The future of a rogue trail in Valleycliffe near McNaughton Park remains in limbo after District of Squamish officials investigated concerns from a resident this week.
Results on the investigation are not yet available, but both sides of the debate made their intentions clear.
Brian Vincent, the resident who contacted the district about the trail, said he was disappointed by the remarks from officials regarding the trail.
“The DOS is basically saying they don’t have the manpower, resources or money to deal with this,” he said. “Essentially what they’re saying is if you build an illegal trail, there are no consequences, and you get to keep it.”
Vincent added that he would decommission the trail with a shovel if the district is unwilling to do so.
“If they’re not going to take responsibility, then I will,” he said. “It’s a dangerous trail and children could get hurt. There’s erosion, and it was built without any oversight or environmental review.”
He said he was disappointed with comments he read online that support the trail. “Seems some folks don’t care about following the law and protecting the environment,” he said. “Contrary to what they may believe, outdoor recreation in Squamish is not a right, it is a privilege. We share this place with other creatures who call Squamish home as well. With that in mind, we all have a responsibility to act lawfully and with a sensitivity to wildlife and habitat.”
However, Squamish resident and avid cyclist Rob Cocquyt said Vincent is mistaken and trails like the one he is concerned about are simply a part of Squamish history.
“I would say 25 per cent of the trails they walk their dogs on or hike on are old logging or railway grades,” he said. “It seems so out of place to all of a sudden pull this one out of context and say it’s a disaster when we’re all using historical old grades anyways.”
He added that the short, 200-metre trail is a connector trail and questioned why anyone would be concerned about this particular trail.
“If they close this trail, they should close other trails like the one Brian uses to walk his dog,” he said. “He doesn’t want that, and we don’t want that.”
Cocquyt said he doesn’t envy the decision that district officials have to make, but there needs to be a balance.
“There’s the law and there’s the intent of the law,” he said. “They need to find that balance, and it will be a tough balancing act for them. Nothing would get done if we always followed the law, but at the same time if there is anarchy, it would be just as bad. It’s up to the DOS to look at this tiny trail in the context of Squamish.”
Hospital Hill resident Ron Goldstone said he’s lived in the area for nearly 20 years and the trail has been there for about that long. He added that local neighbourhood kids began building jumps on the roadbed about three years ago, and he has seen no conflict from other trail users as it’s off a hiking path. “I believe that this activity should be encouraged by our community leaders, however, I understand the need for the district to protect the interested of the community and its legal liability concerns,” he told The Squamish Chief in an email.
Goldstone added that he would volunteer to work with the district to solve any issues relating to the jumps.
Representatives of the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA), the district’s trails partner, did not respond before press deadline to a request for comment.
