• Trail:
  • Yer Mom (Hornby Island)
  • Status:
  • Significant Issue / Amber
  • Issue status:
    Assigned user:
  • Condition:
  • Dry -
  • Reporter Primary Activity:
  • Mountain Bike
Description:
A sign has been placed by parties unknown encouraging users not to ride the trail. (See picture). It would be interesting to know who was responsible and if the local mountain bike association is responding to this in a organized manner.

Also trail needs a little love: The first large skinny is starting to collapse, the first jump transition is getting quite eroded and potentially dangerous and the large step up feature is missing a board and needs other maintenance.

6 Comments

  • + 2
 Hi, I'm Doug Chinnery, Fire Chief for Hornby Island Fire Rescue and I am responsible for the signs with input from HIMBA, the Parks and Trail Committee, and the Comox Valley Regional District. Our small rural and remote volunteer fire department does, on average, one trail rescue a year. So far this year we have done three involved rescues in three weeks, each of which had serious and, in one case, life-altering injuries. It's worth noting that, in addition to trail rescues, we do all medical responses on Hornby. That's heart attacks, strokes, broken bones, bee stings, overdoses, etc. Last year we did over 180 calls which means that, on average, every other day several HIFR members are leaving work, dinner, kid's birthdays, or getting out of bed at 2 AM to help someone out. I'm very protective of not burning out our volunteer crew, so when we did over 500 person-hours of trail rescue in under three weeks, I needed to slow things down until we could understand what was happening. No trails are closed and only one gap jump has been closed until we figure out how to fix it. The signage is there to remind people that in the middle of a pandemic there is a lot more that goes into a trail rescue than there ever was when we were not worried about becoming infected. Your point of not signing the notice is well taken, and entirely my fault. I was intending to add all of the logos of the various agencies after I got their respective buy-ins. When that happened, I printed and laminated the signs and completely forgot the logos. Thanks for the feedback. Hope you had fun on our trails.
  • + 1
 Thanks for the reply. I am happy to hear these signs were legitimate: clear messaging during this pandemic is so important.

We have seen a huge uptick in the sheer number of riders in North Vancouver, including many new, inexperienced riders. I’m not sure if that has caused a significant uptick in the number of rescues here as well but I suspect it probably has.

Likely until Covid is over, outdoor activity will remain high. Certainly appropriate signage can help as long as it is specific, clear, and generally positive. Gap jumps such as the now closed jump on Devil’s Kitchen could have a simple warning signs placed ahead with signs directing most riders around.
  • + 1
 @Xorrox: I completely agree that signage for significant gaps or other high-consequence features is incredibly important. We identified that as an issue and when things calm down in the fall we will evaluate if the Devil's gap could remain as it is with better signage or if it needs a connecting ladder bridge. That particular gap has other things not in its favour like an awkward landing with a large cedar very close to the tranny and the fact that it's a pretty advanced stunt that is seemingly out of place on a blue trail.

Thanks again for your comments.
  • + 0
 I wish they had put their name on it if it was them. It is also strange that it was just put up 2 days ago. Has there been a sudden uptick in rescues on ‘yer mom’ and if so perhaps more signage is appropriate at whichever feature has been causing the most problems.
  • + 0
 Was there last week and was open. But heard there were a few mishaps in the last while. I personally seen a fellow rider down on the logride lower down on "logging" trail. (He was ambulanced out) . And there was a helivac on Friday 17th ,( spinal)
  • + 1
 I'm pretty sure HIMBA put this sign up.





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