Fed up with a growing lack of trail maintenance in our iconic National Parks, a group of experienced backpackers has formed a nonprofit to preserve and protect safe access to remote wilderness areas
Thanks for this article. this has been the elephant in the room with regards to outdoor recreation and Parks Canada. As a Canadian, you may think the national parks belong to you. They don't. They belong to the bureaucrats who assiduously are working to keep us out. Its not just the remote long distance trails but almost any trail that isn't Johnston Canyon or the Rockwall. Parks spent millions for upgrading parking at Emerald Lake, but hike 500 metres and the trails haven't been maintained for years. It's not budgets as much as a mentality among the senior bureaucrats that the parks have to be protected from the people.
Thanks for the article. I think it’s important for grassroots organizations to be more involved in land stewardship and nice to hear of organizations making an effort.
I’m curious as to why Parks Canada has decided to stop maintaining these areas, I didn’t see any answer in your article.
Years ago I did a canoe trip into a remote area. There was a similar organization cutting and re-establishing ancient trails. I thought this was great when I first heard about it. When I was getting permission from parks to do my trip (10 days, starting by float plane) Parks asked for my itinerary. When I provided it to them I was informed that I had to make some changes, that the trails which were being cut were unauthorized. Some went through environmentally sensitive areas and others through culturally important areas. Parks were working hand-in-hand with native communities and respective ecologists to create a working plan for the area but the non-profit was focused on their own agenda based on their recreational interests.
What steps does the backcountry trails preservation society take to ensure they are not working against the better interests of ecological and cultural needs?
Good questions. I think their website answers why Parks Canada has stopped maintaining many backcountry trails. It is illegal to cut trails in national parks without a permit. This group only wishes _official_ existing trails to be maintained. These trails are used by ecological monitoring staff and are themselves cultural resources. Cheers.
Thanks for this article. this has been the elephant in the room with regards to outdoor recreation and Parks Canada. As a Canadian, you may think the national parks belong to you. They don't. They belong to the bureaucrats who assiduously are working to keep us out. Its not just the remote long distance trails but almost any trail that isn't Johnston Canyon or the Rockwall. Parks spent millions for upgrading parking at Emerald Lake, but hike 500 metres and the trails haven't been maintained for years. It's not budgets as much as a mentality among the senior bureaucrats that the parks have to be protected from the people.
Thanks for the article. I think it’s important for grassroots organizations to be more involved in land stewardship and nice to hear of organizations making an effort.
I’m curious as to why Parks Canada has decided to stop maintaining these areas, I didn’t see any answer in your article.
Years ago I did a canoe trip into a remote area. There was a similar organization cutting and re-establishing ancient trails. I thought this was great when I first heard about it. When I was getting permission from parks to do my trip (10 days, starting by float plane) Parks asked for my itinerary. When I provided it to them I was informed that I had to make some changes, that the trails which were being cut were unauthorized. Some went through environmentally sensitive areas and others through culturally important areas. Parks were working hand-in-hand with native communities and respective ecologists to create a working plan for the area but the non-profit was focused on their own agenda based on their recreational interests.
What steps does the backcountry trails preservation society take to ensure they are not working against the better interests of ecological and cultural needs?
Good questions. I think their website answers why Parks Canada has stopped maintaining many backcountry trails. It is illegal to cut trails in national parks without a permit. This group only wishes _official_ existing trails to be maintained. These trails are used by ecological monitoring staff and are themselves cultural resources. Cheers.