1. Baden Powell Trail (Lawson Creek section) in West Vancouver, Phases 1 through 5 (2020—2024)

The B.C. Mountaineering Club proposed a project to restore a two-kilometer section of the Baden Powell Trail in West Vancouver. The project was presented to West Vancouver Parks in 2019 and approved in 2020. The project parallels Lawson Creek in the West Vancouver Upper Lands to the Cypress Provincial Park boundary on Hollyburn Ridge.

The work is to (1) Improve and provide drainage channels. (2) Provide wooden or rock steps. (3) Replace or rehabilitate footbridges. The work will be completed over several years as funding becomes available. There is the opportunity to use volunteers, contractors and municipal resources.

Baden Powell work accomplished to date

A total of $54,828 has been funded to the project to the end of 2024.

Phase 1: $9,450 (completed 2020). Restoration using a mechanical excavator of 300 meters of trail including ditching, step construction, swale construction, trail bed rehabilitation.

Phase 2: $9,977 (completed 2021). Restoration using a mechanical excavator of 300 meters of trail including ditching, step construction, swale construction, trail bed rehabilitation. A culvert was replaced with a larger diameter. Volunteers brought in gravel and filled in a muddy section.

Phase 3: $17,519 (completed 2022). Restoration using a skilled crew of 400 meters of trail including trail bed restoration, construction of log and stone steps, replacement of rotted planks on a footbridge.

Phase 4: $17,833 (completed 2023). Replacement of two footbridges at the top end of the project.

Phase 5: $12,000 (completed 2024). We rehabilitated approximately 500m of the Baden Powell trail just south of Blue Genetian lake. The work included improved drainage channels, importing gravel, relocation of dirt and relocation of rocks to build up the trail base.

West Vancouver Foundation has provided project funding since 2021, contributing a total of $46,450 to date. Other notable contributions: GMR Foundation ($5,000), Estate of David Smail ($5,000), B.C. Mountaineering Club ($3,456).

Click on the Following Link to download PDF brochure of work done in 2020:  BCMF Baden Powell Update Project

• Spreading gravel in 2020 with volunteers Spreading gravel in 2020 with volunteers
• Baden Powell Trail—Lawson Creek section Baden Powell Trail—Lawson Creek section
• 2024 drainage improvements 2024 drainage improvements
• New footbridge replaced in 2023 New footbridge replaced in 2023
• Restored trail in 2020 Restored trail in 2020
• Contractor at work in 2020 Contractor at work in 2020
• Contractor at work in 2020 Contractor at work in 2020
• New drainage ditches 2024 New drainage ditches 2024
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The B.C. Mountaineering Club has a vision to complete a hiking trail between Lonsdale Quay and Squamish. The Lawson Creek section of the Baden Powell Trail is part of this visionary trail.

2.  Demon #3 culvert rehab, Demon #4 footbridge—Watersprite Lake Trail, Squamish

In 2020, the BCMF restored a culvert at Demon #3 on the Watersprite Lake Trail with funding from Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The culvert was blocked by a debris torrent and caused the creek to overflow and washout the trail for about 200 meters. The trail section that was washed out was also significantly restored.

Budget: $15,000—Completed October 2020 under budget.

Funding sources: $10,000 by the SLRD and $5,000 from the public including $2,000 from Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Squamish

• Culvert blocked, trail flooded and eroded Culvert blocked, trail flooded and eroded
• Project area Project area
• Trail bed scoured after floods Trail bed scoured after floods
• Longlining the excavator to the project site Longlining the excavator to the project site
• Before and after at the culvert Before and after at the culvert
• Debris pile at the culvert Debris pile at the culvert
• Removing the debris pile Removing the debris pile
• Removing the debris pile Removing the debris pile
• Removing the debris pile Removing the debris pile
• Culvert cleared Culvert cleared
• Culvert cleared Culvert cleared
• Trail bed restored Trail bed restored
• Longlining the excavator Longlining the excavator
• Project completion inspection Project completion inspection
• Excavator operator Excavator operator
• Restored trail Restored trail
• Ready for flight out Ready for flight out
• Flight out on fourth day Flight out on fourth day
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In 2021, the regional district provided funding in the amount of $4,500 to place a footbridge across Demon Creek at the crossing known as Demon #4.

Project cost: $4,500—Completed August 2021.

• Demon #4 footbridge Demon #4 footbridge
• Demon #4 footbridge completion Demon #4 footbridge completion
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3. Squamish Windsports Society outhouse

Project cost: $7,500.

4. Watersprite Lake Trailhead Outhouse

Provide assistance and funding to the B.C. Mountaineering Club to install a separation outhouse at the Watersprite Lake trailhead.

Project cost: $10,000—Completed August 2019 on time and on budget

Photos of the outhouse project.

 

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5.  North Vancouver Museum & Archives preservation of Mountain Related records

• The BCMF donated $1,200 to the North Vancouver Museums & Archives to curate and digitize mountain related collections. 

6.  Watersprite Lake Campsite—Squamish

• Provide assistance and funding to the BCMC to continue to improve the Watersprite Lake Campsite. This will include repairing current tent pads, improving the trail around the lake as well as adding further tent pads.

 Project cost: $6,000—Completed August 5th, 2019 on time and on budget 

 

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7. Fat Dog Creek footbridge replacement, Phase 1—E.C. Manning Park

The project was initiated by the B.C. Mountaineering Club in 2023 to replace a washed out footbridge on the Fat Dog Creek trail in Manning Park. The bridge selected for replacement is near KM 3 on the trail, at the base of a steep hill with a sharp 90-degree corner at the bottom over a side creek. The project cost is for building materials—steel I-beams and rough sawn timber, and transportation. The washed out footbridge presented a significant obstacle to skiers for many years, particularly as the average snowpack has been decreasing.

Project cost: $4,751

The bridge was funded by the BC Mountain Foundation. (A public appeal for donations on the Backcountry BC Facebook group netted $1,500.) Volunteers contributed 262 hours of labour, and provided own equipment. The volunteers were mostly locals from Eastgate next to the park, many of whom are members of Friends of Manning Park. BC Parks authorized the work under its volunteer partnership agreement with the B.C. Mountaineering Club. Roger Bean of FoMP perfected the bridge design on two similar bridges on the adjacent Cambie Creek loop trail, which were funded by BC Parks.

The project is an example of how initial monetary contributions snowballed into a significant achievement, the clearing of 5 KM of backcountry ski trail and bridge construction. The project helps provide resilience to the sports of backcountry skiing and snowshoeing in the face of reduced average annual snowpack. It improves safety on the trail by restoring infrastructure that has been neglected for many years.

Photos from Denis Lalonde of the final bridge, which was completed in October 2023.

• 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
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8.  Howe Sound Crest Trail North—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.) This project focuses on a missing piece that connects Mountain Lake to trails in Shannon Creek.

The BCMF received $9,000 from the Sea to Sky Gondola corporation in 2019 for the project. Authorization to proceed was granted by Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Work was done in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.

2019: Trail survey $616 (completed)

2020: Construction phase 1: $2,443 (completed)

2021: Construction phase 2: $2,966 (completed)

2024: Construction phase 3: $3,872

Budget: $9,000

Project cost (to date): $9,897

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9.  Centennial Trail Restoration

The project is to restore a campground and 30-kilometer section of the Centennial Trail between Manning Park and Cathedral Park that has fallen into disrepair and been ravaged extensively by wildfire. The work is planned between Monument 83 and Trapper Lake in the Pasayten River area of the West Okanagan region.

1. Phase 1 - 2021:
   1. Flag trail for trail crews
   2. Fly trail crews in to fall dangerous trees and re-establish the 30 km section of trail
2. Phase 2 – 2022:
   1. Prepare the campground area and remove dangerous obstacles
   2. Install boardwalks
   3. Install picnic tables and campfire rings
   4. Install wilderness outhouse
   5. Install bear proof food locker

Project cost: $58,753

Funding Provided by the BC Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program CERIP: $58,278

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10. Heather Trail restoration—Manning Park

The Heather Trail in Manning Park starts from Blackwall parking lot to Buckhorn Camp, and continues to Three Brothers Mountain and Kicking Horse Camp. It is a popular summer hike that passes through extensive alpine meadows with grand vistas over the North Cascades range of mountains. About one kilometer of the Heather Trail below its junction with Bonnevier Trail was repaired via a in need of restoration. The trail was deeply eroded and braided. BC Parks approved restoration and coordinated a contract to repair it using a mini-excavator during the fall of 2024..

Project contribution from BCMF: $10,000 

• Heather Trail Heather Trail
• Heather Trail Heather Trail
• Heather Trail Heather Trail
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11. Lizzie Lake Outhouse Construction

Project funded by the Squamish Lilloet Regional District and implemented by a BCMC volunteer work party that constructed tent pads as well as fabricated an outhouse. 
A helicopter was used to reach the Lizzie Creek Cabin with a prefabricated outhouse materials and a volunteer work party then constructed it.  Other work included cutting firewood, leveling some tent pads and general cabin maintenance.  On the trip out we will do some brushing work on the trail. Hiking in the area offers numerous peaks to scramble and spectacular lakes, alpine meadows and tarns. 

Project cost: $5000

• Tent pad building Tent pad building
• Clearing trail access Clearing trail access
• Firewood splitting Firewood splitting
• Completed outhouse! Completed outhouse!
• Work crew Work crew
• More firewood More firewood
• New bridge building New bridge building
• Outhouse on the move Outhouse on the move
• Outhouse materials ready to fly Outhouse materials ready to fly
• Preparing the foundation Preparing the foundation
• Tent pad construction Tent pad construction
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