Development is rapidly expanding on the Desous Mountain Trail Network, much to mountain bikers’ delight.
Thomas Schoen, president of the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium, said the organization recently received $30,000 as part of a $400,000 project over three years to massively overhaul the network from the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition.
“The Cariboo region is quickly earning a reputation as a mountain biking travel destination,” Schoen said.
“This is due in large part to many years of grassroots, community-led trail development marketing initiatives and the strong support of key partners and stakeholders including local and provincial governments, First Nations, local businesses and funding agencies.”
He added the CCBAC has been a strong supporter of the CMBC from day one.
“With this latest grant, CCBAC recognizes out past successes and is providing us with the seed funding that can take biking in the region to the next level.”
Mark Savard, local trail advocate and CMBC vice-president, said he’d like to thank the CCBAC for helping initiate phase one of the Desous project, located west of Williams Lake overlooking the Fraser River.
“Now the real work can start,” he said. “Exciting times for the mountain bike community in the Cariboo.”
The Desous Mountain Trail Network will be marketed as a regional trail network.
Bob Simpson, chair of the CCBAC, said visiting mountain bikers want to experience a wide variety of trails and networks in the Cariboo and are encouraged to visit partner communities such as Wells, Quesnel and 100 Mile House.
The CMBC is a regional marketing organization promoting the recreational assets the Cariboo-Chilcotin has to offer.
The volunteer group assists local bike clubs in creating and enhancing their trail infrastructure, helping provide a first-class marketable product.
Updates on the project will be posted regularly on www.ridethecariboo.ca.
