Locked Gate??? Yes that was Dormans / Tamahi's combination lock that you cut... I didn't expect that from a hiker!
Just so the hiking community knows: the West Coast Soaring Club has a road maintenance agreement with BC Ministry of Forests on that section of road to our Launch approximately 7.5 km near the summit of St. Benedict. We use the access the upper to fly and are in process of acquiring a lease / tenure.
As you know that area becomes a major target shooter's pollution zone and problem with the local residence below. We are constantly cleaning up the garbage, casings and all the other crap shooters find fun to shoot and leave behind!
So as responsible holders of the road maintenance and tenure we will make every attempt to keep it cleaned up. If you need to drive up to the trailhead to the Makey trailhead just give me a call as I live in Miracle Valley and don't mind hikers as I know that most hikers are respectful.
The other day I was doing some road and launch maintenance and met up with a trail crew of 12 hikers doing trail maintenance on the trail.
We use that trial on a regular basis as well and are grateful to the hiking community for all the beneficial improvements to the back country.
We are also building a loop link from the top of Mt. St. Benedict to our upper launch and trail / access road. So in the near future one will be able to hike down the road if you want to enjoy some different scenery and easier descent to the trailhead. We now have most of it flagged and cut!
Back to the gate issue, Chilliwack Forestry Branch manages many area's and may not always know about every gate and lock. I have given them keys to locks only to have people cut them as the case with our lock cutter. I have replaced the lock and chain more than a few times from the destructive users of the access road.
So if you do need to do maintenance of the trail or whatever please give me a call and I will try to open it up for you.
Also if your club is interested in doing a bit of trail building on the loop extension to our upper launch that would be great!
The West Coast Soaring Club has many members that hike up and fly down so do share many common interests.
Thanks for your efforts again and respect,
Al Hammer 604 309 7780
XC Paragliding Canada
WCSC
Last edited by Hammer_Al; 06-02-2016 at 10:14 AM.
Reason: accuracy, privacy