The BC Government has awarded $10,000 for the phase one of a project to rebuild the Half Nelson mountain biking trail.
The funds will be used to clear drains, reshape key features and rebuild the top kilometres of the trail.
SORCA will use the funding to revitalize the trail back to its original standard using a combination of machine and hand-work so all trail users can continue to enjoy the trail, said Helen Benyon, executive director of SORCA.
Key work elements will include cleaning out the organics from the major drain and reshaping key trail features, such as rollers and berms.
Ted Tempany, whose company Dream Wizards built the trail originally, will be working on the project.
“Since Half Nelson’s opening day, community volunteers and Dream Wizards have put in countless hours of maintenance on the trail to keep it rideable throughout the seasons,” Benyon noted.
Since 2010, Half Nelson has remained one of the most popular trails in the world, ranked #2 globally on Trailforks.com, a site that tracks global trail use.
Over 5000 riders used the trail in May of 2018 alone, and between 3000-4000 riders have used it every month since Recreation Sites and Trails BC has kept track.
Its popularity had caused significant wear, highlighting the need for new machine work to get the trail back up to its original safety and quality.
When it was built in 2010, Half Nelson heralded a shift toward legally sanctioned trails, suggesting that Squamish was increasing the value put on recreation in the community, Benyon said.
Half Nelson was Squamish’s first B.C. government-funded mountain bike trail, and the 2010 build marked a significant shift in the way trails are locally managed.
