The dream of having an established trail network became a reality this summer for the Williams Lake Off Road Motorcycle Association.
While also recently partnering with the Williams Lake Cycling Club to share some of the singletrack trails on the South Lakeside network a new, official project at Bull Mountain is nearing completion.
“We’re lagging behind what the mountain bike guys have done with their trail networks,” said WLORMA treasurer Mike Lynnes of the WLCC’s success. “They’ve been excellent to work with.”
He credited WLORMA director Steve Maas for his work managing the South Lakeside project.
After receiving funding from the National Trails Coalition and the B.C. Off Road Motorcycle Association through federal and provincial grants, work began last spring on the near $35,000 project at Bull Mountain.
While some of the trails already existed, being able to operate and maintain the trails under Recreation Sites and Trails BC allows for a more organized and sustainable riding experience in the dirtbiking community.
The WLORMA, including president and project manager Matt Watts, worked with RSTBC recreation officer Desi Cheverie in finalizing the project.
“We’ve now got a staging area, we’ll have an outhouse going in there, and there will be a kiosk with mapping and signage,” Lynnes said. “We’ve been riding in there for quite a number of years but now we’ve got it established.”
The main loop is close to 40 kilometres of motorcycle singletrack and can be ridden by all levels of riders. Then, there is another 20 to 30 kilometres of unmapped trails available for riding.
BCORMA executive director Peter Sprague, who recently moved to Williams Lake, said the new staging area will be a great way to bring the riding community together.
“Instead of people going rogue everywhere the purpose is to bring people together and do this properly,” Sprague said. “We’re inviting people to come out and ride and continue their support.”
The WLORMA also worked closely with the recreation ministry, the Soda Creek Indian Band and other stake holders in determining any problem or sensitive areas of concern on the trail network the SCIB had concerns with and has corrected them with either building bridges and corduroy or re-routing the trail.
Volunteer hours have also been extensive on the project from members of the WLORMA.
“For every 50 contractor hours, I’d say 150 volunteer hours were put in to keep this project going,” Lynnes said.
Lynnes extended an invitation to anyone who wants to get involved with the WLORMA to visit its website at www.wlorma.ca.
“Next spring I think it’s time to resurrect the Dirty Knobby and maybe do a grand opening type thing [at Bull Mountain],” he said.
The BCORMA also has a website with trail passes available at www.bcorma.ca.