BC Timber Sales plans on leaving a buffer around the TNT biking trail when it logs at Mount Macpherson next year.
The logging plans were revealed by the Revelstoke Cycling Association in an e-mail to its members that was also posted to the RCA website. The e-mail, signed by RCA president Keith McNab, included an image from BC Timber Sales outlining the area that will be logged. It shows that a section of trees around the TNT and Ridgewalk trails will be left standing to protect the trails.
"Hopefully the buffer that will be left is large enough that when blowdown occurs the trails will not be significantly impacted," wrote McNab.
The Review initially reported on BCTS' plans for further logging at Macpherson last year. The initial proposal involved logging about 35 hectares of forest around the Main Loop Nordic trail, the TNT mountain bike trail, and a block next to the Nordic lodge. The latter block has since been removed from the plans.
The planned logging of Mount Macpherson has been controversial, with 150 people attending an open house to hear about the proposal, and more than 1,700 people signing an online petition asking for a moratorium on logging until a land-use plan is developed for the area.
Steve Thomson, the Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations has twice rejected requests for a new land-use plan for the area.
Despite protests, the logging is still scheduled to go ahead next year. BCTS has completed their timber cruise of the area, and after meeting with the RCA board in the spring, presented their detailed plans to the board earlier this month.
The revised plans include a bigger buffer around the TNT trail. BCTS has also committed to re-building the Madmen's Step trail, and building a new connector trail.
The RCA said they will be entering into an agreement with BCTS to meet regularly to discuss future logging and trail building plans, "so each group will know what the other is planning as far ahead of possible."
Neither McNab nor BCTS could be reached by press time for interviews about this development.