Spend a day at SCHOLARS, CYCLERS and solitary walkers are all equal- ly at home in the multi-use Seymour Demonstration Forest. That was made abundantly clear during the Capilano Chronicle's recent tour of the forest, which was conducted by education coor- dinator Abbie Milavski and on-site superintendent of development Tom McComb. Drivers can reach the demonstration forest by travelling along Lillooet Road past Capilano College and the North Vancouver cemetery and up the gravel road to the forest’s entrance gate and parking lot. At that point, the driving stops and the fun begins. An I1-km paved road stretches from the parking lot to the Seymour Dam and Hatchery, win- ding through cool green forest and paralleling the path of the Seymour River. The road, closed to public vehi- cles except during pre-arranged tours, is open to cyclists on the weekend. On weekdays, only part of the road is open to bikers. Along the way, bikers can stop off at the Mid Valley Viewpoint, or travel on to the cascading dam and Seymour hatchery. While walkers may not wish to venture as far as the dam, there are plenty of wooded trails closer to the parking lot that lead to the river or Rice Lake. Short trails also provide access to the adjoining Lynn Headwaters Park — no bikes allowed, please — and the Lynn Canyon Suspen- sion Bridge. The most recently opened path is the Interpretive Trail, an enjoyable and educational jaunt suitable for the whole family. INTERPRETIVE TRAIL JUST OPENED during Forestry Week in May, the Interpretive Trail has already proven popular. Explanatory exhibit panels guide walkers past Rice Lake and forests in various stages of development. While all the forest is second- growth, having been first logged in the late 1800s, some of the stands have been allowed to regenerate naturally while others have been planted and undergone extensive silvercultural treatment. Forests which have been spaced and thinned, point out the panels, result in healthier tree production and an environment more amenable to wildlife such as deer. Walkers also pass by a field which, from a distance, looks to be covered with blue wildflowers. A closer inspection reveals that the ‘‘flowers‘‘ are in fact photo- degradable plastic cages that pro- tect young tree seedlings from deer in search of an easy meal. Panels here explain the various methods of preparing a site for planting. The Interpretive Trail intersects with the Rice Lake Loop Trail, which circumnavigates the lake and joins on to both the Lynn Headwaters connector route and the main road to the dam. RICE LAKE LOOP ALTHOUGH RICE Lake is now surrounded by forest, its environ- ment was quite different in the not-so-distant past. In the early. 1900s, the Hastings Shingle Manufacturing Company operated a shingle bolt at the side of the Jake, and surrounding Western red cedar was. logged selectively. Fires, including :°- + 1910, have left their main on cite area which is still visible today. Until flooding damaged the Lynn Creek pipeline in 1983, the eight-hectare lake was used as a reservoir for the City of North young children. te Other trails lead walkers and fishermen down to the Seymour River. Cyclists and horses are allowed on the Twin Bridges trail, but it's walkers only allowed on the Fish- ermen’s Trail along the river and the Homestead Trail which leads back up to the parking lot. When walking along the river, look for evidence of past habita- tion — stone chimneys and foun- dations give mute testimony of early-century pioneers. SEYMOUR HATCHERY FOR THOSE bikers and amibitious walkers who are travel- ling to the end of the 11 km paved road — watch out for the black bear that has been seen recently near kilometre 10 — there are two treats in store: the awe-inspiring dam and the Seymour hatchery. Cons photo Terry Perera THE CASCADING Seymour dam, one of the three major dams in the GVRD’s water system, is just one of the attractions in the Seymour Demonstration Forest. A new interpretive trail explains forest manage- ment practices to walkers in a beautiful natural setting, and the Seymour hatchery is easily accessible to bikers on weekends. Both Lynn Head- waters Park and the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge can be reached by following along some of the demonstration forest’s numerous walking paths. Welcomes everyone to Edgemont Village JUNE DAYS Enter our draw for a $2 60° Gift Certificate with each ,. purchase over 25° on June 10 11 - Wednesday, June 7, 1989 - Capilano Chronicle “It’s getting to be quite fur out here on weekends,’’ commented hatchery manager Janice Jarvis. Because this hatchery is so much smaller than the Capilano Salmon Hatchery, visitors get a much more hands-on experience. On any weekend day, and some weekdays, staff are on hand to point out the rearing pens, in- cubating eggs and the young spawn at various stages of development. MOSS . Al the Seymour demo forest lt can be quite a sight to see the young fish battling and jumping for food when the hatchery staff or volunteers throw in a handful of nourishment. “The smaller they are, the more frequently you have to feed them,” said Jarvis, noting that the fishes’ small stomachs can’t hold See There’s Page il ON DECKS AND SIDEWALKS? RENT A POWER WASHER MONK’S RENTAL CENTRE N. VAN 3095 WOODBINE DR. 984-4413 PHOTO CONTEST W. VAN 2474 MARINE DR. 925-4155 Take your best shot of June Days at Edgemont Village and win... 1st Prize - A beautifully framed 8 X 10 enlargement of your winning picture and 24 exposure film 2nd Prize - A beautifully framed 5 X 7 enlargement of your picture and 24 exposure film. Courtesy of Village Photo, 3161 Edgemont Boulevard How to Enter: Take your camera to June Days on june 10th at Edgemont Village. Capture the fun and send your best icture along to the Capilano Chronicle by June 28th. Mark the: envelope Photo Contest, Attention: Dorinda Emery. You could make the front page in your July issue. 1139 Lonsdale North Vancouver V7M 2H4. ; Vancouver’s domestic water supp- 3185 EDGEMONT BLVD. 984-4345 4 ly. . Today, however, it is a cool oasis in the forest for humans and animals alike. The Rice Lake Loop is an easy walk, suitable for stroflers: and