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ABOUT WMBC Officers Board members: Who are the WHIMPs Mountain Bike Coalition The WHIMPs Mountain Bike Coalitions isa non-profit organization that works with local agencies and other user groups to enhance and preserve the trail systems in Whatcom county. The WHIMPs formed in 1986 and has been actively promoting open and multi use trail access since the first Greenways campaigns. The WHIMPs are also responsible for any trail maintenance and construction on Galbraith Mountain and ensuring that the trails and features are within the guidelines established by the land-use agreement between the WHIMPs and the landowner, Trillium. We have also formerly adopted maintenance duties in cooperation with the Bellingham City Parks: Miranda Trail, Lake Padden Uppper Loop Trails and the Civic Field Dirt Jump Park. Whatcom County Parks: Hush, Hush Trail (Devil's Club). Join the WHIMPs today! Help us preserve and expand our local trails. You'll also get access to the WHIMPs Group on Yahoo! with an up-to-date events calendar and message board WHIMP STORY On the public side of things we thank Bellingham City Parks, Whatcom County Parks, Larabee State Park, Skagit County Parks & the DNR. On the private side of things we thank Trillium Corp & Crown Pacific.
It was great for the first decade of WHIMPs to ride with a Mountain Bike World Champion, oh by the way, Sully was veteran World Champion in 1989 and 1990. For us locals it was really fun to catch a casual ride with Thomas Frishneck or Joe Murray as part of a WHIMPY ride. Other Galbraith dignitaries includeAllison Sydor, Bruce"Rack" Spicer, Henrik (3x World Sr. Mens MTB Champion) Djernas, Lisa Muhich, Ruthie Mathes, Tim Rutherford, Steve Tilford, Earthquake Jake Watson, Golden Brainard, Lumpy Leidal, Kris Otter, and Ramon Shirkak. The WHIMPs have several past World, National and State Champion racers as members. We are a club that understands both the environmental as well as the social aspect of trail use. Most of our members are activists that lobby, contribute, act, ride and race bikes. Well, maybe 2 or 3 of the prefaced.  Few remember the days of the "Drop of Death" that used to be, well the Drop of Death, on the upper loop of Padden. The WHIMPs knew even back then that the biggest factor to trail degradation was poor trail design. The Drop of Death had an incredible 40% grade to it!! Not exactly a sustainable grade. IMBA and Forest Service trail standards require no more than 15% grade for VERY short sections. 8-10% grade is what is really preferred. So we took our case to the Bellingham City Parks Dept. and offered to do the trail work necessary to bring the Lake Padden loops up to standard in order to handle regular non-motorized multi use (i.e. mtbs, equestrians, dog walkers, runners hikers etc.). The list of WHIMPs trail accomplishments is lengthy and impressive. More than a few shoes have disappeared in there. WHIMPs improved this section so much newcomers have a hard time understanding its namesake. Eliminating this mud section was what really increased the overall usage of the upper loops by ALL trail users. Now it is passable by any and all users. The WHIMPs currently maintain the entire 3.7 mile loop of upper section of Padden Trails. Thanks to Chris Behee you can get an extremely high quality map from many of the bike and running stores in Bellingham. They are full color, have topo lines, trail names and road numbers and are printed on water & Tear proof paper! Parking at Galbraith South Side: Please park at Lake Padden or in the upper lot off Samish. Please do not park in the gravel pull-out on Galbraith Lane. This is a privately maintained easement, please be courteous and respectful to the neighbors and do not park there. More Galbraith Info
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