Leader: Dave

The original April plan (Bowen Island) had to be revised because of work being done on the terminal at Snug Cove. The substitute walk was a triple loop in the vicinity of the Seymour River.

Eighteen of us — sixteen regulars and two out-of-town guests — met at the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR) parking lot. The main parking lot was full and several people made use of the overflow lot. Despite downpours in various parts of the lower mainland earlier in the morning, it was only slightly damp at the beginning. We admired the installation showing annual rainfall compared to water use and the map of the area.

Starting off, we took Homestead Trail, a fairly steep downhill. The forest is strikingly green and mossy at this time of year and the temperature was just right — refreshing!

At the end of our descent, we arrived on Fisherman’s Trail. To the left (north), the trail was closed due to mud slides. We headed south along the river. One of the attractions here is a tunnel through the rock on the side of the trail. There was much speculation as to the reason for it — apparently, at one point, it was intended for a water pipeline. Naturally, several people opted to go through it.

Most of us walked out onto the middle of the Seymour River Suspension Bridge for the view and then we all headed back up Twin Bridges Trail to the starting point. End of Loop One.

Before beginning Loop Two, around Rice Lake, we had a lunch stop under a gazebo.

The trail around Rice Lake is similarly green and mossy but with the added beauty of views of the lake between the trees. Surprisingly, although the parking lots had been pretty full and Rice Lake is a popular destination, we didn’t meet too many other people here.

Towards the end of this loop, we encountered a fishing bridge and a monument to Group of Seven artist, Frederick Varley.

We finished circumnavigating the lake and came off the Rice Lake Trail, completing Loop Two. Here, after a quick poll, four exited and headed to their cars.

The main group began Loop Three by heading up the Lynn Headwaters Connector, a wide, multi-use trail. Ignoring the temptation to stray off in the direction of Lynn Peak or the Lynn Loop Trail, we continued to the small parking lot at the end of Lynn Valley Road.

At that point, we walked down Varley Trail and along Lynn Creek to the park entrance. Umbrellas came out at times on this section when the rain started, as predicted by Carol. Passing a small collection of homes, we reached a pipe bridge and crossed over it back into the LSCR, passing the gazebo and heading into the parking lot to waiting vehicles.

Afters were at GoodCo, where we were joined by Jean and Julie.

Photos by: Angela, Carol, Jon, Michael