Young volunteers finally got to ride a trail they had been working on since last summer at the Boer Mountain bike park in 亚洲天堂 Lake, B.C.

On June 26, 2013, Kevin Eskelin, district recreation officer with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) came to 亚洲天堂 Lake for the inaugural run of the new trail.

The mountain bike trail system at Boer Mountain in 亚洲天堂 Lake, B.C. continues to grow and serve as draw for keen mountain bikers as word gets out about what 亚洲天堂 Lake has to offer. After the completion and opening of the Kager Lake camping area last year, 亚洲天堂 Lake became a complete, one-stop destination for avid downhill and cross-country riders.

鈥淰isitors from all over our region, province and even international visitors continue to provide very positive feedback regarding both the quality and quantity of trails available,鈥� said Dawn Stronstad, a local forester and volunteer with the 亚洲天堂 Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA). 鈥淐ompletion of the drive-in campsites has provided the last piece of the 鈥榟ub puzzle鈥� in providing accommodation in close proximity to world-class trails.鈥�

The newest trails, 鈥楥hild Labour鈥� and 鈥楾he Other Woman鈥�, have been under construction since last summer. Child Labour includes a wood bridge and ramp which allows one trail to cross another.

Although much of the trail work labour was volunteered by BLMBA members and a strong contingent of Lakes District Secondary School students (hence the moniker, 鈥楥hild Labour鈥�), any built-up structures - technical trail features (TTFs) - are first approved by a district recreation officer through the Ministry of Forest, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations Recreation Sites and Trails Branch.

鈥淸The] BLMBA commits to regular inspection of the features and maintaining them to standard,鈥� explained Stronstad. 鈥淚nstallation of such features requires trailhead signage (including level of difficulty), [and] risk management signage at key locations.鈥�

With the completion of these new trails, Boer Mountain is now home to 11 downhill trails totalling more than 20 kilometres of riding, and 17 cross-country trails combing to give more than 30 kilometres of riding.

With more than fifty kilometres of riding availalbe, the 亚洲天堂 Lake trails are the most extensive in Northern B.C.

A third is expected to be completed later this Fall. Called the 鈥榚pic鈥� for now, the trail will be 13.5 kilometres of single track connecting the bike park to the top of Boer Mountain.

So far - half of it is complete - the trail is very ridable in both directions, with fast, flowing sections interspersed by short and challenging technical climbs.

Little more than a month remains before the start of the sixth annual Big Pig Mountain Biking Festival. Last year, the event brought out 76 riders for the main events, and 32 kids who entered mini-events.

This year鈥檚 race on Aug. 16-18, will include the always expanding cross-country endurance challenger, 鈥楧ante鈥檚 Inferno鈥�, coming in at 70 kilometres in length this year.

In a change of heart, organizers will this year allow a teamwork option if a full 70 kilometre push seems intimidating. Details of this years event and races are available at http://www.burnslaketrails.ca/index.php/big-pig-bike-fest.