The risk of forest fires has been steadily increasing over the last several years and the BC Government has stepped up enforcement and penalties for anyone who starts a forest fire. New regulations for campfires in British Columbia include:

• Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 meters X 0.5 meters (1.5 ft X 1.5 ft).
• Before starting your campfire, you must remove twigs, leaves, needles, and other potentially flammable material from the area around the campfire.
• You must have a tool to extinguish the fire. (ie. shovel, at least 8 litres of water)

These new laws apply to all camp grounds in British Columbia. Individuals caught breaking these laws will face a $345 fine and anyone caught intentionally setting a forest fire could face a fine of up to 1 million dollars or 3 years in jail.

As we continue to experience warm weather in British Columbia this summer, be sure to check the Wildfires of Note from the BC Government website and be sure to be extra cautious to avoid damaging our sensitive and beautiful forests.

Despite the lack of snow in February at higher elevations, the area received several late spring snowfalls and many of the trails are still covered. For updates on trail and campsite conditions in Garibaldi Provincial Park, visit the BC Parks website and view the Most Recent Trail Report.

Some of the most popular trails in Garibaldi Provincial Park include:

• Elfin Lakes
• Cheakamus Lake
• Garibaldi Lake
• Black Tusk
• Panorama Ridge
• Wedgemount Lake

Since the warm weather has arrived this week, the majority of these trails should be open in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the BC Parks website for updates.

With sunny weather in the forecast, it's perfect timing to take your camera with you hiking and submit your best photos to the contest. Win great prizes including:

• Momentum 100M/330FT rated COBALT V Watch Read more >>
• A gift card good for a pair of shoes from Keen Footwear Read more >>
• Icebreaker Base Layer Read more >>
• Mountain Hardwear Enterprise Day Pack Read more >>
• Osprey Hydraulics Raptor 6 Pack Read more >>
• Lowepro Versapack 200 AW Read more >>
• Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom Read more >>

Four prizes of $25 Mountain Equipment Co-op gift cards will be given to runners-up.

Enter the 2010 Vancouver Trails Photo Contest.

Those looking for a similar workout to the Grouse Grind can check out Lynn Peak in North Vancouver or The Chief in Squamish. Both of these trails offer a great workout but you will also have to hike back down the mountain after reaching the top.

Don't forget to bring your camera and take photos to enter into Vancouver Trail's Photo Contest.

Grand prize package of Hiking Gear includes:

• Momentum 100M/330FT rated COBALT V Watch Read more >>
• A gift card good for a pair of shoes from Keen Footwear Read more >>
• Icebreaker Base Layer Read more >>
• Mountain Hardwear Enterprise Day Pack Read more >>
• Osprey Hydraulics Raptor 6 Pack Read more >>
• Lowepro Versapack 200 AW Read more >>
• Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom Read more >>

Four prizes of $25 Mountain Equipment Co-op gift cards will be given to runners-up.

All entries MUST be submitted through the Vancouver Trails website by Monday, October 4, 2010 at 6pm PST. Photos must be hiking or camping related and have been taken in British Columbia. Preference will be given to photos taken in Vancouver or the Southwestern Region of British Columbia.

Vancouver Trails would like to thank their valued sponsors for their support:

Momentum Professional Sport Watches
Keen Footware
Lowepro
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Mountain Hardwear
Icebreaker
Osprey Inc.
Joby

For more information, visit www.vancouvertrails.com/contest/

Happy Hiking from your Vancouver Trails Team

• All sand on the South Beach may be underwater.
• The North Beach and grass area may be closed.
• The board launch, access road and turnaround may be closed.
• Sections of the Buntzen Lake Trail may be closed.
• Some docks may be closed.

If the water levels continue to rise, the entire lake area may be closed for the summer months. Please check with BC Hydro if you are planning to hike or visit the Buntzen Lake area this summer.

Both hikes can be completed in one day if you are inclined with the trail to Jug Island Beach being a bit more difficult and longer than Admiralty Point. The terrain and beach areas make these trails a great possibility for a family hike.

The town of Belcarra is located on the eastern shore of Indian Arm, about a 20-minute drive from Port Moody. Besides hiking trails, there is also a great BBQ and picnic area, bathroom facilities, and a pier and beach area near the parking lot.

This time of year it is very important to be aware of avalanches and to educate and know the conditions in the area before heading out. Trails in Cypress Provincial Park are open again after the Olympic closure, but the Canadian Avalanche Centre does not recommend going into the back-country at the moment because of high avalanche risk.

There are many trails at lower elevation on the North Shore are accessible year-round and include Capilano Canyon, Cypress Falls, Lighthouse Park, Lynn Loop, Quarry Rock and Rice Lake.

Heading east of Vancouver? Try Buntzen Lake, Tea Pot Hill, Pitt Wildlife Loop, or Minnekhada Regional Park.

For those looking to enjoy a hike in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics, we have gathered a few tips below. It is difficult to predict the impact the increase in traffic, changed bus routes, and added security will have on the city but these general tips should be considered if you plan on hiking in the month of February 2010.

Avoid Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and the entire Sea To Sky Corridor

Not only is the highway closed to non-Olympic traffic during the day north of Alice Lake but this should prove to be one of the busiest routes during the games as athletes and spectators are transported between Vancouver and Whistler. So, avoid all travel on Highway #99 the Sea To Sky unless you have tickets to an event in Whistler.

Avoid Cypress Mountain on the North Shore

Cypress Mountain will be hosting some of the freestyle skiing events and all trails on Cypress and near any of these events will be off limits to hikers. Also, the Grouse Grind is closed during the winter.

Fortunately, there should be some other trails that are accessible and open, although they may be busier than normal and getting too them may also prove to be challenging. A few trails that should be accessible include Lynn Loop, Rice Lake, Two Canyon Loop, and Quarry Rock in Deep Cove. If you are planning on taking a bus, check with Translink to ensure the routes have not been changed during the Olympics.

Head East to the Suburbs of Vancouver

While many of the nearby communities will be hosting Olympic related events and providing support and training facilities for the athletes, your best bet is to head east from Vancouver to communities like Port Moody, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, or Chilliwack. There are many hiking trails east of Vancouver, such as:

• Buntzen Lake and Sasamat Lake in Port Moody
• Minnekhada Regional Park near Port Coquitlam
• Pitt Wildlife Loop in Pitt Meadows
• Hayward Lake and Rolley Lake in Mission
• Teapot Hill in Chilliwack

Make sure to check the forecast before heading out and have a backup plan in case the trail is inaccessible or the roads are too congested from the increase in Olympics traffic. A little patience and planning could make for an enjoyable day away from the city during the games.

Backcountry and trail closures at Cypress Provincial Park include:

December 1, 2009 - April 1, 2010:

• Yew Lake Trail
• Black Mountain
• Howe Sound Crest Trail, including Bowen Lookout

December 1, 2009 - March 8, 2010

• Hollyburn Hikers Access Trail

February 1, 2010 - March 8, 2010

• The entire Hollyburn Hikers Trail

Additional Closures

• Cypress Mountain Ski Operations and Cypress Provincial Park will be closed to the public from February 1 - 8, 2010.
• From February 11 - 28, 2010, travel on the Sea To Sky Highway north of Squamish will only be allowed with a special permit during peak hours (6am - 6pm).

Visit the BC Parks website for the most up-to-date information on closures relating to the 2010 Olympics at Cypress Provincial Park.

Luckily, there are still many other trail options at your disposal. Trails on Grouse and Seymour Mountains will be open and if you want to venture outside the city, check out Elfin Lakes in Squamish.

To read the article (in Chinese), click on one of the links below:

Website Article

Print Article (PDF, 11.4MB)

For more information on this hike and others, visit www.vancouvertrails.com

Vancouver Trails has just added Lynn Peak to its trail database, which includes a map of the route, photos, a description, and directions on how to get to the trail. For more information, visit www.vancouvertrails.com