Manzanita Hut Access and Visitors

During April and May a couple of PAWS work parties accessed the Gwendoline Hills section of the Sunshine Coast Trail by way of the Okeover cutblock. Final logging activities were finished in May. The owners, Island Timberland, are planning on restocking the cutblock in the next planting season. 

Where the SCT traverses a corner of private forestland the owner had agreed to leave a buffer trees along the trail.

Some trees had blown down in the buffer during recent wind storms and had blocked the trail a mile south of the Manzanita Hut. Above is a view looking southward from Manzanita Bluff toward 3 K Bluff and the cutblock.

Fortunately the Rhododendron Grove remained intact throughout the logging and the howling storms. The rhodos are nearing the end of their bloom, a delightful visual feast along the trail.

Bruce and Terry, part of the maintenance crew, are happy with the May Day results.

One more final check in the coming week will ensure that the trail is completely re-established and tidy.

Today, visitors from Terrace hiked up to Manzanita Hut from Malaspina Road and found the obstacles removed. Another group from the Lower Mainland and Davies Bay came up via Sarah Point Road and the Spire Access Trail.

The hikers were astonished by the sudden apparition of the hut in the woods. There were some light-hearted musings of living up on idyllic Manzanita Bluff.


Later that day this group of merry media moguls and tourism representatives met at Herondell B&B mixing with locals and enjoying a BBQ. They also got to sample the first locally produced beer from nascent Townsite Craft Brewery.

 

They seemed to have enjoyed their stay.

Finishing Touches prior to Shuffle

We have been putting the finishing touches to the Shuffle route.

A small bridge across a tributary stream below Toquenatch Falls received some new decking. The recent rains have saturated the ground, the streams and creeks are running vigorously, and some of the rich soils of the "jungles" are testing our claim of having the Sunshine Coast Trail 99% mud-free. There are a few soft spots that a hundred of the registered feet might expose, adding an adventurous allure for some of the shufflers.

For those who would prefer a real slushy experience just for the fun of it, we have a special section along Little Sliammon Lake where the beavers have been busy raising the level of the lake by nearly a foot and putting a stretch of the trail under water. This will be really fun. You can't miss it.

Well, actually you can, if you want. We built a 100 foot trail reroute that is high and dry, and will allow you to keep your feet cosy if you prefer that option.

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The latest addition on the SCT accommodations side of things are some surprise shelters.

 

The architects and builders of these shelters are unknown, but a minimalist abode such as this is something everyone should try out, at least once.

 

 These shelters come with fire ring, lean-to and privy, and have their very own je n'est sais quoi.

 Layers of hemlock boughs promise a soft and aromatic rest.

 Rear view of one of the idyllic Homestead Haunts. Come back and stay awhile.

Marathon Shuffle Sunday, April 29

For the last month and a half volunteers of the Tuesday and Sunday work parties have spent 150 hours to prepare the 29-km long Shuffle Route on the Sunshine Coast Trail for the 19th Annual Marathon Shuffle.  This event takes place on Sunday, April 29, 2012. A bus is available at the finish line at the Shingle Mill to take you at 8:00 am to the starting line at Malaspina Road. Cost of bus $5.00 - first come, first served. Start of Shuffle 8:30 am. Participants take part at their own risk. Click here to find out more about the Marathon Shuffle, and to register: http://www.clubfatass.com/events/marathon-shuffle


One work party, as the PR PAWS volunteers were working on grooming the trail, the Sunday Hikers were coming through passing here at Dogleg Pond.













Phil, one of the Sunday Hikers expresses his appreciation of having a trail cleared of blow down and groomed for a stroll.

On another Trailday outing Don is making short shrift of a wall of salal.

Jim is taking a breather from running the weed whacker at the Shangri-La swimming dock on Little Sliammon Lake.


















Now you see him, now you don't. No, Jim is not playing hide and seek. One of the many trees that were blown over in two very aggressive March storms pummeling the region fell across the the trail. First we cut the branches, then sawed off the top.

The Shuffle route has never been in better condition with first attention going to cutting out the extensive blow-down that the storms had brought. Many of the fallen trees were decayed and week, but others were vibrant, just in the way of violent gusts. That's the way of the forest. Day in day out.

Once the blow down was bucked and moved out of the way, we began with brushing back vigorously growing salal and salmon berry bushes, so wet leaves would not brush against the boots or running shoes of the Shufflers.

More of the orange-red markers, as well as wooden directional signs, have been put up as well. Additionally, orange arrows have been painted onto the trail at critical locations so as to help hikers and runners navigate the trail.

In the coming months we will carry on cutting out trees that have fallen across the trail. If you know of the location of some blow-down impeding easy hiking please get in touch with us so we can put them on the To Do list. 

Deer Creek Reroute Update

(on Smokey's Blue Ridge Trail section of the Sunshine Coast Trail)

Once upon a time before we knew what was what we designed the Sunshine Coast Trail in such a way that it came straight out of the Smith Range down through Suicide Pass and headed southward into the lowlands toward the bottom end of Lois Lake where we had to cross Eagle River. This was and still is some of the best growing land for trees on the coast. Some mossy century-old wood skid roads that had been used to take the first crop out of these foothills were ideal for our purposes because they ran in the direction we needed to go.

 

They were a trailbuilder's delight because once you had found them, and bucked and cleared out all the tangle of woody debris and dead-fall that obscured them, you had a lovely trail on which you could amble along.

But we caught on eventually, realizing we couldn't keep the whole of the SCT where we had located it initially some 20 years ago...

.... because the licensee had to make a living and liked the look of the stands of timber we were traversing with the trail.

 

This pressure increased. With much of the accessible old growth at the ends of the distant valleys now logged, the industry's eyes returned to the front country where second growth had aged sufficiently and began to look very attractive.

 

And so in the last half dozen years, we've had to negotiate reroutes for some sections of the trail. Naturally, it's meant more work, time and expense, but in the process we have gained final resting places for segments of the SCT, gained certainty for this increasingly popular recreation and tourism resource. Some of these reroutes have turned out very nicely indeed. Some sections have been relocated out onto rocky outcroppings that have provided natural vistas, 

and opportunities to try our hand at a variety of ways of making the trail safe and enjoyable, as here at the Stairway to Heaven in cutblock ST-245.

That's not to say we want to rebuild 180 km of the Sunshine Coast Trail. But we can see that sometimes it can be an agreeable resolution. It is work that absorbs significant amounts of time and resources.

Some reroutes, as in the case of the Deer Creek Reroute, a kilometre farther uphill from the Stairway, have benefited from the establishment of stand-level Wildlife Tree Retention Areas (WTRAs), or by being placed in riparian zones, such as the headwaters of this pretty little creek that now protects and enhances the integrity and viability of this part of the Sunshine Coast Trail.

We want certainty, and with that the ability to do long-range planning.

What has enabled PR PAWS to carry on concurrently with its hut-building program plus rebuilding sections of the 180 km-long SCT a second time has been the inspiring support we have received from dozens of generous volunteers in this community. We have been able to draw on the talented pool of hut- and trail-builders who have ensured the continued existence and success of the Sunshine Coast Trail. We are exceedingly thankful for their contributions. We are also thankful for donations from in and out of town.

Not only has this recreation/tourism facility given Powell River's residents and visitors opportunities to reach extraordinarily beautiful places via a world-class hiking trail (like Tin Hat above after a blizzard), but it has also aided the biodiversity and wildlife of this region. Seven huts now grace the length of the trail and a few more will be built this year and next.

The new Deer Creek Reroute (ST-232) winds along through a picturesque ravine, crossing and recrossing the lively stream four times by means of small bridges.  

The creek runs crystal clear.

To welcome hikers we have built a bench from native materials found on site.

Here Lyn is driving in the last spike of the skookum three-seater














that overlooks the falls.
 

Then he studies the fish-stream above the new bench.

On another trailday outing Jim is pounding spikes into the slabs that ensure we keep honoring one of our early and still quoted mottoes for the Sunshine Coast Trail - "99% Mud Free". It's more like 99.99%, really.

Of course we have also attached markers and signage so that users can feel confident they are on the right trail and are traveling in the right direction.












Here are two slabs ripped from a single downed cedar that had fallen years ago, but did not rot because much of it came to rest in the air. One continuous 18-foot cut provides the stringers for the uppermost bridge of the reroute.

Dipper gives them the stamp of approval.

First, Terry attaches the turfer (a type of come-along) to a tree on one side of the drainage and the stringers on the other. Then, while Ron keeps the cable clear and free, he starts ratcheting home the stringers with Don and Dipper guiding them.








One more mighty heave and both slabs are lined up almost side by side.

A little more ratcheting and lifting into place...

 ...and Terry is happier than a hot dog - and more playful than a puppy. Catch me if you can.










Meanwhile, Ron cuts two more sills to keep the wee bridge high and dry while Don steadies it safely.

The little bridge looks good and one last offending obstruction is being pummeled into submission.


 The crossing meets with Double Ron's approval.
























On yet another trailday outing Don and Terry seek shelter from the steady rain after having grubbed for a couple of hours. They will enjoy a somewhat dry lunch, before getting back to grubbing the new trail.

It took us 200 man hours during January and February to build the reroute, including the four little bridges, and the bench. A dozen different volunteers were involved in doing the work. We'll likely be back to build a picnic table in the coming weeks, but now we have to focus on the 19th annual Marathon Shuffle, which will take place on Sunday, April 29th. That popular event starts at Km 21 of the SCT at Malaspina Road and ends up at the Shingle Mill at Km 50, and so we have to make sure that this stretch of the Sunshine Coast Trail is spic and span. We are hoping to attract many hikers and runners to join the numerous locals. The Half Shuffle is getting to be quite popular as well and can be completed in a few leisurely hours.

Are you in?
Are you in shape?
It's a good time to start now.

Here three happy hikers approaching the finish line last year. Yeah, they are ready for some refreshments.

To get to the Stairway to Heaven and the Deer Creek reroutes of the Sunshine Coast Trail drive to Lang Bay store south of Powell River on Highway 101, and turn uphill on Dixon Road which is paved for the first mile. Just after the pavement ends near the last house (Last Chance Store) Dixon Road will rise and pass the gravel pits that are on either side. A hundred metres beyond the crest of Dixon Road pull over tight on the right for adequate parking space along the busy road.

A wooden sign indicates SCT North on the upper (left) side of the road, and a couple of red diamond markers indicate where you have to enter the trailhead. About a 20 minute hike will take you through an older reroute (ST-245) to a crossing of another logging road, Goat Main at Mile 4.

From there it's a short climb up to the Stairway to Heaven and on from there another 20 minutes to the start of the reroute. All in all it could take about an hour from Dixon Road to the end of Deer Creek reroute where it emerges onto Old Hastings Road. For now this is your turn around point because logging and road building (ST-235) is still carrying on above here well into April.

Western Forest Products can work out passage with trekkers (long distance through-hikers) as long as they are aware you wish to pass through on a given day. Contact WFP (604-485-3100) to make these safety arrangements.

Otherwise, for daytrips do turn around here at Old Hastings Road and rest a bit at the creek, look around, have a snack, keep hydrated and then head back downhill to the car. We hope you enjoyed your hike.

Terry and Don came back this week and started crafting the boards and sleepers for the new picnic table they are building. Another trailday and we'll be eating smokies by the side of Deer Creek.

Well here's another Trailday outing with Andy and Terry. We've fastened together the logs with iron rebar and ripped the cedar planks. They are making sure the planks sit nice and snug on the sleepers. 

Did somebody say time for lunch?

One sure gets hungry out here.












There were a fair number of danger trees in the vicinity of the picnic table that is obscured here by the split and stacked wood.

 

Terry and Andy assume a pose that is century-old. Like the woodworkers of old they show their value-added product. Good job, men.