"Open your eyes, we've already won the lottery."
-J. McCormick
There are different types of luck. There's money luck, and being lucky in love, but like everything else in life, the main luck is location, location, location.
During our stint on this planet we no doubt have the good fortune to stumble upon some absolutely drop-dead gorgeous scenery shots taken from some exotic location, whether it be on the telly, in the movies, magazines or even a slide show. While these to-die-for images dance on the screen, it's only a matter of time before the inevitable Squamolian grin can no longer be contained. The smile comes with knowing that as mind blowingly spectacular as the images are, one would only have to walk out our back door to see better.
Going one lucky roll further, there's also the issue of timing. When you're living in paradise, it's only a matter of time before progress paves it over. There are precious few on this earth who are lucky enough to experience a world destination resort community before the boom. Those are truly the blessed who are lucky enough to have lived back in the day when the only thing cheaper than the rent was the entertainment.
Now the KD days are gone and if we're to save the heart it's going to take money. This brings me to the most recent milestone in our community, with the District of Squamish stepping up to the plate with $15,000 for trail inventory.
Granted, the amount itself is peanuts, but those are very symbolic peanuts. It shows recognition that these trails do in fact generate millions of dollars in the community - heck, to many they are the community.
As for financial potential one only has to look at Kamloops where a bike camp has recently secured a lease agreement giving them more than 6,000 acres of forested lands in the heart of the interior. The second this news was released the area received the attention (read wallets) of a billion-dollar industry.
Locally our potential is ridiculous considering that our globally-recognized outdoor activity cred was built on nothing more than volunteers and word of mouth. That's cool, but not exactly the kind of clout and building materials needed to keep it alive.
Recently, extensive and surprising logging has lead to many inaccessible trails and a gut-sinking feeling of hopelessness at such a harsh reminder of how little power the trails have over those that can't see them. With the university, IPP hydro lines and housing developments, these days each trip into the woods seems to bring new surprises and as much as it's our lives, it's not our property. Thankfully our kick-ass community includes landowners who understand the importance of the trails. We're now working together and although at times it's horribly slow, it is progress and it is being made.
One thing's for sure: to save Squamish's soul, from here on in we have to rely on more than just luck.
