What began as an act of civil disobedience by renegade mountain biker Ron Cron - who in May 2009 was caught building an illegal trail called “Original Sin” on Crane Mountain near Bigfork - has since evolved into a volunteer service agreement with the Flathead National Forest to maintain and improve existing trails.

But a conservation group charges that much of Cron’s trail work exceeds the scope of mere “maintenance,” and accuses Forest Service officials of turning a blind eye to a growing network of unauthorized “extreme” downhill bike trails.

Keith Hammer, chair of the Swan View Coalition, says the mountain biking community has been building unauthorized ramps and jumps along the Beardance Trail above Flathead Lake for years, as well as a network of unauthorized downhill bike trails on the north side of Crane Mountain above Ferndale.

“The construction of these unauthorized ramps, jumps and trails is in violation of the law and they must be removed,” Hammer said.
The trails serve as an example of another multi-use area being assaulted with jumps and stunt features, Hammer said, similar to the controversial user-built trails on Spencer Mountain in Whitefish.

Read the full Missoulian article.