Tuesday, November 29, 2016

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.

Monday, November 21, 2016

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.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

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.