West Cypress roads getting reactivated / Fern Trail getting bulldozed

sitka · 06-14-2012, 12:44 AM

Was hiking with the pooch today in the area from Sexboy west to BLT road and up to the 2nd viewpoint on CBR.

I found 4 or 5 old skidder roads that a few months ago were overgrown with alder and brush, which have now been cleared. Most of them seem to just have been cleared by hand/chainsaw (all the moss is still intact, no sign of vehicles).

One goes from the hydro line cut just below the Sexgirl entrance, and zigzags down (the very first step-down drop/gap on Sexgirl is actually on a section of that road) to the bottom of the Sexgirl jumps, and from there goes west back to the BLT road, and also east over to the hydro lines.

One more was cut from BLT road heading east, about 50m downhill from the one mentioned above.

There's also a couple more shorter sections I stumbled upon that seem to just dead-end.

Finally, and most noticeably, there's that fairly wide road (Fern Trail) that goes from BLT road East, to the top of S&M, and which Sexgirl, Sexboy, and Shoreplay all cross. Anyway, that road is getting bulldozed. Today there was a big ol' Cat ripping that road up, removing adjacent trees and boulders and levelling things out. They had gotten as far as the bottom of Sexgirl so far.

I'm not 100% sure but I think that's the same road that heads all the way East to CBR, right where there's currently a pull-out and a cut through the rocks with lots of boulders sitting there (across the CBR from where that new road heads down). So I suspect they may be making a driveable connector from there over to the BLT road.

I know they've been doing lots of bulldozing around the hydro substation, and they now have several fenced-off areas with security cameras. I asked a worker near there once what it was about, and he said it was for fill for the new houses in the Rodgers Creek developments. Not sure how/if that fits in with Fern Trail getting bulldozed.

If anyone has any details I'd be curious to find out! At the very least, let this be a heads' up that those trails that cross will need some tweaking soon. Maybe I'll bring a pulaski on my next hike...

sitka · 06-14-2012, 12:56 AM

Quote:

So I suspect they may be making a driveable connector from there over to the BLT road.

Nevermind, if you look at the Rodgers Creek Site Plan (here, pg 49), it shows Fern Trail above the proposed development area, and no mention of a road. So I definitely have no idea.

Sharon · 06-14-2012, 01:02 AM

Yes,

Fern trail is being widened to accommodate truck traffic for future development in that area. Fern trail does exit where the big rock quarry is on CBR, just before the old exit of Firehose.

I didn't realize they were also widening the skidders off BLT though.

BJC · 06-14-2012, 01:16 AM

The work on the hydro substation was/is a pain in the ass when riding up BLT. You never knew what state the road would be in. I haven't seen it in the last few weeks though - I head to Fromme in the wet.

From memory Fern trail would run right through the new housing subdivision wouldn't it? Or is it higher?

Cheers Ben

sitka · 06-14-2012, 01:21 AM

Sharon: Thanks for the reply!
I guess they're trying to keep construction vehicles off the highway as much as possible. Because otherwise it'd seem like it'd be much easier and faster to get the fill from the substation to there via the paved road and CBR.

BJC: check out page 49 on the Rodgers Creek Site Plan, it looks like Fern Trail is actually above where that section of development is going to be (note that they're just skirting the 1200ft line which they agreed to not develop above), but then again the trail on that map might be a realignment they have planned. Hard to say without being able to overlay it with current GPS track of fern trail.

tacklebox · 06-14-2012, 01:38 AM

TAP....BPP style.

Carrot Top · 06-14-2012, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hard Tack

TAP....BPP style.

More like FDP (Forest Destruction Plan)

heckler · 06-14-2012, 02:38 AM

I only wish Monica would focus 1/4 of her attention to save the forest on Cypress.

fullmast · 06-14-2012, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heckler

I only wish Monica would focus 1/4 of her attention to save the forest on Cypress.

Going to be out there on Friday morning, will keep a sharp eye looking for frogs n'such.

IFO · 06-14-2012, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heckler

I only wish Monica would focus 1/4 of her attention to save the forest on Cypress.

thats the truely sad part..

OH !!! its for housing ??? ok feel free to level the entire MTN.

Sharon · 06-14-2012, 03:34 AM

Fern trail is essentially the 1200ft mark and top of the development. It will become a 'mountain trail' much like the whistler valley trail when the area is built out.

It should make a nice climb from CBR to BLT for easier access to come of the lower trails.

AlanB · 06-16-2012, 01:24 AM

BPP is being proactive on the fire fighting front. They're making roads passable for equipment to fight forest fires. Fern Trail is included. DWV is aware of this.

Considering all the construction that will be happening in the area, preparing to fight fires isn't a bad idea. Bikers can do their part by not using barbeques in the woods. Yes, barbeques have been found near trail work!

You may have seen the water tanks BPP has installed and filled at several locations on Cypress.

06-14-2012, 12:44 AM	#1
sitka Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	West Cypress roads getting reactivated / Fern Trail getting bulldozed Was hiking with the pooch today in the area from Sexboy west to BLT road and up to the 2nd viewpoint on CBR. I found 4 or 5 old skidder roads that a few months ago were overgrown with alder and brush, which have now been cleared. Most of them seem to just have been cleared by hand/chainsaw (all the moss is still intact, no sign of vehicles). One goes from the hydro line cut just below the Sexgirl entrance, and zigzags down (the very first step-down drop/gap on Sexgirl is actually on a section of that road) to the bottom of the Sexgirl jumps, and from there goes west back to the BLT road, and also east over to the hydro lines. One more was cut from BLT road heading east, about 50m downhill from the one mentioned above. There's also a couple more shorter sections I stumbled upon that seem to just dead-end. Finally, and most noticeably, there's that fairly wide road (Fern Trail) that goes from BLT road East, to the top of S&M, and which Sexgirl, Sexboy, and Shoreplay all cross. Anyway, that road is getting bulldozed. Today there was a big ol' Cat ripping that road up, removing adjacent trees and boulders and levelling things out. They had gotten as far as the bottom of Sexgirl so far. I'm not 100% sure but I think that's the same road that heads all the way East to CBR, right where there's currently a pull-out and a cut through the rocks with lots of boulders sitting there (across the CBR from where that new road heads down). So I suspect they may be making a driveable connector from there over to the BLT road. I know they've been doing lots of bulldozing around the hydro substation, and they now have several fenced-off areas with security cameras. I asked a worker near there once what it was about, and he said it was for fill for the new houses in the Rodgers Creek developments. Not sure how/if that fits in with Fern Trail getting bulldozed. If anyone has any details I'd be curious to find out! At the very least, let this be a heads' up that those trails that cross will need some tweaking soon. Maybe I'll bring a pulaski on my next hike...

06-14-2012, 01:02 AM	#3
Sharon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: in North Vancouver and elsewhere Posts: 6,358 Rep Power: 1933275	Yes, Fern trail is being widened to accommodate truck traffic for future development in that area. Fern trail does exit where the big rock quarry is on CBR, just before the old exit of Firehose. I didn't realize they were also widening the skidders off BLT though. __________________ Looking to ride the shore but don't know where to go? Get a copy of the Locals Guide to North Shore Rides! Follow MTB Trails on Twitter Follow Sharon and Lee on Twitter Check out Canadian Cartel - A canadian mail order company.

06-14-2012, 03:34 AM	#11
Sharon Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: in North Vancouver and elsewhere Posts: 6,358 Rep Power: 1933275	Fern trail is essentially the 1200ft mark and top of the development. It will become a 'mountain trail' much like the whistler valley trail when the area is built out. It should make a nice climb from CBR to BLT for easier access to come of the lower trails. __________________ Looking to ride the shore but don't know where to go? Get a copy of the Locals Guide to North Shore Rides! Follow MTB Trails on Twitter Follow Sharon and Lee on Twitter Check out Canadian Cartel - A canadian mail order company.

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06-14-2012, 01:16 AM	#4
BJC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 680 Rep Power: 3383423	The work on the hydro substation was/is a pain in the ass when riding up BLT. You never knew what state the road would be in. I haven't seen it in the last few weeks though - I head to Fromme in the wet. From memory Fern trail would run right through the new housing subdivision wouldn't it? Or is it higher? Cheers Ben

06-14-2012, 01:21 AM	#5
sitka Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Sharon: Thanks for the reply! I guess they're trying to keep construction vehicles off the highway as much as possible. Because otherwise it'd seem like it'd be much easier and faster to get the fill from the substation to there via the paved road and CBR. BJC: check out page 49 on the Rodgers Creek Site Plan, it looks like Fern Trail is actually above where that section of development is going to be (note that they're just skirting the 1200ft line which they agreed to not develop above), but then again the trail on that map might be a realignment they have planned. Hard to say without being able to overlay it with current GPS track of fern trail.

06-14-2012, 01:38 AM	#6
tacklebox mouth shoveller Join Date: May 2004 Location: 1998 Posts: 15,228 Rep Power: 21474849	TAP....BPP style.

06-14-2012, 02:38 AM	#8
heckler skookum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Darkside Posts: 14,599 Rep Power: 15039852	I only wish Monica would focus 1/4 of her attention to save the forest on Cypress.

06-16-2012, 01:24 AM	#12
AlanB View discretion advised Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: WVAN Posts: 813 Rep Power: 1715417	BPP is being proactive on the fire fighting front. They're making roads passable for equipment to fight forest fires. Fern Trail is included. DWV is aware of this. Considering all the construction that will be happening in the area, preparing to fight fires isn't a bad idea. Bikers can do their part by not using barbeques in the woods. Yes, barbeques have been found near trail work! You may have seen the water tanks BPP has installed and filled at several locations on Cypress.