February 2009:
Elkmtntrail.com is resurrected and will be updated as best I can.

After having logged a small cutblock just below the trailhead, a roadbed has now been logged to the upper cutblocks; taking out approximately 75 metres of trail where it turns and makes it's way toward the Elk Ridge proper.
There are three priorities before us with regard to the trail:
1. That the trail be properly established, which for some reason apparently takes some time to do. There still lies however the possibility that this trail has already been established from some legislation back in 1979. The proof would be if there were tax dollars spent on it's maintenance during that time. I remeber speaking with Jack Carradice, the MoF district manager of the time, who seemed quite adamant that this was indeed the case, so Mike is going to sit down with Jack and see if anything concrete can be found, in which case, there is already an official trail establishment of sorts.In the meantime, because the trail is not officially established, it's juristiction falls more within MoF and the woodlot managers instead of MoTSA. Once the trail is established, then it's juristiction falls more within MoTSA's power and they can have more say in how the trail will be managed. Mike is pushing to establish not only the Elk trail, but a whole group of trails in the area so we don't have a similar situation down the road.
2. Banning Motorized vehicle access.Again in speaking with Mike, I had pointed out the importance of keeping the trail restricted to non-motorized usage only. He's going to look into putting up proper signage at the trailhead, but he first needs to check out the legality it; ie if the sign is more of a suggestion or if he can put some legal weight behind it. He assured me that the new road will be gated and properly barriered to keep out motorized vehicles (well is any barrier really 100% effective) and also that the trail itself will be properly barriered in order to keep motorized traffic at bay.
3. Continued trail access during logging operations:Another concern I had raised, since the trail obviously has year round usage and is used during the week as well. This wasn't something he could directly answer but he will talk to the powers that be about this. Since we are dealing with small cutblocks, any logging activity will be quite brief, so such activity will be more a matter of days than months at a time. However, I for one would like to see the trail open and kept safe for hikers the entire time.

Archives:
July 17, 2008
We are in the process of exploring the option of creating a new ridge trail that would begin from Lookout Road and follow the Elk Mouintain Ridge and the woodlot boundary until it joins up with the existing trail where it gains the ridge and leaves the woodlot.
This option was at least at one time a viable one to the Chilkwayuck and would provide a trail that would not be inconflict with any future logging activity. There are however a number of considreations and obstacles that must be dealt with before such a trail can become a reality. Stay tuned.

January 19th, 2008
I was on the Elk Mtn Trail yesterday. Still no sign of any logging or road building activity as of yet. There has been no official word as to why the delay has occurred, as the Chilkwayuck were originally hoping to begin operations in the Fall.
There could be a number of factors for this delay. It would be nice to have some sort of official word from the Government or the Chilkwayuck themselves.

October 1st 2007:
Today we recieved the CFLP Cutting Permit/Road Permit map CFLP Cutting Permit/Road Permit map. As you can see, the section of proposed road that once over-ran the trail has now been lowered so that it runs parallel and below the trail. The road however still must cross the trail further up.
We are also trying to secure copies of the Cutting Permit Application and Road Permit Application from MoTSA. Hopefully once we have all the submitted information we can get a better understanding of how the trail will ultimately be affected, and what if anything we need to do to ensure that it is preserved.

September 25th 2007:
CORRECTION: I had originally mentioned that the document which we had recieved from MoTSA was the awaited "Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) But I have been corrected that it is rather "a letter to Stakeholders and interest groups outlining the legal and regulatory framework that must be used to guide decisions with respect to balancing the recreation and timber harvesting values within Woodlot W0084".
MOU was easier, but in any case, this document can be found HERE
We have some concerns regarding the wording of this document, which will be addressed within the above link.

August 13th 2007:
MoTSA has declared that a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) has been drafted which the Chilkwayuck has agreed to, but I am still awaiting a copy to be mailed to me. Once I have received a copy, I will post it on this website. From what I gather from talking with MoTSA, the trailbed as it is will remain intact and buffered except for one point where an access road to one of the cutblocks will have to cross the trail.
This crossing will be properly gated by MoTSA to ensure that no motorized traffic will be able to access the trail. This M.O.U. however is not a leagally binding document, as MoTSA can only draft such a document within what limited powers it possesses in this situation, so much of the onus will lie with the CFLP in honoring the agreement.
Again once we have a copy, I will post it on this website.

A petition with 1018 signatures was presented to:

  • Kerry Grozier: Chilliwack Forest District Manager
  • Matt Wealick: Registered Forestry Professional with the Chi-ihl-kway-uhk Forestry Limited Partnership
  • Barry Penner: Minister of Environment and local MLA

    • May 25th Meeting results:

    Representatives from the CFLP, Ministry of Tourism Sport and the Arts(MoTSA), Ministry of Forests and the outdoor community met to try to come up with some alternatives to the current harvesting proposal so that both the Elk Mtn Trail and woodlot harvesting can exist.
    The assumption is that logging will take place and that a road will be built in order to access the cutblocks. With that in mind, some alternatives were presented with the goal of keeping the trail and any logging operations independent of each other. It was agreed by all parties that this would be the ideal situation.
    The meeting overall was quite positive and open. Presently MoTSA is investigating the alternatives presented and will report back to us 30 days from our May 25th meeting, hopefully with some firm direction and a clear alternative as to where we can proceed from here.
    We stated that our preference would be to have a trail that avoided any sort of road crossings, as that all too often invites motorized traffic to have their way with the trail. Such a preference would most likely involve relocating a portion of the trail. For now we wait and see what MoTSA can do with our proposed alternatives.

    The Purpose of this Website:

    This website is meant to be a central gathering place of information regarding the Chi-ihl-kway-uhk Forestry Limited Partnership's plan to harvest sections of Woodlot #0084 in the areas near the Elk Mountain Trail, and what's being done to make sure that this trail as well as access to this trail remains preserved.
    more...

    Photo Gallery of The Affected parts of the Elk Mtn Trail:

    (scroll your mouse over the photos for a further explanation)

    dirtbikes and ATV's continually abuse the trail at present. Further access of this trail via a new logging road will only enable them to get higher up the trail and possibly into the alpine. Roughly 15 minutes of hiking into the trail, the proposed road, marked out in pink flagging tape, meets the trail and follows the trail for roughly 500 metres.
    This photo marks where the both the trail and the proposed road bend and head more easterly; the trail onward and upward to gain the ridge, and the road onward to the proposed cutblock. This is the place where the proposed road leaves the trail and heads towards the proposed cutblock.

    more photos here, but of the natural scenery of the trail

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    		Elk Mountain Trail Rally A Success!
    Nearly 200 people came out in support of the preservation of the Elk Mtn Trail. Global TV, CTV and the Chilliwack Progress also showed to provide media coverage.
    Se ongoing discussion as well as many photos of the event on Club Tread!

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    The Forest Practices Board does not support the current legislation in place regarding Forest Range agreements (FRA's)
    If you are wondering why the Chi-ihl-kway-uck haven't been providing much information regarding their plans, it's because they don't have to.

    Sierra Legal Defense article on the current legislation:
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    "I am not against logging, I'm just against stupid logging"

    Tim Epp