A word from your President
Welcome to the first KCTS newsletter of the 2016 trails season! Hopefully many of you have already been out enjoying the lower elevation trails and we’re looking forward to clearing more as the snow melts. Nothing quite like skiing powder in the morning and enjoying the trails in the afternoon!
At our AGM this past fall, we welcomed new board directors Vince Boothe, Scott Forsyth and Gordon McAlpine, who joined returning board members Isabelle Desmarais, Frank Ramovs and myself as the new president. I want to send a sincere thank you to outgoing president Isaac Saban and board members Art Benzer, Hal Harrison, Anthony Bell and John Dougall (who recently stepped down). Not enough can be said about the value of these board volunteers and the efforts they put in to ensure the growth and longevity of our exceptional trail network.
It was apparent at the AGM there is much enthusiasm in the community to become involved. In response, we have developed a committee structure lead by respective board members. There are too many people to list here, but it should be stated that there is a passionate group of volunteers working behind the scenes, and to all of you I say thank-you.
For 2016, we have some exciting projects in the works. These include the development of a new 3-km loop in the Bluffs Trail network above Trail thanks to a generous grant from the Lower Columbia Community Development Team. Work on the upper Bluffs expansions will begin in May and run until the fall. Phase 2 of the Dewdney upgrade project (pending funding approval) to minimize current surface problems while reducing erosion issues. Working in partnership with the Dewdney Trail Heritage Society, we hope to have new interpretive signage outlining the historical significance of the trail at key locations. Exciting stuff!
This year, we are finally retiring the old “Rosslandtrails.com” URL. The board has put much effort into representing all communities and non-motorized trail users in the Lower Columbia Region. Trail improvements in the Beaver Valley, development of the Bluffs/Sunningdale trails and this year’s expansion in the Bluffs area are a reflection of these efforts. You can now find us at www.kcts.ca – one site for all.
Our experienced trail crew are beginning work May 2nd and will be working with Trails Manager Stewart Spooner to ensure our trails are in the best condition possible. There was a lot of blow-down from windstorms late last fall and a higher-than-normal snowpack in the alpine, so we will be doing our best to clear them as time and snow permits. If you are out there and notice areas of concern, please don’t hesitate to let us know at info@kcts.com or via our facebook page at www.facebook.com/kootenaycolumbiatrailssociety.
See you on the trails!
Ryan Kuhn
KCTS President