The first day of the field trip began with morning coffee. We were eagerly waiting for the field trip to begin. Everyone looked very enthusiastic. Participants varied from those who know little about mountain biking, all the way to but also expert mountain bikers and experienced trail builders.
Our Instructor, Craig Campbell of TRU Adventure Studies Department, has worked extensively guiding/guide training for white-water kayaking, rafting, swift-water rescue and canoeing but is also a trail enthusiast. He a board Member of MBTA (Mountain Bike Tourism Association of BC); KBRA past president (Kamloops Bike Riders association), Kimberley Trail Society secretary and currently involved with a local trail planning project.
The classroom
We started with 2 important documents, Tourism Business Essentials for Mountain bike Tourism, and the IMBA Trail standards rating. Both would be very useful in the next few days.
Guest lecturer Noelle Kekula, land officer from Recreation Sites and Trails BC, came to talk about provincial and local policy toward trail development. This would help frame the upcoming week's site visits and trail activities.
Noelle Kekula, an ministry recreation officer, stands in a newly created ditch intended to keep riders and campers out of closed areas. (It's grasslands vs. garbage, 2013)
Noelle gave us an introduction and an idea on how to approach the province trail building projects, what permissions you need to start trail building, and how much time it generally takes. She outlined common difficulties are faced by government and trail builders, how stakeholders are consulted, the difference between Crown land, crown lease and private land, and generally how Recreation Sites and trails BC deal with rec sites, hiking and mountain biking trails.
Finally, during Q & A she explains how she generally deals with unauthorized trails and campsites.
