|
|
|
|
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF DISCOVERY ROUTES TRAILS ORGANIZATION Spring 2009 |
|
|
In This Issue:
Trail Projects on the Go
Trails Across the Region
|
Spring is always a busy time on the trails and around the trails community. This is the time that all of those projects that were dreamed up over the winter get a kick-start. Clean-up events along community trails are common, as volunteers are inspired by both the warm weather and Earth Day's appeal to clean up our act. A word of caution and a kind reminder; wilderness trails in the early spring are often very sensitive as the frost lifts from the ground and snow pack in the bush begins to recede. Muddy and wet conditions create an environment that is sensitive to all types of use. Damage to trails at this time of year can have repercussions to the long-term sustainability of the trail and cause an undo burden to the volunteers that have pledged to maintain the route. Best to stay off those backcountry trails that may not have been designed with adequate drainage until Mother Nature presents us with some dryer conditions. |
| Trail Projects on the Go | |
|
Trail Guide to Healthy Living hot off the press! The Greater Nipissing Stewardship Council's Trail Guide to Healthy Living has finally come off the press! The Stewardship Coordinator officially presented the new trail guide at the Discovery Routes Coordinating Council on March 24, 2009. The guide has been a collaborative effort between the Stewardship Council, Discovery Routes, the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotions, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and all of the hard working trails groups throughout the region. Over the course of a year, trail data was collected from the managing groups and organizations, and this past summer and fall, each trail was carefully GPS'd. The colourful guide provides extensive information on the region’s formal recreational trails, and includes individual maps for each trail. You can purchase the guide directly from Discovery Routes on our website or at the North Bay Information Centre for $15.00. Discovery Routes members receive a 15% discount! The guide will also be for sale at various locations throughout the region, and a full list will be posted on our website when available. New tourism resource available Following hot on the tail of the trail guide is a new resource developed for the hospitality industry. Over the last year, Discovery Routes has been working with trail groups and organizations throughout the Near North, compiling resources related to the region's trails network. This information has been organized and assembled into the new Recreational Trails in Ontario's Near North; Resource Guide. The intent of the Resource Guide is to equip tourism providers with the information and resources that visitors to the region require to take advantage of the extensive trail opportunities throughout the Near North. The guide is divided into sections, based on trail activity - ATV, bicycle, canoe, cross-country ski, equestrian, hike, snowmobile, snowshoe, dogsled, and off-road motorcycle. The Resource Guide is a comprehensive collection of available trail publications, resources, services and events. The guide’s binder format allows the information to be easily copied and updated. For information on how your business can take advantage of this valuable resource, please contact Discovery Routes at (705)472-8480. Recreational trails exist in every community across the region. The diversity of communities and terrain are as varied as the trails and trail users. Clear and consistent signage on these trails is critical to the safe enjoyment and use of the outdoors. Confidence in the signage program will affect the decision to visit other local trails and visit other communities across the region. Discovery Routes is in the process of developing a major trail signage program that will meet the following objectives:
If you are a trail group who would like more information about this project, please contact Discovery Routes as soon as possible. |
|
|
Trails Across the Region |
|
|
Finally! Callander's Trans Canada Trail to be officially opened After years of hard work, the new section of the Trans Canada Trail in Callander's southwest corner is open for use! To properly introduce this trail to the world, Discovery Routes will be hosting a grand opening celebration on Father's Day, Sunday, June 21, 2009. Bring Dad and the rest of the family out for a day of discovery! The official ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 11:30am at the trail entrance at the south end of Pinecreek Road in Callander. Some very special guests have been invited. Throughout the afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to experience some of the region's favourite trail activities, such as mountain biking, horseback riding, geocaching, summer dogsledding, ATVing, and snowmobiling through demonstrations and 'try-it' opportunities. Discovery Routes and our enthusiastic event committee are working to make this an international affair through a partnership with the TransPanama Trail Foundation. This Foundation is working on a similar project to the Trans Canada Trail and will be hosting an opening celebration in sync with ours. Read more about Panama in the article below. We are still working out the event details, so stay tuned! To keep updated, check out the Trans Canada Trail page on our website at www.discoveryroutes.ca/trans_canada_trail.htm. La Vase Canoe Night with guest Kevin Callan The Friends of La Vase are hosting a "Wilderness Pleasures" canoe night on April 17, 2009 at 7:00pm in the Nipissing University auditorium. Acclaimed Canadian canoe author, Kevin Callan is the evening's special guest, and will share some of his amazing stories about the lighter side of canoeing. There is no charge to attend this event, but donations are always welcome. There will likely be another 'pass the hat' raffle, where you can win some nifty canoe gear. What better way to start the canoe season? For more information about this event, visit the Friends of La Vase Portages website at www.lavaseportages.com. "In the Footsteps of the Voyageurs" The Gateway Walkers are hosting this year's Canadian Volkssport Convention from May 22 to May 24, 2009 at Nipissing University. People from all across Canada are partaking in this event, and will be experiencing the region's most stunning scenery as they walk "in the footsteps of the Voyageurs". Participants will walk along some of the region's most historic trails, and experience the same routes early explorers took hundreds of years ago. The Convention begins on Friday, May 22 with introductory walks in North Bay and Callander, leading up to the opening ceremonies that evening. Saturday, May 23 is a day filled with Annual General Meeting festivities and a walk along the popular campus trails. The walkers will enjoy the beautiful waterfront for a 5km to 10km walk to start the day on Sunday. A post-convention hike through Samuel de Champlain Park is offered that evening, with a bonfire and sing-along to follow. On Monday, May 25, breakfast is served at the Canadian Ecology Centre, followed by a leisurely historical walk through Mattawa, and a good-bye luncheon on Lake Champlain. The event is open to the public. Please visit the Gateway Walkers' website at www.gatewaywalkers.ca for more information and how to register for this once in a lifetime local event. The registration deadline is April 30, 2009. Remembering the Forgotten Trails After a year of relative dormancy, the Forgotten Trails Association is slowly re-gaining their footing. This trail group is made up of dedicated volunteers who work to maintain a network of ecologically sustainable trails of natural, historical, and cultural significance in the South River area. The group's current priorities are cleaning up the trails, and working on putting up new signage. The popular Forgotten Trails brochure map will be updated this year to continue to attract visitors to the trails. The group also plans on hosting a number of trail events this summer and fall, so make sure to check out our next newsletter for more information. Forgotten Trails are always looking for extra help (who isn't?), so if you're interested, please contact Discovery Routes to find out how you can get involved! Hiking Trails Coming The Municipality of Whitestone continues to work towards the establishment of two public hiking trails on crown land near the communities of Ardbeg and Dunchurch. The purpose of the proposed trails is to provide opportunity to the residents and visitors of Whitestone to enhance their quality of life through physical activity while gaining a better appreciation of the natural environment. The development process can be longer than anticipated, as many trail developers can attest. We will continue to keep you informed as the work to establish the trails progresses. Panama?!! Discovery Routes has really extended our borders with this new partnership. As recently as ten years ago, it would have been scoffed at to suggest that such a partnership could occur. Who would have guessed that the seemingly remote Central American country of Panama could make a connection to northern Ontario? Yet these guys have a better handle on the latest technologies than we do at Discovery Routes. The TransPanama Trail Foundation is a non-profit organization working to develop a hiking trail across the length of Panama from Costa Rica to Columbia. The trail will highlight the spectacular natural landscapes of the country, and help locals connect to and visitors learn about the historical and cultural roots of Panama. The trail will promote physical and mental well being, strengthen national identity, provide eco tourism opportunities, and help people connect with nature while understanding the need to protect the environment. Sound familiar? The only difference the Trans Canada Trail has to offer is an additional 16,300km and the inclusion of dogsledding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on their trail. The TransPanama isn't up to the snow-making challenge quite yet!! The project officially launched on January 25, 2008 when volunteers ventured out and began mapping the proposed trail. The TransPanama Trail Foundation estimates the project will take anywhere between 2 and 4 years to complete. (We are at about 15 years and still counting with the TCT). The progress of the trail can be tracked using SPOT Satellite Trackers, which are handheld satellite communitication and safety devices. Using various satellite systems, these SPOT Satellite Trackers have the ability to transmit GPS coordinates to different networks, such as cell phones, emergency responders, and an online source where others can keep track of one's progress in real time. More detailed information about the SPOT Satellite Trackers is available online at www.findmespot.ca. If we can pull it off (with zero expertise in this office), Discovery Routes will have live coverage of Panama’s official opening on June 21, 2009 coinciding with our event on the same day. Any and all technology enthusiasts are invited to join in the planning of the event and help our one techo-savvy committee member figure out the Panama puzzle. Call us on our land line at 472-8480. |
|
| Helping Us Connect | |
|
Discovery Routes would like to thank all of our current Business Members for supporting our organization and the region's trails.
- FRi Ecological Services - All of our trails partners throughout the region provide continuous support to our organization by keeping us up-to-date on the status of trails and local trail events. Discovery Routes would like to extend our thanks to these Trail Connector Members for contributing to our organization and our efforts:
- West Nipissing Nordic Ski
Club - Over the past year, Discovery Routes has welcomed new Municipal Members to our organization. We would like to thank the following for their support:
- City of North Bay - Trails connect communities businesses and families. Bring trails to your business or organization and become a member of Discovery Routes. By building awareness and exposure of our regional trails system, you will be contributing to a healthy, natural Near North. |
|
|
1375 Seymour Street, North Bay, P1B 9V6 ~ T: (705) 472-8480 ~ F: (70t) 472-8027 ~ info@discoveryroutes.ca |
|
