Prince George, B.C. – The next time you go for a walk in Cottonwood Island Park do a little searching and there may be some hidden treasures in store for you.

Prince George sculptural artist Elmer Gunderson was back this week carving faces into six trees.

He was invited to do so by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Railway Museum.

“I went in there with the idea of the Enchanted Forest,” says Gunderson. “I made some of them as spiritual characters and another one was a carving of one of the people who walked by and spoke to me. He was quite an interesting man so I reproduced his face into a tree, not that he knows it.”

He says the carvings are scattered throughout the park.

“I tried to hide a few so people have to hunt and look for them. I try and make it look like a scavenger hunt.”

Why does he carve faces?

“I’ve always been inspired by the human face I find it very unique. I find it much more interesting than trying to carve something simple like a bear, a fish or a bird.”

It’s the second time Gunderson has completed such work; the first time was back in 2005.

“Colin Kinsley was the mayor at the time. He knew I was a carver so he asked me to go and do some faces. I think I carved eight trees.”

Unfortunately, not all of them have survived.

“No, the high waters we had the one year with the ice jam ended up taking two of the trees out so we lost them.”

Gunderson says his work seems to be greatly appreciated.

“This year being in there was nothing but positive from everybody. They really enjoy what I’ve done – making it so much more of an enjoyable walk going through the forest.”

And in case anybody is wondering, he had the required permitting from the City to complete the work.

“Of course. It’s not like I just whipped in there and started hacking away at the trees.”