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Backgrounder
In 1992 a handful of outdoor enthusiasts realized that there was a vanishing amount of accessible old growth left on the Upper Sunshine Coast and formed the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS). We envisioned a ribbon of old growth in time that will encompass the Sunshine Coast Trail, and provide access to breathtaking examples of temperate rainforest, the northern jungles.
PRPAWS has worked together with the BOMB Squad, a group of retired gents who also build trails and marvels of wooden bridges. This has helped make maintenance and enhancement of the trail much easier.
Photo: Shangri-La, a new shelter with outhouse, campsite, swimming dock and bridge at Little Sliammon Lake. The first of more shelters in the planning stages, it will be a refreshment station during the Marathon Shuffle.
We realized early on that to gain acceptance for this trail in the community we had to show what marvelous features existed in our back country. To this end we have hosted hikes, work parties, grand openings of trails, and potlucks - and yes, the annual Marathon Shuffle. The new trails quickly became popular with the public since they allowed people entry into areas which were until then accessed only by bushwhackers or loggers.
Attendance at the annual rite of spring has varied from 30 to 50 participants. In recent years with the exposure brought by the website, Club Fat Ass and other groups and individuals more runners have showed up. So we now have trophies for the competitive speedsters, as well as recognition of those that choose to smell the orchids along the way.
