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Golden Ears Provincial Park Series LbNA #10748 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jan 29, 2004
Location:
City:Maple Ridge
County:British Columbia, CAN
State:British Columbia, Canada
Boxes:3
Planted by:Secret Gardeners
Found by: CSB bc
Last found:Sep 20, 2004
Status:FFF
Last edited:Jan 29, 2004
British Columbia's Golden Ears Provincial Park Series #1
Nearest town - Maple Ridge, BC.
Degree of Difficulty - Easy

This 3 box series "Park Pooch", "Golden Ears" and "Alouette" makes an easy morning or afternoon outing. Take along a picnic to enjoy by the lake. Additional information and maps as to the location of the park can be found at the following website:

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/golden.htm

Golden Ears is one of the largest provincial parks in British Columbia, encompassing an incredible 55,590 hectares of mostly undeveloped wilderness. In the 1920s, the forested slopes of the valley became the site of BC's greatest railroad logging operation until a disastrous fire swept through the valley in 1931. It is also one of, and possibly the most popular park in the province. The park was named after the twin peaks of Mount Blanshard, which shine gold from the setting winter sun. Golden Ears lies in the Coast Mountains, north of the mighty Fraser River. It extends 55km north through untamed mountain wilderness to an impenetrable barrier of mountain peaks and steep-sided valleys that separate it from Garibaldi Provincial Park. Second-growth forests of western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir cover much of the landscape. At higher elevations, forests give way to alpine meadows and, at even higher elevations, permanent snowfields.

Once at the Park, enjoy the scenic drive until you reach and cross over the bridge at Gold Creek. If the North Beach campground is open, turn right and drive to the Visitor parking. If the campground is closed, you will have to park on the left, at the trail parking lot and walk from the yellow gate to the visitor parking.

The first box you seek is the home of "Park Pooch". From the visitor parking, walk into the campground and stop at the Information Kiosk. Check the map to find the gate that is between sites #20 and #21. When you get there, follow the trail from the gate, down, towards North Beach. Very shortly you will come to a notice forbidding you to light fires - with your back to this sign, facing down the trail at 120', spot a huge moss covered giant on the south side of the trail. When the Pooch arrived there, he turned left to explore the twisted and gnarled root before sensing a comfortable spot at 10:00 from the huge root. You will find him there, under the ferns and beneath a stone. Take care you don't slip!

Back on the trail, still heading for the lake, you'll be chasing a "wabbit", also known as "Golden Ears". Keeping to the main trail till you reach a clearing, circle around the old water pump and give it a try before proceeding over to read the information on the Renewable Energy in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Stop at the Long House, knock on the door and say Hello! Before heading over to the wood shack. From here you will spot a huge stump quite close, line this stump up with two others at a magnetic bearing of 350 degrees. “Golden Ears " is in his rabbit hole beneath the farthest stump.

From here you will want to view the lake
Lake formed by damming of the Alouette River and the subsequent flooding of the forested area. You can still see the tree stumps in the lake when the water is low. The lake and its forested surroundings were also the traditional hunting and fishing grounds for the Douglas-Lillooet (Interior Salish) and Katzie (Coast Salish) First Nations peoples.

Walk the shore, following it to the right till you reach the mouth of Gold Creek. From here the water looks so clear and green - you might feel like a dip, but if you do you'll end up feeling like your next quest: "Alouette"
Alouette is named after the French Bon Homme and looks very chilly !!
Leave the lake here, following a well defined trail up, but not very far. Take the left fork, where there will be "No Horses" & "No Bikes".
Enter the forest and stroll through the fallen giants. Gold Creek is below and to your left. Watch for the 1.0 KM fluorescent orange diamond, up & left.
From this spot pace 20 and look to the north for 2 old twins huddling with 2 new twins. Alouette is in the back side of the “back" old twin. Again, watch your step and tread lightly.

You're on your own from here, but following the trail, will circle you back to where you started from, coming out just above the bridge and not far from the first parking lot, or - down the road from the campground parking.