UNPLUGGED: Suburban Gems - Mundy Park

Location - Mundy Park, Coquitlam, B.C.

If you live in the urban/suburban density that is Vancouver and the surrounding cities you might be forgiven for thinking that any any remnant of the forests that used to blanket this area can only be found in Stanley Park or on the North Shore. Fortunately, you would be wrong. There are numerous sanctuaries dotting the area and one of those nature havens happens to be located right in my back yard, Mundy Park. Located at the corner of Como Lake Road and Mariner Way, Mundy is a massive treasure chest containing more than it's share of gems.

I decided to focus on this park for today's UNPLUGGED feature as an opportunity to show my daughter, who has a burgeoning photography bug like here dad, that we don't have to go much farther than our backyard to escape into the outdoors.

We entered the park from the soccer field next to Hillcrest Middle School under a blazing sun.

And were immediately greeted by a tree covered path that lead rapidly down hill into the heart of this wilderness.

After heading down the Old Logging Trail and passing in and out of sun and shade for 15 minutes or so we found ourselves at the edge of a quiet little lake of the kind you might encounter hiking on Seymour.

On this mini adventure totaling only 1.5 hours we spotted a wide variety of critters from dragon flies to frogs and seemed to be greeted at every turn by something surreal. From felled trees blanketed in moss so thick that they resembled shag carpets to massive fungal growths that melted down the sides of their hosts as if imagined by Salvador Dali. If I could take on thing away from this hike it's that green spaces like this tucked smack in the middle of urban/suburban neighborhoods are unique to our home and one that you should take advantage of at every opportunity.

Until next time, happy trails.

-mt

All images © Michael Tedesco.

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