Did you know that there’s a 38,000 hectare provincial park an hour from Vancouver that boasts old-growth forests, alpine lakes, remnant ice fields, an abandoned mine tunnel and the largest freshwater marsh in southwestern BC? It’s called Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, and despite its myriad attractions and proximity to the Lower Mainland, the park sees relatively few visitors.

Part of the reason has to do with its limited facilities and access issues. In fact, despite being designated a provincial park 20 years ago, Pinecone Burke has never had a management plan. The provincial government finally initiated the management planning process this past fall, seeking input from stakeholders, including members of the Katzie First Nation, backcountry hikers, paddlers, campers and naturalists. The FMCBC took part in a workshop put on by BC Parks and submitted a letter outlining areas of concern.

As we approach the expected release date of the draft plan, the FMCBC is hosting a presentation to educate the public about the park and ways people can access it. BC mountaineer and photographer Justin Brown will lead a visual and descriptive virtual tour of the 17 days he and his partner Ian Koch spent traversing and exploring the remote reaches of Pinecone Burke in 2014. Author Lyle Litzenberger (whose book “Burke and Widgeon: A Hiker’s Guide” covers two of the most accessible areas of the park), Steve Chapman, owner of Canadian MapMakers, and a representative from BC Parks’ South Coast Region, will also be on hand to answer questions and speak to their respective areas of expertise.