By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: March. 24, 2012
A week after vandals targeted trees at the Coho Park Trail, there are reports of more trees being targeted in and around Squamish. On March.10, Squamish RCMP received a report of trees being cut down on the Coho Park Trail.
Two very large trees were targeted by vandals; one was felled while the other was cut very deeply. The second was unstable due to the damage done and a serious safety concern, Squamish RCMP said.
“The tree felled could have seriously injured or killed the person responsible, the other left in such a state it could have come down causing injury, or worse, to an unsuspecting person,” RCMP said.
On March. 19, RCMP received similar complaint of
trees being targeted in the Ravenwood area behind Cherry Drive in Valleycliffe.
“It appears that the trees may have been cleared unlawfully for trail use and could put persons involved at risk,” Staff. Sgt Guy Pollock said in a press release.
A report was also received of similar actions on the White Rabbit Trail along Hwy 99 north of Alice Lake.
Steve Klassen said the two fir trees at the Coho Park Trail were felled on the side of the major hiking trails.
The two fir trees targeted in Valleycliffe were also cut close to the trail intersection.
“These are big trees, and they could easily have hurt someone,” he said.
“Somebody seems to have got their hand on a chainsaw, and is playing stupid games with the trees and people’s lives.”
A Squamish forestry department official said officials from the compliance and enforcement have visited the site, but have yet to start an official investigation.
Trevor Mils says
What about all the trees that have natural diseases, weak tops and hollow bottoms that we can not see. Should we have all the trees within a certain distance of our outdoor areas checked. We have no idea what is out there that is dangerous. Just let nature take its course with these trees.
heather says
This is not very good news about further habitat destruction. Quad bikers and mountain bikers receive huge amounts of funding and support, yet this is how they repay their community….. They have never been known to be advocates for the environment, so this wanton damage is no surprise. In addition, quad bikers display a reckless disregard for the consequences of their behaviour with regard to noise pollution.
Mike H says
Trevor and Heather, I can’t tell if you are joking. You’re replies are so off the mark. 1) nothing to do with natural tree death, and the danger these half-cut trees pose is secondary to the story; 2) nothing to do with the cycling or orv community. It’s kids / jerks with a chainsaw plain and simple. Using this as a forum to rant about quad noise pollution?? Really??
Back to my coffee and dismay for people with fast computers and slow brains.
jason says
Hear hear, Mike.
The issue has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with dangerous deadfall or recreational trail users.
What Trevor and Heather’s comments help to illustrate is that, much like chainsaws, keyboards can cause considerable damage in the hands of some users and in some serious cases should only be used when under the supervision of a qualified adult.