by Kyle Wells [email protected] Rerouted sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail in the Powell River area have caused some confusion and misdirection for visiting hikers, prompting reminders for users to keep up to date on trail news.
As one of the most popular destinations in the area, the trails are frequently travelled by tourists in the summer months, a few of whom occasionally have problems navigating the route, which is prone to frequent changes and reroutes.
Eagle Walz, president of Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS), said a recreation map showing the basics of the trail is available for visitors but that it should not be relied upon for perfectly accurate trail routes. For more detailed information Walz recommends visiting the Sunshine Coast Trail website.
“There are inevitably changes on this trail, it’s not a static trail,” said Walz. “You may encounter some changes; a road has been built for instance and all of a sudden a road appears and that’s not on the map. That may confuse people.”
Parts of the trail go on private land and occasionally conflicts arise where landowners no longer want the trail going through their property. Around Mowat Bay, for example, an area of land sold by Island Timberlands could no longer be used for the trail, resulting in a two-kilometre reroute.
“That has caused quite a bit of problems for people, especially if they have not consulted with the visitors’ bureau or the blog,” said Walz. “The newer maps will show that in time, but inevitably something else will happen that will make that map outdated. It’s always a good idea for people to read that blog and familiarize themselves with as current conditions as we can make it.”
Volunteers are constantly working to improve the trail and trail markings, reported Walz, and some areas, such as Fiddlehead, have been greatly improved. Currently PRPAWS is in the process of placing over 10,000 orange fluorescent metal markers along the entire trail. Half of the trail has already been completed and Walz said that by the end of next summer the entire trail will have been covered. Ten areas identified by PRPAWS as the most difficult to navigate on the trail are also being improved.
The section of trail from Sarah Point to Powell Lake is the oldest and most frequently used section of the trail and is therefore the easiest to follow, said Walz.
“I also would suggest that people not go solo on the trail, especially if they don’t have developed route-finding skills,” he said. “I always hope that people get out there and enjoy the trail in good health and in good spirits.”
Tourism Powell River executive director Darren Robinson said that staff at the Powell River Visitor Information Centre are aware that the recreation maps do not show recent reroutes. However, he said this summer Walz has instructed staff at the centre how to properly inform visitors about updates. If a question does come up that staff can’t answer, they get in touch with Walz.
Maps of the reroute around Mowat Bay, along with a monthly newsletter prepared by Walz on trail conditions and reroutes, are also available at the centre for hikers. Robinson said the 180-kilometre trail is the most asked about activity in the area by visitors to the centre.
A new, more detailed map of 400 to 500 kilometres of local trails of all kinds is being developed by the Powell River Outdoor Recreation Users Group, of which Walz is a member. A first draft of the map has been crafted and a final map should be available by next summer.
