Building the Log Train Trail

According to Frank Stini, the idea started about 11 years ago. He was asked by horseback riders to explore the possibility of finding an unused road they could use. Developments had squeezed them out of places to go. The opportunities were considered. They could start out with the longest road, the old railway grade, where the railroad had extended along the Beaufort Range until 1953. 
Research was done in newspapers, and by the Regional District. By 1984, The Regional District said that the old grade should be used for recreation. 
Frank made contact with The Cottage Industry. They arranged for grants to employ young people on social assistance. So work was started to build the trail. A year later, he went to the Rail and Trail Conference in Kelowna. A new department had been established called “Property Management,” and Frank was told that you would have to have the Regional District apply for a lease. 
The Regional District decided to do so, and the trail eventually became a Regional Linear Park. 
Many arrangements were made for scrounging materials to improve the trail in the Park, for building necessary bridges, putting in innumerable culverts, and cleaning up overgrown sections. Work bees were organized. Local contractors donated time and trucks to haul gravel. Highways gave gravel. 
MacMillan Bloedel donated gravel from Cherry Creek. Dennis Francoeur loaded 8 trucks of it in one day. 
The Somass Mill donated a few loads of used pilings. A deal was made with the City of Port Alberni for buying up all their surplus cement pipes. About 4 bedloads of the pipes were delivered to the Highways Work Yard, and the pipes were then taken out to the trail. 
A loop road was built as an equestrian trail at the application of the horse owners. The Ministry of Forests gave permission for this end trail over Rogers Creek. Using cedar logs that had been washed down the Creek, the building crew voluntarily pulled out the timbers, and took them to the Work Yard. 
Gary Swann and Frank prepared these timbers for the bridge. 
Later, Herb Simms, who had helped from day one, got the timbers down to Rogers Creek, taking them through private property. With the help of volunteers the timbers were placed across the Creek. 
The work was finished by young people who had taken the Horizon Management course. They had had no experience whatever, and had to be shown how to raise a timber. 
The whole trail building was a real learning experience for a lot of appreciative young people, first from the Cottage Industries, then from the Environmental Youth Team Interim Program. Two grants for the team were provided by the Ministry of Environment, administered by the Alberni Environmental Coalition and the Pacific Rim Tourism Association over a two year period. 
The Ministry of Forests and the Regional District provided assistance with mapping and technical advice. It was agreed from the start that this Linear Park was for the use of non-motorized traffic only, for the safety of legitimate users. 

recorded by Sue Frazer, (secretary), Alberni Environmental Coalition, fax 723-4666) Apr.7, 2000.