Trans Provincial Trail - Updated 14 Nov, 2009

[Peter Cunningham]

At the last ATV/BC director's meeting we decided to initiate a trans-provincial trail code-named "Vision Quest". We will go east-west and north-south.

The concept is to start with a route that already exists (mostly) and then work to close the gaps. It would be a multi-year project with the idea that the next NTC funding initiative would find shovel-ready projects.

In late July the East Kootenay clubs might initiate a 6 day ride from Elkford to Trail, hotels all the way. If we can get someone from West Kootenay to pick up the torch and ride west then we could get 90% of the way across the province this summer. We would need police escort through most towns similar to the Trail Blazer's ride in 2008.

Maybe someone could initiate from the coast and we could meet in the middle? Bit of a last-spike ceremony, get some imaginations rolling.

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• Update 1: 7 Nov, I've accumulated all of the trail fragments and suggestions from the posts below into one feasible route.
• Update 2: 14 Nov, Fixed up some trails around Cranbrook. Fixed the Trail bypass based on Don's input. Thanks to Cal's suggestions the route now extends to East Harrison Lake. Where do we go from here? (is there a route to Pemberton?)

Attached are two files:

• GPX (GPS Exchange, readable by most GPS programs including Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance and OziExplorer)
• KMZ (Google Earth, free software)

[R Hergott]

The ATV BC Board of Directors met a week ago and have been kicking around an idea. We need your help with this, as there are many here who have the knowledge.

The goal of the formed committee is to link the different areas of the province (in several stages) with a trail network that runs North to South, and one East to West. The goal is to link Fort St John to Harrison, and Revelstoke/Elkford with the trail near Clear Water. While this seems like a large endeavor, it really is not, as many locals know of these trails already/ As the Trail Blazers ride has shown, there is already a route from Western Alberta (lower half) to Clear Water, with a small gap needing to be filled near CW, so that you can meet the existing trail to 100 Mile House. We already know (thanks to some of the Southern Boys and Girls) that there is a route that goes from Harrison to Boston Bar as well as one that goes from the Caroline Mines to Ashcroft (I think, I did it many years ago).

The goal is to get clubs or non club members who have this knowledge to step forward and help participate with this project. Several stages will be done, I will list them below.

Stage 1

Apply for funding to help with the Vision Quest Trail.
Start with a generic map, such as Garmin Map Source (or one similar) to show the areas we already know thru GPS tracks already obtained.
Enlist the help of outside sources to fill in as many areas as possible.

Stage 2

Fine tune any changes needed, such as road closures, bridges, deactivation's. This will be a funded application thru partners such as JOP and hopefully another soon to be named source (no sense in advertising at this point until after the application).
lay tracks on GIS style of maps for further mapping/work crews
When weather permits, ride the trails available to mark areas such as rest stops, fuel stops or detours for fuel, hotels possibly.

Stage 3

Apply for funding to build approved infrastructures. Then build them. Sign routes as well.
Provide GIS style of map for sale to general public (to be further discussed with all involved) or provide web map access.


This project will be several years in the making, but one has to start somewhere. There has been no discussion at this time in amongst committee members as to "this being an ATV BC trail" only. I think this would be something recognized as a "Joint Effort" between all those involved, and I myself would fight hard for this.

I know that there are multiple people on board with this thru ATV BC (as in non opposed the conception and planning so far) with numerous energetic dedicated personnel spear heading this cause.

I sincerely ask for your cooperation with this goal, as it is one that would benefit everyone. Large chunks of this are already done, the data just needs to be collected.

Any questions, please do not hesitate to ask, and I shall try my best to answer them.

Robert

[Don Frew]

Peter
There will be no problem in picking the torch as you say in the WEST KOOTENAYS. All i need to know is the time and i shall look after it at this end.

Don

[Peter Cunningham]

Woo hoo, that's awesome Don. Pencil in the 3rd week of July.

1/2 way, now we just need a taker from Okanagan

[twardrop]

Get a hold of the Penticton Club and I have already talked to John Gibson from Summerland. He says you can get from Penticton to Princeton. Sugget you contact him as well.

[calkaytor]

from princeton you can go over the poker ride trails and down into tullameen then over mt henning to coquihalla lakes then on to carolin mines near hope or over larson hill to boston bar to nahatlatch down to harrison east side

[Jeff Mohr]

That didn't take very long to connect the dots, sure is nice to see the information coming forward and the suggestions

[R Hergott]

Last night I spoke with a member of the Summerland club who does some GPSing. He was nice enough to show me several routes he has and I think he could find other trails. He is good at looking at satellite phots and finding routes thru google earth.

[Don Frew]

I'm sure if i talk to the Grandforks Club they could continue west after the W.K.A.T.V. Club

[Peter Cunningham]

Here's a potential route from Crowsnest Pass Alberta to Montrose BC via Elkford, Canal Flats, Cranbrook and Creston. I've provided the route in GPX (GPS Exchange format, readable by Garmin Mapsource and other GPS programs), and in KMZ (Google earth).

There's a few gaps that present a challenge. The Kootenay river west of Creston is very wide, the only option is to cross on the Hwy 3 bridge. The Columbia River near trail, all of the bridges are busy highway bridges. Highways, at present it's illegal to cross a highway with an ATV.
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Update, tracks accumulated and moved to first post in this thread