Shuswap Dirt Riders recently took some time for a bit of spring trail cleaning.
The dirt-bike enthusiast club’s May 11 clean-up outing focused on the remains of an abandoned encampment and related structures at the northeast end of Mount Ida.
“The camp was right on one of our trails so we went in with the crew and we cleaned it all up and deconstructed what they were starting to construct…,” said Shuswap Dirt Riders president Garfield Chursky, noting the work involved a dozen volunteers and took about an hour.
To do the work, Chursky said the club received authorization from the city to access municipal property. They also contacted the RCMP as a vehicle at the encampment turned out to have been stolen.
“We were made aware by the authorities that had already been dealt with and the persons involved were already in custody,” said Chursky.
The Riders were also able to get the support of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District in waiving tipping fees at the landfill.
“They were really good and really appreciative, and the two landowners there are very appreciative of what we do to keep the mountain clean,” said Chursky. “Because it’s our staging area, we’re coming and going enough that people don’t go in there and party and have fires and stuff like that.”
Chursky said such cleanups have been a common occurrence for the club since it formed in 2010.
“Sometimes we’re viewed as renegade dirtbikers, noisy motorcycle guys,” said Chursky, explaining he and fellow club members view themselves as stewards of the mountain, a role they take seriously and impress upon new members. All club members are expected to follow basic guidelines captured in the club’s Off Road Riding Etiquette, which includes the following:
• Ride with respect to help keep the trails open;
• Wear a helmet and proper protective riding gear;
• Respect the environment by staying on existing trails, riding in a fashion that does not damage the trails, and respecting wildlife;
• Less Sound = More Ground! Ensure your motorcycles muffler is functioning properly and is equipped with a spark arrestor;
• Keep our riding areas clean – take your garbage home with you;
• Ride in a safe and controlled manner;
• Volunteer to help with trail maintenance and events, and;
• report suspicious or illegal activities promptly to the RCMP.
On its website, the Shuswap Dirt Riders calls itself a family oriented club “dedicated to the promotion of safe and responsible off-road riding…”
“Shuswap Dirt Riders works to preserve, maintain and grow the trail network surrounding the Shuswap Lake in harmony with other outdoor user groups while respecting the environment and wildlife.”
Chursky said the club is part of the Kle7scéñ (Mount Ida) working group. Facilitated by the Shuswap Trail Alliance, the group involves a collaboration of local First Nations and fellow user groups working together to guide maintenance and recreation planning in the area. A goal is a certified multi-user trail system.
Chursky said when club members ride Mount Ida, they do so with the blessing of the Neskonlith, Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, Splatsin and Adams Lake bands (all members of the working group), having impressed upon them the seriousness with which they take their responsibility as stewards. Part of that effort, explained Chursky, involved sharing photographs from each of the 15 years of cleanups.
“The pictures showed that when we first started doing these cleanups, we were picking up campers, hot tubs, household appliances, big stuff,” said Chursky, “Last year we had pictures which was one trailer of garbage and most of that we took for recycling. They showed that photographic timeline to their elders, in all four bands. We have their blessing because we’re showing that we’re stewards of the mountain.”
By joining Shuswap Dirt Riders, the club says you are showing you will support your riding areas and your right to ride.
“We are fortunate to have an abundance of open riding areas in our area, and we need to work to keep these trails open,” said the club on its website. “The club takes a proactive approach to trail management by corresponding with the various authorities that can impact our use.”
For more information, visit shuswapdirtriders.com.
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