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Smithers mountain bike trails closed due to wet weather

Recreation Sites and Trails BC is enforcing Bluff trails closure.
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(File photo)

Although local mountain bike trails always receive high marks, Smithers and area enthusiasts will have to be patient a little longer after the wet weather conditions we have encountered recently.

Leanne Helkenberg of the Smithers Mountain Bike Association says that poor conditions have led to the trails being closed to present and riders should keep checking to find if they have improved enough to be rideable.

Recreation Sites and Trails BC has officially closed the Bluff Recreation Site to all users, and will be enforcing the formerly voluntary closure that some were ignoring.

The winter and spring weather conditions have meant that using them too early might lead to conditions later in the summer that would mean that expensive maintenance work would be necessary.

Later this spring, McBike Sports hopes to be hosting a couple of events.

Peter Krause of McBike said that the Upchuck event was hosted by COB in the past but since they have ended their business, McBike would take it on. The climb is planned for June 11.

He described it as a challenging hill climb that took about three times as long to go up as to come down. In the past, 25 to 30 people have participated. While the name of the event may be daunting, the event has been described as fun and participants look forward to it as part of the spring and summer biking season.

It will be a busy weekend for bike enthusiasts. The day before the Upchuck event, the Tour de Smithers will be held. The road biking event has been held for more than 30 years.