Rain or snow (or the threat of it, as the case may be this year) getting your ride time down? We’ve been fortunate with a stellar number of bluebird days recently, but it only takes a day or two of winter rains and trails can become a soggy, wet mess. Add a coating of the white stuff, and that may put us on the couch…or does it?
Do you know about Fraser Valley’s lowest elevation trail network – the Heritage Trails in Mission
The FVMBA has an agreement with the City of Mission’s Parks & Recreation department to maintain the trail network. The land where the Heritage trail network is situated is now owned by the Leq’á:mel, Matsqui, and Sumas First Nations who have granted access to the City to use for parkland and trails. The City provides maintenance funding to the club and local Mission volunteers direct the FVMBA trail crew to complete a work plan of trail upgrades and maintenance throughout the year.
There are a host of people working together on this effort. Glen, Curtis, Colin, and Rocky (local volunteers) have all played a part in doing the background work to make this happen. The trail crew have been the boots on the ground – trimming back the overgrowth in the summer, fixing sections that require maintenance, raking and blowing leaves in the winter, and building a new bypass trail last fall. The result: a groomed and track-set mountain bike trail network open for riding.
These trails are certainly all-weather. If you feel like you need to get a ride in during a rainy day, give the trails that need it a break (almost everywhere else), and give Heritage trails a try. They drain well, and are clear of leaves and debris. If you do encounter a tree down, or otherwise, the group of volunteers are quick to respond to Trailforks reports for issues.
If you do ride at Heritage in a downpour (which is still ill-advised), and damage the trails, it is someone’s actual job to fix things up afterwards. If you do the same to your local volunteer-maintained trails – you are doing harm to yourself (thrashing a trail you like), the local trail builder(s), and the community by laying a beating on a trail that might not get fixed for quite some time. Nobody likes “that rider”!
The Heritage trail network, and the arrangement with the City, FVMBA, and local volunteers to manage and maintain it, is pretty sweet. If other communities in the Fraser Valley are trying to figure out a way to support their volunteer-built and maintained trails in a meaningful way, Heritage trails can be an example of how things can come together for many positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
If you don’t know where to ride on these trails, check Trailforks for some suggested routes. From green and glorious, to an all-trail leg massacre, there’s something for everyone. Give them a go this winter. You might find your new favourite loop.
Happy trails,
Mission’s Heritage Trail Team
Right now, the trails are in immaculate condition. They are minty fresh and with the low elevation, stay snow free the longest.
