On Oct 18th, 2024 , four brave and hardy BC walkers set out on the Houston Trail loop in North Langley. Dressed in our trusty rain gear we walked under the canopy of the big leaf maples, the western red cedars and Douglas firs. The maples were ablaze in brilliant yellows, browns, and chartreuse greens, while beneath them the sword and licorice ferns, vanilla leaf plants and mosses, dripping with the fresh rain, painted a rich, green forest floor. Though the rain likely deterred many people from venturing out this day there were a few walkers in the park, but not too many to spoil the sense of having the park to ourselves. In the quiet of the forest, we could hear the golden- crowned kinglets and Bewick’s wrens singing in the trees and a pacific tree frog croaking nearby.
Someone was enjoying the rain!
We travelled the first kilometre along level ground and stopped briefly at a lookout deck dedicated to Bays Blackhall, a local Fort Langley historian and advocate for environmental causes. The viewpoint over an extensive wetland area is generally great for birders but unfortunately the ducks were sheltering in the rain and nowhere to be seen on the pond . As we continued along the path, which has a few twists
and turns and small hills, we passed an open wetland area with many fallen trees, evidence of the beaver’s work. The pond is now home to wood ducks.
At the midpoint of the walk, we arrived at the parking lot accessed by McKinnon Crescent (and another alternative for starting one’s walk) and began our journey north again. The small creeks intersecting our path were flowing with a high volume of water, something that the forest community would appreciate. Certainly, the mushroom communities amongst the logs and stumps in this area were thriving to say the least, and they resembled small villages clustered on the side of mountains or hillsides. The terrain along the latter section of the walk was quite level, except for a few short, steep hills. Near the end of our walk, we came across the path of a rough-skinned newt trying to blend in with the grass. Luckily we didn’t step on it!
Though it rained throughout the walk it was lighter at times than others and it allowed us to appreciate the beauty of the BC rain forest- rich with colours, sounds and scents. The overall variety of things to see and hear made it interesting. It was enjoyed by all.
Submitted by Benita Antonio
The rain didn’t stop the smiles!
