It was an interesting exploratory hike in the Paskapoo Slopes area. The area was put aside for recreation after Canada Olympic Park opened and is well known to cycling enthusiasts. It consists of 30 or 40 trails of various quality – some 3 meters or so wide and other less than a meter wide and all are gravel or dirt. There are no signs identifying the trails , so a GPS or app is required for successfully navigating a route. The one used by the coordinator was an app called TrailForks, which identified a particular selection of trails (regardless of condition) in bright orange. It also provided an up to date location, so it was relatively easy to follow the trail.
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Paskapoo Slopes Trails

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During the hike, the group were asked (as usual) to stop at every trail intersection to allow the group to get together again , but also to allow the coordinator to determine the next segment to be followed.


Coordinator Taking Another Bearing

The trails were mostly snow covered and everyone used traction devices for most of the hike.



Obverse Trail

There were some sights to see along the trail. We first encountered some old 40’s era cars in abandoned in a creek. Apparently , one driver got stuck and another driver went down to help and he got stuck as well, so both cars were abandoned.

Abandoned Cars

The next sight was a giant Stupa, built in 2009 to commemorate the visit of the Dalai Lama.

RMR hikers emerge from forest portal to another realm. Aum.

On the way back we stopped at the Big Rock, a glacial erratic. This rock is the center point of a network of trails so it is almost always encountered on every sort of hike.



Big Rock - (upper) Carmie, Norm - (lower) Alice, Madeleine, Enrique, Margo, George, Carl

George provided a map of the route we actually followed. The last part of the route was taken in the early afternoon and by that time the trails had become very muddy.


Our Route on Paskapoo Slopes

This area will make an excellent snowshoe destination as well for those who just want a short trip or do want want a long drive.
Thanks to Norman (Photo), Madeleine (Photos), Carl, Carmie, Margo, Enrique, George (Map), and Alice for patiently waiting at each of the many trails junctions for the coordinator to select the next segment. Brian C/S/P