Gold Creek Campground is the "middle-aged" site in Golden Ears Provincial Park.

But park manager Stewart Burgess said that not because the campground is around 40 years old, but because it is the "middle age" of the three campgrounds.

Gold Creek was built in the early 1970s and is open all year long.

The Wunderlick family from Maple Ridge was camping in Gold Creek this week.

When Burgess heard the Wunderlicks' name, he asked the family if they were the same Wunderlicks who have been camping there for years.

"More than thirty years, since our kids were little," answered Bernard Wunderlick, who was sitting around the camp with his 11year-old grandson Tyler Katinic, 14-year-old granddaughter Ashley Katinic, son-in-law Phil Katinic, his daughter Lisa Waldbauer and her husband Kevin, and his wife Marianne Wunderlick.

"I've been here since 1990 and I remember that name from back then," Burgess said with a laugh. Another long-time campground user in Gold Creek was Krista Moye. Moye, who is from Langley, was there with her eight-yearold daughter Kaitlyn, 10year-old son Jordan, and Jordan's friend Michael Lang, also 10.

"We come here every year, and my brothers and I came here years ago, too," said Moye. "We like to get this spot along this road and we like mid-week because it's very family oriented."

The youngest of the campgrounds in the provincial park is North Beach. It was built in 1998. "It's a little more primitive with its pit toilets and hand pump. But it is getting more and more popular and it is quite a bit cheaper," said Burgess.

"We are mostly a weekend destination," said Burgess, of the scattered families throughout the campgrounds.

"There are many people who come during the week, but by far, the demand is for the weekend."

As for the upcoming B.C. Day long weekend, Burgess said they have about 60 spots available on a first-come, first-served basis.

"This is going to be a busy weekend, so have patience," said park ranger Tom Blackbird, the area supervisor for BC Parks.

"Respect fellow park users and the park environment."

Burgess summed up his job in the campgrounds: "I can't think of a better place to work. It's beautiful here."

smclaren@mrtimes.com