The destruction of the Ridgemont trail system

[bdaddy]

Took a ride up the Cemetary Bypass yesterday, the top of it just before the reservoir has been destroyed.
I am guessing that this summer will be the end of most of the fun mountain bike trails in this area.
Maybe I’m wrong, I hope so, but having a trail closed sign on the cemetary bypass is ominous.
Our trails were built and are maintained by dedicated, responsible people.
These trails are old and well used, not abused. All animals are respected in these areas and the natural apects of the wilderness are part of the romance of riding here.
Soon, this network of trails that has become a part of Fernie’s culture will be gone, in their place a giant devlopment including a golf course and lots of houses will arise.
There will be no more mountain biking in this area.
Watching the TV this morning I saw the Nature Conservancy of Canada advertising the destruction of the Elk Valley’s wilderness Grizzly population.
They had the nerve to show pictures of the Elk Valley, mixed in to the slideshow was a few quick shots of the new sub-divisions in SW Calgary.
Propaganda. There was no mention of the big developments slated for Fernie.
Mountain biking is a cultural activity in Fernie and many other areas in which wildlife abounds. It’s good, dirty fun hard work
Housing for non-residents is another story. The houses around the golf course in town are empty now and the new ones above Ridgemont will be empty 95% of the time as well. They sit there, consuming energy while we approach an energy crisis, and no-one speaks out!
Do we turn our backs on our culture and walk away?
Maybe if the mayor was properly motivated; a residence without residents could be taxed to help pay for infrastructure fernie badly needs. Our roads are terrible, we are closing up schools during a baby boom and meanwhile people are buying second homes here and forcing out the locals.
I know trying to stop development is impossible, but if Canada is actually trying to lead the way in becoming sustainable, why do we allow such a waste of our resources?
One day soon the water will dry up and that precious imported Kentucky Blue Grass will be the first to go. The groundwater will be poisoned by toxic fertilizer. And we wont even be able to go mountain biking in that newly created desert.
I could go on, but is anyone even listening?!

[seasonsgreetings]

A lot of people are listening, and I’ll bet a lot of people (including me) would agree with most of your post but the question should really be “is anyone going to do anything about it?” – What are you going to do about it?

By the way, most of the houses on the golf course are actually lived in year round, I don’t know the percentages, but as far as I know all but one of the houses on Skifty Morris Way are permanent residents, and at least a few of the other houses.

[leftcoast]

Everyone is listening however the deals have already been made. In typical form the developers and politicians will win $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

How many of their fat asses do you see on mtn bikes?

My prediction is that Cedar Valley and Lizard Creek will be closed for mtn biking before Ridgemont. The righteous crew at Wildsight will be locking the gates as quickly as possible. THE NCC has already locked theirs!

Interesting facts on Fernie:
?ǂĢ 40 % homes empty and growing
?ǂĢ decrease in population of 800 in past 5 years

This trend will continue to kill our community and nothing can stop it short of Bin Laden or the Griz coming to the rescue!

[bdaddy]

I am really happy to hear some of my sentiments echoed, thanks…
I would like to say that I am sorry I get so mad on these posts, i just love Fernie and want to stay here more than anywhere on this planet.
When i hear about places being “off limits” i go kind of crazy…
We are in a remote area, the wilderness is our backyard… If that is taken away from us in order to provide some kind of pseudo-wilderness-playground… well it just burns my ass thats all… like Whistler all over again.
I get to feel like a pig in a poke, hemmed in, and claustrophobic.
My release of negative energy comes from experiencing life in its natural state; trees, fresh air, sunshine and clean water, wild animals and wild people.
Cya

[Author]

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