One of the key conditions of the Forest Management Agreement was that the Company would be responsible for forest management. This responsibility was taken seriously. After the search for timber for the first camps, the Company took aerial photographs, made new maps and classified all the forested areas. Other innovative surveys were made of soils and surficial deposits, and the Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI). Allowable cuts were based on the growth and yield information from the CFI.

n the planning phase, cut-block design considered the needs of big game ungulates and provided stream-side residual strips for wildlife and watercourse protection. Culvert and bridge construction was designed to minimize impact on fish migration. Hiking and ski trails and camping areas augmented recreation opportunities. In recent years these aspects have taken on even greater importance.

Fire Origin Map (1960)

Age of forest stands was used to determine their year of origin. Virtually all stands originated after forest fires. The map was used in planning to direct logging to the areas of oldest forests.

Getting Around

There were very few driveable roads on the FMA so forestry staff used whatever means were available to get into the forest. Besides the dependable travel on foot, 4-wheel drive vehicles, Tote-Goats and the VW "bug" were used - along with snowshoes, power toboggans, canoes, and, much later, helicopters.

• History of Weldwood's Hinton Division Overview
• The Beginning- A discussion on the start up of operations in the Hinton area and the men who started it all.
• Some of the Pioneers- The forestry people were some of the first hired. This section talks about the early pioneers, and contains numerous photos.
• Early Forest Management- An explanation of forest management in the early years with some interesting photographs of early transportation methods including Volkswagen "Bugs" and Tote-Goats.
• Logging: Camps to Commuting- This section discusses the transition from men working out of logging camps to the time when housing and roads improved and loggers began to live in the community and commute to work.
• Logging: Horses to Horsepower- In 1967 the Company changed from primarily a horse logging operation to one using diesel engine powered skidders.
• Early Forest Renewal- A look at early forest renewal including the first forest industry greenhouse in 1965

Hinton Web Design would like to thank Aaron Jones at  Weldwood & Hinton Forest Resources for the use of this information
Please visit their Website for more information on this and other areas of Weldwood

Hinton Forest Resources