No, not a place where off-duty satanists hang out. Devil's club is a member of the ginseng family and as such is said to have curative powers for several afflictions. Commonly associated with the word "ouch!" this thorny understory shrub can otherwise be identified by large limp, maple-shaped leaves and a cluster of red berries. In coastal British Columbia devil's club was traditionally used to provide relief from arthritis and rheumatism. As a wilderness food source, young stems of the devil's club can be cooked as greens while the roots can be peeled, rinsed and chewed raw. Devil's club bark was once mixed with various kinds of berries and boiled to make purplish dye for native basketry.
Illustration by Manami Kimura
07
Feb
2007
Buntzen Lake: Swan Falls Loop
(6 - user rating)
Written by Brian Grover
Access: Click for details on Getting to Buntzen Lake.
Level: Difficult
Distance: 20 km
Time: 9 hr
Elevation Change: 1050 m
Season: July - October
Map: 92 G/7
Multiple-Use: Open to Mountain Bikes and Hikers Only
This trail is a continuation of the previous one. Instead of looping back at Lindsay Lake, continue northward along the ridge to Eagle Peak. Also known as Mount Beautiful, the summit offers a spectacular panorama in all directions. Beyond the peak the route is somewhat less well-defined, becoming very steep and slippery as it drops back down into the valley bottom at the Swan Falls Junction.
Old Man's Beard: Heavy lichen growth, one sign of a mature forest, provide an important source of winter browse for ungulates such as deer.
This section of trail parallels Trout Creek until it intersects Powerhouse Road just fifteen minutes after reaching Swan Falls itself. If time is a concern Powerhouse Road is the fastest route back to South Beach. Buntzen Lake Trail, though longer, is without a doubt much more scenic.
