麻豆社区

Local trails in Whitehorse are getting a fresh look this weekend.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) of Canada is making their return to the territory after visiting last year, when they designated the Mountain Hero Trail in Carcross as one of the best in the nation.

The IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew will be leading a workshop on trail building and maintenance, alongside the Contagious Mountain Bike Club and the City of Whitehorse Trail Crew this weekend at Mt. Mac.

The IMBA Trail Care Crew program is a full-time, professional team of trail experts who travel across Canada leading workshops and performing maintenance on trails.

Their visit to Whitehorse is one of more than 20 stops scheduled for this year.

The Trail Care Crew focuses on sustainable trail building, making use of the natural landscape and causing minimal damage and impact to the land.

Beginning on Saturday at 9 a.m. the IMBA crew will be at the Wax Room at the Mount McIntyre Rec. Centre.

"In the morning we'll have some classroom sessions,鈥� said Jane Koepke, City of Whitehorse trail coordinator.

"We'll focus on building techniques and principles and then in the afternoon the group will move up to a trail that's in progress at Mt. Mac.鈥�

The single-track trail is currently under development by the city's trail crew.

On Sunday, the group will lead riders out to the new trail with a "Dirt n' Soul Freeride鈥� at Mount McIntyre beginning at 10 a.m.

Koepke said the city puts out a call for applications on trail work each year and this summer teamed up with Haines Junction and Carcross to bring the IMBA crew to town.

"We all put in applications together thinking that having a cluster of projects in the Yukon would help offset the travel costs and that seemed to do the trick,鈥� she said.

Koepke said the weekend's activities are open to the general public and not just limited to mountain bikers.

"Even though Contagious (Mountain Bike Club) is the user group that's hosting it, all members of the public are welcome. It doesn't matter if they are hikers, bikers, runners or snowshoers, everybody is welcome,鈥� she said.

The IMBA crew will also make a return to Carcross.

They were hoping to get a chance to ride Mountain Hero, but due to the mild temperatures so far this summer, there's still too much snow in the alpine areas.

The 28-kilometre trail climbs more than 1,300 meters in elevation and eventually flattens out in the alpine, providing a stunning view of the surrounding area and river system.

"It's quite a distinction for a trial,鈥� said Koepke, of the trail that takes about 5 hours to ride.

"That's the first time IMBA has put their stamp on the Yukon, and it's cool that this year they're following up with a trail crew care visit.鈥�

Only five other trails in Canada have earned the "epic鈥� title.