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Backpack to Silvern Lakes
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by Jim Easterday
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| Today, we'll see mountain goat, spruce grouse, and the tracks of deer, moose, black and grizzly bears. There is no better way to see wildlife and to appreciate our pristine forests and alpine areas than to hike (or cross country ski). The BV Packpackers have adopted the Silvern Lake Trail and today we'll all help cut brush to make the trail easy to follow.
Every Sunday, various club members volunteer to lead the group up and down our mountain trails in search of beautiful scenery, the quiet of the alpine areas and the exercise enough to keep us all in great shape. When the snow begins to pile up in November, many of the members switch to skis or snowshoes.
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Sign on the trail at the top of the cut block
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Where is the Silvern Lakes Trail?
It's on the opposite side of Hudson Bay Mountain from Smithers.
We're going to drive up the Hudson Bay Road (Ski Hill Road) from Smithers for 14.9 km from Highway 16, and turn left (west) on the McDonnel Lake Forest Road. Just before the 10 km sign on the McDonnel road, we'll turn right at the Silvern Lakes Trail sign and drive on a short dirt road to a parking lot in a forest cut block.
From there, we will follow the same old logging road across a creek and to a landing at the top of the cut block. Look for the red flagging that signals the start of the trail through tall replanted pine trees. After a 1/2 hour hike from the parking lot, we will be at the upper edge of the cut block and you will see where the trail continues through old growth forest.
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