Vedder Mountain Threatened – Trail Users Rally

Nothing new to B.C. Mountain Biking news pages, another riding Mecca is under attack; this time it’s Vedder Mountain in Chilliwack B.C. A forty-five minute drive east from Vancouver the home of the North Shore (also suffering from its own government pressured trail woes at the moment), the east side of Vedder Mountain has recently become the subject of a Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposal to log off stands of deciduous trees.

Questions/Comments

This is an idea that the Forest Service finds attractive since it will be able to replant with coniferous species that will generate higher revenue in the form of “stumpage fees” when the mountain gets logged in the future. At risk to this plan are 150 km of recreational trails, and so today hundreds of mountain bikers turned out at the foot of Vedder to show their face and voice their concerns.


It seems an odd, if not short sighted, approach to forestry management in this tourism reliant region to permit logging in an area that has been long established as a lucrative recreational zone. Just minutes from the mountain is Cultus Lake, a summer retreat where out-of-towners and locals alike historically come to spend lazy days, hanging out on the beach, cruising the water in boats or visiting any of the many “tourist traps” in the area. Near by, Vedder Mountain has turned into a recreational sport utopia, ATV’s, Horse Back Riders, Hikers, Off-Road enthusiasts and of course Mountain Bikers have co-existed here relatively quarrel free like no other place I can think of. In all approximately two million people take advantage of Vedder Mountain’s natural assets for recreational use annually.

Tourism Chilliwack clearly understands this, their own website declares on the subject of mountain biking specifically, “Biking.... Chilliwack is a mountain biker's paradise, with ample thrills to satisfy and challenge hard-core extreme sports enthusiasts. We also have lots of scenic trails and gentler routes for those who choose not to eat rocks, slam into trees, catch road rash, or do spiraling endoes”. They even mention Vedder Mountain, “Hard-core mountain bikers will be drawn to Vedder Mountain and its trails: "the Dilemma", "the Den" and "The Luge"; a 10-minute, adrenaline-pumping descent-roots, rocks, anything! The list of bone-jarring rides goes on and on” [sic]. These trails, in addition to many recently constructed runs, are now threatened by the Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposal.

Mark Steinebach addresses the crowd

What appears to be the attraction are the hardwood trees that grow on the mountain, presumably to be milled into flooring and other finished lumber products by Weyerhaeuser’s Northwest Hardwoods division. The forestry company wants access to 280 hectares of alder, birch and maple trees, removing 127 cubic metres per hectare. According to Weyerhaeuser’s plan a variable retention logging method is to be used, meaning that not all of the trees in the proposed cut block would be removed, some will be left standing. Of course only the final outcome will yield the result of the “harvest” and its impact on the trail network on the mountain.


Within these cut blocks lie the best known of Chilliwack’s mountain bike trails; the newer Mong-a-Lloyd and Mexican Ninja and the long time favorite Dilemma, these three trails alone represent the longest network of downhill and freeride trails on the mountain, and a substantial portion if not most of each trail is in the Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposed cut zone.

Chilliwack Forest District manager Kerry Grozier in a news article published in the local Chilliwack Times claims that the trails are not legally constructed, and so have “no legal standing”. In the Times article he can be quoted as saying, “I know there are maps out there that show a multitude of trails they are using and have been using for years, but they are ad hoc; they were not condoned by the Forest Service”. To state that the Forest Service knew about the trails for years and then go on in the same breath to say that they were not condoned is contradictory; the trails are in plain view to all, including the City of Chilliwack who advertised their presence.

Perhaps liability comes into question when establishing land use, it was obviously on the mind of Chilliwack-Kent MLA and lawyer Barry Penner when interviewed by The Chilliwack Progress, “The issue of liability is quite a challenging one, we don’t want taxpayers to be financially on the hook for someone getting injured”.


I’m not sure how often the Forestry Service gets sued by citizens and land users, though I’m guessing it’s not very often. Every week there are hundreds of riders on the trails on Vedder, and that’s just Mountain Bikers, (never mind the ATV Riders, Dirt Bikers, Horseback Riders and Hikers) invariably in any sport their will be injuries. I must admit that a few seasons ago I broke my wrist while riding Hidden Pleasures on Vedder; suing the Forestry Service for failing to manage a Fisher Price forest didn’t even enter my mind, clearly a safe, risk free forest doesn’t exist. Most people recognize this and so don’t attempt to initiate a frivolous lawsuit when they get injured on Crown Land. When a Mountain Climber falls to his death or a Camper gets mauled by a bear in the wilderness you rarely hear of a lawsuit, I can’t recall such an instance.


Not to say that it couldn’t or doesn’t happen; however the economic impact of not permitting the public to use their own land because they might twist an ankle or break a wrist is far more costly to a tourism rich area like Chilliwack than permitting recreational land use and taking the risk of an unlikely lawsuit, that if came forward, would probably not be successful in court.

It would also seem that the Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposal represents little gain to the Provincial Government financially. In the same Chilliwack Times article, Kerry Grozier said that the Government doesn’t make much money on deciduous trees, “It’s not a viable or highly profitable species. It’s a niche market, so under those circumstances we don’t normally have a large stumpage applicable on those particular species”.

To the public however, recreational land like that on Vedder is of considerable value. As a matter of fact in 2003 the City of Chilliwack had a survey conducted by PERC (Professional Environmental Recreation Consultants) on recreation, (pg.17) it indicated that 51% of Chilliwack residents surveyed felt that more Natural Parks and Protected areas were needed for recreation. How then can the City of Chilliwack and its elected officials, in concert with the Forestry Service, consider that the logging of an already well established recreational area would be in the best interest of the local electorate and a thriving tourism industry?


The Forestry Service’s denial of the “condoned” existence of the trails on Vedder Mountain should not prevent the public from having input on the Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposal; the forests of British Columbia belong to the people and the people should have a say on how their land is used.

Now is the time to make your voice on the matter heard, should the long term benefits of the revenue from two million visitors annually continue, or the short term benefits of a the Weyerhaeuser/Northwest Hardwoods proposal force the removal of the trails on Vedder?

Join the efforts of the protesters that rallied today and help convince the Government and Politicians to see that a sustainable forest use plan must include the recreational use of the land before we lose yet another place to ride.

Questions/Comments

Let them know how you feel;


Kerry Grozier, Chilliwack Forest District, ph. (604) 702-5700

Barry Penner, MLA Chilliwack-Kent, ph. (604) 702-5200

Clint Hames, Mayor of Chilliwack, ph. (604) 793-2900


Also, visit the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association.

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