| PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO RIDE 
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150 Edwards Rd
Kelowna Yamaha - many thanks for the excellent portable Yamaha generator. Without it, we would be working at 1/4 speed! SPOT Handheld Satellite Communication & Safety Device
Pacific Rim Equipment, located in Penticton B.C. We have been supplying construction equipment to the Okanagan Valley since 1989. The staff at Pacific Rim Equipment has the experience to supply you the high quality equipment your construction project needs, whether it be excavators, compactors, wheel loaders or more! Pacific Rim Equipment offers both sales and rentals of many types of construction equipment. Authorized Dealer of Yanmar Products and Sakai Compaction Products
One of four locations to conveniently serve your tire requirements in Kelowna area. For fast, friendly and efficient service, give us a call. We're situated on Industrial Road, just off Highway #97 south of the Kelowna bridge. We have easy access and the coffee's always on. We offer more than competitive pricing for all your tire requirements from passenger vehicle, light truck, commercial trucks and on or off road applications, to motor homes, ATV's and utility trailers, we have what your need and we want to help. |
| Bear Creek Updates | ||||||
Bear Creek OHV Trail Pass When the Bear Creek OHV project first commenced, the eventual funding for the day to day expenses, and minor/major capital improvements for the area, were planned to have come from two probable future sources:
Neither of these sources has proved to be a legal/financial reality at this time, much to the frustration of those working to make those 2 systems the perfect support system for all Riding Areas in B.C. OTRA knew that a reduction in funding from Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) would occur in 2012, with no further funding guaranteed past the fall of 2012 as RSTBC is unable to focus on one project for overly long. In the Fall of 2011 OTRA made application to BC Gaming. While we knew it was a long shot we were, nonetheless, very disappointed to be advised that the reason we weren't eligible is that "the Branch does not provide funding for motorized sport organizations". Clarification on this rationale is being requested but the reality is that no funding will be forthcoming. As the “model” project for Managed OHV use, all services and capital development at Bear Creek have been of the highest standards so that we could be viewed as the potential ideal standard for development of future Trail Systems in the Province and Canada. While this is admirable it has also meant that development has not gone as quickly as we all naively envisioned it would when first begun. The area still requires much further infrastructure development before our current funding from Recreation Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) is concluded. Current Club revenue sources cannot meet the ideal operational needs so OTRA has been urged to work toward other, more permanent sources of funding, such as a Bear Creek OHV Trail Pass. While OTRA would certainly prefer to not have to implement a pass the reality is that regular Club Funds alone will never be able to meet the standards or scope aimed for, or required, at Bear Creek. In May of 2012 a Bear Creek OHV Trail Pass will be implemented for those who use the area, much along the lines of other types of Recreation Sites in the Okanagan Valley. Bear Creek OHV Trail Passes would automatically be included in OTRA Memberships and you can purchase your Membership online at http://www.okanagantrailriders.com/members/index.htm or at the Aspen Trailhead at Bear Creek. For those who prefer not to purchase an OTRA Membership, a $10 Day Pass will be available at the Area. Some Dealerships may also participate in Pass and Membership Sales, more information on the specific Dealerships will be forthcoming. For those who have already purchased memberships you will be receiving your stickers shortly. We appreciate your future support of the new system and realize that some of you may not recognize the value for yourselves but hopefully will recognize the value in having at least one area in the Valley that is geared to those who would like to have a more family and user-friendly experience while riding. As well, hopefully you will recognize the need to support working towards supporting our riding areas in general. Bear Creek Maps Update The new 2011 Maps are now available for downloading and printing in your home. Or load it up in your iPhone and take it with you!
Many thanks for Kelowna Honda Powerhouse for providing 2 new quads to make our trail building possible. Without these quads we would not be able to move our team into place each day!
2010 Implementation Summary Released
Winn Rentals Major Sponsor for Bridge Crossing Winn Rentals has stepped up to donate $4000.00 in equipment rental to assist OTRA in constructing a sustainable trail through the Bald Range Creek basin. The equipment included 2 Bobcats and a packer used to harden this trail. This corridor trail is important as off-road recreationalists can now travel between the upper and lower staging areas without going onto the Bear FSR. OTRA President Ken Umbarger states that the completion of this crossing provides riders a safe alternative and addresses water quality concerns for some 12,000 Westside residents. This is truly a Winn-Winn. Thanks Winn rentals for this very generous donation!! Bear Creek Update - The Bridge is in! Finally after 3 years of one fight after another motorized recreation has prevailed. Our bridge is finished. It shouldn’t of been this hard or expensive but it is done and done well. A heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped make this happen. Many of you donated time or money or both. Some of you put a good deal of faith in OTRA. Some of you put your careers and political capital at risk. All of you supported this cause. This is a beautiful example that we are a legitimate activity that can coexist with the environment.. Please help to insure we use this momentum to manage our chosen recreation in a sustainable way going forward. Regards, Ken Umbarger
Spark Arrestors & Sound! A reminder that Spark arrestors are required year-round and sound must be at 96 db or less. Education has been underway at Bear Creek for almost 2 years now and the time has come to comply. Non-compliant riders will be sent home and could be issued citations or orders to vacate. Please help your sport by being responsible and legal! Bear Creek OHV update - Sept 11: Lower Pit Hillclimbs closed Due to new trail construction in the lower pit area we have closed off all of the hill climbs in the lower pits. The soil was so eroded and had created so much displacement that the user created trails were no longer sustainable. Hill climbs have been a number one source of negative public attention and have created huge sediment problems for us. Please respect these closures and enjoy the new trails. We will be working hard to put in more new trails and once we get out of the main staging area we will be able to put in trails with more difficulty and more technical aspects to them. Thank you, Bear Creek OHV update - Aug 26: Bear Creek OHV now open! Although the area is reopened we’d like to remind people that the fire is still in the mop-up stage. We’d ask that riders:
Some other general reminders for summer riding:
Thanks to all for their cooperation during the closure and we’d ask for your continued cooperation during the reopening period Helpful links: Fire Hazard Index ratings (for the Kamloops Fire Centre) http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/DgrCls/index.asp?Region=5 Forest Restrictions: http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp Bear Creek OHV update - Aug 21: Area still closed We would ask that people stay patient a little longer and stay out of the Bear Creek OHV area. Please respect that it has been closed in an effort to safeguard those working the Terrace Fire so that they can get us back in as soon as possible. Bear Creek OHV update - Aug 15: 2 Days of rain! We would like to remind everyone that the Bear Creek OHV Area remains closed due to the high levels of Fire Crew and Equipment activity in the area as well as due to potential risks from fire damage in areas. Please stay out of the entire area until advised that it has been reopened . Let the Fire Crews continue their work as quickly and safely as possible. Bear Creek OHV update - Aug 6 New Terrace Fire map online For the most up-to-date Fire information online you can go to: www.castanet.net or www.bcwildfire.ca The Bear Creek OHV area is closed at this time and road blocks are in place. Please continue to stay out of the area. A further reminder that the BC Forest Service is requesting that, due to severe wildfire risk, people to stay out of backcountry regions. Campfire bans are in place throughout much of BC and definitely within the Kamloops Fire Centre (our region). A zero tolerance stance is being taken on campfires: http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-48701--.htm#48701 Helpful links: Forest Restrictions: Bear Creek OHV update - Aug 2 Terrace fire grows to 7,000 hectares Bear Creek OHV update - July 30 AREA CLOSED We would ask that people stay out of the Bear Creek OHV area and respect that it has been closed in an effort to safeguard those working the Terrace Fire and to further protect our riding area during a time of high Fire Hazard rating. More information will be on this web page as it becomes available. July 29, 2009- Terrace Mountain Fire / Bear Creek OHV Access update The best place to get the most current information on the Fire is at www.bcwildfire.ca (Terrace Mountain) or at www.castanet.net We do not yet have detailed information as to the exact impact of the Terrace Mountain Fire on the Bear Creek OHV area but we believe that a portion of the northern boundary will likely have suffered some damage. We will pass on further information when it is received. There is currently a Ministry of Forest road block on Bear Main, as this is one of the roads used to access the Fire area. Forestry Officers are stopping people to determine their need to go into the area. They would prefer to not have riders and users in the area due to the Fire equipment and worker traffic on the access roads and also because of the Fire Hazard conditions. These concerns combine together to create a potentially extreme risk situation in the area. We would advise riders that Forest Use restrictions may be implemented. If a closure restriction is implemented, please respect and support those who have made this serious decision. We would highly recommend that you do not make plans to use the Bear Creek OHV Area without first insuring that it is open for use. A formal closure would be reported to us and we will send out the information and post on this website as soon as possible. An important reminder that there's a campfire ban in our area: If you see anyone with a campfire please make sure they understand that there is a ban in place and aid them to put out the fire and/or report their activity immediately by calling: 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellular phone. Some other general reminders for summer riding:
Helpful links: Forest Restrictions: Thanks for your anticipated cooperation. Ride and play responsibly and protect our riding areas and Parklands! July 11, 2009 - Trail Patrol Update - Training Next Weekend! We are having our first trail patrol training next weekend July 18 and 19 and will be meeting at the Lower Pits at 9am until approximately 1pm Saturday and Sunday. One important aspect to trail patrolling is documentation and monitoring. If we haven't documented our efforts they don't carry much weight. The documentation we have been doing is working greatly in our efforts to let folks know what we are doing and how successful our efforts have been to date. We will be reviewing what needs to be documented with every encounter. Successful encounters are essential to our program and to the steep educational curve we have put the riders at Bear Creek through. Learning the technique to turn every encounter into a positive one is another aspect of our training. What messages are the most important to give to the riders when you meet them will also be covered . We will also set up parameters regarding how far to take the encounter and when to step back. We will talk techniques and process and forms on Saturday and will practice encounters on Sunday. We want every volunteer to feel comfortable in the Trail Patrol program. Trail Patrol shirts will be available. The recreation site at Bear Creek has undergone recent changes. Cattle fencing has been installed around the Sand Hill and in the area of Bald Range Creek between the upper and lower pits. While it is currently closed to our use, our hope is that we will have a corridor trail and bridge over Bald Range Creek constructed and installed this season. June 23, 2009 - Watch a movie presentation on the goals of the Okanagan Trail Riders Association in Bear Creek. June 19, 2009 - Letter of support for the OTRA efforts from Doug Krogel, Regional Manager, Integrated Land Management Bureau June 17, 2009 - The OTRA crew started trail work June 9th, with brushing of cleared routes including a major corridor route out of JackPine Flats. By the end of the season we should have three trails accessing Jack Pine Flats, effectively moving much use out of the existing impacted areas.
We have the archeological assessment with Westbank First Nations scheduled for July 2-3. Once we have clearance the crew will be able to start trail building some of our flaglines. We have ongoing work to complete several large funding grants totaling $100 to $300 and up for work to be done this year. As always, our efforts in coordination with Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts, to rehabilitate the last 30 years of unmanaged recreation and provide a world class riding system are at the forefront of our efforts. June 2009 - the new maps are now available for download from our site in different PDF printable formats! See the Maps page to view and download. May 2009 - A great new map has been created of the Bear Creek Recreation Site. Called the 2009 Interim OHV Trail System Map, it was created by members working with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts. Get one today. They are posted at the two kiosks at the Lower and Upper pit areas. The map was funded by a grant from the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV). In addition to the map itself of some of the trails, there are sections on Rider Etiquette, Signing of the new trails, Safety, Camping, Fires & rules for Group Gatherings. Fall 2008 - An Educational Brochure has been created that provides Bear Creek OHV users with information on some of the details that are needed to make Bear Creek a sustainable and enjoyable riding area and to protect its future. Please take a moment to read through the brochure! June 7, 2008 - We now have a crew dedicated to posting our new Required to Ride signage and after the Sweco training they will be rehabbing blown out trails and constructing new ones. Terry Burke and Mike Billany have been putting in full days working at Bear Creek using the Yanmar and Dick and Joani Dufourd have been doing recon to link trails, close unsustainable ones and creating difficulty levels along with some ATV trails. We put out a press release that sparked an interview with the Westbank Weekly. The article should have been in the Sunday paper along with pictures of the work being done at Bear Creek.
May 1, 2008 - This year the OTRA has purchased some heavy equipment to start the trail regeneration and maintenance. Our goal is to modify the trails so they are properly engineered to have the minimum impact on the environment while still making them fun and challenging. With 35,000 hectares, we can do it! In the past, Bear Creek has been a party place and a dumping ground. It is now our responsibility to manage it for our use and our children's use. Here are the first three pieces of equipment that the OTRA has purchased for the job: This is the same model of SWECO that the OTRA purchased, but this picture was taken in the USA. Not the small size, rugged design and fully adjustable blade.
Shown below is the OTRA equipment trailer with the brand new Yanmar Excavator and the used Yanmar Carrier. Those trails will be rebuilt like we have never seen with proper drainage and long term planning!
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Bear Creek
Educational Brochure
Other Links:
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts