Since moving to the Coast in 2018, I have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours running and hiking the local trails in and around Sargeant Bay Provincial Park. There have been days when the trails have been rough, when you could see the effects of recent storms or shifts in the seasons and the debris that followed. Time and time again I would return and like magic the path was cleared. I hadn’t given much thought to it, for a long time taking it for granted that some unseen party came in and cleaned everything up for a stranger’s benefit. I knew they were out there though; I had seen signs for how to report windfalls, and I knew in the background over the years someone had taken the time and effort to map, mark and maintain the seemingly endless trail I was running.
One of those volunteers is Jeff Muckle, an avid steward of the trails and longtime trail builder. Jeff is a current member of the Sargeant Bay Society, the Halfmoon Bay Community Association and the Trail Society. He moved to the area in 1990 from North Vancouver, arriving with a background in landscaping and a love of nature and the outdoors. I wrote in a previous column about the history of the Sargeant Bay Society and more of the history of what it took to create the trails we have now –– for more background I recommend looking at the in-depth timeline they have on their website. Jeff was heavily involved in this. He told me he previously spent his days working in manicured and managed nature as a landscaper, but his love was always the natural setting. He loves being outdoors and is fully comfortable in that environment, his main reason for trail building is to get out in the natural landscape and work on having it be accessible to all who want to enjoy it as he does. He is not looking for recognition, he just wants people to get outside and let his work speak for itself. The trails are ever evolving. Jeff tells me his favorite trail was built out only five years ago, named Nick, off the aptly named Datsun Alley. It was never logged because it was so steep so there are big fir, pine and arbutus trees and variety of different plants in the area. Nick goes up onto the cliffs and bluffs at Spika and joins Misty & Sky High. Jeff, his wife Mary and Becky Wayte all packed a memorial bench for a friend who used to hike the area up to Misty and tells me that Nick, Misty and Sparky were all named after beloved pets of Becky’s. Becky is also a long-time volunteer with a deep commitment to our trails, an avid hiker responsible for GPS mapping many of the trails on the Coast. Jeff stated a highlight from years of volunteering are all the people he has met that are deeply passionate about their areas of interest, from marine biologists to entomologists, he has learned so much from being exposed to other people through volunteer work.
The day to day for the volunteers requires consistent and coordinated effort. Currently there are around 12 to 15 active members. Some volunteers walk their designed sections, three to five kilometres a day with their clippers and note pads, taking notes on what needs to be done and with what resources, while clearing what they can. Some volunteers are even chainsaw certified with training funded by the Halfmoon Bay Community Association. Volunteers are always watching for hazards, windfalls and danger trees, knowing who needs to be called in for specific tasks beyond their scope. Working with limited funding but a deep commitment to protecting and enhancing local trails, their efforts are often the reason these trails remain open and functional. Someone from Community Forests estimated about $30 million worth of work had gone into the trail system, most of it volunteer.
Our local trails are more than paths through the forest; they are part of Halfmoon Bay’s history, identity and well-being. Volunteer trail maintenance ensures these cherished paths remain safe, sustainable, and accessible for the community. Volunteering locally is an opportunity to come together, share knowledge and skills, and collectively care for the outdoor spaces that make Halfmoon Bay such a special place to live. If you are interested in getting involved, consider contacting the Halfmoon Bay Community Association or the Sargeant Bay Society. You can also do your part by reporting windfalls, danger trees or overgrown areas to [email protected].
On June 3, the Sargeant Bay Society is hosting a work party to remove invasive Yellow Iris flowers and Seed Pods from Sargeant Bay in the marsh and around Calvin Lake, from 9 a.m. to about noon. Meet on the beach berm close to the lower parking lot and bring your hand clippers. You will need hip waders, wet suit or shorts and tight-fitting sandals to walk in the marsh. SBS will provide kayaks to use as wheelbarrows in marsh and a canoe to remove flowers and seed pods from Calvin Lake. Please note a signed waiver will be required to participate.
On June 7, to celebrate BC Trail Day, you can also join local volunteers from the HBCA who will be leading easy hikes through the trails starting from Connor Park at 10 a.m.
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any upcoming events to be featured or want to connect about all things happening in Halfmoon Bay. Kyla Trethewey, columnist and Halfmoon Bay Firefighter #36.
