Another cache alongside the Cougar Canyon Creek
Today cougar creek is a set of volunteer maintained trails along side a salmon stream that rises in Surrey, flows through North Delta and empties into the Fraser River. This was not always the case. In the early 1980's the Corporation of Delta tried to increase access to the area by turning the informal paths into a maintained set of trails with bridges, stairs and railings along each side of the creek. As a kid who with my friends liked building forts in this secluded area this brought a lot of unwelcome visitors. As an adult I think I would have appreciated the network that was created, if it had lasted........ Based on my recollection a slope stability study had not been done before construction started and most of the hillside trails collapsed in the first major rain. Since then the forest has reclaimed the trails and only the informal network remains. This area of the canyon is where I first noticed invasive ivy, it is spreading along the ground and into some of the trees. It likely made it here from one of the nearby homes depositing yard waste into the canyon. The GPS reception down here can be rather spotty so when you reach the GZ look for an old fallen soldier and 'younger' brother riding his shoulders,
************************* NOTE ************************* The trail to Over the hill is pretty consistent from here but if you plan to make your way to troll bridgeafter prepare for a terrain 4.5 hike, you will need to use the riverbed to pass many section and can get wet. If you are not up for this then it may be best to head back and take the roads to Troll bridge and then one of the entry points after that to finish the trail. ************************* NOTE *************************