4WDABC Hale Creek Update

[sdillen]

Today I signed an amendment to the Recreation Site Agreement between the Four Wheel Drive Association of British Columbia and the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts. As of today, the 4WDABC has taken on responsibility for the management and maintenance of the Hale Creek Recreation Site, located approximately 24 kms up the West Harrison Lake FSR.

Under the terms of the agreement, the association will perform general site maintenance and cleanup activities of both the Sunrise Lake and Hale Creek sites. We will continue to visit the sites site on a monthly basis (but not less than once every three months) to do general cleanup -- with periodic maintenance and upgrade activities as may be required. Last month the Sunrise run included a trip down to Hale and we reported our observation that no facilities remained intact at Hale to the MTSA. Based on my discussion today, the Ministry will be installing a sealed-sump outhouse, signs and tables/fire rings for five campsites as well as a bear-proof garbage receptacle down at Hale Creek within the next few months. Details will be finalized in a few weeks, but we'll be looking for volunteers to assemble and paint the tables and to install fire rings on one of our next trail runs.

I think this agreement is an EXCELLENT step forward in the association's continued effort to ensure that camping destinations and 4x4 trails within BC remain accessible to the public.

If I can answer any questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a note.

Hope to see you on our next maintenance run on November 11.

[DMMcG]

Good work Steve.

The youth & energy of the 'old guys' always impresses!

A first and most important step in keeping Hale open for use by all has been taken.

I doubt that many of the people who enjoy the use of the site were aware that it was on the "chopping block" for being shut down by the government and/or the contract offerred up to the same folks who are running Weaver/Chehalis.....meaning a gate that's closed when there's no money to be made, campping/parking/day-rates and the like.

Once lost we'd never have gotten it back, so the pre-emptive strike only makes sense. I hope that the responsibility for the maintenance doesn't end up falling on too few shoulders.

[sdillen]

Stay tuned.....I may soon be advocating adoption of another site.

[mijinkal]

Great work!!! Thanks for taking the time and effort to do this so we all can enjoy the site!!

[gavman]

Great work and big thanks for the effort.
So on the last Sunrise run someone said in conversation that by adopting the sites like you are doing it will also prevent future logging in the area???
Do you have any personal expences associated with this???
Would gladly chip in to help...

[sdillen]

Originally posted by gavman
Great work and big thanks for the effort.
So on the last Sunrise run someone said in conversation that by adopting the sites like you are doing it will also prevent future logging in the area???
Do you have any personal expences associated with this???
Would gladly chip in to help...

I personally can't see the recreational use of any of the forest area trumping logging interests, but I do believe that the 4WDABC adoption of sites like these do accomplish a number of things.

First and foremost, we are establishing ourselves as a stakeholder in future recreational use of the sites...and by extension of the road systems which provide access to these sites.

Secondly, adoption of specific sites prevents other interested parties from grabbing the sites...and perhaps charging fees for the use of these public locations.

Third -- sites like Sunrise and Hale are great destinations that allow an opportunity to draw new individuals into our recreational pastime...which further solidifies ourselves as a viable organization to ensure future access to back country areas.

At least....those are my reasons for taking on these projects.

[Jeep_Explorer]

Excellent work... I have been trying to get out to one of those runs to Sunrise, Hail Creek, but I work on the saturday of the run...

[lars]

Tremendous job, Steve. Thank you!

...lars