Hiking enthusiasts in 麻豆社国产will have a brand new trail to explore and call their own with the recent completion of the new Tricouni Meadows trail in the 麻豆社国产Valley.
Hedberg and Associates, along with Garibaldi Forest Products and the 麻豆社国产First Nation, recognized the ongoing damage that was occurring along the popular hiking route in the Tricouni Meadows area and felt a change was needed.
According to Abe Litz, a registered forestry professional at Hedberg and Associates, the old route was in poor shape.
"We identified and consulted with the public on this issue and everyone we talked to agreed that the trail was a mess," he said, adding that the muddy conditions were disrupting natural water drainage patterns and damaging vegetation.
After investigating options on how to fix the situation, Hedberg and Associates forestry staff located and designed the new trail location along the west side of Belia Creek. The objectives of the new alignment were to provide a permanent summer hiking trail, which avoids environmentally sensitive areas, while also providing a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.
Beaverfoot Resources, a 麻豆社国产based silviculture contracting company, was selected to provide the trail labour. The company is partially 麻豆社国产First Nation owned and about 50 per cent of the work force are First Nations members. These workers had been affected by the reduction of local employment available within the forestry sector and the Tricouni Meadows project helped provide over 1,200 employment hours for the crew.
It took a lot of hard work but construction of the trail, which began in mid-September, finished three weeks ago and Litz said it was tough but rewarding work.
"The conditions weren't the greatest with all the rain we've had this fall," he said. "It was a fairly physical job but we had lots of manpower to help finish it."
Litz added that those who have had the opportunity to try the new trail out seem to enjoy it.
"Everybody seems to be pretty excited about it," he said. "One interesting thing we found out was that an old school hiker said that we basically created a similar route that was around in the 1940s."
Litz pointed out that the creation of the trail was a co-operative effort between a number of different parties and said that he thinks it will improve the overall hiking experience in Squamish.
The new trail is located in the Tricouni Meadows area and can be accessed from logging roads in the 麻豆社国产Valley. It begins at the existing trailhead, 30 metres beyond the original trailhead and heads down to the left, leading to a new footbridge across Belia Creek. From the bridge crossing, the new trail follows the west side of the creek to the lowest of the Tricouni Lakes chain.
Vehicle access begins at Branch 200, which you follow for 37.8 kilometres up to the turnoff to Branch 250. The trailhead can be reached by following Branch 250 for 7.2 kilometres but it is recommended you have a four-wheel drive for this section. Litz added that many people will want to park and walk the last kilometre, which is very rough. He also mentioned that, budget allowing, some improvements to the access road and parking area will occur in the fall.
Litz pointed out that the trail is recommended for summer use and also strongly encouraged hikers to avoid using the old trail.
