Current Trail Conditions

Four Dutchmen trek a wintry Sunshine Coast Trail

2012-02-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we were contacted by Cornelis Douma. He was in Alberta, awaiting the arrival of his long-time chums coming from Holland where they grew up.

He had been researching "long distance hiking trails" in Canada and homed in on the West Coast Trail and the Sunshine Coast Trail. The SCT won out because it didn't require making reservations, nor did it cost anything to use it. Special bonus there were free huts along the route. And while the easier lowlands sections were snow-free, he and his friends wanted to do a seven day trek through the rugged snowbound mountains in the mid-section of the Sunshine Coast Trail.

Early February they flew into Vancouver and stayed at the Cambie Hostel. They had rented a car to make the trip up the Sunshine Coast to Powell River. Its trunk barely accommodated the bulky backpacks and gear, but it worked.

Ward is putting the last of their belongings into the car. Next onto two mini-cruises heading north across the fjords on two ferries.

At Earl's Cove the visitor information map provided some ideas what they were heading toward.

What about bears?

When they arrived in Powell River Friday night, they did some shopping and pitched their tents in the downtown oceanfront campsite and park at Willingdon Beach.

Saturday morning the caretaker dropped them off at the bridge across Powell River.

Anton, Jens, Cornelis and Ward are rearing to go. 80 klicks to cover.

They took rests along the way because those packs were loaded...

... and finally arrived at Haywire Bay regional park where they were warmly welcomed by the caretakers. They even insisted on feeding them dinner.

Sunday morning they set out, encountering an area of massive blow-down. They were thankful the trail crew had come through here and cut a way through with the chainsaws.

On the edge of Lost Lake they felt they knew where they where they were heading. The multitudes of red metal markers were always visible and reassuring that they were on the right track.

They passed around the top end of Inland Lake, which is also wheelchair accessible.

They had a snack time at the beach. Looking down the lake they could see Mount Mahony with its shoulder ...

which they had to climb to get to Confederation Lake Hut.

They ascended Confederation trail through old growth so big their jaws dropped.

Some of the ancient trees had fallen across the trail in the past and a passage was cut through the big trunks.

At last they found their first snow ...

... and the edge of frozen Confederation Lake.

The snow-capped peaks of the Rainbow Range sparkled in the distance. The shadows were growing longer and the trekkers had to make haste to reach the hut at the far end of the lake.

They tramped on and found an ancient cedar that had been hollowed by a fire probably caused by lightning.

The hut was clean and the trekkers appreciated having a roof over their head.

Monday proved to be a big day, 11 hours of hiking, to get across to Tin Hat Mountain where the next hut was awaiting them. That was a tough grind. A new hut halfway in between, down at Powell Lake will indeed be a welcome addition to the chain of huts.

They descended 2000 feet.

down to the former Fiddlehead Farm in Giovanni Valley and had a break in the old orchard. Tin Hat is lurking above in the distance.

They saddled up again, and began the long 4000 foot climb...

A few bridges made crossing of creeks a breeze, but the climb was epic.

Along the way they met Eagle and Terry who had been out doing trail work with Richie and Bob, in anticipation of the trekkers coming through. Here Jens (left) and Cornelis (right) were reassured the route was cleared and easy to follow, albeit a substantial climb to Tin Hat Hut.

They powered on and reached the hut by moonlight. Because the hut is insulated and it had been a sunny day it was cosy inside.

They slept like knights of the cherished snow and woke in the morning to the sun spilling in through the window of the cabin.

Quickly they rose and caught the moment of the sun lifting free above the Knuckleheads Range

Cornelis and Ward enjoy some quiet moments as they contemplate the possibilities of breakfast and the day's trek ahead.

Nature calling does present a bit of a problem. Luckily a snow shovel allows for digging free the door to the pit toilet.

Returning to the hut, it is now time to plan how to get from Tin Hat hut to the next shelter in the Smith Range.

One final picture on Tin Hat with their route laid out ahead of them through the wooded corridor that threads through the cut-blocks in the distance. Elk Lake or bust.

Ah, a power bar at the base of Tin Hat. They made good progress coming down the mountain, and are almost out of the snow again.

Within another half hour they have reached the treed trail corridor they looked at from above. It is an historic railroad grade, PR PAWS cleaned out and converted into a four kilometre-long section of the Sunshine Coast Trail.

They are in good spirits and since it is still early in the day, they cool their heels for a while.

Eventually they pass through patches of old growth cedar and Douglas fir, and master the snowy north slope that rises to Elk Lake.

Here they reach another hut and make a fire in the outdoor pit to help dry out their wet gear. Then as evening falls they scramble up into the sleeping loft and prepare for the night.

Wednesday morning they wake and are still in great humour. They put their snowshoes to good use as they power on to Coyote Lake. Which way to go?

Thattaway for sure.

They see the gathering clouds, harbingers of a warm front sweeping in from the Pacific, but aren't really aware of what lies in store for them.

Behind them and below the Horseshoe Valley spreads out with its large lakes, and the famous Powell Forest Canoe Route. But that's another journey...

Soon they will not take any more pictures because the temperatures have risen quickly and the rains will have begun.

Rain on top of snow is trouble, and you must guard to stay dry and stave off hypothermia. But that's not on their minds just yet. What a great day. Snowshoe till you drop.

After an arduous slog they make it as far as Coyote Lake campsite before nightfall. Here they pitched their tents in the deep snow. That was the challenge they had been looking for, snowshoeing through a winter wilderness.

Happy lads, aren't they. The tarp they carried does come in very handy now. The men spend a night in the open. A roof would have been useful here.

Dreams of a sugar plum hut on Walt Hill dance through their heads.........

Though they mastered Walt Hill hauling up and over its rugged hogback, they never reached the hut. It never materialized. They had misread the guidebook and didn't realize until late in the afternoon that this hut was a future project, scheduled for construction after this year's snows are gone.

No problem. They knew they couldn't stay up on the mountain in the driving rain, and no shelter, no means to get warm. They knew they had to come out a day early. They knew they had to haul butt. As quickly as conditions allowed they descended the steep southern edge of Walt Hill and dropped down through Suicide Pass.

Now free of snow and no longer in need of their lumbering snow shoes they wheeled on down the old railroad grade until they reached Conchie Road. From there, their headlights guided them out to Duck Lake road at its junction with Granite Lake road. They called their PR PAWS support team, and though a day early, they were lucky arrangements could be made for Matt who was home to come and pick them up. They stayed put where they were and Matt found them and had them out of the bush in half an hour.

He dropped them off at the motel, where they were alert enough to entertain visitors for a while. Everyone was safe and sound. What an adventure. Ah to get dried out again, and warm. Such a luxury.

They were thrilled to have triumphed over some of the most trying and dangerous conditions a person can encounter just about anywhere. Rain and snow can quickly lead to lethal exposure. This type of weather can not be taken lightly. Being out in it you realize you have to respect what it can throw at you. They felt the huts made it possible for them to complete their challenge. Without them such an adventure would not have been possible.

Friday they met Matt and Eagle for lunch in town. How about that? Delicious French soup, and scrumptious sandwiches.

Ward, Jens, Eagle and Matt chow down.

Many thanks to Matt, the hero of the day.

Anton, Jens, Cornelis and Ward showed their resilience, and regaled us with details of their adventure. They are the first known hikers to trek the Sunshine Coast Trail in winter conditions, trekking for six days, and covering roughly the middle half of the trail. They decided to stay another day and take in the culinary and cultural delights that Powell River has to offer. They will be back, they said, to take in the remaining sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail, and the Canoe Route.
Then we told them about mountain-biking, kayaking, mountaineering, horseback-riding, etc, etc, and the first brewery opening up in Powell River...

Trailday, Monday February 6, West Tin Hat marking and maintenance

2012-02-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

Last Monday Terry, Bob R, Richie B and Eagle cleared from KM 81 (Fiddlehead) to KM 85 past the massive boulder slide on the way up to Tin Hat Hut. They also put up metal squares and diamonds, plus the then still missing kilometre markers.

This area of mixed forest is losing all its old alders that are now dying off and tumbling down, many of them on the trail.

Old signs remain from the era when Fiddlehead Farm was a world renowned wilderness destination.

Bob is enjoying the workout clearing the trail and making improvements on a new and safe Oscar's Crossing.

Oscar was the big friendly black dog that greeted visitors from all over the world who came to enjoy the homegrown food and relaxed atmosphere at Fiddlehead Farm.

On the way back down from halfway up the mountain the maintenance crew encountered four Dutchmen who had set themselves the challenge of trekking the Sunshine Coast Trail in winter conditions. They wanted the rugged snowbound mountains. They didn't want the easy lowland sections of the SCT. They had seven days and left Powell River Bridge on Saturday morning arriving at Haywire Bay where they were warmly welcomed by the park attendant.

Trailday, December 20, Rainy Day Lake to Freil Falls Vista

2011-12-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

Marking the Rainy Day Lake Trail today, and up to Freil Falls Vista, and down onto the end of the old Marquis wood road, now used for the Saltery Bay Trail. Remediated the fire ring also. Terry, Don, Scott, Ron, Bill and Eagle. We roasted Bavarian smokies on the fire for lunch, and enjoy blue though crisp skies. Perhaps three more outings and this neck of the woods will be marked, signed and cleaned out too.

Elk Lake in Winter

2011-12-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

Terry and Grant took a ride up to Elk Lake and it was snowing harder the higher they got. Nearing Elk Lake it stopped snowing, but the snow was deep and they put on their snow shoes. Then they tramped to the hut.

Tuesday Trailday - December 13 Fairview Bay Trail

2011-12-15T19:38:00.000-08:00

On Trailday Tuesday eight guys came out to buck, clear, and mark the Fairview Bay Trail. They split into two crews one working on the section from the Hydro Towers to Fairview Bay, and the other completing from Rainy Day Lake to Fairview Bay. Above Bruce G and Alex C finish their lunch and get ready to work the return leg.

Ron is putting on his glove, ready for action. The Rainy Day Lake Hut is in good condition. Thank you folks for keeping it tidy. Pictures by Willy. The other crew starting at the Towers included Don, Terry, Trevor and Andy, and now the whole trail is easy to follow. Next week on Tuesday, we will be heading out to Saltery Bay again, and this time we will mark the Saltery Bay Trail from Saltery Bay via Marquis' old road up to Freil Falls Vista and on to RDL and up to the East Troubridge parking lot under the wires. Call Eagle for details: 604-483-9565. Gathering at 8.30 am at Scott's place, and 9.00 am at the Saltery Bay gravel parking lot next to the new log dump.

Escalator OGMA trail

2011-12-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday, Terry, Bill O and Eagle drove out to Saltery Bay and cut out a bunch of blow-down, and removed the woody debris. They also put up plenty of the orange-red metal markers, one within sight of the other, to provide a sense of comfort to hikers new to the trail.

They got as far as the Hydro Towers, where the lines hang suspended between there and Nelson Island.

Trail Clearing Malaspina to Manzanita

2011-12-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

The crew split into two groups last Tuesday Trail-day, and cleaned up the Gwendoline Hills Trail from Malaspina Road to Manzanita Hut, meeting in the middle: Ron, Eagle, Don, Andy, Alex, Bruce - and Terry the photographer. All the dead-fall has been removed, and the markers are easy to follow. There are two benches along the way.

The howling November wind storm uprooted a large Douglas fir and dropped it across the Gwendoline Hills Trail.

Ron made short shrift of the blowdown. Andy counts over 200 rings (years) in the bole.

A little trimming of the sharp edges provides a more inviting passage. Don gives it the stamp of approval.

A chain of yellow fungus grows on a mossy, rotting trunk that dropped eons ago in the forest.

Tin Hat, December 4, 2011

2011-12-05T09:06:00.001-08:00

I could drive my Tracker about 1/3 way up the Old Tin Hatroad and cleverly stopped before I got stuck in snow and steep rise. Slow walked with breaks, took 2 hours to top. Snow shoes were helpful, not necessary yet, but soon to be. 1-2 feet of wet snow. Trail extremely well-marked

Cabin looks great. Excellent job to the men who built it.

Lots of rabbit tracks, how do they survive the winter?

Cloudy so no views but a worthwhile day!

Peter Behr

Knuckleheads via E Branch - Peter and Paul

2011-11-19T20:57:00.001-08:00

Lots of snow. Quad with tracks made it to the trailhead on E branch.

Some deep steep snow to start. Snowshoes necessary.

Ptarmigan in winter plumage.

Mount Diadem toward the east.

Lakes Alpha, Beta and Gamma all frozen as was the waterfall. It's an early winter!

We saw a big bull elk, but did not get the picture. Lots of rabbit tracks.

Ice City

How do these trees tough it out?

Paul: Got easier as we went up.

Peter: Made the saddle and the smaller peak.

Very cold. Some great sun and views.

Given the amount of snow this may be the last sub-alpine hike for a few months.

Pictures and captions by Peter and Paul

Trail Marking as of November 8, 2011

2011-11-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Since the spring, we have maintained a steady pace of applying the orange fluorescent aluminum markers all along the Sunshine Coast Trail. Many thanks to all the regular markers who have gone out in all sorts of weather and advanced the schedule of installation to the point where everything is marked from Sarah Point at KM ZERO to Tin Hat Hut (KM 0 to KM 90), and somewhat intermittently from there. About 80% of the trail have now been marked and the rest will be marked by sometime in the spring of 2012 before the hiking season is in full swing.

We are aiming to place markers within sight of each other where the trail winds single track through dense forest. This is especially important during the winter when the trail is covered by snow and one could get turned around unless there were markers within sight of each other, and in both directions. Where the trail uses old roads and it's obvious, trail markers are farther apart. First time users will feel confident that they are on the right track, and winter time users of the trail will be able to follow the trail even when it is covered up and there is no indication on the ground where to go. This will take the guess work out of hiking and result in a safe experience for all hikers, as well as snowshoers.

In addition to regularly spaced marking and over 500 large wooden directional/informational signs we have added another safety feature: the brand-new markers are nailed in two fashions. Going south (from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay), they appear as square shapes, and going north (from Saltery Bay to Sarah Point) they appear as diamonds.

This allows you for easy recognition in which overall direction you are traveling. Please ignore the obvious that sometimes on certain stretches the trail winds this way or that and seems to contradict the cardinal directions. The diamonds (Northward - hence the shape of a compass needle) will let you know you are moving toward Desolation Sound (Sarah Point), while the squares would eventually take you to Saltery Bay.

One additional safety feature are the kilometre markers which start at KM 0 at Sarah Point and end at KM 178 at Saltery Bay. The numbering is the same in both directions, so if you should require help along the way and happen to have cell phone reception you can always tell someone where you are located on the trail, by just saying the number of the KM marker you are near. Going south you are the same number of kilometres from Sarah Point, as you are going north, toward Sarah Point

If you notice any areas that do not happen to have the orange markers yet please contact us, and we will complete the work that might not yet have these standards which will help us in our endeavour to build and maintain a world class hiking trail.

There are some stretches of about 20% of the whole trail at this time that will be completed in the coming weeks and months and are expected to be complete by next summer or earlier.

There is a section around Confederation Lake Trail (KM 70 to KM 74) - not done, that might get done if the snow holds off for another week or two.

Tin Hat to Spring Lake (KM 90 to KM 98) - not done.

Carrying on southward from KM 90 on Tin Hat Mountain down the East Ridge to the ponds and on around Lewis and Spring lakes has been done only in parts. There is logging going on in that area and this section of the the SCT to Spring Lake Main at KM 6 is closed, probably until spring when the logging will be finished and we can go in there and clean up the trail where it might have been impacted by blow down. So, in the meantime hikers have to use the old Tin Hat road to get to Spring Lake Main and walk from Spring Lake KM 7 to Spring Lake KM 6, where the Sunshine Coast Trail crosses Spring Lake Main and resumes on the marked and cleaned up March Lake trail section that heads west, then south toward March Lake, through the old growth patches, and on up to Elk Lake. So not yet done from about KM 90 to KM 98.

Smith Range from KM 98 to KM 135 - done with one exception. So to recap, the SCT is marked from the crossing of Spring Lake Main at KM 6 all the way through the Smith Range down to Eagle River. There is one exception in the Smith Range on the Elk Lake Loop where the inside of the loop (west) is wide open and marked, but the outside of the loop (east) will have to be done yet. Again, if the snows hold off for a few more weeks we will clean this area out also, and mark it, but the likelihood is that this will have to be done in the spring after the snow is gone. Meanwhile the inside route provides continuous access through the whole of the Smith Range from KM 98 to KM 135.

KM 135 to KM 144 - done intermittently only.

We expect this section to be completed during the winter months because it is low elevations and may have a few snow-free days during which it is easier to do the work along Eagle River and Lois Lake shore, as far as Creek Four ravine.

From Lois Main up to Troubridge Summit down to Plutonic pole line (KM 144 to KM 166) - done.

We have finished marking the high elevation sections of the SCT on the Troubridge Massif from Lois Main at Creek Four (KM 144), to Elephant Lake (KM 153) to the cabin and summit (about KM 160) and down the other side to the Plutonic pole line above Rainy Day Lake (KM 166). During the winter months, weather permitting, we will mark the remaining lower elevation sections down past Rainy Day Lake to Saltery Bay either via Fairview Bay Trail or Saltery Bay Trail.

The above sections that are shown as not yet marked with the new standard 2 inch orange metal markers do still have the old marking which is a little harder to follow, but which is in place.

Enjoy the Sunshine Coast Trail in good spirits and good health and let us know what you think about it, the marking and the new huts.

Tin Hat Aug 8th

2011-08-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

New logging/roads made it confused to find the washed out road trailhead which now starts further up from it original location. Incredible day at the top as usual! No clouds to be seen, and the view was as breathtaking as ever. The light breeze unfortunately did not keep the flies away. The surprise on top was an added bonus. On the way down we decided to take the SCT down to the Fiddle Head Farm. The trail was very well marked with orange squares and pink, blue and orange ribbon. 1/2 way down the trail become very grown in with 2.5 meter brush for 2-3 km before becoming well maintained again. Logging is active at the washed out road trailhead, so the Fiddle Head Farm to Lewis Lake route is the only option.

Moonset over Vancouver Island

2011-06-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

I saw the magic at once - moon setting over my island - in slow motion behind the mountains until only a silvery/golden sliver of moon was visible before it fell into the night.

Fairview Cliff

2011-06-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

One of the most uneven spots on the Sunshine Coast Trail has been on the cliff south of Fairview Bay.

Here is a view of Fairview Cliff seen from the side, with the trail way up above on the right.

When we drove out to work on the trail at the beginning of June, we saw these cubs feeding in the meadow.

One of them scrambled up onto this old growth fir and observed us from his safe perch. The other resumed grazing.

At the cliff we began with drilling holes into the bedrock on the low side of one section of trail, and then cemented steel rods into them.

We left the tops sticking out so we could attach horizontal lengths of 3/8" re-bar to them.

Once these were fastened in place we gathered large rocks and banked them against the net of rods and horizontal stringers.

We piled these big rocks high enough so we could back-fill with ever smaller rocks, until we had a flat trail surface which we topped with dirt.

This stretch is now a stroll where before it might have been a chattering squeak.

Time for lunch, men. Willie and Terry give it the stamp of approval.

Master driller Jim is in a pensive mood after drilling dozens of holes in the heat of the first hot day of the summer. Terry and Scott look on in the filtered shade of Arbutus, shore pine and fir.

Nice to relax for a while, and recharge.

This section was steep - not only sideways, but also going forward, slanting downhill.

This needed special attention and we built cement steps which now take you comfortably from one level to the next.

An adjacent area had a rock slide, with boulders ending up right on top of where the trail had passed through.

Here we had to physically move the boulders and/or knock them to smithereens.

Some of us think that that is fun.

We knew we would need a handful of outings along this part of the Sunshine Coast Trail before the trail was just so - safe with fabulous views of the ocean below. A few more steps would go a long way toward making grandma and grandpa happy.

On the next expedition we added one more step at the bottom to finish it off so you didn't have too high a step where you least wanted it.

Yet later we removed the wooden forms, and cut back the rebar pins with the angle grinder. Now that section was complete.

Looking back toward Saltery Bay the path has also been widened and smoothed.

On the last outing one of the tasks was to build a dry rock wall which would work well in this stretch.

Dipper is importing rocks from the neighbourhood. Big rocks are best. His tongue isn't hanging out - but it's a grunt.

Here is the result. After a couple of hours the dry-rock wall is finished. We back-filled against it and topped the rubble with dirt to leave a smooth surface to traverse.

We also tackle another section that is too narrow and precipitous, the last to require steps. First we hammer-drill it and chip away the side hill bedrock.

The big friendly persuader remains on standby: a sledge always comes in handy to make rock behave, but, hesitantly we leave the stone age tools aside and enter the 21st century with generator and hammer-drill.

After widening the route, building a dry rock retaining wall and back-filling, we drill and build the forms for a few more steps as the grade was just too steep to navigate safely without cementing in rock steps.

We were too busy mixing and pouring to get a picture of all of that frantic action, but a loving touch at the end of the day states that we are finished.

After five expeditions we have pulled out all the tools that are already down at the landing, waiting for the Island Girl water taxi to pick us up.

Thanks Bob and Sue for your help in this project. Much appreciated.

All done, ready for visitors. Bring them on. This formerly nasty section is now grandma- and grandpa-proof. Fairview Bay, here we come.

The first set of steps is fully cured. Perhaps a bench in this section will make an appearance in the future.

It is a gorgeous spot to while some time away. Every hour or so a ferry passes by. Working boats and pleasure craft ply the waters of Jervis Inlet from time to time. Whales and dolphins are occasional sightings round about here, but sea lions, seals, otters, eagles, turkey vultures and all manner of smaller beasts and birds inhabit these environs in numbers.

Sam was met by a work party while hiking the Sunshine Coast Trail

2011-06-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is Sam Adams. Sam is from Robert's Creek area. Sam was hiking the whole Sunshine Coast Trail.

We met Sam on the Confederation Trail as 3 of us were trail clearing. He was looking well and anticipating the Snow on Tin Hat Mt. and Mt. Troubridge. Sam had his Snowshoes. Like all good hikers Sam was very well equipped.

Picture and blog post by Richie Tait

Rubber Band and Confederation lake; 5-June-2011

2011-06-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the crew who cleared the Rubber Band trail from Inland lake and up to and round Confederation lake. We enjoyed a clear steady steep hike up through the glorious old trees above Inland lake. Round Confederation lake
there were several wet spots and very slippery rock and roots (I guess the winter's snow'd recently gone); still, nobody died and we were up at the cabin in 3.25 hr from the boatlaunch.
Bright sun; some gentle breeze; beautiful views; great day!

Inland Lake - Lost Lake

2011-05-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Leaving the boatlaunch in bright sun - on Sunday - round the S end of Inland Lake and past the first 'pier' round a rocky head, we found at last the trail to Lost Lake, marked with a 'Portage to Lost Lake' sign.
Does anyone really take a canoe up here? It seemed very optimistic, being steep and muddy; I'd hate to carry a boat down this!
The steep bit was short, though, coming soon to an old road and the jog right to the continuing trail to Lost lake.

Here, many of the 'Lost Islands' sported pretty clumps of small pink blooms, making a nice foreground to Mt Mahoney.

Mount Troubridge snow condition report - Peter Behr

2011-05-29T07:18:00.001-07:00

Still lots of snow up Trowbridge. I recommend anyone going wear snowshoes as they help keep you from falling into the “melt holes”.

There were some tracks of someone who wore boots and they went through the snow a few times.

Still three feet of snow at the top and a foot or 2 most of the way up from the Rainy Day Lake Rd. end.

SCT trail work

2011-04-25T07:28:00.000-07:00

During March and April of 2011 members of the Bomb Squad did the following work on the Sunshine Coast Trail. Their work is much appreciated. Report by Ron Sellers and Bruce McDonald.
· cleaned Valentine mountain trail from Mowat Bay
· cleaned trail from Squirrel Crossing to road above Larsen’s Landing and Yew Trail to Mud Lake & back.
· cleaned Tees Kwat trail & built new bypass.
· finished bypass on Tees Kwat trail & cleaned trail from pole 272 to Browne Creek Trail
· cleaned SCT from Wilde Road to Shangri-La
· cleaned SCT Tony’s Trail from Telus road to Haywire Bay.
· cleaned SCT from Malaspina road to Southview road
· cleaned Lost Lake Loop. Fixed boardwalk. Cleaned bridges & boardwalks. Drained water from road.
· cleaned Upper Marathon trail.
· cleaned Appleton Canyon Trail to Wilde Road.
· cleaned Scout Mountain Trail.
· cleaned Brown Creek Trail to Hurtado Point & Bay & out to pole 350.
finished new bridge on Marathon Trail & cleaned up old bridge.

18th Annual Marathon Shuffle - Conditions

2011-04-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hike/run Sunshine Coast Trail, Sunday, April 17. Free Event. The 29 km long trail section has been cleared and groomed and is in excellent condition. Nearly a thousand brand-new organge fluorescent markers have been installed, as well as high visibility kilometer markers, and chalk lines. Click here for registration: http://www.clubfatass.com/events/marathon-shuffle/registration

Press Release:

Once again the time has come for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy a popular rite of spring. The 18th Annual Marathon Shuffle is an event for hikers and runners to enjoy a 29 km-long section of the Sunshine Coast Trail. This section from Malaspina Road to the Shingle Mill has been groomed and marked by members of the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS) and the Bloody Old Men’s Brigade (BOMB Squad). Brand new kilometre markers and nearly a thousand new fluorescent squares have been installed that will keep you from straying from the Shuffle route.

In addition, chalk lines at junctions will take the guesswork out of which way to go. Participants to this free event are asked to register on-line at www.sunshinecoast-trail.com by clicking on Marathon Shuffle on the Home Page, then Events Details under the picture, and Registration at the top of the next page. This allows the organizers to know in advance how many people to expect and to prepare for the event, and for participants to view pages of details, from free trail descriptions and maps to listings of past records.

Shuffle participants who have pre-registered on-line will meet at 7:45 am on Sunday, April 17, at the Shingle Mill parking lot to arrange for carpooling, and receive their participant numbers. Limited seating is available on a mini-bus to the starting line on Malaspina Road. Make your reservations by calling Lita at 604-414-0708. Cost: $2.00

Last minute registrants are asked to come earlier, at 7:30 am, to fill out their registration forms. A limited number of seats are available on a small bus and must be reserved. Carpool departure is at 8:00 am with an 8:30 am Shuffle shotgun start at the Malaspina trailhead, a kilometre east off the Lund Highway. There will be five water and fruit stations at logging road crossings that can also serve as emergency exits. The hike/run is free and participants take part at their own risk. They are asked to carry raingear, good footwear, some snacks and extra water to stay hydrated.

The 12 km-long Half Shuffle is becoming more and more popular as it takes only three to four hours of moderate hiking. It begins 6 km up Wilde/Tomkinson Road at 10 am and encourages a more leisurely pace. Sign in at the Appleton parking lot above the bridge, and follow the well-marked trail past vistas and swimming spots.

All registered participants are asked to report in at the finish line at the Shingle Mill to sign out, receive their standings, and a ticket for prizes to be drawn after the medal awards.

A-Branch Cabin

2011-03-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

Rick and I went to branch A today and just thought I'd send some pics of the snow height at both cabins. There's also a picture of the outhouse at branch A if you can find it. We figure there's about 12' of snow. Was a great day.

We parked at the top of the first slash-it took us 3 hours to get to the cabin. We then hiked over to the ridge above branch E and took the pictures of the cabin. We were the only snowshoers but 3 snowmobiles showed up during the day. Great snow conditions.

Doug.

ONE WAY traffic resumes on Goat and Stillwater mainlines

2011-03-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

ONE WAY traffic will resume on both Goat Main and Stillwater Main this Thursday, March 17th.

Goat - up Loop to Tinhat Junction
Stillwater - down Tinhat Junction to Marshalling Yard

Adam Culos - Stillwater - Western Forest Products

Stillwater Main closure Saturday and Sunday - use alternate route

2011-03-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

Stillwater Main will be closed between Dixon Road and M1 (4 mile) on Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6 from 7am to 6pm due to hogging work being carried out along the mainline. During this period all traffic should divert up the loop onto Goat main and then from Goat main back to Stillwater main on M1 to avoid delays while chip trucks are being loaded.

Ken MacKenzie, Stillwater, WFP

Mt Troubridge from Rainy Day Main

2011-02-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

Troubridge summit coordinates: N 49.48.739 / W 124.10.118

Troubridge cabin cooridnates: N 49.48.727 / W 124.10.646

3 of us spent the night up at Troubridge on Feb 22. Went up from Rainy Day side and it took 5 hrs up and 3 hrs down. Didn't need snow shoes until about half way up. We took some dishes up, but there is still lots more at the bottom, so please bring more up.

As you get towards the top of the summit lots of the trail markers are buried in snow and from the summit to the cabin, there was a 5 minute stretch with all the markers buried, which I have since reflagged in pink or green. There is a nice packed trail to follow for now, but if there is more snow up there, make sure you have a GPS and know where you are going, as it would be easy to get lost. The SCT trail North from the summit is completely buried and no tracks at all, and only the bypass to the cabin is flagged.

Fairview Bay Access

2011-02-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hi

I was on the fairview trail yesterday and thought you may be interested to know that danger blasting signs have been posted just after the towers just after you go up hill on the sct . I continued on the trail as i couldn't hear any activity above me . The trail was fine but i watched to see if any rock blast had reached the trail and it looks like it hasn't. There may be activity there though at other times that could stop access to fairview bay. You never know with signs. Often they get put up and know one removes them when they are done.
I thought i should let you know what i see as i noticed that you found the bridge taken out along the pole line road. I found that one day in december when i was out and the daylight was short and i was looking for a quicker way back . I turned around and took the trail back . Fortunately i cary a headlamp all the time.
The next time i was in a hurry i just stomped through and changed my socks and shoes when i got to the car. Hopefully the creek will be smaller in the summer.

Susan

Little Sliammon Lake Trail

2011-01-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

We had received word that there was some blowdown in the trail buffer of the cutblock south of Little Sliammon Lake and around the eastern shore to the bluffs.

Ron's trusted chainsaw took care of that.

The lake was still frozen, but the ice was thin and covered with a crust of snow, so no skating here.

If you are aware of any trees blown down on the Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT) please send us an email or give us a call. Thanks. (prpaws.bc@shaw.ca , or 604-483-9565)

Fairview Bay Access via Pole Line from Saltery Bay

2011-01-10T03:17:00.000-08:00

A big surprise gaped at us this weekend as we drove out of Saltery Bay up onto the BC Hydro pole line road intending to head east toward its end where the wires cross over Jervis Inlet to Nelson Island. This rugged road has provided access to the Fairview Bay Trail that allowed you to chop off one of the two hours of hiking, so all you had left was the section from the towers just above Ahlstrom Point to Fairview Bay.

Just as we got onto the pole line where the road levels out we were stopped dead in our tracks. Where once there had been road there were now bolders blocking the way, and the next ten metres of road were gone, dug up, and Saltery Creek was roaring through a deep wide trench. The bridge was gone.

As at this time we have no information as to whether this deactivation is permanent, or the bridge will be reinstalled. The upshot is that the option of having a shorter hike is not there now, and you must access Fairview Bay from the beginning of the trail down in Saltery Bay at the mouth of Saltery Creek.

This adds an hour of delightful hiking along Rose Beach, up the Elevator section of trail, down the other side of the pass to Pirate Cove, and along the beach toward the fish farm and back uphill where you will catch the last ten minutes of the dead end pole line road to the Towers.

From there you continue your hike for a second hour on the trail to Fairview Bay and points beyond, Rainy Day Lake, Mount Troubridge and the rest of the Sunshine Coast Trail all the way to Desolation Sound.

3 K Bluff to Manzanita Bluff - Trail Closure

2010-12-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

Currently Island Timberlands Limited Partnership is extending its logging roads into the far corners of its Okeover timbered property. Logging will begin after the roads are built. A section of the Sunshine Coast Trail beyond 3 km north of Malaspina Road runs through IT's property. This part of the trail north of 3 K Bluff is closed for the time being until logging is complete sometime early in the new year. You can still go as far as the new bench at the edge of Krompocker's clearing.

Through discussions and a field visit PRPAWS and Island Timberlands agreed on a buffer along the majority of the trail up toward Manzanita Bluff. PAWS was also given the opportunity to relocate part of the trail into an existing riparian zone which will not be logged. Once logging is complete PAWS will finish the rerouting of the SCT and then re-open the trail.

PAWS really appreciates the accommodations made by the forest company to the recreation and tourism values inherent in the Sunshine Coast Trail. Even the

Rhododendron patch was incorporated into the trail buffer and will continue to please and surprise the hiking public in the coming spring.

PAWS will also work on its next shelter project which is slated to be built next year on Manzanita Bluffs. We will be planning a grand opening in 2011.

Safety Notice - Traffic Pattern Change on Mainlines

2010-12-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

Due to logging on GOAT LAKE M/L at 5 mile, the following traffic pattern
change is in effect 24 hours a day:
- GOAT LAKE M/L & HOOKUP are closed from DIXON ROAD to 7 mile
- STILLWATER MAIN continues as 2 way traffic from DIXON ROAD to TIN HAT JUNCTION

These changes are in effect until further notice.

Benches & Picnic Tables

2010-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Retired logger Emil Krompocker bucked the mainstream of the forest industry and left old growth trees within the cutblock he harvested - something not commonly seen in our region until he decided to save some nice old veterans in this setting a couple of decades ago. Now Don is enjoying the view over Okeover Inlet and the Bunster Hills in the background. Maybe dad will go for a picnic and enjoy the view as well.

Completed bench at Kokanee Creek campsite on the north shore of Sliammon Lake

First stage of Kokanee Creek bench

Scott and Rascal rest at Thethyeth Lake (Upper Sliammon)

First iteration of Thethyeth bench. Not Three Fat Asses approved, requiring modi-fication.

Kayach Bluff bench overlooking Sliammon Lake

Ahlstrom Point bench at mouth of Jervis Inlet

Richie, Don, Andy and Ron enjoy their lunch at Fairview Bay, a pleasant break from building Fairview Bay shelter with sleeping loft

Fairview Bay shelter with inside and outside picnic tables

Bench overlooking south end of Fairview Bay

Picnic table and tent pad set in the old growth at the edge of Coyote Lake

The new campsite picnic table at the foot of Hailstone Bluff on Rainy Day Lake

The inside picnic table of Rainy Day Lake shelter is made with dimension lumber, thus movable to make room if the sleeping loft above is full up.

Rieveley's Pond shelter near Appleton Canyon sports a bench, a picnic table, and of course the ubiquitous cooking counter.

Elk Lake antique anno 2001, at the building site of a new shelter to be built in 2011

The Smokey Smith bench on the new reroute up from Mile 4 on Goat Main.

Also built during the onset of this snowy season, Stairway to Heaven bench, north of Mile 4 Goat Main

Haywire Bay Bluff with fabulous views of lower Powell Lake and the mountains surrounding it.

Table and benches inside of the Mount Troubridge Hut. Eagle, Brian and Jim relaxing at the end of a working day.

Goat Main Hook-up Closed & Trail Closure

2010-09-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

There is a Temporary Closure of a section of Goat Main Line at Goat Hook-up due to active logging adjacent to that road. This has necessitated making a 500 metre long section of Stillwater Main from the Hookup around Mile 3 1/2 north to road M1, the first road to the left, and also making road M1 two-way traffic.

When logging is finished in the coming months the loop traffic pattern will be restored to one-way as it has been for the last half dozen years or so.

Logging of Cutblock ST-245, which is in that general area of Mile 4 of Goat Main, is also impacting the Sunshine Coast Trail. The Sunshine Coast Trail section starting at about Mile 2 1/2 of Dixon Road and heading north as far as Deer Main crossing is closed due to the logging of ST-245. It's about a 3 km long stretch. Maps posted on the road crossings show how you can get around by walking on Deer Main, Goat Main and Dixon Road.

Negotiations with Western produced a trail corridor adjacent to ST-245. PRPAWS has now relocated the Sunshine Coast Trail out of the logged area and basically placed the trail into the adjacent forested zone. It is well flagged with the pink TRAIL flagging tape, and is roughed in now. It will be ready for use once the logging is finished sometime later this fall. Parts of the new trail travel over bluffs that afford nice views to the south.

Western has also finished logging ST-822 which is the beginning of the March Lake Trail section of the SCT from Spring Lake Main (at about KM 6) westward and then south. We were able to negotiate a buffer with Western that was part of the now defunct Stillwater Pilot. The buffer runs through the middle of the cutblock and there are many views of the Horseshoe Valley and the mountains to the east (Knuckleheads, Freda, etc).

There will be a couple of days sometime this month during which that trail section will be closed to allow for helicopter wind-firming (pruning) to minimize blowdown of the trail corridor, a process we very much appreciate. Closure during those couple of days will be posted on the road intersections and the alternate route via Alaska Pine Road will be shown again on posted maps.

Rainy Day Lake Shelter

2010-06-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

Inspecting the new shelter site on Hailstone Bluff overlooking Rainy Day Lake

Time to get to work to clear the site.

Two hundred and fifty hours of site preparation using hand tools and we are ready to begin construction. Attaching the sono tubes to a wooden framework comes first.

Then we mix concrete by hand and fill the tubes to the same level, and let it cure. Some BOMBers had a hand in the foundation too.

After partnering with the Bloody Old Men's Brigade (BOMB Squad) for the Rieveley's Pond Shelter, PRPAWS invited the PR Rotary Club to work with them on the Rainy Day Lake Shelter. One Sunday in early June a big Rotary crew came out and erected the cedar posts we had manufactured on site.

Next the beams went up, followed by scaffolding.

After that the gables and trusses were put in place,

then the strapping.

At the end of a hard day's fun and games the shelter has taken shape and we are happy and tired.
The ATV Club showed up too and put up the outhouse we had dug a hole for.

It seems to be big enough.

Before we were finished, some unexpected guests showed up one day just as we're about to pull out. Six British Army guys doing the Sunshine Coast Trail for five days, just coming down from Troubridge that afternoon, heavy packs.

The loft was in.

Here are the first railings we installed on the second day of summer. A couple more to come, plus ponywalls, steps, picnic table, shutters and a few odds and ends to be finished in the coming weeks.

This week the shutters are in place,

the floors got a second coat of paint,

plus the rest of the railings, the pony walls and the cooking counters were manufactured by the merry crew of volunteers.

Two six-foot sleepers, two three foot shorties on top of them, a couple of chainsaw ripped cedar slabs for seats, and three two by twelves as table surface - and bingo, a few hours and some sweat equity later we have a new rustic picnic table down at the campsite below Hailstone Bluff.

Trail Clearing Update - to early June

2010-06-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Recent trail clearing by PAWS and the Bomb took care of big blowdowns at Little Sliammon Lake where one of the big trees that came down missed the shelter by two feet. South of there on the way to Wildwood the blowdown has also been removed.
Additionally the Hurtado Point loop has seen some enhancement where the tread of the trail has been firmed at the edge of the bog, and sections of the trail down to Hurtado Bay and Brown Creek have been weedwhacked.

Jocelyn Pond cabin site search

2010-06-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

June 5, 2010. Overcast at the start, sun on the way down. Very very fresh wolf scat, practically steaming. toadlets. hiking up on/through snow into the original growth on the shoulder. found a good site. bugs in good shape.

Rieveley Pond Shelter

2010-05-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

17th Marathon Shuffle April 25, 2010 at Kayagh Bluffs

2010-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

17th Marathon Shuffle April 25, 2010 at Thethlyeth Lake

2010-04-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

17th Marathon Shuffle April 25, 2010

2010-04-25T21:11:00.001-07:00

2010-04-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

17th Marathon Shuffle April 25, 2010

2010-04-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

2010-04-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

2010-04-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Lunch Time

2010-04-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Cutting Log for Table Top

2010-04-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

2010-04-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

2010-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

2010-04-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Rieveley's Pond Shelter

2010-04-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

2010-04-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

2010-03-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

A little out of sync, I know, but hey, there's too much techy stuff to master all at once!

2010-03-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Rieveley's Pond

2010-03-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

Members of PRPAWS and the Bomb Squad have been busy building a new shelter at Rieveley's Pond. Here are just a few pictures of the work being done. Richie Tait will be adding more when he has some time.

Shelter at Rieveley Pond

2010-03-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

2010-03-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Shelter at Rieveley Pond March 11, 2010

2010-03-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Shelter at Rieveley Pond

2010-03-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

Fairview Bay Shelter - Completed

2009-12-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

All done.

Come on over...

Time for lunch...

Logging near Mile 4 Goat Main: Upper Eagle River and Smokey's Blue Ridge Trails

2009-12-10T04:57:00.000-08:00

Stuart Glen of Western Forest Products writes to advise us of the following:

"We are commencing pre-poling activities in ST-245 tomorrow and therefore will need to close the SCT when we are falling adjacent. I will have the contractor post signage for the periods when they will be within reach of the trail. The Goat Main Loop is also closed as the poles are being yarded to this road."

Avoid this area for the time being and choose another section to hike. It may be a month or more, as it is weather dependent.

Fairview Bay Shelter

2009-12-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

During the summer and early fall we cleared the site at Fairview Bay, carving a clearing out of the forest at the edge of the bay, tossing logs into the firewood pile, levelling the building site by hand.

In October we were given the go ahead to start the building.

Foundations first of course.

Then the posts and beams...

and trusses

gables

roofing

slogging in the eye of the hurricane

putting the finishing touches to pony walls

Another picnic table for inside, a bench, and we'll be good for a few good laughs. Watch out for the trolls under the bridge.

Many thanks to the volunteers. And thanks to the businesses and organizations who are giving us a break, in particular , Island Coastal Economic Trust, PR Regional District, City of Powell River, and UBCM, plus the former artificial reef society and Island Girl water taxi.

Enjoy this first of a handful of shelters on the Sunshine Coast Trail in good spirits and good health.

Freda and Knuckleheads Winterwonderland

2009-11-09T09:03:00.001-08:00

Winter is arriving in the high country. Snow was on the trail about 2 km from the start of the trail. It was 1 1/2 feet deep in the higher open country. We used snow shoes as snow was soft. On top there was blizzard conditions today. Crampons not useful.

It took us 5 1/2 hrs up and 4 hrs down as it was slippery and slow in the deep snow. We took the direct route that goes from the creek north east.

Anyone know conditions at Triple Peaks for next weekend?

Peter Behr

************************************************************************************************************************

We drove up Stillwater Main and then up A-Branch to the KM 6 marker where the side spur heads up to the Knuckleheads Cabin. The snow was still navigable by 4X4, but another fresh dump and vehicles without chains won't be able to drive that high.

Over 90 people signed into the Knuckleheads Cabin log book during October. That's excellent useage, and of course this count does not include the people who didn't sign in. Eagle

Tees Kwat-

2009-10-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Today a friend and I hiked the Tees Kwat Trail to Gibson Beach. There were some spectactular views and quite a few trees blown down across the trail. This is a picture of one of them.

It was a wonderful sunny and warm day. When we got to Gibson's Beach, the ocean was very busy. We saw sea lions, seals, cormorants, ducks and lots of birds. I believe they were feeding at the tide line. We also saw the Sliammon Long Boat with a few people paddling it.

ALERT: Smokey's Blue Ridge Trail Closure

2009-10-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

Western Forest Products is going to be commencing road construction in ST-245 on Tuesday October 12. It looks like the only portion of the SCT that will be affected is the portion above Goat Main at Mile 4 and this will be for tree falling. For safety, the SCT will need to be closed for some time next week in order to fall the trees along the exisiting road.

A 500 m reroute will have to be built. If you are interested in participating for a few hours contact Eagle at prpawsbc@shaw.ca or call 604-483-9565. Thanks!

ALERT: Blue Ridge Trail section closure

2009-09-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

This Friday, September 18, Western Forest Products is hand-falling a few trees in the management zone of the Blue Ridge Trail section (SCT) in the vicinity of Mile 4 on Goat Main. For safety reasons they have to close the trail for a few hours. Signage will be put in place for the duration of the falling.

August Update

2009-08-30T03:25:00.000-07:00

The weather has been fabulous this summer for hiking, swimming, boating - and in general, being active outside.

Up Bute Inlet: Homathco River and Mount Waddington

We are seeing people from all around the province and the globe with many locals of course, out on the Sunshine Coast Trail, section-hiking and through-hiking. The length of the 180 km long trail is in good shape as per the latest reports.

We still have an issue with an unknown individual going back from time to time and covering up the entrance to Tony's Trail (SCT) with woody debris. This access trail lies west just off the Telus Road on Gallagher Hill. (See detailed description on how to access it from Mowat Bay in the June 21 post.) The individual has taken to covering up our orange spaypainted markings with black paint. So if you can't see the orange markings, look for black paint on trees opposite the pull out. That's where the trail begins. Step over the debris, or better still help us out and move it off the trail, and carry on in a westerly direction. Thank you.

Ron and Bruce ready for a swim at Tony Point after clearing the trail down from the Gallagher Hill Telus road.

There is one upcoming blockage of the trail with Western Forest Products planning to harvest "Cutblock ST-324". Its boundary lies adjacent to about a 100m stretch of the Blue Ridge Trail section of the SCT, just about a km north of the Goat Main crossing at Mile 4, right where the trail crosses the new Deer Main logging road. Last week we were told by Western that it would only be closed one or two days. We have requested that they log after tourism and mushrooming seasons are over so wildcrafters may get one more harvest out of that area. Here is the link to the map: http://www.westernforest.com/files/planning/Stillwater%20Operational%20Information%20Map.pdf
You can copy and paste it into the top of Google and then click on to it. Red-lined ST-324 is in quadrant C-7 just west of Lois Lake (near centre bottom of the map). Stay tuned as to when exactly the closure will occur.

The beginning of March Lake Trail is still impacted by logging but can be passed by using the posted Alaska Pine reroute.

We did have a report that the Spires access trail below Manzanita Bluffs needed some brushing. The salmonberry and salal came back strongly there. This secondary trail is accessed by people coming off the old forest service road just 500 m beyond the "Dome" at about the 2.2 km mark on Sarah Point Road from the Lund gas station. Going in there avoids going up and down 3 K hill. It's all brushed out now all the way up to the SCT junction as of today, but could use some fancy stick work flicking the wee branches off the trail. Enjoy.

Happy trails.

Penticton Street Trails

2009-07-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

The trails out in the logged area have been re-established by the loggers, thanks to BCTS and Southview Forest Products!!! Rob Stewart has ground up all the large slash piles out there and he cleared a path over to the timber edge which I will turn into a connector which will lead to #19 "Longshot Trail". A big thanks to Rob!!

Louie Perrault has build a couple of new trails near the Toba Pit, which we will sign soon along with all the other main trails. Also one of my newer trails out near upper Nootka Street has been logged and we will have to reconnect the trail back up, it was just on private land for @ 50 metres.

Fiddlehead to Eagle River

2009-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Sunshine Coast Trail - Section 4 (Fiddlehead to Eagle River)

Yesterday John and I drove to Fiddlehead Farm to make sure hikers would not have any difficulties making it through that area which was impacted by logging and extensive road building a handful of years ago now. We found that about a dozen of our carved wooden directional signs have been vandalized, either ripped off the trees and taken away altogether, or demolished and tossed into the bushes.

Anticipating some loss of signage we had brought 8 new carved signs and installed them, and more metal markers, as well as additional flagging through the slash. Though still more signs are required yet, this interim measure should ensure that hikers will be able to make their way through the warren of roads when they come into the valley, accessing either the West Tin Hat trail section, or the Fiddlehead Trail section to Confederation Lake.

We met a couple who bicycled to Fiddlehead and set up camp in the valley. They've been holidaying in the area, exploring the trails. They've talked to trekkers coming down from Confederation Lake, and from Tin Hat, and so we know that these SCT sections are traversable. Someone is reportedly doing the whole Sunshine Coast Trail from bottom to top. And the student crew encountered a couple trekking in the opposite direction.

The Gallagher Hill to Tony's Trail black hole of disappearing trailhead fiasco is good this week. The sign is still there and the red spray paint marking applied artistically by Bruce is as attractive as ever. The trail is not covered up and disguised by woody debris and branches. So this week you could find your way through without your GPS. That's a good thing for most of us.

We also noted that signs along Goat Lake Main Mile 4 and the Spring Lake Main have been vandalized and are missing. This makes it difficult for people to access even some popular destination such as Tin Hat Mountain.

We now have to ask Jim to make dozens more signs and then go out to put them on the many intersections of the trail with the roads. Yesterday we had to show some tourists to find the trail/road going up to Tin Hat who had driven past the turn-off as a result of the missing signage.

Alaska Pine road has been used as an alternate trail route while Western FP is completing the logging on and around the March Lake Trail (SCT) west and south of Spring Lake (ST-822). Pre-poling near Alaska Pine is completed and cleaned up.
Hauling will be completed soon as well. We'll keep you posted.

While there are a few trees down between Alaska Pine road and Elk Lake, the weekend hikers reported after their hike of a couple of weeks ago that they had no problems stepping over the deadfall and getting up to Elk Lake. From there the inside route is open, and you can stroll to Granite Lake, and make your way up from there to Coyote Lake, and up onto Walt Hill. As you head south off the summit down along the old growth ridge, and onto the end of the old logging spur you will have to navigate around, or over a few trees on this short section, but as Bill Price and Val Smith reported, they had no problems getting through. We will get in there in the next couple of days and clean this out as well to make hiking more pleasurable.

So, to conclude, Fiddlehead to Eagle River, the mid-section of the SCT can be used by the experienced hikers, but there are areas that can be a challenge. We know that the northern section of the 180 km long Sunshine Coast Trail from Sarah Point to Fiddlehead, and the southern section from Lois Lake to Saltery Bay, are good to excellent.

Please let us know if there are areas where the signage has gone missing, or trees are down. It will help us pinpoint the problem and address it more quickly, and take the guesswork and anxiety out of hiking for the visitors to this area and many local people who are just beginning to become familiar with it.

Enjoy the trail in good health and good spirits.

Val Smith, and the Marathon Shuffle trophy

2009-07-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

At long last we have captured the fleetfooted Val on camera, holding the women's Marathon Shuffle trophy. Val won the trophy at the end of April, setting a new record of 4 hours, 10 minutes, and repeating her win from last year. Only a couple of years earlier this time would have bested the men.

Mile 4 of Goat Main trail adjustment

2009-07-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

After a number of visits to the section of the Sunshine Coast Trail that crosses Goat Main at Mile 4 where a new logging cutblock is being planned by Western Forest Products, five members of the PRPAWS board of directors met last week with Stuart Glen of WFP and finalized an agreement. We agreed to buffers, and to relocate the upper section of the trail out onto the adjacent bluffs from which you can see lower Lois Lake and the bottom end of Texada. These accommodations allow WFP good access to timber, while at the same time taking into consideration tourism values. The adjacent area will not be logged until sometime next year.

Gwendoline Hills and the Student Crew

2009-07-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

This week, after the inundation from Rainy Day Lake to Fairview Bay, the summer student crew spent three hot days cutting back salal and other manner of brush on the SCT Access from Gilpin Hairpin Curve to Wednesday Lake. In the process they also cleared the Ann Gustavson Way around the west side of the warm little lake in Malaspina Park.

Snack time at Wednesday Lake: Beth, Chad, Dylan and Mitch.

Next they turned south from there and battled encroaching salal on the Sunshine Coast Trail across the spine of the Gwendoline Hills to within spitting distance of Manzanita Bluffs. They say they've been enjoying themselves and we certainly appreciate being able to hike along unencumbered by often wet shrubbery brushing against our legs. Thanks guys!

Rainy Day Lake area

2009-07-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

This week's trail day found Alex, Bruce, Joe and Ron volunteering at Rainy Day Lake not too far out of Saltery Bay. Their numbers where increased by a crew of three high school students and their supervisor collegian Mitch Green. They cut back the brushed in parts of the trail going down to Fairview Bay - and it is now good hiking through there. The BOMB Squad crew meanwhile bucked the deadfalls on the upper reaches of this trail and also cleaned out the area around the RDL campsite and up to Jackie's Lookout. Many thanks to all.

PRPAWS entered into a partnership with the BC Forest and Range Service and we were offered the services of a crew of youngsters to work on various parts of the Sunshine Coast Trail for one week. Mitch Green, Dylan Adams, Beth May, and Chad Head are also going to be doing different stints working with various organizations and businesses like the Community Forest, Kiewitt, fisheries, alder brushing with BCFRS, fire suppression, doing engineering, controlling invasive plants, and many other activities. What a great way to become familiar with the woods and get glimpses of jobs they might like to do in the future. We very much appreciate the extra help at this busy time of the year and wish them an awesome summer. Yesterday they certainly got their baptism of soakology at the aptly named Rainy Day Lake.

Have a chat with them if you encounter them along the way. Today and possibly tomorrow they are going to be brushing the Wednesday Lake to Hummingbird Bluff section of the Gwendoline Hills Trail (SCT).

Elephant/Troubridge Update

2009-07-01T20:53:00.001-07:00

We have been clearing, signing and reflagging the various sections of Troubridge Massif, both East and West side, up to the summit, some 40 kilometres in all - nearly all done now.

This is Lois Lake with the Smith Range in the distance as seen from a viewpoint on the way up to Elephant Lake.

Many thanks to Bruce, Ron, Alex, Joe, Jim, John, and Scott who have joined in on Tuesdays or weekends whipping the trails in shape. Ben, still in high school, took care of a swath of endless salal on the back side of Scout Mountain virtually all by himself.

After a hot climb, Bruce is momentarily hogtied fighting the flies on the summit of Mount Troubridge (1300 m) buzzing around his head. They saw him coming a long ways off and launched an attack. Not to worry he's handled worse in a lifetime of working in the woods.

Centre Lakes Alpine Hike

2009-06-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

There is a small landslide blocking off the road to Centre Lakes about 3 km before the trail head. This adds 70-90 min. walk uphill and about 45 min. downhill. Many alders and willows have bent over (from the now disappeared snow load) slowing the roadwalk. I told the trees to straighten up which may work. It was a wet walk.

We camped at the trail head parking lot and hiked the trail the next morning. The first 2 km of trail is encroached upon by berry bushes but still visible. The rest of the trail was in good shape and pretty easy to follow with no snow on it. Using tape we marked the path in the open heather covered area. This is one of the prettiest walks in the district as most of the trail has great mountain views.

The warm spring means there are only a few patches of snow left and we never used our crampons. We walked to the first mountaintop on the right before reaching the second lake. The circle walk around the second lake is too snowy to do yet.

Peter Behr

Freda Mountain Ascent

2009-06-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

On Sunday four of us climbed Freda: Saun and Elayne Leach, and Paul Clements. It was snowing & hailing on top briefly.

There is almost no snow on the diagonal trail which we took up hill. Most snow is melted by our hot May & June weather, and you don't need crampons or snowshoes any more.

There are a few big patches on the old trail good for bum sliding on the way down.

We took 3 1/2 hours up the diagonal and 3 hours down the old way. Trails are in pretty good shape but there are a few fallen trees. Freda is still a grunt for me due to the angle of ascent (straight up! :)

Peter Behr

Trail Maintenance Update June 2009

2009-06-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months since the winter storms we have cleared out Sections 1,2 and 3 from Sarah Point (KM 0) to Confederation Lake Cabin (KM 74).

Also nearing maintenance completion is Section 5 from Eagle River (KM 137) to Saltery Bay (KM 178) via the Fairview Bay Trail.

According to reports from through-hikers the remainder of Section 5 is traversible with a few downed trees not presenting any major challenges. These will be removed in the next couple of weeks.

That leaves Section 4 from Fiddlehead, over Tin Hat Mountain and through the Smith Range. We have a report of some trees down on Walt Hill in the Smith Range. We will get to these in July.

Unfortunately Western Forest Products is going to be busy logging on or near the trail just southwest of Spring Lake. There is a temporary reroute in place that uses about a three kilometre stretch of the Alaska Pine Road, which is used by ATVs too. The reroute signage is in place there as well as laminated maps advising of the temporary closure and reroute. Also impacted by Western FP activities will be the Blue Ridge section of the SCT at Mile 4 of Goat Main, and where the new Deer Main crosses it. We are hoping Western will delay logging there until the fall when the busy tourist season is finished.

A different tricky spot is finding the resumption of the Sunshine Coast Trail from Mowat Bay going south. For the last few years we are having to walk through a part of Cranberry up Mowat Ave, left on Cranberry St, left on Tatlow St, left on Warner Ave and right Grenville Street, and on up the Telus Road to get back to the SCT. This 4X4 road levels out above the gravel pit with a recent cutblock on the right, and an opening on the west affording views of Valentine Mountain and Mowat Bay below. Just after the road rises again toward the topmost end of the cutblock there is a level pull out on the right hand side in the clear cut. The access to the trail that takes you down onto Tony's Trail, and on to Haywire Bay etc, lies directly across the road of this level pull out of the cutblock, although sometimes you wouldn't know it (GPS coordinates: N 49°52.686', W 124°31.130').

We have been putting up signs and markers in this location ever since we have had to use this reroute. Frequently we find that someone unknown to us removes the signs and markers indicating the trailhead. Not only that, this person also trashes the beginning of the trail by throwing branches and logs on top of the trail making it virtually impossible to see where the trail is. This has created a difficult situation for tourists that come to this stretch for the first time to resume hiking where the trail continues in the forest. Some of them had no choice other than to either give up, or use Inland Lake Road to get to the SCT at Haywire Bay. Please help - if you can - keep this trailhead open and visible. We have replaced the signs and markers sometimes on a weekly basis. Extra hands would be welcome

The weather has been fabulous through May and into June and we are seeing visitors from all around the globe. I encountered a young Czech couple that is currently spending a week hiking the SCT. They chose Powell River over the west coast of the island.

We anticipate that sometime next month we will get the final green light to begin construction of the 8 shelters and two wilderness huts along the length of the Sunshine Coast Trail. The two huts which will go on Tin Hat Mountain and Mount Troubridge will look fairly similar to the Confederation Cabin and have similar dimensions. We are looking forward to seeing the first one going up later this fall.

Happy trails.

Penticton Trails

2009-05-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just an update, a gravel pit was approved by Lands Branch for the area up from Les's Lumber and road construction has started. This will will probably wipe out a few of the trails in that area. Not many people are aware of this.

Marathon Shuffle route and Sarah Point

2009-05-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Section Two of the Sunshine Coast Trail from Malaspina Road to the Shingle Mill on Powell Lake (the Marathon Shuffle route)is groomed from one end to the other. Also cleared are Sarah Point to Feather Cove, Bliss Portage to Cochrane Bay and on to Wednesday Lake, and out Gilpin Road to Sarah Point Road. Gwendoline Hills Trail from Wednesday Lake to Malaspina Road is good, but could use a little salal whacking near Hummingbird Bluff. Reportedly one tree down at about Km 17 near the Spire access trail from Lund, but easy to step over.
Remainder of SCT from Powell Lake south will be gone over in the coming weeks.

Penticton Trails

2009-03-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

Update on the Penticton Trails, logging has been completed on the far end of the area and the loggers have re-established the trails (some hand clearing to be done). There are plans to put in some connectors to link the new roads with the trails. We will have work parties on Thursday evenings starting April 2. Anyone interested we can meet at the yellow gate at the top of Penticton & Ontario at 6:00 p.m.

SCT-Section 2

2008-12-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

Paul C. , Steve E and I walked the Sunshine Coast Trail from Wilde Rd to Wildwood.
There was an average of 2 inches of snow on the ground. The snow made everything look spectacular.

Thethyeth Lake was frozen but not the Sliammon Lakes.

Paul said the bird in the picture is a sapsucker.

Trail clearing activities since September

2008-12-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

Sep 1 West Tin Hat - John Cogswell and Eagle Walz(JC&EW)
Sep 2 West Tin Hat - Bruce MacDonald, Ron Sellers and EW(BM&RS&EW)
Sep 7 West Tin Hat - JC&EW
Sep 16 March Lake to Elk Lake - BM&EW
During Sep: all Duck Lake Trails by BOMB Squad
Sep 23 Rainy Day Lake, Fairview, Saltery Bay - BM&RS&EW
Sept 30 Walt Hill - BM&RS&EW
Oct 2 Toquenatch - BOMB Squad
Oct 2 Coyote Lake - JS&EW
Oct 7 Knuckleheads road clearing to Beta lake - BM&RS
Oct 7 Gwendoline Hills - SG&EW
Oct 14 Saltery Bay and at Lois Lake BM&RS
Oct 16 BOMB: Marathon Ridge and Toquenatch
Oct 21 Gallagher Hill, weed eating and cutting out trees - BMRS
Oct 23 Toquenatch boardwalk - BOMB Squad
Oct 23 Installing Millennium Park signs-EW
Oct 27 Elk Lake Loop - ResultsBasedForestManagement(RBFM)&EW
1o days in Oct/Nov: RBFM/PR CommunityForest leared Elk Lake Loop, and Coyote Lake to Walt Hill - fixed swimming docks, campsites
Oct 28 Fred's Trail around Blue Trail south to Hammil Hill - BOMB Squad
Nov 2 Coyote Lake - RBFM&EW
Nov 4 Grouse Ridge and Jacqie's Lookout also on Dec 11, 18, 25 - BM&RS&RT
Nov 11 Haywire Bay to and around Lost Lake - Bob Innes, BM&RS
Nov 11 Elk Lake - JS&EW
All of Nov - BOMB Squad: at Girl Guides camp, building a trail and an obstacle course
Dec 9 SCT Wednesday Lake to Manzanita Bluffs to Spire access trail - BM&RS
Dec 9 Lois Lakeshore beaverdam bypass - SG&EW
Dec 11 BOMB Squad: Cable Trail
Dec 14 Lois Lakeshore beaverdam bypass - SG&EW
Dec 16 Lois Lakeshore beaverdam bypass BM&RS&SG&EW
Dec 18 BOMB Squad: Started fixing Suicide boardwalk where flooded at Goya

Tin Hat

2008-12-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday we got an early start and planned on driving to Goat2 to go up Triple Peaks. But the road looked snowy so we went to Tin Hat instead. Snow shoes were useful but not necessary. We parked at the turnoff from the road that goes back to Haslam. The snow was light and fluffy and about a foot deep at the Fiddlehead junction. Breaking trail was slow so we took over 3 hours to get up to the top which was cold and windy. A couple soon followed in our tracks.
It was a nice day to be in the snow. But it snowed on the way home and has since frozen so it is hard to tell what conditions will be next weekend. They used to plow that main road but I heard it may not get plowed this winter.

Peter Behr

2008-12-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Access to the E Branch Cabin has been fixed. The deactivation project removed two of the upper bridges and saw many large water bars installed. John M and his ATV crew came to the rescue and pulled a second log across upper Alpha Creek and got it decked for us, a big thanks to them. Then they ran some small culverts up to the water bars where we are installing them.

We hiked some lumber up to Water Can Junction where we have made a bridge to get access up to E-400 and the cabin. This will be replaced next summer with a long term structure. Western Forest Products will supply some materials and we are working with them to get e 100 brushed to the Beta Lake Trail head.

Only trace amount of snow at cabins with this mild weather. Went up to the Lunchspot two weeks ago and there was @ 8 inches of snow there.

Knucklehead (Alpha, Beta, Gamma)

2008-11-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

The road to Alpha Beta Gamma and the start of the Knuckleheads trail was in passable shape. It could use some care. The alders will scratch at the sides of a 4x4 but quads would be ok. The road (E 100 I think) only had wet snow on it the last couple of km. We drove to about 1 km from the trailhead. The snow was very wet and was melting. If it stays warm a couple of more days the road will be passable to the trailhead. If it freezes up there and snows more only really skookum vehicles will get through.

The trail was in good shape. At the beginning there are a couple of steep slippery places but the rest was fine. I did wear snow shoes and recommend them after the first km of trail under present conditions. The snow stayed wet all the way to the top of the smaller Knuckle. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to walk from the parked 4x4 to the top. It was foggy and misty with the occasional "window view".

I tagged the trail with green ribbons here and there where the trail was not obvious.
IF you go there bring snowshoes. If it freezes hard bring crampons. Funny to see a melt this time of year.

Peter Behr

PS I found a BC license plate: 799GTR. Whose is it?

Emma Lake trail as of Nov. 23, 2008

2008-11-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

The road to Emma Lake trail was in good shape and had no snow on it. There is still that stream to cross but water is low.

The trail was in good shape at the beginning, one tree down, but as the trees thinned out the snow got deeper to 1/2 meter towards Maria Lake. I did not bring snow shoes so the walking got tiring. I turned back but really enjoyed the beauty of a snowy, winter walk with lots of great views of Mt Alfred and Mt Slide.

I tagged the bottom 1/3 of the trail with yellow ribbons on the way down. IF you go there bring snowshoes and a few people so you can take turns breaking trail.

Peter Behr

State of the Trails as of Thanksgiving

2008-10-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

We have now finished clearing all 180 km of the Sunshine Coast Trail as of January 2008. Some sections had not been brushed for a few years, and this year, everything is now up to date. We are installing more and more markers and signs, most recently working in the Smith Range.

Some friends are heading south, but some have misplaced their family. Snowgoose amongst Canada geese.

Elk Lake Loop

2008-09-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

September 20, 2008 - We tried to hike the Elk Lake Loop. We drove up the road to Granite Lake and stopped at the giant ditches.
Then we hiked up the road to Granite Lake and past it taking the left fork which is a quad road and has a skookum bridge over the stream that feeds Granite Lake.
We followed the quad road , missing the right turnoff for the old SCT, and continued to Elk Lake which is beautiful. There is only 1 muddy spot near the lake.
Had lunch at a picnic table near the Lake and wanted to hike back on the eastern spur of the loop BUT....the trail is heavily overgrown and one would get soaked by the dew on the berry bushes and alders. Then I remembered that even a couple of years ago this was a really hard trail pushing throug the brush growing on an old logging road. So we turned back and took the quad road. It's too bad because I like loops better that going in and out on the same trail. As well when the conditions are right it used to be a wonderful loop to cross country ski in winter as it only has a couple of steep places (after the climb to Granite Lake).
(I know of only a few good cross country ski places around here; the Green Road, the Bunsters, E branch to cabin, and A branch cabin)
Of course I have no right to complain as I am not one of the hardworking people that makes and clears these trails.
But I do suggest that on the next map and SCT book it no longer be called the Elk Lake Loop and the eastern trail be dropped off the maps as bush wacking would be easier in places than the eastern Elk Lake Loop trail.

Peter Behr

Knuckleheads: A and E Branch

2008-09-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

The bridges at E Branch are going to be replaced, the lower bridge by the gate will be with a rail car. The upper one that is falling into the creek will be a ford. We will need to build a foot bridge this fall.
We plan to start brushing of trails in September so stay tuned and come out and help.
The project started on August 28th. The old bridge has been removed and they are working on cribbing next. The railcar is at the gate parking lot and they have the lock blocks at the bottom of E Branch.
E-100 has been brushed up to the old gravel pit, needs a lot of brushing to get to the Beta Lake Trail. Will talk to Western FP about including this into next years FIA budget, as to do this by hand would be horrific!!!

Ron Diprose

Freda Mountain

2008-09-08T06:57:00.001-07:00

Jervis Inlet

Today 4 of us went up to the top of Freda Mountain. The road is ok. A couple actually drove a 2 wheel drive car to the trailhead!
For the first time I tried the trail which starts at the right fork at the stream. This trail cut about 1 hour off my usual time but it is not marked all the way and one must look fro footprints in moss to find it. It is very steep and not for beginners. We did not get lost however.
There is no snow to walk on at all on either trail.
There is no water after the stream which is maybe 10 minutes from the trailhead. Bring water, I did not have enough to hike in this heat. The view is grand.On the way down we took the usual path as the other is so steep it would be slippery. The old trail is in good shape and very obvious, being well trodden.
Watch for Kiewett trucks and equipment on the roads, they work weekends.

Triple Peaks

2 weeks ago I went up to Triple Peaks. Goat Lake 2 road is in great shape as Kiewett is working there and they have fixed up the road. They were working there on the weekend but let us pass. The first couple of kms of the trail is a bit overgrown with alder but walkable. After that the trail is pretty obvious and good. I did some flagging at intersections and then when the trail breaks out to open rock. Not much snow left up here either. Lots of ripe blueberries.

The knuckeheads

Back in July I drove up E 100 to the Knucklehead mountains above Alpha, Gamma Lakes. The road was thick with alders and scraped the vehicle. I have heard they brushed it up to the gravel pit but the rest is rough. This is too bad as I consider this the easiest mountain hike in the district and one of the prettiest. Still I drove to the trail head and had a great day. There is a circle route one can walk taking a right fork to hike uphill to the right of Beta Lake and go to the saddle. We went to the smaller Knuckle Peak as there was snow and ice there which makes the higher peak difficult. Then we came down on the diagonal cut above Beta Lake, on crapons. By now this should be all cleared of snow. The lake colour is beautiful.

Centre Lakes is another beautiful hike. The road has a couple of slides on it that are not drivable so that adds another 45 minutes or so. When there is no snow a nice circle walk is possible. Nice alpine country here too.

The road to Emma and trail are in good shape last time I went which was July.

Peter Behr

Tinhat West

2008-09-07T05:48:00.001-07:00

Keep your eyes open for elk. They've got the right of way.

During August and early September we have been working on cleaning out the West Tinhat Trail up from Fiddlehead. This trail with a serious vertical attitude snakes its way up the side of the mountain by way of sidehill runs and series of switchbacks that allow you to gain altitude on a gentle incline. This of course lengthens the trail but makes it relatively easy to make the necessary elevation gains.

Beautiful, but little known West Tinhat Trail is well worth making your way out to Fiddlehead via Goat Main, Spring Lake Main and Giovanni Main. The roads are good at the time of this posting, and there is signage. See earlier posting re getting through Fiddlehead onto the trail up to Tinhat.

At various times during the latter part of summer we've had Ron, John, Scott, Bruce and myself clearing this remote and amazing trail. We weedwhacked the salal, ferns, and various berry bushes that had encroached onto the track, and cut out and removed blowdowns that had fallen across the trail. For long stretches the track travels through oomphy mature fir forest growing on the steep mountainside. There are breathtaking views of the islands at the north end of Haslam Lake and the Giovanno Valley. There are lots of flags all along and the trail is now easy to follow.

We have reached the apex of West Tinhat Trail where it comes out onto the old Tinhat road which goes up the front of the mountain from the vicinity of Spring Lake. From where West Tinhat Trail emerges onto the old road it turns left for the last kilometer to the end of that rocky road. There it resumes on the well-trod foot path up to the summit. This short stretch has also been clipped again with a few years' annual growth cut well back with loppers. The immature trees are beginning to close in overhead to provide that welcome closed-in canopy that cuts down on the pesky undergrowth. It's well marked too. The hike takes about three hours from Fiddlehead to summit.

Bruce and Ron are checking out the area for the future shelter location. Lewis Lake lies immediately below while the rest of Horseshoe Valley with the Canoe Route stretches on beyond in the distance.

Near the summit you will find three orange flags at a trail junction. The spur continuing uphill takes you to the summit inside of five minutes, while the branch heading off to the east makes its way over a large flat and fairly open alpine shelf, then descends toward Lac Godeau, Sofia Pond and Cranberry Pond, and on down and around Lewis Lake. East Tinhat Trail takes about 3 hours also and is a scheduled September destination for the Weekend Hiking Club.

Whether you ascend Tinhat Mountain by way of East, West, or Old Tinhat trails going to the summit provides you with panoramic 360 degree views, provided of course that you pick a sunny day. There are no ropes required to do this hike from either direction. This pre-eminent of Powell River mountain trails is usually hiked best in the fall, as the flies have disappeared by then. Drink in the views.

Confederation Cabin

2008-08-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

View of Confederation Lake from Confederation Cabin back towards Pearson Pass where the Sunshine Coast Trail comes up from Inland Lake and Powell River.

About Confederation Cabin: the cabin itself is structurally sound and attractive from the outside.

But once you enter be prepared to wade through garbage.

A recycler could make a fortune returning the wine and whiskey bottles that have accumulated with the advent of an ATV trail that has been punched into the proximity of Confederation Lake down from Mahony Main.

It's not likely that the folks who created this mess will clean it up, as they appear to be in the business of making it grow. So to make this wonderful cabin and potentially valuable recreation/tourism resource useable again will take some effort. This lake and its cabin are part of Inland Lake Provincial Park as well. We have contacted BC Parks, and now that they have become aware of the conditions they have committed to clean up the cabin in the next couple of weeks. A missing stove pipe needs replacing as well.

This coming Sunday, a group of hikers have made this cabin their destination, but they will likely not be impressed favourably. We look forward to tidy conditions once again and extend our thanks in advance.

March Lake and Fiddlehead Trails

2008-08-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

View of East Tinhat Ridge seen from Lewis Lake campsite

After two seriously rainy days the fabulous summer weather we've been experiencing during July has returned in full force for the BC Day long weekend, with more of it being forecast into the foreseeable future. We celebrated our third annual BC Day Camp Out at Lewis Lake by cleaning out the first two km of the March Lake (SCT). Scott, John, Ron, Carol and I re-established this level trail that allows you to walk side by side, a conducive configeration to conversation.

Last year after the trail buffer protections we had negotiated in the Stillwater Pilot had been nullified by government, we were once again negotiating. The March Lake Trail buffer was on the operating table. Western Forest Products consulted with us as to how much of the buffer they would leave. We had a handful of meetings and a field trip to try to limit the damage. Finally we agreed that the historic railroad grade would continue to be the location of the March Lake Trail, but that some small sections of it were going to get logged, while other sections would get a 25 m buffer on either side, and that about 400 m of it would get covered over by the new "narrow" logging road, which afterwards would be re-established as the trail.

After a visit in the field on the long weekend it appeared initially that more logging along and on top of the trail was being contemplated than what we had agreed to. But after a meeting with Western this week the situation was explained. The woods were shut down suddenly before logging was finished and the site was cleaned up.

While a rootball the size of a cabin was dumped on one of the entrances, and felled trees were decked all along the road five to ten feet high I was assured that this entanglement will be removed and the entrance will be made as nice as the other side by the contractor when they go back into the bush after the shut-down.

Scott's feet are on the trail, and behind him are roots, logs and debris piled ten feet high.
For now hikers can drop below the rootball and get around it back onto the trail that re-enters the woods. We were also promised that a buffer would be left on either side of the trail where it re-enters the woods and heads toward the Big Bend to the west.

Elsewhere at the crossings consideration was given to tourism where the trail is easily accessed on the opposite side of the road and the disturbed ground was leveled out and even hydroseeded making it a breeze to get back onto the trail on the other side of the road.

A gentle transition from road surface to trail surface - hydroseeded green patch on the right. Now that's more like it.

We appreciate the commitment given by Western to take into consideration recreation/tourism values that are important for helping diversify the local economy. Western has also committed to make the edge of the buffer in one section windfirm by having a helicopter come in and taking the sail out of the tree tops. That is very much appreciated. It will diminish the chance of blowdown of trees exposed to the prevailing winds, and that will help the trail of course.

Fiddlehead Trail: On Sunday we ascended Fiddlehead Trail from the valley up the ridge toward Confederation Lake. We cleared three kilometers of this trail climbing, sawing and snipping up to the 400 m level to the Goat Island viewpoint. Though many trees were down, most were smallish and no real problem stepping over them, or in some cases around.

On Tuesday Bruce, Ron and I returned to clear and remark the remainder of the Fiddlehead Trail up to Confederation Lake. Although we got an early start, the heat followed us up the mountain as we removed debris, cut through logs and hung more ribbons. We finished after a late lunch at the cabin and now the SCT is cleared through from Sarah Point to Fiddlehead Farm, including the entire section through Inland Lake Provincial Park, a lovely hike through a vibrant forest with periodic views, a high elevation lake, and significant old growth.

March Lake Temporary Reroute: The March Lake Trail of course is not navigable for the time being. Hikers must use the alternate route which is accessed 200 m farther south on Spring Lake Main down from the March Lake trailhead. This shorter temporary reroute uses the old Alaska Pine Road where it heads south off Spring Lake Main just short of KM 6. It is intersected by a logging road, and requires walking on a few hundred meter long section of another new logging road which eventually veers off up the mountainside while the old packed dirt Alaska Pine Road continues at elevation for another two km and then splits. Just at that point you will notice signage on both sides of the old road indicating March Lake Trail and SCT signage. Turn left to get off the reroute and onto the trail. It will take you through an impressive old growth Douglas fir stand near March Creek, and then on to March Lake and up the hill to Elk Lake and points south. Many other sections through the mid-section (Fiddlehead to Eagle River) are cleared as well but we haven't revisited all of them yet.

Confederation, Mowat, Tony & Gallagher trails

2008-07-31T14:04:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday Bruce, Ron and I cleared the trail up to Confederation Lake. Bruce and Ron also eliminated a few of the muddy sections along the lake by cutting rounds, and placing them in the soft spots, in effect creating stepping stones. Other mud holes received the punching treatment where lengths of branches were laid side by side and presto a carpet of sticks now lets you amble across a onetime morass. I ran out of gas about 200 meters short of the cabin and so it's clear sailing to there. Likely we'll start coming up the other side from Fiddlehead in the coming weeks.

The ferns grow taller than some folks in the clearing around the Confederation Lake Cabin. Beat your way through the ferns and enjoy a lunch at the picnic table and a swim at the swimming hole some 60m from the cabin as you continue along the shore line to the point in the picture above just beyond the cabin.

For the first time ever I have figured out (with help) how to put a map on the blog. For those of you through-hikers coming to Mowat Bay from the Shinglemill and wanting to carry on trekking on the SCT (Tony's Trail) you will have to use some of the town's paved streets to get around the private property on the southeast side of Mowat Bay which used to encompass the start of Tony's Trail. The new owner doesn't want hikers crossing his property any more and so we have a deluxe reroute laid out for you. Follow the map up Mowat Ave, left on Cranberry St, left on Tatlow Ave, left on Warner St and right on Grenville Ave up the Telus Road (at your own risk) and onto the access trail down to truncated Tony's Trail. Tony Point and Haywire Bay are just a little farther along that route.

Take good care in locating the entrance of this connector trail off the Telus Road because conscientious vandals keep ripping off our signs and obliterating the entrance with branches from time to time. Three new signs have been installed again and more new orange markers give you the sense that you are on the right path. The entrance lies directly opposite the level pull out at the edge of the cutblock where the road begins to rise again steeply toward the transmitter at the top of Gallagher Hill. Once you are on the trail it's clear sailing with all debris removed as of August 1. Enjoy a wonderful lakeside trail with camping and swimming opportunities along the way...

Peter Behr's high country report

2008-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

I did the Centre Lakes in June which was in good shape both road and trail. Crampons were useful.

View from the Knuckleheads in mid July

E Branch to Alpha, Beta, Gamma road bed ok for 4x4s but the Alders are really thick on roadside and scatched my Tracker and knocked off the passenger mirror. We did drive to the trailhead.
The hike was a bit slippery due to snow and crampons were useful. In a couple of weeks the snow will be gone This is one of the easiest and prettiest mountain hikes in this area. Hoping for a machine to clear the road.

Anyone know when Plutonic/Kiewit will allow us to drive Goat Lake 2? IT has been cut off due to falling.

Anyone going to Lockey's Table this Aug/Sept and want another hiker?

Women's Shuffle Trophy

2008-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Gail Swanson and Val Smith, recipients of the Women's Marathon Shuffle Trophy 2007 and 2008 respectively. Is this a case of good things coming to you if you wait long enough? We hope so. Better late than never. Ahah. Val and Gail seem to enjoy the surprise presentation of the new women's trophy during their hike up to Granite Lake. Way to go ladies. We will see you next year on Saturday, April 25th, for the 16th annual Marathon Shuffle. Stroll or run, it's all fun. Yeah, that's what we say now, ignoring the exertion.

Lost Lake cutblock weedwhackery

2008-07-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

On Friday Scott and Margot got back into weedwhacking mode and reamed out a green tunnel amongst ferns, salmonberries and poplars through the cutblock on the SCT section between Haywire Bay and Lost Lake. It's all opened up again and easy to get through. Thanks.

Grand Opening Little Sliammon Lake

2008-07-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 21, 2008 PRPAWS hosted the grand opening of the Little Sliammon Lake Recreation Site. The majority of the over 120 participants hiked in on the trail from the end of Sutherland Street in Wildwood while others drove in on the extended logging road.

As people arrived they walked the new reroute of the trail around the cutblock, admired the 72 foot long bridge, tested the 50 foot swimming dock, and marveled at the new Shangri-La with its picnic table, shelter, outhouse and tent site.

By 2:00 the James Thomson Elementary first nations drumming group under the direction of Betty Wilson called everyone together at Shangri-La. A PRPAWS director welcomed everyone. Next Chief Walter Paul spoke and blessed the new recreation site. Then Regional District Chair Colin Palmer, Mayor Stewart Alsgard, and Tla'Amin Timber Products representative addressed the crowd. Roger Taylor, intrepid godfather of the BOMB Squad, drove in the last spike affixing the plaque commemorating the grand opening of the new recreation site.

MLA Nicholas Simons elected not to speak, but to play his cello instead. The melodies drifted out over the lake and added to the festive atmosphere, which was further enhanced by the Riffraff Kathaumixw Choir with their spiritual rendition of Total Praise. Then it was time to eat, drink and look around some more.

Here is the ad we placed in the Peak newspaper to thank the supporters:

Thank you!

PRPAWS wishes to thank the following organizations and businesses for their support in establishing the new Little Sliammon Lake Recreation Site:

Tla’Amin Timber Products, Sliammon Band, Goat Lake Forest Products and above all the BOMB Squad.

We also wish to thank the following individuals, organizations and businesses for their participation and generosity in making the Grand Opening on June 21 a success:

Safeway, Macdonald’s, Mitchell Brothers, Sliammon Administration, Laughing Oyster, Randy Timothy, Betty Wilson with the James Thomson drummers, Kathaumixw Riffraff Choir, Nicholas Simons, Chief Walter Paul, Clint Williams, Regional District Chair Colin Palmer, Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Roger Taylor.

Thunder Ridge cutblock section - AGAIN

2008-07-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Scott, Margot, Susan and I went to clean out the cutblock section of Thunder Ridge Trail (SCT) which is producing exhuberant growth and needed yet another sweaty sweep by Mr. Weedwhacker and crew, the third one this year. It will be perhaps another three or four years before the unstocked block will produce large enough alders to close the crowns and finally diminish the need for excessive clearance.

Someone had gone in ahead of us a few weeks ago and taken a swath of salmonberries and fireweed out. That made our task much easier and we widened the opening. We want to thank whoever it was that cleaned out this section. Much appreciated. It should be good now for the remainder of this year. We also put up signs and eliminated a couple of questionable turns so now no one should get off the trail.
(The picture of Freke Anchorage at the mouth of Toquenatch Creek - Okeover Inlet was taken from the viewpoint just 200 m uphill from the top of the cutblock.)

(Does anyone know the name of this insect? It was about an inch and a half long. Please advise.)

EXTENSIVE CLEARINGS

2008-06-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

The BOMB Squad and PAWS have cleared numerous stretches of the Sunshine Coast Trail since the passing of the winter storms, with some sections even having been brushed out more than once. From Sarah Point south the SCT is clear all the way to Confederation Lake. Many thanks to all the volunteers that make it possible for all of us to enjoy our front and back country.

On Thursday, June 12 we tackled the very confusing section in and around Fiddlehead Farm, which has been impacted by recent cutblocks and logging roads. Now, as you come down from Confederation it is once again easy to get through to Fiddlehead and through on up toward Tin Hat Mountain. The Fiddlehead Trail down from Confederation itself has some blowdown, but a recent party of through trekkers made it through with 60 pound packs on their backs. They reported some under and over type of activities. Once out of the replanted property of the former farm/hostel up through the lower flanks of Tinhat takes a fair bit of locating the markers in the rapidly growing underbrush, but once that lower area is traversed it becomes easier going on the switchback sections up toward the summit.

The descent from the summit of Tinhat down the east ridge was easy enough for the party because there was still snow and the hiking club who knew where to go had just been through a week earlier leaving tracks in the snow that the trekkers could follow. We emphasize that the east ridge is not yet opened and strongly recommend following the old way down on the rubbly old road until we have the grand opening which will be some time later this summer or early fall.

Western Forest Products has not completed logging of areas that impact the first two kilometers of the March Lake section of the SCT and thus hikers are advised to take the reroute shortcut on Alaska Pine road, which begins 200 meters south of the March Lake trailhead near KM 6 of Spring Lake Main basicly kitty corner to Spring Lake/Lewis Lake trailhead on Spring Lake Main. The Alaska Pine road is marked and has now been cleared of blowdown by the logging company and you can get through to March Lake by following the SCT temporary signage. Where the SCT intersects Alaska Pine road turn left and you are then back on the SCT proper. We don't know the condition of the rest of March Lake trail up from that lake yet, but will know shortly and will report back to you in a follow-up posting.

This year spring has been some three to four weeks late. The snow is finally beginning to disappear off the higher elevations such as on the Tin Hat, the Smith Range and the Mount Troubridge sections of the SCT and the conditions on these sections are unpredictable. For example, Walt Hill was still in deep snow this past Sunday when the Hiking Club found their way along the top past Radio Hillton. Still, the melting snow will soon allow us to turn our attention to getting the higher elevation section in good shape as well in the coming weeks. However, for now keep to the lower sections to avoid getting turned around.

The sections south of the Smith Range from Suicide Pass down to Eagle River are cleared and from there along Lois Lakeshore to Creek Four is also open. We have no reports yet as to how the upper sections of Mount Troubridge are like, but we can see the snow from afar at the top. Perhaps it's clear to Elephant Lake. From Rainy Day Lake and on down to Fairview Bay and Saltery Bay are also traversable. The Wednesday Hikers are doing the Fairview Bay Trail tomorrow.

We are beginning to see through hikers do the length of the trail from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay. During last weekend's Sarah Point to Lund Cruise and Hike we were fortunate to meet up with two trekkers from Alberta who are intending on doing the whole of the 180 km long Sunshine Coast Trail and have allowed two weeks for their trek. We have been in touch with them and they are making good progress. Today Monty and Kevin are on Tin Hat Mountain with blue skies all around and awesome full circle panoramas. They say they're loving it, and are making better progress than they had anticipated. I'd say they're kicking butt. We appreciate their willingness to report back to us which sections need our attention. This will allow us to concentrate on the areas first which have blowdown obstructions .

Kevin and Monty last Sunday at the beginning of their trek at KM Zero of the Sunshine Coast Trail at Sarah Point.

Lita, Bruce and Ron have been busy taking a 28-member Victoria Hiking Club contingent who are staying out at Lund on numerous trails over the last few days. I met with the group last night and they emphasized that the trio's guiding has been very much appreciated. It just makes hiking on unknown trails so much easier, worry-free and pleasurable. Again, their thanks to the guiding trio, and our thanks as well. The Victoria club will also visit Fairview Bay, Savary Island and Texada Island in the coming days, enjoying our fabulous outdoors for a week.

I am now compiling a list of other trails (apart from the Sunshine Coast Trail) which are cleared. Here is a start:
Browne Creek, Hurtado Point, Atrevida Loop, Trinket Trail, Okeover Trail with Len's Loop, Wilde Creek Loop, Southview Ridge Trail, Switchback Trail, top half of Tees Kwat Trail, Millennium Park trails, all the Duck Lake Trails, Myrtle Creek Trail, Hammil Hill Trail, Hammil Lake Trail, Haywire Bluff Trail and the Canoe Route Portage trails.

Please let us know when you have information about other trails that have been cleared, or that are in need of clearing: prpaws@shaw.ca

Little Sliammon Lake

2008-05-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

The BOMB Squad and PAWS are spending their Thursdays at Little Sliammon Lake these days. Recent developments are virtual completion of the swimming dock and platform, the picnic table and shelter, and the outhouse.

Sarah Point

2008-05-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of Tuesdays and weekends PAWS and the BOMB Squad have been working on clearing the winter's blowdowns and whacking back salal and salmon berries between Sarah Point and Bliss Portage.

Myrtle Springs Trail - Edgehill

2008-05-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

Five of us cleaned up the Mrytle Springs Trail, from the top of the Blue Trail on Duck Lake Road into the thinned block in from Edgehill School. Need to redeck the boardwalk through the wet area. Derek cut two huge fir windfalls and we turned it into a log ride for the adventerous mountain bikers (not me)!!

15th Annual Shuffle

2008-04-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 26, the 15th annual Marathon Shuffle attracted 35 participants, including four Club Fatass runners from the Lower Mainland. The 29 km long Shuffle along the Sunshine Coast Trail from Malaspina Road to the Shinglemill saw both runners and leisurely hikers enjoy a cloudless day. Four stations along the way provided donated fruit, cookies and drinks, so hikers and runners could simply travel without a pack, and re-energize ever hour or two.

John McGrath and Angus McLellan took back the Tom Mills men’s trophy to Vancouver with them. Powell River’s own Val Smith turned in the fastest woman’s performance hard on the heels of the two ultra-marathoners, and will collect the trophy for that astonishing feat. Doug Hudson, not far behind, produced the fastest time for a male runner from Powell River.

Clusters of shufflers stopped at the vistas and took in the fabulous scenery, or the ladyslipper orchids (calypsos), growing at the edge of the well-marked trail. There was something for everybody. The boardwalk, bridge, picnic table and shelter being developed there by the BOMB Squad and PR PAWS astonished everyone passing through the new recreation site at Little Sliammon Lake. Another run is being considered for the Blackberry Festival week.

Times for the 15th annual Marathon Shuffle
John McGrath 4:16
Angus McLellan 4:16
Val Smith 4:35
Doug Hudson 5:00
Gail Swanson 5:05
Richie Tait 5:45
Marg Reckenberg 5:46
Ron Sellers 6:00
Lita Biron 6:11
Shay Wilson 6:50
Vanessa Fors 6:50
Phil Kemp 6:53
Jill Brewer 6:53
Craig Brownhill 7:01
Yvonne Langkjar 7:01
Mardi Lavirtue 7:09
Mary Miller 7:09
Susan Hill 7:30
Mia Jongkind 7:30
Joe Tait 7:30
Bruce MacDonald 7:35
Anita MacDonald 7:35
Rudi Vanzwaaij 7:49
Eagle Walz 7:49

Other registered participants were Bill Price, Eric McClinchey, Will Langlands, Janet May, Margot Glaspey, Susan Hainstock, Bill Chrysler, Shirley Zylstra, Carol Sellers, Ann Innes and Bob Innes.