MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Spring 2018

SPRING 2018 ML BLUE 65 words :: Colin Field The future of Three Stage is being decided in what seems the most unlikely of places: an office in Wasaga Beach. At the Ontario Parks regional headquarters, we watch a powerpoint presentation on the ecological significance of Pretty River Valley Provincial Park, home of the Three Stage trails. It’s Parks staff versus mountain bikers. Only there is no versus. In fact, the government officials and the mountain bikers want the same thing: a sustainable trail network that can continue to offer some of the best singletrack in the province. “There has been a lot of illegal trail building that has occurred throughout the years,” says Ben Dasti, the Assistant Park Superintendent at Wasaga Beach and Craigleith Provincial Parks. “In fact, it’s all technically illegal. We’re just trying to get a handle on it. We realize it’s there, it’s not going anywhere. It’s something that we don’t want to give the axe to and shut down, because it is beneficial to the community and Ontario Parks. But at the same time we just need to get ahold of it a little bit better.” So here’s the rub. The staff of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park isn’t only responsible for the park at the beach; it is also responsible for the management of Craigleith Provincial Park, Devils Glen Provincial Park, Nottawasaga Lookout Nature Reserve, Noisy River Nature Reserve, Duncan Escarpment Nature Reserve and Pretty River Valley Provincial Park. And it is the growing network of trails at Pretty River Valley that is being discussed.With field biologist (andOntario Parks Protected Areas Specialist) Ron Gould presenting to a number of interested parties, including Steve Varga, vice-president of the Collingwood Cycling Club, Jason Petznick and for all Progressing and Finessing the Three Stage Mountain Bike Trail Network Meagan Broughton getting deep in the woods of Three Stage. COLIN FIELD