How Can The North Fork Be Revived?

Apr 8, 2013 at 22:42
by Lee Lau  
On April 2, 2012, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed the popular mountain bike trails at the North Fork. Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (EMBA) negotiations with the DNR to re-open the trails at the North Fork have come to an impasse, after a year, with our local legislators’ unanimous support, and many meetings. The DNR stated that they won’t support any short-term re-opening of trails and are strictly moving towards a Long-Term Planning Process to address recreational needs in Whatcom County. This decision comes despite no time-frame or available funding of a large recreational plan and goes against the will of a community and its supporters. We need your voice to be heard in support of a low cost, volunteer powered solution to today’s recreation needs at the North Fork.

4 21 North Fork Volunteer Day and Action Alert

What can you do?
Please write to the DNR representatives below and your local legislator to seek their support for both an interim solution to reopen the North Fork trails and the funding for the the DNR’s Long-Term Planning Process for all user groups in Whatcom County. Be brief and respectful, but resolute in your support for the trails at the North Fork.


SAVE THE DATE
Join us Sunday, 4/21 for the North Fork Volunteer Day to help us clean up trash at the North Fork at 10 AM, and Barbecue at 2PM. Stay tuned for more details!


Please send a copy of your letter to admin@whimpsmtb.org for our archive, thanks!

DNR contacts:
cpl@dnr.wa.gov Peter Goldmark, Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.

lenny.young@dnr.wa.gov Lenny Young, Department Supervisor

kyle.blum@dnr.wa.gov Kyle Blum Deputy Supervisor for State Uplands

chris.hanlon-meyer@dnr.wa.gov Chris Hanlon Meyer (acting) Northwest Regional Manager

laurie.bergvall@dnr.wa.gov Laurie Bergvall – NW Assistant Regional Manager


State Legislature:
If you’re unsure of your legislators, you can find them here.

It is easiest to find your Senator and Representatives contact info using you voter district number and CTRL=F on this excel spreadsheet.

Whatcom County residents of the 40th district:
kevin.ranker@leg.wa.gov

kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov

jeff.morris@leg.wa.gov


Whatcom, Island and Skagit County residents of the 42nd district:
doug.ericksen@leg.wa.gov

vincent.buys@leg.wa.gov

jason.overstreet@leg.wa.gov


Why is the North Fork so important to us?
Check out this video that tells the story of why our community needs the North Fork riding area to be open and what makes it special to us.

Views: 61,712    Faves: 1,092    Comments: 141


Author Info:
leelau avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2009
125 articles

59 Comments
  • 18 1
 its the same here in the UK the government say its public land but as soon as anyone touches it, even if it's beneficial like in the video. They just come at you with there polluting chainsaws and their stupid suits and turn what was a beautiful place into a trash dump. Its a shame it really is.
  • 7 0
 Make an online petition! This needs to be rebuilt for next season!
  • 10 0
 In the words of Jack Black: "The government totally sucks ya motha F*kas, The government totally suuucks."
  • 1 0
 We went thought the same crap on the north shore. Got to get the international mountain community working together to keep trails open around the world. Nothing better than traveling and riding. More online petitions and let everyone know where we can direct our opinion
  • 13 0
 i actually cried a little bit when i saw that video of the patrol struggling to take down the features last year
  • 1 0
 i dont get mad/sad, i get even
  • 11 0
 Seems like a solid waste of tax payer dollars to tear it down
  • 7 0
 They estimated it would cost $23,000 to tear it down...what a waste.
  • 6 0
 I find this extremly sad. Agree, there is a liability, but at the same time, mark the trails accordingly, let the MTB community run the trails- those in the know, will spread the word of the know and people will ride safe. It's an honor system-People will ride safely. The Government is supposed to protect the people and their INTEREST- Why would they just tare it all down and not ask them to build it more safely? , It's the people's trails and if you get hurt, you get hurt- People should not be able to sue on public land. I would agree with a commen in the thread, make people sign a waiver!

Here in Vermont, all trails that are on state land are all maintained to a high standard, environmentaly safe but face the same problem- The State will not permit things built that are not natural or change the elevation of the trail, with the exception of bridges. Liability. If you ask me, government is a liability. Tax me on everything and then tell me I can only ride what they say I can? Wrong.
  • 1 0
 Liability - sigh... If this truly was the core of the issue, then every road biker out there should be a red flag to our government. There is no comparison. Road bikers are killed every day across our county. How many MTB riders are killed? Almost none. I agree with you vt6spd, the Government is our county's most significant liability, not mountain bikers.
  • 5 0
 UNBELIEVABLE !!!!! Ill never understand why this happens , especially up that area where there is nothing around for miles No one is bothering anyone , if there are some environmental issues then work with the mtb. Community To address them not by making a beautiful scenic area look like a dump
  • 10 0
 This actually pissed me off and Ive never even ridden there. I can't send a letter because it would start like "f*ck the DNR" and wouldn't do any good... stupid retards with dull chainsaws...even the rate they tore it down was unpleasing
  • 3 0
 I'm a student at Western Washington University in Bellingham and can honestly say that 100% of the reason I came to school here was because of the riding and I could easily name 20 friends that are here for the same reason. This just goes to show that mountain biking brings much more than just business to the city of Bellingham.
  • 2 0
 Mason, that's EXACTLY the kinds of things you should include in a letter to the folks listed above. It used to be that students came to WWU to shred Baker, but the year-round mt. biking has also become a large part of the University's (and Bellingham's) allure.
  • 3 0
 If municipal gov't is afraid of potential liability then make everyone who ride thhe trails sign a waiver ffs! You dont have to tear down the whole thing. Very ignorant and looking for a cheap solution. Haven't seen this type of thing happen here in BC yet, but we do have suburbs sprawling at a rapid pace and cutting into natural habitat.
  • 4 0
 I wish our government would work with us like they do with you guys in Canada. Any single Canadian ladies looking to marry an American? I'd love to move to BC!!!
  • 1 0
 It will start happening soon guaranteed
  • 2 0
 We should play on our xbox and become fat lol looks like its what they want... Ohh im wrong its money right ? I dont understand why they close it and destroy it when so much people go out there just to have fun... Its not like if its some hooligans breaking everything... People are willing to engage themself to take care of the place... You know what you should do ? Send the video to obama ! Nah lol maybe ? But you should do a petition but not only for people out there in washington state but worldwide to show them that the mtb community is great and they care for everyone! Ill sign it for you ! Even if i dont think ill be able to go to the trail Frown too far away... if it re-open ill try to go it seems so amazing not only the trail but the place and the people! Good luck and go forward for what you want ! Do what you can and even more. It deserve it
  • 2 0
 So gutted for you guys, trails look amazing. I just don't understand how people think. They are happy to spend $23,000 to tear the trails down. Instead of putting that money into the area to help everyone! Also the guy talking about the law suit needs to get in the real world the dumb f*#k, what biker who rides and lives mtb would sue anyone over the trails he rides and helps up keep. Its a massive piss take i don't know if its the same with you guys, but over with us they load up shitty ideas and plans with money, yet we have to beg for permission and money for trails. I only wish for 10% of the money the government puts into sports centers, football and other over ran sports. Why can't the see the benefits of mountain biking!! Exercise, fresh air, getting back to nature, working along side with our local woods mountains what ever. MTB and nature go hand in hand so why punish people for doing something descent with there lives and living.
  • 2 0
 The DNR has only created more of a problem by closing the NF. Builders and riders have spread throughout several counties now and if the DNR wants to put any sort of stop to the building they need to work with WMBC and the EMBA to develop legitimate recreation opportunities for all users. DNR = Do Not Ride...
  • 2 0
 I have had personal experience in trails being destroyed, who hasn't?, but even on private land there will always be some dog walker or who ever that thinks because there is a footpath through it they own the joint. It just annoys me that they (goverment or vandles) use the same stupid excuses each time, if the land is public then let then use it and just put up a sign saying that bikers are in the area and don't be an arse and walk down the track, I mean a sign is a hell of a lot cheaper then paying people the destroy the tail
  • 2 0
 Is our society failing on many levels? Yes, not that many will argue with that statement. What is difficult though is administrating public lands. In the video one of the those interviewed said something to the effect of public lands are public, we are the public, and we want access to at least part of the lands that are supposed to belong to us. Makes sense, right? Just let them rebuild their features and use the trails and everyone is happy. Public lands being used by the public.

Until a group of public equestrians come to the public lands. They want to use them too, and the wooden features are dangerous for the horses so they asked they be removed and that bikers obey a speed limit for safety.

Then there is a public group of dirt bikers they are fine with the trails but the mountain bikers hate that the trails are now all torn up and nearly impossible to ride.

Then some deer hunters want to use the public land to hunt and people get worried they are going to get shot.

The whole time public hikers are annoyed with most every group.

The scenarios are endless even if the government auctioned off parts of the land for 99 year leases for your particular sport it would come down to who had the most money or most lobby members who got to use the land.

I spent several years on Whidbey Island and that is where I got my start in mountain biking but I don't envy someone trying to decide how and who gets to use public lands. Trying to ride dirt bikes here in California makes mountain biking in Washington seem simple.
  • 3 0
 Check out the documentary PedalDriven for more of the story in the local area. It's up on Netflix and can also be viewed here: pedaldriven.howellatthemoon.com
  • 2 0
 Please write a quick concise response to the listed contacts. Show your support in a positive light and hopefully there will be a N Fork that does not require breaking the law to enjoy. KAKAW
  • 2 0
 just get back out there and make the most of it. where i ride was trashed, within a month it was being rebuilt this was 7/8 months ago an there is a hole lot of trails are back up an running.
  • 1 0
 In the state of Washington a landowner can't be sued or held liable for an injury on their land(s) as long as there is no charge of fees. Having put on kayak events for a number of years, I found that the individual ranger districts within a larger national forest complex applied their own flavor of access restrictions. Many times these were/are contradictory to the head office. Extremely frustrating and the hurdles got bigger every year until we just quit. I wonder if the same thing happened here with the DNR in Bellingham. The DNR head in Olympia may be deferring to the local branch in this case. Still, a sad state that negotiations have broke down and that this is actually counterproductive in terms of stifling 'rogue' trail building. I truly hope this area gets opened back up.
  • 1 0
 This is very sad. I went up to Bellingham for the first time over spring break about 2 weeks ago to go ride galbreath and met the friendlyest people in the world on the trails .Random people would say hello to me and start a conversation before they would go continue to ride diffrent trails and it was just a great feeling everyone there seemed happy.I hope they can work stuff out with the government to get there trails back becaouse its truelly an amazing community!
  • 1 0
 Sucks outsiders of the sport don't see how much of a positive impact trails can have on the community and economy of a town. I pay big money to live in Squamish and while there are a lot of things I love about this place if the trail system weren't here I wouldn't be here either, I know there are lots of home owners, renters, and tourists that are here because of the trail system. Really sad to see this, makes me very grateful to live where I do!
  • 4 0
 Oh man, it broke my heart to watch those guys hack up all the hard work that went into those trails.. Frown
  • 1 0
 OMG, I was just not expecting this! I really loved the video and the trails there just look soo great... I understand that it is "illegal" as they call it and it is public or government land, but then why can you just plow through some areas and build stuff there? I understand it might provide homes for other people but couldn't you have worked something out with the mtb community other then say: "yeah, well find some other place for you guys to make something..."
  • 1 0
 I cry every time i watch this video Frown I never got to ride these trails and I watch videos of them and see how well they were constructed and how much fun people have on them...If only we could have worked something out with the gubnent before the went rambo and destroyed 22,000 man hours of building! It makes me wanna punch something...im gonna go ride!
  • 1 0
 I'm afraid of this everyday i go to my trails, that they might be torn down or in the process of being torn down. As a trail builder here in socal its a real problem with evriomentalists, government, and stupid horse riders destroying everything I and all my friends build. what i want to know is when are mountain bikers going to accepted the same as hikers and horse riders, and when are we going to be helped out and encouraged to build trails and use existing trails?
  • 1 0
 This is the most unjustified destruction of public property I've ever come across. What's worse is that if/when they finally come around to the idea of mountain biking in this area the bill for rebuilding will be footed by the locals (just as the cost of building them in the first place and the cost of tearing them down was). I cannot imagine that a single person would ever even consider that they could sue if they get injured. If you get injured because of an activity you have chosen to do then it is YOUR OWN FAULT!
  • 1 0
 I sadly don't know where else to shuttle a big bike in Whatcom County... Really wish the DNR wouldn't drag their feet on this as they've acted proactively with bikers in other regions. Lets do this.
  • 3 1
 It makes me insanely mad! This is why I am pro-illegal building. I refuse to be subjected to such idiocy. If you can't work with the system, work around it.
  • 2 0
 Civil Disobedience
  • 1 0
 How about legislation putting liability for mtb use on the riders themselves? It is your job to make sure your equipment is up to snuff and your job to take care of your self. This would mitigate all public liability
  • 2 0
 In a weird way, that made me want to go for a ride. It's important to get out and use your trails, because who knows when they will be torn down.
  • 1 0
 Simple. Keep your entrance and your exit hidden. Keep building.
While building your stashes, work on convincing the powers that be that the trails will save/make them money. Law suits are the big hurdle. Good luck.
  • 3 0
 This made me shed a tear.
  • 3 0
 I shed several.
  • 2 0
 Everything is becoming OVER governed...you Americans inherited that land...it's yours.
  • 2 0
 Trails dont make money,DRUGS make money. Government sucks everywhere. But you are lucky you have a lifestyle.
  • 1 0
 I've heard that the difference between U.S.A. and Canada regarding trail use is that in Canada one cannot sue if injuries occur. Anybody confirm this?
  • 1 1
 I can confirm that people are sue happy idiots here in the U.S.A. one of many reasons trails get shut down where i'm at. Mostly dumb ass's on walmart bikes that cant ride getting drunk and thinking they can hit the big ladder drop then crashing breaking an arm and suing the property owner for enough money to retire off.
  • 1 0
 The video made me cry too. I like the ancient Chinese solution to over zealous bureaucrats. The cut their balls off and kept them in a jar. They were called eunuchs.
  • 1 0
 Anyone else get a "sorry this video cannot be played" memo half way through watching on mobile?
  • 2 0
 Damn!!! Whats the problem with the government!!
  • 2 2
 welcome To Nazi America...Pay Your Taxes, Shut Your Mouth And Get In Line..When Are We Going To Take Back What's Ours..It's Still We The People, Rite!
  • 1 0
 Why does the government not work with the mountain bikers to make trails! This is really sad :'(
  • 1 0
 whats dangerous is the increase in child obesity, increase in diabetes, increase in fatal heart conditions
  • 1 0
 Rode there about 4 years ago, pretty amazing place. Its a shame they tore it down.
  • 2 0
 As Bob Marley said. 'Man is Trying to be as powerful as God'
  • 1 0
 Sad stuff to here... Stoked to be going to school at Western next year though! Cant wait to call Bellingham my home
  • 2 0
 death to them!!!
  • 1 0
 I "love " the " state's land.... " who the f!@#$ owns the state ???
  • 1 0
 I cried:'(
  • 1 0
 me too I feel a depressed now.
  • 1 0
 Power to the people







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.026250
Mobile Version of Website