Whitehorse official warns rogue trail builders to obey city bylaws

The City of Whitehorse is warning amateur trail builders it's illegal to build trails without going through an approval process, says Parks and Community Development manager Doug Hnatiuk.

He says the beginnings of a rudimentary, single track trail, were found on a remote part of Grey Mountain near the Go-T trail.

Hnatiuk says it's not unheard of for rogue trails to appear.

"There might be young and upcoming trail builders that are enthusiastic, they've got some dreams and desires and an idea, but really the best thing for them to do would be to contact the city," Hnatiuk says.
 
"Our trained professionals can then work with them, we can educate them, they may have some ideas that might be of value to us," he says.

The trail was discovered by members of the Contagious Mountain Bike Club. It was found in area of steep rugged terrain. Hnatiuk says much of it consists of switchbacks up the mountainside.

The club's president, Sierra Van Der Meer, says the riders were curious about it. So was the club. It approached the city to see if it was developing the trail.

Van Der Meer says the club and the city have a good relationship and if it was mountain bikers who did the work the club wants to let them know there's a right way to go about it.

"We don't want to dampen the spirit of volunteer builders," Van Der Meer says.

She says volunteers have built almost all of the trails in Whitehorse.

But she says the city has developed a relatively simple process for approving trail applications and it should be followed.
  
Hnatiuk says the consequence of not following the process can include a fine of up to $500.