Updates and AGM

Annual General Meeting Notice

The Kimberley Nature Park Society Annual General Meeting on Nov. 28 will feature a special slideshow presentation by Chris Ferguson, KNPS director and avid backcountry skier and climber. Focusing on the St. Mary watershed, the largest basin in the Purcell Mountains, Chris will share his extensive knowledge of the area’s geology, hydrology and recreational opportunities along with stories of first ascents, ridge traverses and the source of the St. Mary River.

Exploring the St. Mary Basin

The special presentation will be preceded by a short business meeting to review our financial statements and the past year’s activities, and to elect a new Board of Directors. A door prize draw and a wine and cheese social will round out the evening. Please join us at 7 pm on Thursday, Nov. 28 at Trickle Creek Lodge (Kimberley Alpine Resort).

Winter Machine Packing Trial

At our Oct. 3 meeting, Trails Manager Ryan McKenzie asked the Board to consider allowing machine packing of a route for walkers and fat-tire bike riders from Trickle Creek Golf Course through the Nature Park to Forest Crowne. The packing would be done with a Snowdog packing machine and would connect the packed trails on the golf course with trails in Forest Crowne. The Board approved the request as a one-year trial, and designated the packable routes as shown in blue on the map below.

The proposed winter packing route for walking and fat-tire biking is shown in blue.

SingleTrack 6 Bike Race in 2020

Also at our Oct. 3 monthly meeting, Directors reviewed a request from TransRockies SingleTrack 6 organizers to use Nature Park trails for a two-day cross-country mountain bike race June 10 and 11. The Board reviewed the proposal using our policy on large, organized events as a guide and agreed that the race could proceed with a few changes in the proposed route.

E-bikes in the Park

The recent release of an e-bike policy by Recreation Sites & Trails BC prompted some discussion at a recent KNPS meeting, and a motion was passed to adopt a similar approach in the Park. E-bikes that are 500 watts and under and that require pedaling to operate them will be allowed, similar to regular mountain bikes. More powerful e-bikes and those that don’t require pedaling will be considered motorized vehicles, and they will not be allowed on Park trails. This policy is consistent with City of Kimberley Bylaw 2452, which regulates usage of the city’s recreational trails.