There is still work to be done at the Ancient Forest.
With the universal boardwalk complete, a plan is now afoot to install a 4,500-foot plank pathway around a loop through the rest of the site, Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club president Nowell Senior said Wednesday.
Although significantly longer than the 1,600-foot boardwalk that was opened last summer, it will take markedly fewer hours to complete, Senior said, because it will be only 17 inches wide and without rails.
"It's just a raised platform about four or five inches to protect the trail," Senior said. "There are just so many people out there now that the trail tread is suffering."
He's budgeting about 3,000 hours of volunteer work for the pathway, less than half the 6,800 hours devoted to the boardwalk.
Located 113 kilometres east of Prince George, the Ancient Forest showcases one of the few remaining stands of cedar forest within B.C.'s interior. Many of the trees are more than 1,000 years old and some are closer to 2,000.
The pathway, which Senior also described as a "root protection project," will be made out of rough-cut, large-dimension cedar provided by Midget Mills in McBride. There will also be additional interpretive signs and new directional and junction signs installed.
Materials will cost $27,108 and since December, Senior has been seeking support. About a half-dozen sources have either committed funding or are seriously considering helping out.
There already is enough material at the site to complete about 400 feet and 250 feet has already been put in place. Senior hopes to see enough secured to complete about two-thirds of the project by the end of November.
Some finishing touches are also in store for the boardwalk, adding up to a further 200 hours.
"A tree fell down over the winter onto the view platform at the far east end of the boardwalk and so we'll have to do some repair work there," Senior said, adding that more interpretive signs are planned for the boardwalk.
The boardwalk gives people in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues access to a section of the Ancient Forest.
Through Recreation Sites and Trails B.C., a branch of the provincial government's Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the area was designated an interpretive site, giving it a degree of protection in the process.
The branch has also been the biggest source of funding for projects at the Ancient Forest over the years, Senior noted.
Senior figures about 50 volunteers will be needed and hopes to begin work by mid-April. Those interested can e-mail him at caledoniaramblers@yahoo.ca.
