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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Red tape is holding up the rehabilitation of a once popular kayaking and canoeing portage trail, razed by a forest fire 10 years ago.

The Somba K'e Paddling Society had planned this past week to clear portage trails of deadfall and replace trail markers destroyed in the fire in an area past the Ingraham Trail known as the Pensive Lakes Wilderness Tour. The society also planned to take photos and GPS co-ordinates so the territorial government could include them in future brochures advertising the trail.

The group was forced to cancel its trip, however, after being told by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment it would need insurance coverage if it wanted government money to fund the initiative. Covering the insurance cost proved too prohibitive, according to society member Dwayne Wohlgemuth.

"They thought it was a grand idea but then when it came down to looking at government requirements for insurance, it got pretty complicated," said Wohlgemuth.

"We had to get (NWT Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission) coverage as though we were being employed so if we got hurt on the trip we wouldn't be able to sue anyone."

The group also needed liability insurance, something the paddling society couldn't obtain from its current insurance provider with the Alberta Whitewater Association because it only covers paddling events and not trail clearing.

The society eventually managed to get a quote from an insurance broker in town but it would have cost around $2,000 and eaten up most of the group's budget.

Faced with the prohibitive costs, the group cancelled. Wohlgemuth said they're still hopeful they can get the project done next summer.

ITI's website refers to the four-day trip for advanced canoeists as "a beautiful unspoiled wilderness route, comprised mostly of lake paddling. For those interested in a wilderness experience, this route is an ideal choice."

Much of the route, however, was engulfed in a forest fire in 1998. Wohlgemuth said he canoed the route last year and while the area is showing signs of recovery, the portages remain clogged with deadfall and the marker-less trails are difficult to find.

"It totally needs it," he said. "All those portages combined, you could do it in a third of the time if they were cleared.

Luke Coady, ITI's manager of parks and tourism for the North Slave, said portage routes and trails outside of territorial parks are not within the department's jurisdiction but said ITI is open to helping groups who want to restore them.

"We thought it had a potential to help with tourism potential in the region and we're sort of looking at ways of seeing how we could assist them," said Coady.

He said it's possible the department may be willing to cover the Somba K'e Paddling Society's insurance costs for a rescheduled trip next year.