Molybdenite Ridge

Comments  (6)

• 
  Amadreas Feb 16, 2020

  Good information and great photos. Thanks

• 
  jdstruthers May 10, 2020

  When does the trail open, or at least, when does the snow melt and the trail become drivable?

• 
  Nathan Woods May 10, 2020

  There are 2 things you need to be aware of before planning the trip. Snow, and Grizzlies. While the snow may come off, it remains a grizzly protected area until about August...

• 
  Steve White 1 Oct 27, 2020

  Road was gated when we arrived Oct 3rd 2020. There was a homemade sign that read "Emergency Wildlife Closure Until Nov 30th All Motorized Rec Use Prohibited ! Please contact 250-256-4136 for any concerns" I checked with FrontcounterBC and they are not aware of any closures by any level of government in that area. We chose to abide by the sign and went to Downtown Creek FSR instead. Not sure who put the gate and sign up and no one would pick up at the number provided. Hopefully this gets sorted out one day so first timers can get a chance to get it out.

• 
  Nathan Woods Oct 27, 2020

  Hey Steve, this closure was well published, including this source material found at:
  
  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3253535344706377&id=756720071054596

• 
  Nathan Woods Oct 27, 2020

  Texas Creek, Molybdenite Ridge closure.
  
  I spoke with several government representatives in the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) about the closure of Texas Creek FSR by local First Nations.
  
  Many departments within FLNRORD were aware of and shared concerns with local First Nations in regards to recreation in this particular range for 6 or 7 years and the impact this recreation may have on local grizzly populations and recovery. The wildlife branch tends to agree that action needs to be taken to protect these grizzlies in this area but other portions of the ministry perhaps are not in agreement at this time. Recreation Sites and Trails appear to be not in the loop at the time of closure. Government officials are in constant conversation with First Nations leadership on this issue to find common ground and open access.
  
  The grizzlies in this area are covered under federal Species at Risk Act legislation. I am not fluent in what this means on the ground at this time.
  This closure was enacted without provincial authority through long term frustration with lack of action on protecting grizzly bear habitat.
  
  So, what does this all mean for access?
  
  In the short term, we need to abide by the First Nations closure for several reasons. One, to build our reputation as an organization that can be respected by everyone, First Nations included! Two, that our membership continue to recreate responsibly and respectfully on public lands that are traditional territories of First Nation(s).
  
  Since the Chilcoten Decision in 2014 granting aboriginal title to 1900 square kilometres of land in the Chilcoten area, government, resource industries and recreation tourism have been struggling to figure out what this means for our collective future.
  
  In my view, we, as adventure travellers, should probably return to a previous tradition of paying respect to local communities by stopping by, saying hello, announcing our intentions of where we are travelling to and listening and respecting the thoughts of the local communities and considering their advice. In this vein, we are working on a protocol to guide our members on these contacts. EDITED TO ADD: be aware that this year during COVID, this contacting local communities in person is not a good idea. Please respect community closures.
  
  None of this is straight forward and simple! We have thousands of people in government for 150 years, thousands in industry for about the same time trying to figure out this issue with not a whole lot to show for it. Never the less, this is what we, The Four Wheel Drive Association of BC, are tackling. An extremely complex and sometimes volatile issue and we are doing so as respectfully as possible while asserting our own rights as citizens of British Columbia.
  
  I ask you to respect this First Nations closure for the duration of this year. If you feel you must access Moly this year, write to the local First Nations, introduce yourself, announce your desire, request permission and be respectful please. Mention that you are a member of the 4WDABC and what that means in regards to 'pack it in and pack it out', environmental sensitivity when we travel, as slow as possible and as fast as necessary and so forth.
  
  In the meantime, we will attempt to open a respectful dialogue with the local First Nations, listen to their concerns, values, needs and wants and move on from there into our collective uncertain future.
  
  Thank you all and safe travels during these unprecedented times.
  
  Kim Reeves,
  
  President, 4WDABC.

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