Blue Mountain
The mighty Coast Mountain Range of British Columbia forms greater Vancouver’s spectacular backdrop. Where else in the world do emerald forests and clear mountain streams come right up to the backyard fences of two million people?
This unique urban/wilderness interface has been permanently protected for the most part with one exception. The 7,500 hectare Blue Mountain area, north of Maple Ridge, needs the same park designation that other Coast Mountain protected wilderness areas already have, such as Lynn Valley Headwaters Regional Park, Seymour Ancient Forest Conservation Area, and Cypress, Mount Seymour, Indian Arm, Pinecone/Burke and Golden Ears provincial parks.
Blue Mountain, which features second-growth forested slopes rising from the eastern shore of Alouette Lake, is an extremely popular recreation destination. Canoeists camp along the lower slopes bordering Alouette Lake. Its southern slope is a world-class downhill mountain biking area. Hikers and horseback riders enjoy many scenic trails. Local businesses do a thriving trade catering to those that come to enjoy Blue Mountain. Now the BC Forest Service is proposing that Blue Mountain’s forests be logged for the short-term profit of a few companies. It is time to protect Blue Mountain before logging plans for the area wreck this natural backyard paradise.
