Parks Canada 2017 Admissions Gift to The World.

Here is a great way to celebrate the new year, not with fireworks, but rather with a walk in the park. 

On Canada’s 150th anniversary Parks Canada is giving everyone a present …. Free admission to Canadians and visitors from all around the world to all Parks Canada Locations from coast to coast to coast.

To order your 2017 Parks Canada Discovery Pass go to this site, click HERE

For all of 2017 this pass gives you unlimited opportunities to enjoy National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites across the country!

We congratulate the Canadian Government and Parks Canada on their sensitivity and foresight in granting this fine gift - happy anniversary. 

Profile - Laurens van Vliet - Founding Member

Lauren van Vliet ©

It's no surprise that our picture of Laurens van Vliet shows him centred in the middle of the frame taking a moment to refresh and drink in the view. This is a man of movement, precision and balance. 

I asked Lauren why he is involved in this volunteer grass roots project.

"Sports and the outdoors are playing an important role in my life. Outdoors activities include hiking, camping, canoeing, sailing, wind surfing. For sports, my focus continues to be Cross Country Skiing, competing in BC, Nationally and Internationally.I am promoting active living, and was selected an Olympic Torch Bearer for Agassiz for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. 

Over the years, I have hiked the local mountains surrounding Agassiz, and I have started to appreciate their beauty. My interest in developing a trail network on Green Mountain is for other people to enjoy the beautiful nature locally while being involved in hiking as a healthy activity."

Our Vision

The enjoyment of the diverse beauty of the Coastal forest in the Eastern Fraser Valley and the appreciation of it through non-motorized experience on a network of trails.

Our first project concerns the creation of a non-motorized mountain trail connecting Harrison Hot Springs, Agassiz and Seabird Island.

A Winter's Trail

For some the arrival of snow means that, finally, hiking can get converted into snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Imagine a local trail system that brought year round adventures in the peaceful woods. That sort of trail is exactly what our Agassiz to Harrison to Seabird initiative hopes to provide. 

The Dust of Snow

by Robert Frost

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of the day I had rued.

Stephen Mullock © Winter Hat

Large Hiking Body on Track With Trail

The largest, local, hiking group, Hermann's Hiking Group has come out in full support of a proposed new trail that will link Agassiz, Harrison and Seabird Island. President, Ken Burningham organizes, with his buddy Roberto, weekly local hikes for fellow trail enthusiasts that number above 250 people. His letter of recommendation and support is below.

Listen to Ken's podcast of the history and growth of the Hermann's Hiking Group.  If you are interested in hiking with the Hermann's Hikers contact Ken through their facebook page.

Thank you Ken and Hermann's Hiking Group for this support.

Ken, John and Roberto - Lady Peak©

22nd November 2016.

To whom it may concern,

Hermann’s Hikers are a local group of hikers based in the Agassiz Harrison area.

We have a data base of over 250 hikers and we specialize in Day Hikes mostly in the east end of the Fraser Valley, Coquihalla Highway, Fraser Canyon and Manning Park.

We generally hike each week in all weathers. We are a committed group who finds enjoyment in our beautiful local countryside.

I understand there is a plan to make a new trail between Agassiz and Harrison with a connection to Seabird Island.  This is an excellent idea as it will facilitate the connection between the communities and it will enhance recreation in the local area.

Our group fully supports the Bear Mountain Trail Society and will lend assistance as and when needed. Feel free to contact me in the future should you need further assistance.

Yours in Hiking,

Kenneth Burningham.
President of Hermann’s Hiking Group. 

Profile - Debbie Hansen - Founding Member

With a smile that breaks like sunlight on a cloudy day, Debbie Hansen brings her enthusiasm to our group. Behind that smile are two unflinching eyes, unafraid to consider the state of the natural environment & social fabric of this world and help bring justice to it. She can be a force to contend with. I asked her for a bit about her background and why she's involved with the Bear Mountain Trail Society.

Debbie Hansen ©

"I am a retired school psychologist, living in HHS, and enjoying the outdoor life here through hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and walking.  I am involved with this project because after hiking trails all over the southern part of B.C. I have great respect and gratitude for trailblazing that has been done and that I enjoy.  I wanted to give back, and it couldn’t be better than to develop a trail literally in my own back yard, where I don’t have to drive far to be in a beautiful forest."

Post a comment about Debbie below. 

Interested in joining our group or providing financial support? Please use the contact form in the right hand column of this website and send us a note.

Profile - John Coles - Founding Member

I have hiked with John Coles on numerous occasions and took the following picture on one such outing to Zoa Peak earlier this year. With a wealth of knowledge about our coastal forest and a lively spirit he is the type of company you want to keep on those long hikes. He followed his father's interests and used to work these same forests with the BC Forest Service before retiring.  The same passion is found, passed on again, in his sons and daughter. 

(John has since informed me that his grandfather was a BC Forest Ranger - giving the Coles family a combined 98 years of coastal forest experience).

John Coles Zoa Peak Hike

A great story teller, I particularly like John's tale about his daughter Christine's move to Victoria, BC. Asked if she felt at home already in Victoria, she replied no, there were still many plants in the forest she could not identify...Yet.  This connection to the natural world I found revealing to both of them.  Not surprisedly, John has an almost spiritual affinity to our deep woods.   

Stephen Mullock


In John's own words....

I have hiked trails on four of the six continents of the world. And have spent about 61 years hiking in B.C.   I have been bushwhacking the last five years in and around Green/ Bear Mountain.  It is now time for some nice trails for others to enjoy what I have seen.

I feel I am One with The Great Outdoors. I stroll the Green Grind, I trail-run, mountain bike, back-country ski, alpine ski, cross country ski, snowshoe, kayak, and canoe all in my backyard playground.  The Great Outdoors invigorates me and humbles me.  I love walking through a deep damp green forest in the pouring rain or sitting in the hot sun on tinder dry moss as balsam needles scent the air with aromatic oils.

I got involved in this project when I met another fellow on the trails who had the same idea as me but had a hard time finding his way.  We joined forces and I showed him the path to Harrison Hot Springs.  Mother Nature spurred me on when I at times I slowed in my quest.  In fact twice she sent a black bear to talk to me and steer me in the right direction.

The benefits of hiking is simply that I never have and believe I never will run into a person who is angry. 

Post a comment about John below. 

Interested in joining our group or providing financial support? Please use the contact form in the right hand column of this website and send us a note.

One Step At A Time

We started with a simple idea, to develop a network of trails through the local mountains and connect Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Seabird Island First Nation. 

Why?  The experience of hiking, we believe, leads to physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. We also we recognized that a greater appreciation of our natural world would be another important offshoot. Finally there was this sense that a physical pathway connection would strengthen these three distinct communities.

We realized pretty quickly that this simple idea wasn't so simple and that it can only be accomplished with the collaboration, cooperation and guidance of a diverse group including First Nations, many levels of government, Agriculture Canada and logging interests. So far, everyone has been very supportive.

Perhaps a larger task than anticipated but hiking requires that you take everything one step at a time as well. That is something we are quite use to.

Bear mountain is located straight north of the Agassiz - Rosedale bridge over the Fraser River. Shown  to the right in the picture below.