The Comox Valley is, for the most part, a very trail friendly community. Which makes it surprising that a popular local trail was recently dangerously sabotaged. Comox Valley Search and Rescue is warning local residents that two entrances to the Puntledge River Trail were booby-trapped with scattered small spikes.
The devices, resembling caltrops, are designed so that one spike always points up, even when quickly scattered. The ones found at the trail entrances are large enough to cause significant damage. But small enough that, when I got a flat tire at the same trail entrance over the weekend, I coulnd’t immediately see what had caused it.
Courtenay-based mountain biker Eric Roy did find the spikes and contacted local RCMP. After getting a flat tire, he discovered the spikes hidden in the dust and gravel at two trail entrances.
“I spun my tire and found the spike in it, and yeah that was pretty interesting. I’d never seen one of those before,” Roy told Check News.
Local residents are, understandibly, concerned. The trail is popular with walkers, often with dogs, joggers, gravel riders, mountain bikers and even horse riders. While a flat tire is annoying, the spikes could cause serious harm to an animals paw or hoof.
Unlike nails or screws, that could concievably make their way onto a trail entrance by accident, these devices look very intentionally designed and placed to cause damage.
Comox Valley Search and Rescue issued a public warning across its social media channels, adding that the small devices were reported in other areas as well.