Ingram River - former Bowater Lands

[supercraig]

Ingram River Off-Road Cycling Association

Ingram River Off-Road Cycling Association There is an ongoing effort by the St. Margarets Bay Stewardship Association (SMBSA) to have the Ingram River Watershed portion of the Western Crown Lands designated as a Wilderness Area. You might know this area as the location of the Bowater trails. This is currently crown land and only a small portion is subject to any protections from logging or development. The SMBSA has expressed interest in working with a cycling association to develop cycling routes in the area. Currently there is no local cycling association for them to partner with. Luke Downing and I met on a ride on the Bowater trails over the holiday break. In conversation we discovered that we were both of the same mindset and felt that an association was needed to represent all of the bicycle (mtb and gravel) riders who like having fun on two wheels in the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area, lest we lose access to the area in the future. With this in mind we’ve had multiple discussions over the past month about the possibility of making a trail association work. Today we made a decision to form the Ingram River Off-Road Cycling Association. The association’s mission is to act as representatives of the local cycling community during the development of the Ingram River Wilderness Area and beyond. We’ve identified five primary goals for the association: Promote the sport of cycling, and the development of cycling infrastructure within the Ingram River Wilderness Area. Provide cycling related guidance to the SMBSA. Develop and maintain a sanctioned single-track trail network in the Ingram River Area. Assist in the protection of local wilderness. Provide opportunities within the sport for area youth. We are currently seeking some more volunteers to help develop the association. If you are interested in helping out please reach out to Luke or myself.