To the average park visitor, hikes through Mount Doug offer winding trails, scenic views and beach access,188-hectares of solace within Saanich.

For members of the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society, an afternoon walk also offers clues to the parkB次元官网网址檚 storied past B次元官网网址� a past highlighted this week on the 20th anniversary of its transfer from the province to Saanich.

Darrell Wick, president of Friends of Mount Doug, briskly climbs toward the summit of the mountain. To his left, a park volunteer pulls invasive species B次元官网网址� broom, garlic mustard B次元官网网址� to his right, a steep slope still bears the scars of motorcycle climbs from the 1960s.

And further along his walk: the mouth of one of two of the mountainB次元官网网址檚 abandoned mine shafts, built circa 1870 when prospectors found gold flakes and quartz. Wick doesnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate to climb right into the mouth of the cave, which could easily go unnoticed.

While he canB次元官网网址檛 recommend the adventurous activity, he happily answers questions from curious passersby, acknowledging with a chuckle that the level of spiders within the shaft is low.

At the summit, more hints at the parkB次元官网网址檚 mysterious past easily fly under the radar. Two large cement blocks of unknown origin are now covered over in moss. Another question mark emerges: the remnants of bases for wood power poles.

B次元官网网址淥bviously there was something up here, we just donB次元官网网址檛 know what,B次元官网网址� Wick said. B次元官网网址淲e think it might have been some sort of lookout during the war. WeB次元官网网址檙e really curious ourselves.B次元官网网址�

A man-made pond near the summit appears to be the last of the enigmas atop the mountain. Some of Mount DougB次元官网网址檚 known history still might come as a surprise to visitors.

The top parking lot sits on a sunken two-storey building that houses equipment for the nearby transmission tower. The existence of the building easily goes unnoticed by most B次元官网网址� one of the two initial triumphs for Wick, who, along with a group of advocates, rallied to see the equipment moved from a location planned on the southeast summit.

B次元官网网址淲e thought, B次元官网网址楳y goodness, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to destroy the ambiance of Mount Doug. YouB次元官网网址檒l see it from everywhere.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The other key controversy from which the Friends of Mount Douglas Park Society was born in 1989 during the 100th anniversary of the park: their successful bid to stop the extension of Shelbourne Street, four lanes of roadway, through the park.

Though the park had been previously owned and operated by the City of Victoria, by 1989 it fell under jurisdiction of the province. On Nov. 22, 1992, B.C. officially transferred the title to Saanich and the district installed a copper charter at the summit.

Since 1992, Saanich has added more than 21 hectares to the park, including the lands around Little Mount Douglas within the park boundary.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite satisfying work to see the positive outcomes and working with Saanich is quite positive,B次元官网网址� said Wick, one of four founding members of the society still advocating for the preservation of the urban forest. B次元官网网址淲e get a lot of support from Saanich parks, the public and the press.B次元官网网址�

On Thursday, Nov. 22, the society and the district will host a park rededication ceremony and unveil a second charter and several enhancement projects.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a quiet success story,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Frank Leonard. B次元官网网址淲e still have some times when the dialogue is tested because the Friends (of Mount Doug) are very good advocates. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very healthy dialogue.B次元官网网址�

Balancing the desire to preserve the land in its natural state with enjoyment of increased visitors B次元官网网址� a daily rush of whom now come to the park before noon while the summit road (Churchill Road) is closed to vehicle traffic B次元官网网址� is the biggest, and unrelenting challenge for the society, even after 20 years of successes.

Rebuilding salmon beds in Douglas Creek, monitoring the deterioration of Cordova Bay Road along eroding cliffs, tree planting and keeping up with the spread of invasive species are ongoing issues, Wick said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fantastic park and the popularity in the last 10 years has gone up exponentially,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淭he challenge is to preserve it as a natural park, but to have many, many visitors. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very serious ongoing challenge.B次元官网网址�

The Mount Doug park 20th anniversary ceremony is Nov. 22, 10 a.m. at the front gate of Churchill Drive.

nnorth@saanichnews.com

Snippets of Mount Douglas Park history

-The forest was the source of the cedar pickets used to construct Fort Victoria in 1843.

-Originally known as B次元官网网址淗ill of CedarsB次元官网网址� to the Songhees First Nation and later as Hyde park. for a short time in the 1850s

-Established as a government reserve in 1858 and named after first Governor, Sir James Douglas.

-In the early 1900s, the Royal Oak Station of the V&S Railway brought park visitors about three kilometres from the park. In 1915 a bus route through the park connected Royal Oak with Gordon Head.

-A restaurant operated by George and Elizabeth Libby, and a tea room operated by Maude Hunter, drew visitors from the 1920s to the 1950s.