Conditions of trails in and around the city is at the centre of the latest feud between various trail users.

It all started with a post on a Facebook page dedicated to Jeep owners – “Jeepers” – in the territory and quickly escalated to accusations of trail destruction by various community members.

After going on the Livingston trail last Sunday, Jordan Rivest, a member of the Yukon Jeepers Facebook group, posted a message about doing a similar run on the Alligator trail.

The post prompted concerns by members of the Dog Powered Association on Facebook, as a race was scheduled for Jan. 17.

Rivest said as soon as he learned about it, he decided to postpone his trip.

At the same time, a picture posted on the Jeepers’ page from Nov. 3, 2015 showing two Jeeps stuck in a creek started making the round on social media.

“Now that is the picture of the Jeep destroying trails in the Yukon,” Rivest told the Star Thursday.

In the end, he and other Jeepers from the Facebook group are getting wrongfully blamed for damage others have caused, he said.

Comments on the Dog Powered Association page express concerns and anger over repeated damage done to trails used by mushers.

“We seem to be painted with this picture ‘these guys are responsible for everything.’”

While the Sunday run left some tracks in the snow, it didn’t damage the trail, Rivest said, except for when his Jeep became stuck in a creek because of thin ice.

He said he showed pictures of shallow ruts the Jeeps left to a musher, who didn’t see them as a problem.

Besides, the part of the Livingston trail he went on was already rutted up from the summer and the fall, he said.

That’s exactly the problem, said musher Gerry Willomitzer, who ran several Yukon Quests and Iditarods.

“They leave behind a rutted trail for the winter (and years to come), and if, for example, a bison hunter or trapper comes out of the bush with a heavy toboggan full of gear and meat, they have a hard time travelling,” he said.

“I don’t suggest the Jeepers have malicious motives, but they don’t think beyond their own horizon, and need to be educated about their actions.”

Willomitzer sent the Star pictures of a deeply-rutted trail, which he says is Livingston.

In some of the pictures, the ground is visible because of the sparse snow cover.

But Rivest insists he is respectful of the trail, unlike the “idiots” who damaged local cross country ski trails.

On Dec. 8, two trucks damaged 15 kilometres of trails at the Mount McIntyre ski club.

“We’re not making new trails, not cutting through bush.”

Rivest said he’s looking into whether it’s possible to hook a groomer to his Jeep to minimize the impact on the trails.

No rule against tire ruts

Within city limits, off-road vehicles (ORVs) like Jeeps can only go on motorized multi-use trails. But tire ruts ORVs can leave on these trails aren’t against the city’s parks and open space bylaw.

“Really, if there is operation of a vehicle causing damages to the vegetation or to trees, then that’s when we would step in,” said Douglas Hnatiuk, the manager of parks and community development at the city.

It comes down to common courtesy and communication, he said.

But the lack of a group representing ORV users is hindering that, Rivest notes, insisting he can only speak for himself.

The Facebook group is an informal way for people sharing the same hobby to meet and exchange tips on trails and routes, he said.

“If there is an organized group of off-road vehicles, I’d like to meet with them and discuss common interests and maintenance,” said Mark Daniel, president of the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA).

Daniel insists on the fact he and the KSA don’t have a problem with ORVs, calling it a “legitimate form of recreation.”

But ORVs represent the biggest safety and maintenance issue for the association.

“We spend the bulk of our time and money repairing damages done by highway vehicles,” he told the Star Thursday.

Education is key, he pointed out.

“We’re all about shared trail use, multi-use – (but) you can easily wreck trails with anything.”

Rivest agrees – communication would be welcomed, especially about planned dog races so ORV users can make sure they don’t interfere.

Ultimately, he should be able to use the trails like other users, he said.

“I do like to enjoy where we live; for me, that’s using my Jeep.”

New rule for trails outside city limits

The low snow cover allows for ATVs and ORVs that wouldn’t normally be on the trails at this time of the year.

“This has resulted in the potential for increased conflicts between recreational users,” said Johanna Smith, acting director of land management for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR).

Currently, there are no regulations governing ORV use outside of city limits, but EMR is working on some after public consultation completed last summer.

“The department is in the process of finalizing a What We Heard report which summarizes comments raised during the summer consultation on the discussion paper,” Smith said.

The report will be released later this month or in early February.

Only commercial use requires a permit from EMR to use trails for vehicles over five tons or to create trails wider than 1.5 metres.