South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) members had the opportunity to hear an update on local mountain biking tourism projects at a recent meeting.
Dwayne Chamberlain is on the board of directors for both the local Hun City Mountain Bike Club (HCMBC) and the regional Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium (CMBC).
The CMBC includes the communities of 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel and Wells, with the promotional slogan: Ride the Cariboo – The Shangri-La of Mountain Biking.
Chamberlain gave an overview of current activities the two mountain bike societies have underway to develop infrastructure in the 100 Mile area.
“We’re working together to promote and get more grant funding money for building more infrastructure and trails, and [put signage on] them.
“We’re also encouraging anybody who is looking for a bit of adventure on a mountain bike to get out and use the trails and be active in the community.”
Land-use agreements have recently been finalized for trails at 99 Mile Hill and 108 Mile Ranch with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, he explained.
Easements were put aside and dedicated for recreation at the 108 Mile Ranch and Chamberlain noted the HCMBC also joined as recreational users for that land.
“There are already 15- to 20-year-old established trails out there, that have been there a long time, [but] even a lot of the locals don’t know where they are and how to get to them.”
While all the trails are open to the public, Chamberlain explained the CMBC appreciated membership support.
He added the two mountain bike societies are trying to make trail opportunities better for locals and tourists alike, including placing signs to identify the good trails from the cattle tracks, as it is “pretty easy to get discombobulated in the trails matrix.”
Trail maps are also posted on a new website, to be enhanced as it progresses, and Chamberlain said signposts and a post-pounder are on order, so the signs will be in place this fall on the trails at the 108.
The “soft launch” of the consortium website is a tentative start to a more advanced project, he noted, but already promotes several tourism aspects for travel planning.
Information on accommodations, food and entertainment, local businesses, other area activities and travel directions are on the website for 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Wells, which he noted all have legal, established trail networks.
“We’ve joined forces with the 108 Golf Resort and The Hills Health Ranch and they’ve come on board as our first ‘where to stay’ sponsorship on the web page, and to help us cross-promote the area.”
Chamberlain said the sensitive nature of the trails restricts them to non-motorized bikes or pedestrians only, and the softer berms, jumps and “skinnies” (ledges) won’t support heavier vehicles or tire torque that would destroy the trails.
“Motorbikes can hit a little throttle and tear out a big piece of side hill, and then a mountain biker comes along and they fall off the side of the mountain because a motorbike used the trail.”
Supported by funding from the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition and the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the consortium strives to develop the mountain bike trails networks and generate tourism in the region, he added.
The CMBC will soon be approaching 100 Mile mayor and council to seek support with trail maintenance, Chamberlain said.
He noted Quesnel hasn’t been included on the website until it gets a dedicated trails system through further land-use agreements.
Folks are invited to visit the website for more information, maps and photos of local mountain bike trails and to learn more about the CMBC and its affiliate memberships.
