Our North Shore offers welcome respite and adventure for hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. But as usage grows so does the need for education and public awareness on the safe and responsible use of our recreational areas and trails.
As local government we promote trail etiquette, personal preparedness and being a considerate neighbour through our signage and bylaws. However, it’s up to all of us to ensure we’re prepared each and every time we head out into our parks and trails.
Before your next outdoor adventure, take a moment to make sure you’re ready. Ensure you’re wearing proper footwear and have other essentials to bring with you like water, a snack, a sweater, and a cellphone. Tell someone where you are going as well as when you expect to return. Plan your route beforehand.
While it’s important to have a phone in case you need to make an emergency call, remember cell reception does not exist in much of the backcountry, especially in the upper Seymour River, Lynn Creek, Hanes Valley and Crown Mountain areas.
Give some thought to how you’re going to get to your destination. Our neighbourhood parks and trails are drawing more visitors than ever before. Please consider taking transit to the trailhead if you can: transit stops are intentionally placed near trailheads to support sustainable enjoyment of these areas. Too often our residential streets near trailheads are subject to traffic jams and illegal parking, which makes life difficult and puts strain on local residents.
As daylight hours increase in summer, it becomes tempting to stay out on a trail later or catch that last bit of light at the end of the work day. Vehicle gate hours outside district trail heads, such as those controlling the Mount Fromme parking lot, are adjusted seasonally based on sunset times and current weather conditions.
On a year-round basis, park bylaws prevent entering a park between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This is not to prevent people from enjoying trails but to keep people safe. Wilderness trails become dangerous at night with rugged and unpredictable terrain that makes it difficult to navigate, not just for trail users but also for rescue crews if they are called out. Entering and exiting trails by bike at dusk and after dark is both dangerous for bikers and also disruptive to local residents.
The safety of trail users and the protection of trails and the surrounding environment is extremely important to all of us here on the North Shore. We are working with the various land managers of these shared trails to create a North Shore standard for trail maintenance. This would mean not only a streamlined approach to signage and trail maintenance, but also improved communication with rescue crews who will have an easier time of navigating this land in emergencies.
The district owns and operates approximately 100 kilometres of alpine trails between Fromme and Seymour that weave through several jurisdictions including Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, BC Parks, Metro Vancouver and private property. Many of the bridges, boardwalks and trails are built and maintained by the district trail and carpentry crews who get a helping hand from local volunteer organizations and members of the public.
The trails and outdoor recreational areas are here for all of us to enjoy – but we must do so safely and responsibly. We are fortunate to have the skilled volunteer organization North Shore Rescue willing to sacrifice time with their families to help those who run into trouble while outdoors.
Let’s all do our part by making sure we’re prepared before we go and by not taking unnecessary risks that may place us in harm’s way. Remember, these selfless local residents are your neighbours and friends, not paid professionals on-call 24 hours a day.
If you are interested in volunteering to help maintain your local trails or learning more about trail safety visit dnv.org/parks. ■
