A sign at the Bachelor Heights trail head in Kamloops.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kamloops Bike Riders Association

Things are starting to warm up as we approach the first day of spring, and some bikers and hikers are anxiously waiting to hit the trails.

With frost still coming out of the ground and muddy, wet sections in shaded and north facing sections of trails, bike associations are asking the community to be patient.

“The best general rule is if you are sinking in or have mud sticking to your tires or feet, you are damaging the trails,” membership director of the Kamloops Bike Riders Association and avid rider, Russ McCrue, said.

The association works with government to keep trails in good condition as well as work throughout the season to maintain them.

McCrue and the association are spreading the message that trails need to dry out first or otherwise they will be damaged requiring volunteer time to repair. Regular updates are available on their website so hikers and bikers who are itching to get out will know which trails dry out first. 

“During the early spring while the frost is coming out the trails can seem firm and dry early in the morning, then turn to muck as the sun hits them, and possibly dry out again by the evening,” McCrue said. “There is always a lot of trail damage to repair from both hikers and riders each spring.”

He said riders need to resist the temptation to "braid the trail", walking or riding off trail to avoid wet areas and thereby causing damage.

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The Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan group echo the warning to hikers and bikers to stay away from trails until they are dry. They also have volunteer members who work to maintain area trails.

“As a biker I usually go for a hike to check on the conditions and if it is terrible I just turn around,” said spokesperson for the group Cam Lainchbury. “As we come into the spring, it is cooler in the morning and the ground might be frozen which is the best time to ride. If you run into mud ride straight through it, going around it makes the mud patch bigger.”

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Lainchbury said in the Kelowna area the Shale Trail at Knox Mountain dries out first, being a south facing trail. The other main trail at the mountain is called Simpson Trail, which is in the shade.

“Shale Trail is in good shape right now, but Simpson is still under snow and mud,” he said.

Lainchbury recommends if riders want to go biking to check the Thompson Okanagan Trailforks website for conditions and talk to other people at the trail head.

He also encourages hikers and bikers to help their local volunteer associations do trail maintenance.

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