RCMP investigate trail sabotage

Canmore RCMP are looking to the public for help finding an individual they believe sabotaged a local mountain biking trail.

Const. Sanjay Sachdev said a complaint has been made and he is investigating an incident along the Montane Traverse trail that happened in mid- to late October.

He said the most aggravating aspect of the complaint, which he observed along the trail descending on the west side of Silvertip Golf Course, was a piece of barbed wire that had been strung across the trail two feet off the ground.

Sachdev said the wire appeared to have been strung from a fence to a tree on the other side of the trail, but it had been dislodged and was lying on the ground when he observed and removed it.

“From our perspective, we promote a safe and healthy community and this now becomes a possibility of putting residents and visitors at risk or danger,” he said.

What is even more concerning is that further down the trail, in up to 10 different areas, either rocks or logs had been obviously moved to affect mountain bikers.

“These things were 100 per cent there to make you get off your bike or force you off,” Sachdev said. “There were seven to 10 areas where things were physically moved to create a (safety issue).”

While the RCMP have a description of a possible suspect, Sachdev said he has been hearing stories from mountain bikers in the community who have similar accounts.

He said if a person were found to be sabotaging a trail they could be charged with criminal negligence and if it causes bodily harm, the potential penalty is up to 10 years in jail. If sabotage happened to cause death, it could lead to a life sentence.

With residents, visitors, children and even local professional athletes riding on the trails, Sachdev said he is asking the public for any information that could assist in the investigation, and for all trail users to be vigilant.

Those with information can contact him at the Canmore detachment at 403-678-5519.

Local realtor and mountain biking enthusiast Rob Stevens experienced first-hand what changing a trail can do.

Five years ago, while riding near the Alpine Club, Stevens came around a corner quickly and encountered a pile of rocks which stopped his bike and sent him flying 20 feet through the air to land on his head, shoulders and back in a pile of rocks.

“I could have been really badly hurt – it was a near miss,” he said.

While an inch or two in either direction could have spelled disaster, Stevens said afterwards he came to the conclusion the pile of rocks were not there to cause harm.

“While I could have been hurt, I do not really think the intent of the person who put the rocks there was to hurt me,” he said. “I think they were trying to stop that particular part of the trail from widening.”

He said whoever moved the pile of rocks was not trying to be malicious, but did not fully understand the implications of their actions.

He added in many instances where bikers may encounter something on the trails it could be the same situation – people having a certain perspective on how people ride or how to change how they ride and thinking their actions are protecting a trail when instead it is putting people at risk.

With today’s mountain biking technology, Stevens said, bikes are faster and quieter and that changes the nature of a trail.

“A trail that worked 10 years ago does not work the same way with certain bikes today,” he said. “I do not see (sabotage) as an issue in this town. I think mountain bikers are well-liked, accepted and treated fairly.”

Rundle Mountain Cycling Club president Jeff Perron, however, said the RCMP investigation is the first he has ever heard of sabotage or tampering with mountain biking trails in and around Canmore and it surprises him.

“I have never seen situations to the extent that it would cause harm,” he said, adding he has been hearing only positive comments about Canmore and mountain biking.

Perron said with current positive messages about Canmore, mountain biking and the development of the Nordic Centre a lot of people are drawn here for the sport.

“It is worrying because Canmore is trying to bolster its image for this type of recreation and attract people from across Alberta and the world,” he said, adding the incident under investigation is not representative of Canmore’s recreational culture.

Bow Valley Mountain Biking Alliance board member Kevin Simpson said to his knowledge instances of tampering with trails has been happening for a number of years.

“It is very tough to put a finger on who is doing this,” he said. “Unless you are a mountain biker, it is hard to quantify the danger when someone does this.”

Anecdotally, these circumstances usually involve a pile of rocks or dead and downed tree trunks moved into the trail near a bend or curve where a mountain biker, travelling at a high speed, would have a tough time avoiding it.

Simpson acknowledged there are those who have issues with bikers on the roads and trails, but he said that sentiment is not as bad as it gets in major urban centres like Toronto and Calgary.

“There is a healthy relationship between all user groups, but there is always going to be one or two people that have an issue with a particular user group,” he said.

The local mountain biking group follows the International Mountain Biking Alliance, which has clearly defined guidelines for sharing and building trails.

“All trail users have to yield to each other,” he said, adding bikers yield to horses and hikers yield to bikers.

At the same time, mountain bikers are expected to use noise to indicate to other users they are on the trail.

“It is incumbent on all bikers to not only share the trail, but make sure their presence is known to other user groups,” Simpson said.

He added the RCMP investigation should be a concern to trail users as a situation where the public should be aware this is happening and keep an eye out, but it should not discourage people from using the trails.