Lino and 1,along with my cousin Bev and her husband Larry from Springfield, Illinois, recently took a trip out to the Ancient Forest. The Ancient Forest is ranked number one of 28 attractions in and around Prince George and it is easy to find. The site is located about 115 km east of Prince George near Slim Creek and is marked by a large sign on the right hand side of the road as you head east on Highway 16. It is well worth a day trip out there for an opportunity to view an ancient forest in BC's inland temperate rainforest.
Although the Ancient Forest had about 15,000 visitors last year, we saw very few people during our visit; mind you we were out there in the middle of the week and at the end of summer and I might mention that it was raining.
On our way out of the forest we met up with a group of Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Club volunteers: Nowell Senior, Dave King, Rick Mlynarczyk, John Glass, Pat Kloster, Ron Neukomm, Tim Gardner, and Chris Thornhill. These eight men were there in the Ancient Forest on a rainy day packing 50 pound planks up a steep hill just to make the trails nicer for people like us. When I thought no one was looking I tried to lift one of those planks and believe me I couldn't do it. The planks are heavy and awkward to lift and I felt like an ambulance should be parked nearby just in case! The average age of these eight weight lifters is 67 with two of them being in their 70s. Trust me - after seeing what I saw I don't think you would want to arm wrestle any of them. I get choked up just thinking about how hard these seniors work to make the world a better place.
I spoke at length with Nowell Senior and I learned that these men and many others like them in their core group believe in their project and that they meet from two to three times a week to carry these planks and other equipment into the forest. The long term project originally started in 2005 and now the work consists of expanding, upgrading and repairing the trails. The plank pathways are built up off of the ground to protect root exposure and preserve the integrity of the Ancient Forest Trail.
Last year saw the completion of the 500 meter long Universal Boardwalk providing full access to the Ancient Forest. So far with this new project the group has built 2,000 feet of plank pathway 26 inches wide with another 2,600 feet to go until completion scheduled for next year.
Since 2005 the Ramblers have invested over 11,000 hours into the Ancient Forest Project, collectively driven over 104,000 km's back and forth to the site, and received over $240,000 in grants, cash donations and other In Kind contributions.
Nowell said, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our 72 sponsors in our community and beyond who have supported our efforts at the Ancient Forest these past 9 years. Thanks also to the best group of volunteers it has ever been my privilege to belong to - including Rita my wife and #1 supporter. We are all proud of what we have accomplished and we want to share it with you."
September birthdays that I know about: Christine Hinzman, Eva Werlberger, John Werlberger, Roberta Barnes, Jeannette Rogers, Marg Anklovitch, Ernesteen McNeil, Dave McGraw, Mary Crooks, Colin Blair, Vi Merritt, Alan Thorp, Werner Engler, Joellen Burgess, Pamela Cunin, Velma Wortman, Karin Burke, Nancy Thurier, Bernice Helsoe, Jack Rosevear, Irene Rigler, Mike Bundock, Len Shankel, Ernie Myers, Vern Wright, Bill Palmer, Betty Brittons, Brian Kelly, Louise Le Febvre, Ray Lougheed, Anita Robertson, , Winnie Mikolayczyk, Eldie Ward, Marie Sumners, Barb Jensen, Kate Ormiston, Marie Trew, David Milne, Mary Campbell, Doris Dahl, Larry Anderson, Herb Bosham, Kenneth Breum, Raymond Burgess, Avis Cassidy, Dan Clay, Emelia Cote, Brenda Dick, Leonard Dixon, Nora Dwyer, Yvonne Gunton, Marie Harmon, Annetta Harris, Joan Jack, Celestina Johnson, Benita Karlson, Lester B. Pearson, Jeans Roux, Velma Senner Dorothy Ware, Nora Valin, Bill MacIver, Roberta Barnes, Rino Fornari, Alberto Sultano and 95 years for Eva St. Pierre.
Anniversaries for September: 61 years for Rino and Rosa Fornari, 60 years for Jack and Louise Little, 50 years for Robin and Shirley Tutte and 41 years for Denis and Shirley Dunkley.
Anniversaries for August: 42 years for Diane and Paul Duperron and 34 years for Iris and John Frenkel
