Mashiter Trail leads out of Garibaldi Highlands into the marvellous selection of challenging trails on the western slope of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
It is 4.8 kilometres long, running mostly under the powerline and through some second-growth forest, and almost reaches Cheekye River nearly opposite Cat Lake.
The trail has a wide path with a low sustained climb through cleared right-of-way under the hydro powerline.
Roughly midway along is SORCA’s kiosk – the focal point of this plethora of trails. Squamish Off Road Cycling Association (SORCA) was founded in 1994 and continues to be instrumental in the success of mountain biking in the Squamish area.
The organization’s mantra is to foster the spirit of compromise and cooperation among all trail users and stakeholders, and this has smoothed relations, keeping all eyes on the main goal of enjoying the outdoor experience.
More visitors mean more usage, means more maintenance, means more funding needed!
Please donate material, money or labour to one or more of the volunteer groups that keep the trails open and safe.
Squamish’s first post office
William Mashiter was born in Cheshire, England and moved to Squamish in 1890 after a few years in Vancouver.
He left Vancouver after his property was expropriated for construction of the CPR rail line.
He managed the Magee hay farms in the estuary before starting a general store that became the first post office.
The location was at the steamship landing at the foot of Winnipeg Street, which became known as Mashiter’s Landing.
This businessman was a strong proponent of education and was instrumental in the funding and building of the first school, Mashiter School, which was on the site of the present Howe Sound Secondary School.
Mashiter Creek – also named after him – runs down from the west slope of Round Mountain, and is fed year round by the Garibaldi ice field.
Keep bears away
Bears are out and hungry after their five months in hibernation. First, they need vitamins that come from plants and grass. Then, comes the need to replace lost body fat and that means eating all available protein, which they get naturally from bugs and small game.
But bears are opportunistic and invariably return to known food locations, which puts garbage cans and fruit bushes at the top of their revisit schedule.
Keep your containers locked and do not put them out the night prior to collection. Remove birdfeeders because feathered friends can cope without your help in the summer months. The lack of attractants will mean less nocturnal visitors. Don’t let a fed bear become a dead bear.
Beware of ticks
Unfortunately, ticks are slowly moving into southern B.C. The Lyme Disease zone has reached the Furry Creek area (See the BC Centre for Disease Control website www.bccdc.ca for more information).
Most tick bites do not result in disease or cause public health issues, but some do and it is important to avoid bites by wearing long trousers tucked into socks when walking through grassy areas. Should you find a tick embedded in your skin and cannot remove it or break off the head when trying to get it out, seek medical help as soon as possible. The Centre for Disease Control likes to receive ticks in a sealed container for analysis.
Be safe in our great outdoors.
