We continue to welcome ideas from the public or organized groups for projects. However, the B.C. Mountain Foundation is a funding organization. Projects must be presented to the BCMF with a budget, and be authorized by the province. A volunteer leader for the project must be identified. We rely on donors to fund the projects. Approved projects are those that have been authorized by the regulatory authorities and approved by the B.C. Mountain Foundation but may still require additional donations to proceed.

1. Watersprite Lake, new trail from campsite to Dread col

The B.C. Mountaineering Club manages the Watersprite Lake Recreation Area for Recreation Sites and Trails BC under an agreement. The club administers the campsite at Watersprite Lake and hires rec site custodians. The club also has a licence of occupation for the club's Watersprite Lake hut at the west end of the lake.

RSTBC approved construction of a new summer hiking trail from the campsite to the col east of the lake (unofficial name "Dread col"), which will provide hiking access to Watersprite Tower, and Dreadnought Peak. The trail will begin at the campsite and rise 200 meters to the col over a distance of one kilometer.

The trail will be built to a Type III or IV standard, per chapter 10 of the B.C. Ministry of Forests' Recreation Manual. Type III trails are single-file, up to 3/4 meter in width. Type IV is up to 1/2 meter in width.

We expect the trail to be popular with campers. The campsite has twenty pads for up to four persons per pad. It is opens between Canada Day and Thanksgiving long weekends. On good weather weekends, hundreds of people hike to the lake during summer and early fall.

The club will be flying contractors into the work zone in early summer of 2025 for a site inspection to enable contractors to prepare bids. The B.C. Mountain Foundation has set aside funds for the site inspection. We expect the club to receive detailed bids shortly afterwards. Upon contractor selection, the work will commence, hopefully by late summer 2025.

Budget ballpark: $70,000.

We have received strong commitments from two organizations for $30,000. That is a strong beginning. Let's close the remaining $40,000.

• Route and profile Route and profile
• Looking west to Watersprite Lake Looking west to Watersprite Lake
• Aerial view of the east end of Watersprite Lake Aerial view of the east end of Watersprite Lake
• Birds eye view of the route Birds eye view of the route
• View of the route from across the lake View of the route from across the lake
• Looking down the route to the campsite Looking down the route to the campsite
• Looking down the route halfway up Looking down the route halfway up
• Yellow line shows route. Watersprite Tower. Yellow line shows route. Watersprite Tower.
• Dread col is in the centre of the picture. Dread col is in the centre of the picture.
• Looking back down from the col area. Looking back down from the col area.
• Looking across from Watersprite Tower. Looking across from Watersprite Tower.
• Campsite outhouse. Dread col at the top. Campsite outhouse. Dread col at the top.
•  

2. Baden Powell Trail (Lawson Creek section) in West Vancouver, Phase 6

We are looking for phase 6 funding to work on the upper section of the trail.

Budget: $20,000

3. Fat Dog Creek footbridge replacement, phase 2—E.C. Manning Park

This project was initiated by the B.C. Mountaineering Club in 2023 to replace three washed out footbridges on the Fat Dog Creek trail in Manning Park. The first bridge was replaced in 2023. A further two footbridges are in need of replacement. The work in 2025 will replace one footbridge.

Budget: $8,000.

This project is fully funded.

• New footbridge replaced in 2023 New footbridge replaced in 2023
• Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 Footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Trail maintenance 2022 Trail maintenance 2022
• Fat Dog Trail—project area Fat Dog Trail—project area
• Washed out footbridge #1 Washed out footbridge #1
• Washed out footbridge #3 Washed out footbridge #3
• Main access bridge over Similkameen River, in bad shape Main access bridge over Similkameen River, in bad shape
• ATV access to footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023 ATV access to footbridge #2 replacement, summer 2023
• Temporary footbridge #2, fall 2022 Temporary footbridge #2, fall 2022
• Ultimate objective, smiling happy faces—upper Fat Dog Ultimate objective, smiling happy faces—upper Fat Dog
•  

 4. Howe Sound Crest Trail North, Phase 4—12 km east of Britannia Beach

The B.C. Mountaineering Club has the long term vision to extend the Howe Sound Crest Trail north from Deeks Lake to Squamish. (Or, coupled with existing trails, from Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver to Squamish.)

Phase 4 will improve the trail between Mountain Lake and Mount Sheer. Funds permitting, the trail from Utopia Lake to Mountain Lake will also be improved.