Singletrack to Success in the Yukon

Jun 6, 2016 at 14:44
by Norco Bicycles  
Looking for a way to promote community wellness, get youth back on the land, and promote tourism in the area by creating a world-class trail system, the Carcross Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) created the Singletrack to Success (S2S) Project in 2006.

CBC producer David Micheal Lamb left and World Report host David Common with the Carcross Singletrack to Success trailcrew.
CBC producer David Micheal Lamb (left) and World Report host David Common with the Carcross Singletrack to Success trail crew.
CBC producer David Micheal Lamb chats with Singletrack to Success founder Jane Koepke in the Carcross Commons.
CBC producer David Micheal Lamb chats with Singletrack to Success founder Jane Koepke in the Carcross Commons.

Few people held out any real hope of the S2S project living up to its potential. The obstacles were simply too great: a run-down, ramshackle town rife with social problems, disaffected youth, and the list goes on. In 2007, Norco believed in the project and provided 10 bikes for the Carcross kids to ride with funds provided by C/TFN.

The project started with 15 youth age 14+ working closely with community leaders. While carving trails, leaders taught youth: how to plan and build trails, identify plants, protect heritage sites, traditional place names, and how to give appreciation to nature. Today the new recruits on the S2S crew are too young to remember Carcross before these trails.

It’s given them hope. It’s given them pride in what they do,’ says Carcross/Tagish First Nation chief.

Kha Shade Heni Chief of the Carcross Tagish First Nation visits with the members of the Singletrack to Success trail crew.
Kha Shade Heni (Chief) of the Carcross Tagish First Nation visits with the members of the Singletrack to Success trail crew.
 Mountain biking is the apple of my eye Dominic Smith-Johns tells CBC Host David Common.
"Mountain biking is the apple of my eye" Dominic Smith-Johns tells CBC Host David Common.

You can learn more about the project, and see images of the trails in this article on Pinkbike.

Recently, on May 28, 2016, David Common and David Micheal Lamb of CBC travelled to Carcross to do a feature story on Singletrack to Success for broadcast on the National.

David Common host of CBC World Report
David Common host of CBC ' World Report'.
David Micheal Lamb left and David Common of CBC s The National and World Report with the 2016 Norco Optic.
David Micheal Lamb left and David Common of CBC's 'The National' and 'World Report' with the 2016 Norco Optic.

The piece offers a glimpse into how important building and riding trails has been for the local youth, and how they turned Carcross into a riding destination, one trail at a time.

You can find the CBC National piece here.

Singletrack to Success members zoom by as David Common reports for The National on how trails for tourism are being built by aboriginal youth in Carcross Yukon.
Singletrack to Success members zoom by as David Common reports for 'The National' on how trails for tourism are being built by aboriginal youth in Carcross, Yukon.
Talking about the importance of the trails.
Jade Macleod sits on a 2016 Norco Optic while being interviewed by David Common for CBC's 'The National' and the radio program "World Report".

Carcross mountain biking trails

MENTIONS: @norcobicycles



Author Info:
norcobicycles avatar

Member since Feb 11, 2000
126 articles

19 Comments
  • 9 0
 Hats off to many people who made this happen - The Carcross Tagish First Nation, Jane Koepke, Derek, Wayne R, the many volunteers of Carcross and Whitehorse, the government of Yukon (hope I didn't miss too many people here!). Carcross is an amazing place in an amazing part of Canada.
  • 7 0
 Props to norco for believing it. Those optics look nice(no pun intended ). Hopefully it's a start of future projects like this. Morley reserve has some cool terrain
  • 1 0
 Delete- duplicate comment
  • 2 0
 Thanks to you, Lee, for being such a huge supporter of Carcross and the Yukon. We have a special place in our heart for all you "early adopters" Smile
  • 3 0
 I got a chance to ride there last summer. Was blown away by the trails and the beauty. @lealau thanks for your blogs and videos done on your travels there. Helped with my logistics.
  • 1 0
 I was lucky enough to hit the trails around Whitehorse [including Carcross] around the summer solstice in 2014. Everything was awesome, from food, lodgings and guiding by Boreale Biking, to the flights with Air North [$25 to fly the bike! So cheap!], to Dan Barham's photo clinic. Great trails, great people, amazing time.
  • 3 1
 Thank you to everyone that made these trails happen. Carcross has some of the best trails I have ever ridden. looking forward to getting back there next weekend!
  • 2 0
 Congrats to everyone who was apart of making this happen! Giving youth something to be proud of is a huge step towards a positive & healthy life. Great work!
  • 1 0
 Dawson city has ALOT of potential we already have some trails worth checking out!
  • 2 0
 Can't wait to ride these trails in August!
  • 1 0
 We can't wait to host you! There's an enduro scheduled for August 13th if that happens to coincide with your travel plans....
  • 1 0
 @janeofalltrades: Ah so close, we will be there closer to the 15th
  • 1 0
 @janeofalltrades: We haven't made solid plans yet. What is your advice for accommodation (we have a camper van) and a couple days riding in Carcross?
  • 1 0
 @map-guy: Sorry I missed this! Not on Pinkbike as much I should be. Accommodation is a bit limited in CarX. There's a campground right near downtown, as well as an RV park right off the highway. Also a territorial campground at the base of IMBA Epic Mountain Hero trail. Beautiful, but could be pretty windy.....as for riding in Carcross, what skill level is your group and how long would you like to ride each day?
  • 1 0
 @janeofalltrades:
Hey no problem at all! Well its just me and my wife and I think we would be down to ride Hero, lots of experience, all day rides welcome!
  • 1 0
 This summer is going to rad, just moved to Whitehorse from North Van and looking forward to riding a whole new trail network
  • 2 0
 hit up Dustin at Cabin Fever Adventures for a shuttle up to mountain hero!
  • 1 0
 Carcross is amazing as a riding destination - great trails, neat environment, and friendly folks. I can't wait to go back!
  • 1 0
 montana is still my fav place to ride. Wicked trails, and now the road is graded its so fast making shuttle runs.







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