Inside Hope’s First Blood Mountain Bike Trail: An Interview with Trail Builder Thomas Schoen
A thrilling new era of mountain biking is about to begin in Hope, BC, as the highly anticipated First Blood Trail nears its grand opening. What started as an ambitious vision from the Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association is now a reality, with riders expected to hit the trail by late spring. Set against Hope’s rugged and breathtaking backdrop, the trail offers a perfect blend of technical challenges, stunning views, shuttle access, and an old-school riding experience—promising an unforgettable adventure for seasoned mountain bikers. But turning this vision into reality was no small feat. Enter Thomas Schoen, a trailblazer in both the literal and figurative sense. His trailbuilding company, First Journey Trails, played a key role in making this project come to life. We sat down with Schoen to discuss this innovative trail, how it will redefine mountain biking in Hope, and what riders can expect from First Blood.
- What was your initial reaction when you were approached about the First Blood Trail project in Hope?
“When the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association reached out to me, I was really thrilled. I’ve been living in Williams Lake for 30 years now, and I drive through Hope all the time—both for work and for leisure. I can’t even count how many trips I’ve made through the Lower Mainland. But the thing is, there wasn’t any riding in Hope. At least, not any legal trails. There were a couple of rogue-built trails, but they were either unfinished or way too extreme for most riders—basically expert-only stuff hidden in random spots. For people like me, there was no place to pull over, spend a couple of hours, and get a solid ride in. If you wanted that, you had to drive south to Chilliwack, Abbotsford, or even further. So when Hope reached out, I thought, that is absolutely fabulous that they want to start getting something going there.”
- What makes the new trail stand out from others? Why should mountain bikers be excited about it?
“I think a lot of the mountain bike community is already buzzing with excitement, especially with the trail opening this year. There’s been a lot of hype building up to the construction, and it’s only growing. What makes the First Blood trail stand out is that it’s a hand-built black downhill trail, which is pretty rare. Every twist and turn is carefully crafted to take full advantage of the natural terrain, making it completely unique. The way it weaves through the landscape, the use of natural features, and the way we’ve worked with the rock and terrain will make it feel old-school. It’ll definitely stick in riders’ memories as a one-of-a-kind trail.
As builders, mountain bike clubs, and trail user organizations, we don’t often get the funding opportunity to work on this type of trail because we usually try to cater to a wider range of riders. That’s why we have seen so many blue, machine-built flow trails popping up, especially over the last decade. But things are starting to change. Bikes are getting better every year, ridership is growing, and more people are levelling up their skills. More riders are taking courses and really putting effort into improving. So, there’s definitely a need for more advanced trails. Normally, I’d advise against building a trail that only 25-30% of riders can tackle, but in this case, since Hope is new to the mountain bike world, I think it’ll be a big draw and give the area a real opportunity to grow.”
- Why was this trail rated as a black diamond, and do you think it’s suitable for intermediate riders?
“We rated it a black trail because of the steepness and some exposed sections. That said, if the trail is well-maintained and conditions are good, an intermediate rider could definitely give it a go. There’s nothing that’s overly intimidating; the rating comes more from the terrain than anything else.
When we rate a trail, we have to consider it from the perspective of someone who will be riding it in its entirety. I’m not the best rider out there, but I’d still attempt a double black trail, knowing I’d have to get off the bike in certain sections. Many riders, including myself, my partner, and some of my friends, don’t mind that—we’re fine with walking past features that intimidate us.
As planners and builders, we can’t base the rating on whether someone might get off their bike though, so black it was. If you’re an intermediate rider, you can definitely give this trail a try. Just keep in mind that there are steeper sections and some exposure, so you might want to push your bike through certain parts, but overall, it’s rideable.”
- Will there be beginner or intermediate trails added to the network?
“Let me start by saying, this was by far the hardest trail my company has ever built—hands down, the most costly one too. We had days where a crew of 6-8 highly skilled builders could barely get a few meters done, but that’s mostly due to the challenges in the upper and mid-sections of the trail.
That said, in the lower part of the hillside, within the community forest, we’ll definitely be able to build more blue trails. Green trails will be tougher, but we might be able to sneak in one or two, and that’s all in our trail master plan. We’ve already identified other trails, and two local builders have already put in a blue trail. It’s a bit technical for a blue, but still very rideable for a lot of people.
The big thing now is that with the top-to-bottom trail in place, we’ve got way more options. If funding comes through, and it’s anywhere near what we got last year, we could build more trails off of this one, start creating figure-eight loops, and connect more trails. With the signature trail now in place, it opens up a lot of possibilities for the future.
So, to answer your question, yeah, I definitely see more trails coming. But it’s never going to be a beginner-friendly network, just because of the terrain. It’s more geared toward intermediate and advanced riders, but we’re definitely aiming for a diverse network within that.”
- How does the terrain compare to other riding areas like the North Shore, Okanagan, and Kootenays?
I’d say the terrain is somewhat similar to the North Shore but without the technical features like skinnies and ladder bridges. The riding here definitely has that steep grade, rock slabs, and exposed sections, which is why we rated it a black trail. Compared to other areas in the province, it’s most similar to the North Shore, maybe a few trails on Vancouver Island, but it really stands out as unique. There are some trails in the Kootenays, like in Nelson, that might have a similar steepness and features like root drops, but you can’t compare it to the Okanagan, BC interior, or the Cariboo region. I think that’s one of the things that makes Hope so appealing. For mountain bikers who travel for long weekends and riding trips, Hope offers something different, and it’s a great new destination.
- What innovative techniques were used in building this trail?
“Building this trail was seriously tough and took a lot of time. I brought in some of the best builders in the province, and even they struggled with it. The terrain had many pinch points and large boulders that we couldn’t bypass. We couldn’t use excavators or heavy equipment because the terrain was too steep and unstable, so we had to get creative. We ended up buying these cordless, heavy-duty rock drills and metal wedges to split the big boulders blocking the trail. These rocks were huge—like, if we didn’t move them, the whole project was done.
So, we drilled dozens and dozens of holes into these massive boulders. The process was slow and painstaking, requiring precision and patience. Once the holes were drilled, we used heavy-duty metal wedges, which we hammered into the holes. Each wedge was carefully tapped, one after the other, until—after hours of work—the rock finally split in half. Then, we repeated the process to break it down into smaller pieces, making it possible to roll it down the hill or move it with hand winches.
It was incredibly time-consuming and expensive, but it was absolutely necessary to make the trail happen. This was something new for my crew, and for me too—it was a cool experience. As riders make their way down, they’ll pass these giant split boulders and realize how much work went into creating these features. It’ll definitely be a cool experience for riders—seeing these massive rocks split in half and knowing that someone actually worked on it to make the trail what it is today. It’s something you don’t see every day, and it adds a special touch to the trail that makes it stand out.”
- How do you balance excitement with environmental sustainability?
“Environmental sustainability was a huge concern here. There’s so much water here, and the trail is so steep that it’s tricky not to accidentally create a creek where there shouldn’t be one. You’re building a trail, but it’s easy to end up creating a creek bed instead. So, we had to focus on drainage, rerouting water, and using what we call grade reversals—basically, managing the water flow by going up and down on the trail. And this is where you really need experienced builders. We could’ve sent in a less experienced crew to build something that looks great, but in a few years, you’d have massive erosion and environmental damage, costing hundreds of thousands in repairs. That’s where the skill of the individual builder makes all the difference.”
- Can you speak to your collaboration with local Indigenous Nations on building this trail?
“The main collaboration in this project was hiring an Indigenous trail builder from the local band. He worked with me full-time last year from April to November and was an incredible asset to the team. I would’ve liked to hire more Indigenous workers, but there was a limited pool of qualified candidates. The project also required approval from the local First Nations. I have a strong relationship with the Sq’ewá:lxw (Skawahlook) First Nation at Ruby Creek and the Stó:lō community, who were very supportive. Once the trail is open, I will switch to my role as director of the Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program, and plan to get local youth riders on the trail. While it’s an advanced trail, we do have a blue trail that will be more accessible, and we hope to host events for local youth. This will help strengthen lasting partnerships with the community.”
- Are there plans for signage, trail maps, washrooms, or tool stands?
“Absolutely. Signage is a key part of my project, and I’m currently working on that. The municipality, local riders, and the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association are also involved, but they just need to secure funding. Given the community forest partnership, I think they’ll be able to allocate a budget for a trail kiosk. Then, if they can partner with Rec Sites and Trails BC, that’s typically who would provide additional infrastructure like outhouses, viewing platforms, and picnic benches. This is all emphasized in the trail master plan because it’s critical. Great trails need proper amenities and infrastructure to really benefit the community. Without that, a trail doesn’t have much value. So, it’s in the plan!
- Do you have an opening date yet?
“I don’t have a concrete date yet, but I’d estimate the last week of June or first week of July 2025, depending on snowfall. One unique feature of this trail is that in future years it will be accessible earlier than many, thanks to multiple access points at different spots on the mountain. However, for the grand opening, we want to feature the entire trail. That means waiting for the snow to melt and the ground to settle before we can do the final maintenance. I can’t bring the crew in multiple times due to the costs, so we need to time everything perfectly to finish the last bridge and some additional work right before the grand opening. The snow situation looks promising this year with less snow, but we also have to consider other mountain bike events, like the Whistler opening, to avoid conflicts and make sure everyone can come out. My goal is to finalize the date by late February, but it will likely be end of June or early July.”
Since this interview, the grand opening event has been set for June 28th, 2025. Stay tuned for event details
- The First Blood trail is accessed by a steep Forest Service Road (FSR)—will visitors need two cars for shuttling, or will there be paid shuttle options? Is a shuttle from Hope or parking areas in the works?
“There aren’t concrete plans yet, but local riders are already discussing it so I think shuttle options will eventually come. However, it’s a bit of a catch-22—we need to first establish the ridership and infrastructure, including signage, before we can figure out the logistics. In most areas, shuttles are challenging to implement because they’re costly and hard to predict demand for. Kamloops is one of the few places that has a successful shuttle system. But given how many riders pass through Hope and how easily accessible it is for even an hour and a half ride, I can see people being willing to pay for a shuttle up. After an amazing descent, they could stay the night in Hope and be on their way super quickly the next day. I think it’ll happen eventually, and Hope has a better chance than most communities.
The road up to the trailhead isn’t great—it deteriorates quickly—but it’s still drivable for regular cars if you’re careful. You don’t necessarily need a 4×4 so the goal is for riders to be able to drive themselves up there too.
For the grand opening, I hope we can arrange free shuttle services. We’ll work with shuttle companies, possibly even with the business from Kamloops, and Tourism Hope, Cascades & Canyons will likely contribute to the budget. So, at least for the opening, we’re aiming to offer shuttles for participants.”
- Will people be able to ride from town to the trail, or will it be car/shuttle access only?
“I think the ideal scenario would be to have a commuter trail from town to the trailhead. We’ve identified an old road that could work for access. It wouldn’t be the most exciting ride, but it would get you there. With the growth of e-bikes in the industry, I think it’s especially doable. E-bikers could easily make the climb up the FSR, and once they’re on the trail, it’s perfect for e-bikes. Since it’s a downhill trail, having a heavier bike is actually an advantage. So, I definitely see e-bikers taking advantage of the opportunity to ride out to the trail, but even if they don’t, they can always use the shuttle road. I really think this trail is well-suited for e-bikers, and it could even open up the possibility for local businesses in Hope to offer e-bike rentals.”
- What makes Hope an appealing location for mountain bikers looking for a new trail experience?
“I think what’s unique about Hope is that it’s a spot a lot of people pass through, but now it offers something more. It’s super accessible for riders in the Fraser Valley, who typically stick to areas like Abbotsford, Chilliwack, or Sumas Mountain. But now, there’s a reason to head a little further north and check out what Hope has to offer. It’s a chance to really explore the community and experience a trail that’s a step up in challenge. What I hope happens is that people realize that this can be more than just a quick stop. Don’t just come in for two hours, get shuttled up, and ride down. Take your time. Go for a hike. The area is stunning. The views in Hope are incredible—even if you just take a half-hour hike from a trailhead, you’ll get amazing views down into the valley. That’s the kind of thing people should consider—don’t just come for the ride. Spend a day, or even a weekend, and really take in what the area has to offer.”
- How will this trail benefit the local community of Hope? Can you foresee any partnerships with local businesses or organizations that will support the trail network’s success?
“This is just the beginning, but I can already see how the trail will benefit local businesses. There are some great partnerships forming, especially with Hope Mountain Brewing—that’s a no-brainer. The First Blood name itself is tied to one of their beers, and so they’re really excited about the trail. Mountain bikers love breweries, we’re all about amenities, so having a brewery in town is a perfect fit. In fact, it’s actually recommended by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) for ride centres to have a local brewery!
Beyond the brewery, I can also see other local businesses stepping up to sponsor sections of the trail. It could be as simple as donating a few thousand dollars a year for trail maintenance in exchange for some visibility. It’s a win-win: businesses get exposure, and the trail gets the support it needs to stay in top shape. Additionally, new community mountain bike groups are forming, which will foster local pride and strengthen the biking community.
As more people visit Hope for the trail, the whole community will feel the benefits. Visitors will spend money on food, gear, and other services, which will help local businesses thrive. The excitement from the mayor and the council shows they understand this isn’t just a project for mountain bikers—it’s an opportunity for everyone in Hope. They see how it can positively impact local businesses and the economy, and that’s already driving support. So, I’m really optimistic about how this trail will help the whole town grow.”
- For locals skeptical about this project, what would you want them to consider?
“I’d say, don’t view this project just as a hardcore mountain bike development. Think of it as the beginning of a broader outdoor recreation movement for the community. Hope already has a solid foundation with the Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning, but this project will open doors to new types of outdoor trail users, attracting people who may not have considered Hope as a destination before. It’s not just about the mountain biking—it’s about diversifying the kinds of outdoor experiences available to locals and visitors alike. As the project grows, it will help local businesses thrive by drawing in tourists, and over time, it will slowly shift the culture of Hope, much like we’ve seen in places like Squamish, Pemberton, Burns Lake, Valemount, and Revelstoke. Those communities have built themselves into mountain bike hubs, and Hope is primed for the same. More and more mountain bikers will come to Hope, and they’ll have the same experience I had—once they get up on the mountain, they’ll be stunned by the beauty of the place. They’ll think, ‘Wow, I’ve got to come back here next long weekend.’ They’ll return with their friends or family to explore more, go for hikes, since it’s such an accessible spot. It’s a gem, and it’s not just for riders. The opportunities for growth in outdoor recreation here are huge. So, I’d encourage people to think about the long-term benefits—this isn’t just about mountain biking, it’s about changing the outdoor recreation culture in a positive way and creating a more vibrant, diverse community in Hope.”
- Hope, Cascades & Canyons is an avid supporter of the Don‘t Love it to Death initiative which encourages locals and visitors to minimize their impacts on the places they visit and recreate in. How can First Blood trail users help protect the environment?
“You know, it’s a long trail, and whether you’re riding up with an e-bike or pedalling your regular bike for a half-day experience, you’re out there for a while. So, most riders will likely have a backpack with food and drinks. The number one rule is pack out what you pack in—that’s crucial. Another big concern for us, and it’s harder to manage, is the timing of when the trail is accessible in the spring. In future years, don’t ride right after the snow melts. The trail needs time to dry out and settle. And definitely avoid riding during heavy rainstorms. A lot of these issues will be addressed through signage and education. In areas like Williams Lake where I live, or BC’s more rural communities, we don’t have the same capacity issues—trails are less crowded. But Hope and the Fraser Valley is different; it’s going to draw a lot more people, so we’ll need to stay on top of it with good signage and general awareness within the mountain bike community. Thankfully, people are starting to catch on—it’s definitely getting better.”
- Did you learn anything surprising about Hope during the project? What do you think visitors will find pleasantly surprising about our little town?
“Absolutely. I was blown away. After 30 years of just passing through, stopping at the Blue Moose for lunch or filling up gas, I had no idea what Hope was all about. Getting to know the different areas, the lakes, and the neighbourhoods, I realized it’s much bigger and more beautiful than I ever imagined. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised it hasn’t turned into something like Squamish. The mountains, the easy access, and the range of recreational opportunities—it has so much potential. Even just over the past few years working on this trail project, seeing how fast the infrastructure, restaurants, and amenities have developed has been really exciting. It’s a great, close-knit community, small enough that people still know each other. It reminds me a lot of Williams Lake, a town that was built on resources but is now evolving. I’ve learned a lot about Hope, I really like it here and I think visitors will too.”
For more information about the First Blood Mountain Bike project, check out the following articles:
