking while the The engineers and soil specialists have prepared an shorter 111-metre trestle number 9 appears to have extensive report of the damage as well as detailed only been damaged at one end. options to be considered by the BC Premier’s Task
For more information on the Myra Canyon Trestles, visit http://www.trailsbc.ca/okanagan_region/myra-canyon.html . 2 The Phoenix will rise from the ashes... Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 Force comprised of Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, Minister While this 25-km-long route uses well-travelled forest of Competition, Science and Enterprise Rick Thorpe, roads to provide access to the amenities of the city and Mayor of Kelowna Walter Gray and Ken Campbell, a welcome break for those who have spent a week or past-president of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration two camping, it does have a disadvantage of an Society. While the Steering Committee’s elevation difference of 760 metres. recommendations are technically complex, the task The second choice involves a series of lesser-used force faces an even more difficult job of balancing the forest roads and trails that loop south and above the heritage and tourism values of the Myra Canyon canyon. While slightly shorter at 22.3 km, this route trestles with the potential for funding from private and has an elevation difference of only 340 metres. The public sources. main disadvantages are a 1.5-km steep section near the Temporary bypass routes… apex of the loop and a total lack of amenities. While the engineers carried out an assessment of the Closed for the winter… trestle damage, several members of the Myra Canyon The Myra Canyon section of Myra-Bellevue Provincial Restoration Society and Trails BC were exploring the Park is closed for the winter while crews work on slope mountains for a temporary bypass route. stabilisation and plans for a spring opening that will Two routes allow access from either end to view several of the have been remaining trestles and the fire damage. The winter will identified to take also be a time to launch a carefully planned Trans Canada fundraising campaign to raise the estimated $8 to $12 Trail traffic million that will be required to complete the safety around the work and rebuild or replace the trestles. now-impassable At the time of writing, the Premier’s Task Force had canyon. Although not announced a decision. However, one thing is the direct certain – the reconstruction effort will be a large one “line-of-sight” involving many levels of government, the private distance between sector and the community. Millions of dollars of where the Myra support will be required. Forest Road Trestle and Trail Building Fund… crosses the KVR near the former Trails BC has established a “Trestle and Trail Building Myra Station and Fund” to assist with rebuilding the trestles and the Little White accompanying infrastructure. At press time, the fund Forest Road, west had received over $10,000 in donations. of Ruth Station, The Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society and the is slightly under Friends of the South Slopes Society are also accepting five kilometres, donations to help finance the much-needed work at Crews rehabilitate a fire guard that could the KVR took and near the trestles. become part of a Myra Canyon bypass 13.5 km to do the Acromedia has established a website for on-line route. convoluted donations at http://kvr.acromedia.ca/. The City of journey along the Kelowna has set up the Kelowna and Area Okanagan canyon walls. The Fire Recovery Trust Fund on their website at bypass routes are even more circuitous and have a far http://www.city.kelowna.bc.ca/ for online donations greater elevation change than the 20-metre difference and cheques are also accepted. More information will between these two points. be posted on the Trails BC website as it comes On an east-to-west journey, the more obvious bypass available. route uses Myra Forest Service Road to descend to McCulloch Road in the outskirts of Kelowna. Then, after following McCulloch Road west for about 5 km, the traveller can return to the rail grade via June Springs Road and Little White Forest Service Road.
For more information on the Myra Canyon Trestles, visit http://www.trailsbc.ca/okanagan_region/myra-canyon.html . 3 Boundary Region Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 Royal Engineers deck two trestles… A special ribbon cutting ceremony took place Sunday This project is valued morning, July 20th at the Kettle River Trestle, a few at $400,000 with the minutes south of Christina Lake. The ceremony marked British government the end of a month of intensive work by the 21 contributing the lion’s Engineer Regiment of the British Royal Engineers on share through the this and the Nursery Trestle just east of Grand Forks. expertise and labour of With the decking of the British Engineers. all three trestles Other major between Christina contributors include the Lake and Grand Forks Canadian Department completed, this section of National Defence, of the Trans Canada Trans Canada Trail Trail was also declared Foundation, Terasen, officially open. (formerly BC Gas), Phoenix Foundation, The mammoth task Grand Forks District of decking and railing Savings Credit Union, the trestle in this Nursery Trestle at Grand Forks. Tourism BC, Regional pristine location has Photo by Murphy Shewchuk. District of been a joint effort Kootenay-Boundary, between the 21 Grand Forks Rotary Club, Christina Lake Golf and Engineer Regiment, Country Club, and Molson Canada. based in Osnabruck, Germany, the During the formal ceremonies, Capt. Jim Leach, Canadian 44th Field Officer Commanding, 7 HQ Squadron, paid tribute to Engineer Squadron in the community as well as his men. Chris Moslin cuts the ribbon on the Trail, Trails BC, the “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to come Kettle River Trestle with the aid of the 21st Engineer Regiment. Christina Lake see this beautiful part of the world and I extend my Photo by Murphy Shewchuk. Chamber of heartfelt thanks to you. I am very proud of the jobs my Commerce, the Grand guys have done here and now we can walk away with Forks Community Trails Society, plus many funders our heads held high.” and contributors. These decking projects conclude two years of diligent work by local groups to deck and rail three trestles – the Cascade Gorge Trestle, the Nursery Trestle and the Kettle River Trestle, along with continued trail work through Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Greenwood and Midway. Originally not expected until next year, the 50 British Engineers paid a surprise visit to Canada arriving June 23, 2003. Their visit was part of the Centennial celebrations of the Canadian Military Engineers’ “Bridges for Canada” project. In a mad scramble local groups gathered up money and materials to take full advantage of this unexpected opportunity. In one month, the troops completed two trestles including the Katharine Shewchuk tests the Kettle River Trestle. 510-foot Kettle River Trestle at Christina Lake and the Photo by Murphy Shewchuk. 270-foot Nursery Trestle in Grand Forks.
For more information on the trails in the Coquihalla, view http://www.trailsbc.ca/southwest_region/coquihalla.asp . 4 Vancouver Island Region Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 Rotary Club upgrades Shawnigan Lake section of Cowichan Valley Trail… By Jeannette Klein Including contributions from all sources, the value of The South Cowichan Rotary Club can be very proud this project is approximately $250,000. It became a of the major upgrade work they have completed on the true public/private partnership with Rotary as the 13-kilometre portion of organizer and facilitator. Because of all the help the Trans Canada Trail on received, what was projected as a three-year project the west side of was finished in 15 months. Shawnigan Lake north of This section of the Cowichan Valley trail provides Victoria. What started out easy access to Shawnigan Lake, Southern Vancouver in 1999 as a project to island’s second largest lake and a popular summer rebuild a 30-metre- long water sports area. Interpretive signage provided by the railway trestle over McGee Rotary project highlights the Kinsol trestle, the largest Creek ended when they of it’s kind in Canada. This 187.6 metre completely upgraded the decommissioned trestle spans the Koksilah River at an entire rail grade from elevation of 38 metres, with a horizontal curve of Sooke Lake Road to the seven degrees. Although a fabulous feature of this trail, spectacular Kinsol trestle. the Kinsol trestle remains a major challenge to the Many stretches of completion of the Trans Canada Trail in the the railbed had Cowichan Valley. become Another challenge is the link between the McGee Creek Trestle before the impassable Capital Regional District and the Cowichan South Cowichan Rotary Club during much began the upgrade. Valley Regional District. Final route of the year selection is in progress for the TCT route because of through the Sooke Hills Wilderness Area poor drainage caused by gas pipeline and funds are reserved for trail construction construction. In order to make this trail north of this area. Because of the efforts of the usable year round 35 culverts were installed, South Cowichan Rotary Club, the Shawnigan drainage ditches dug, low sections levelled and as Lake section of trail is usable year round and has lead much as three feet of fill added to raise some areas to long term stability of the rail bed. With the above flood waters. These improvements were further completion of the re-surfacing, this trail will be ready enhanced by the addition of picnic tables, benches, for trail users travelling from Victoria to Nanaimo on directional and interpretive signs, kiosks and toilets. the Trans Canada Trail. Viewing areas were also constructed. Much of the McGee Creek work was done by South Cowichan Rotary Club members, providing them with a hands-on project. As their ambitious project grew they were able to organize help from many sources. Local businesses, including construction companies and trucking firms, provided equipment and vehicles for much of the heavy work. The Rotary Club was successful in receiving about $150,000 from Human Resources Development Canada for a seven-person work crew. Both the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the South Cowichan Rotary Club contributed over $30,000 for completion of this project. The provincial government assisted by providing gravel to resurface the trail after the drainage work was done. McGee Creek Trestle after being rebuilt.
For more information on the Shawnigan Lake work, view http://www.trailsbc.ca/v_island_region/shawnigan-1.html . 5 AGM News Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 Trails BC AGM report… By Sue Burnham face with new trail development. The on-line booklet is The 2003 Annual General Meeting, held in Merritt on available on the web at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ May 3, provided participants the opportunity to hear trail_guide/agtrails_toc.pdf . several excellent speakers. Bill Marshall, Forest Recreation Officer for the Merritt Mayor David Laird welcomed our group and Ministry of Forests brought us up to date on the expressed his appreciation for the benefits the Trans government’s plans regarding forestry recreation trails Canada Trail is bringing to the city. Mayor David Laird and campsites which have, until recently, been told the group that increased interest in trail travel has maintained by the MOF. Instead, the government will resulted in improved access to local trails, an upswing pursue partnerships with individuals, local in the local economy and new opportunities for local governments, recreation groups, service organizations, entrepreneurs. First Nations and commercial operations who will be David Chutter, MLA for Yale-Lillooet, spoke about the able to charge fees to manage any of the1,257 sites benefits of trails for both individuals and communities. and 400 trails. Up-to-date information is available From the government’s perspective, healthier citizens from the Forest Service website at make fewer demands on the health care system and an http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/rec/rec.htm . easily accessed trail system encourages even the Brian Springinotic, (then) Senior Manager, Tourism non-athletic to become more physically active. Mr. and Recreation for the Ministry of Sustainable Chutter stated that the government recognizes the Resource Management gave an enthusiastic economic, social and recreational opportunities presentation of the government’s new Rails to Trails associated with an extensive, well maintained trail initiative. The conversion of abandoned rail beds into system and is interested in entering into partnership multi-use trails is happening all across North America, with individuals, recreational groups, local and here in BC there are approximately 2,000 km of governments and service clubs in order to achieve rail bed available for development. As a pilot project, these benefits. the government has entered into an agreement with A very interesting and well illustrated presentation by the Regional District of Okanagan/Similkameen on the Edi Torrans, Coordinator, Southern Interior Weed former Kettle Valley Railway. Management Committee followed. She stressed the Les Carter has been working with the Outdoor importance of educating trail travellers about the Recreation Council and interested trail users to problem of noxious weeds. It was shocking to hear that develop a Trails Strategy to present to the provincial noxious weeds have a greater negative economic government. The aim of this Trail Strategy is to have a impact on rangeland than any other single factor. clear government trails policy implemented by a Ms Torrans provided copies of a Field Guide to specific government agency. Also needed is a forum Noxious and Other Selected Weeds of British Columbia. which will allow for communication between all trails It is available from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food stakeholders and a fair and effective means for and Fisheries at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/ preventing and resolving conflicts about trails. weedguid/weedguid.htm. Major Bill Wenman, Commanding Officer of the 44th Wray McDonnell, also from the Ministry of (Kootenay) Field Engineer Squadron in Trail, discussed Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, spoke about issues the symbiotic relationship the Military Engineers have related to developing trails through farm and ranch with communities and organizations such as Trails BC lands. The Government recognizes not only that all across Canada. The Military needs our projects to citizens consider trails to be an important and valued provide opportunities for soldiers to practice their recreational facility, but also that ranchers and farmers skills, and our projects benefit greatly from their have legitimate concerns about trails crossing their expertise and labour. property. With the help of Lanarc Consultants in For more specific information contact Major Wenman Nanaimo, the MAFF has produced a Guide to at
For the complete AGM report, visit the Trails BC website at http://www.trailsbc.ca/AGM_2003.html. 6 News Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 Coquihalla Summit Challenge a success… By Léon Lebrun the event a resounding success. The 28 people who On Sunday July 13, the Coquihalla Summit Trans registered for the event but were unable to make it Canada Trail Challenge became a reality for 274 can still feel good that they nonetheless contributed to cyclists, walkers, runners, and equestrians – no thanks its success. Registrants paid an average of $20.50 per to rainy weather and an accident on Highway #1. person ($25 per person and $45 per family) to make It all started on Saturday evening with a well the minimum 26 km trek. The resulting $1,300 received performance by the Kettle Valley Brakemen at surplus will be used towards improving the trail and to the Blue Moose Café in Hope. The group’s music get a few major projects started in this corridor. focussed on the very corridor we were to trek the next For their money, the participants had access to day, a great way to get us in the frame of mind for passenger and bike shuttles, a lunch donated by the what we were going to experience. Coquihalla Lakes Lodge, a printed guide that followed With the dedication of more than 30 volunteers and special signs set up for the event, water, prizes, the generosity of our supporters we are able to declare mementos, group spirit, information, and more. ••• For more information on the “Challenge,” visit http://www.trailsbc.ca/southwest_region/summit_report.asp . Victoria Trans Canada Trail Pavilion Panel Unveiling… By Jeannette Klein Ms Judy Brownoff, Capital Regional District board On a sunny Sunday, November 2nd, approximately chair, spoke to the gathering about the progress of the 250 people gathered for the posting of 1088 more Trans Canada Trail in the Capital Region. Because the donor names and 40 messages at the Trans Canada original trail that followed the Galloping Goose Trail Pavilion located on the TCT at the Selkirk trestle beyond Leechtown was flooded when the Sooke in Victoria. Those attending included veterans of the Reservoir dam was raised, a new trail had to be found. Korean War who had come to see the message they CRD Parks is in the process of routing the TCT through had posted for their fallen comrades and the Juan de the Sooke Hills Wilderness Area. In cooperation with Fuca Ramblers Volkssport Club who have raised the Cowichan Valley Regional District, they are money for the TCT through their yearly volkssporting working on finding a route to connect up with the events. Many who had given ‘In Memoriam’ came to Shawnigan Lake Trail and the Cowichan River Trail. see and touch the names of their loved ones that were There was lots of enthusiasm for the continuing posted in the pavilion. development of the TCT on Vancouver Island. •••
For more information on Vancouver Island, visit http://www.trailsbc.ca/v_island_region/index.html .
Fill in and return to: Trails BC Membership Application 315 - 1367 West Broadway VANCOUVER BC V6H 4A9 Name of Individual, Group or Associate: Phone: Mailing Address: Fax: City / Province: Renewal: Yes No Postal Code: Contact Name: Individual ($20.00): ______E-mail: Group ($100.00): ______Applicant's primary activities: Associate ($100.00): ______Associates and Groups: May we post your listing on the Trails BC Website? Donation: ______Yes _____ No _____ How many members do you represent? Total Enclosed: ______The Trails Society of British Columbia (Trails BC) is a registered not-for-profit society. Your support is essential for the development of the Trans Canada Trail and related trails in B.C. [ Please complete reverse. ]
7 Back to Business Trail Talk: Vol. 8 No. 3 — November 2003 information package recently received from Capri Adopt a trail… Insurance, “The programme covers organizations that were formed for the purpose of Developing, By Murphy Shewchuk Maintaining and Promoting Trails in Canada. …” With what seems to be a growing interest in blaming others for any difficulties we may encounter, liability The new programme recognizes multi-use trails and insurance has become a major concern for outdoor the reality of trails across public and private lands. It recreation groups such as Trails BC. covers owners or tenants of private or public land for trail-related activities. When our insurance supplier backed out of the market several years ago, Trails BC and other similar In an effort to reduce risk to the trail users and the groups across Canada were left scrambling for liability faced by the trail group as well as the coverage. In an effort to fill the vacuum, Capri insurance backers, Capri has developed an extensive Insurance Services Ltd. of Kelowna, BC developed an list of requirements that include regular inspections “Outdoor Recreation Liability Programme” geared and appropriate signage. toward trail development groups such as the Trans In order to make the trails safe and to keep our Canada Trail Foundation and its affiliates. insurance valid, we will need the efforts of every trail As the programme has matured, it has changed to user and user group. We are exploring partnerships broaden the user base and reflect the reality of the with the Canadian Ski Patrol and others. Be prepared marketplace. The name was recently changed to “Trail to help. Be prepared to “Adopt a Trail.” Tourism Insurance Programme.” According to an Watch the Trails BC website for details.
Trails BC 2003-2004 Board… President: Regional Directors: Rocky Mountains: Provincial Office: Murphy Shewchuk Vancouver Island: Al Skucas Trails BC Vice President: Jeannette Klein Directors-at-Large: 315 – 1367 W. Broadway Sherman Olson Southwest: Vancouver BC V6H 4A9 Treasurer: Léon Lebrun Lawrence Lavender Jack Harder Okanagan: Chris Moslin Tel: (604) 737 3188 Secretary: T.B.A. Fax: (604) 738 7175 Sue Burnham Boundary: Office Hours: Administration Chair: Ernie Hennig Email: [email protected] 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Gordon Weetman West Kootenay: Web Site: www.trailsbc.ca Raymond Gaudart Weekdays – Call Ahead
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Please use additional paper to comment on how Trails BC can best meet your needs and how you may be able to assist in the development of the Trans Canada Trail and other recreational trails in British Columbia. ------A charitable tax receipt will be issued for donations in addition to the membership fee. Memberships are valid from January 1st to December 31st. Note: Applications received July 1 or later will be enrolled until December 31 of the following year. ------Trails BC website:http://www.trailsbc.ca [ Please complete reverse. ] Office: [ ] Secretary: [ ] Card sent: [ ]
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