Well, my friends, I heard the ending of my last trail story was somewhat abrupt. I had to agree. I am a chatterbox and there are a certain number of words as my disposal, then its chop chop…sorry. I’m working on getting more disciplined.

This time we suggest a shoulder season hike, since it is a bit of a guess what’s going to be out there when this magazine is actually in front of you. Guessing at the snow conditions for February at the time of writing, Christmas) -- you know what I mean.

You can probably still take your snowshoes up Black Mountain, Hollyburn, Grouse, Dam Mountain and the Thunderbird Ridge or the peaks of Seymour. But, if for some strange reason the snow has been melting….

Let’s give Lynn Headwater another go:

We like this trail because you can do it short or long; enough to satisfy your desire to be “out there.” And, this trail is always a bit different, rearranged by nature, trees down, bridges gone and who knows… we have had a few storms lately.

To get there by car or public transit (Bus 228) follow Lynn Valley Road to the very end at the Park Gate. Your efforts will lead you to the parking lots and from there to the bridge across Lynn Creek. Don’t forget to go to the sign in box, do your thing, and off we go to the right. You follow the wide gravel path to the gate to the Seymour Demonstration Forest. Stop. Sharp left you find the entrance to the Lynn Loop Trail. A little cardiac teaser gets you right up onto your beautiful way.

The forest here is second growth. Large stumps tell of the 1919 logging history of this trail. On the right side you will see a trail marker for Lynn Peak. Wait for better weather for that one. Keep going a while into your hike you find on your left the steep descent down to the creek (Lynn Loop) -- beautiful but treacherous when wet.
 
So you better keep going through the rainforest, standing still from time to time to look up and let the beauty of it all sink in.

Further along, after some ups and downs, you will end up at a clearing known as the Second Debris Chute. If you’ve had enough, go to the logs down at the creek side to sit down for a snack and a sip from your thermos. Otherwise you can go on to Norran Falls which adds approximately three km to your trail.

Mind you, these are a very interesting three km, with parts of the old logging road under your feet and artifacts left for you to ponder. This seems a dark and lonely part of this hike, with a different beauty to it. If you add this to your hike, trace your steps back from the fall to the Debris Chute. Then follow the lower Cedar Mill Trail along the river.

At this time of the year the remnants of the old watershed and the logging history are not overgrown with greenery yet. Try to find them.

You should be back in five or six hours for the whole trail. When you come back to the sign-in board, don’t forget to tuck the other part of your sign-in sheet back into the box, you don’t want to start a search for you.

Check out the North Vancouver Outdoors Club website at www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca for more information about this area.

Olga Ottens is a member of the North Shore Outdoors Club.

Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Feb - Mar 07