Batchewana Island – June 22, 2019

This was the first kayak outing of the year for most of us. A 12 kilometer paddle took us around the eastern half of Batchewana Island. Great company, perfect weather, refreshing swim all made for a fantastic outing. The pictures below are each worth a 1000 words, as the saying goes.

The intrepid group of paddlers 

The wind did come up later

Fresh moose tracks

There is a heron rookery on a nearby island

Thanks to Theresa Glover for the great pictures and the write-up.

Update:

Some may recall that two years ago there was a proposal floated by the landowner (the island is owned by an American fellow) to build a lodge and an airstrip on the island. An information session was held, which was attended by an overflow crowd. The proposal has apparently been shelved, at least for the near term.

mc

Spring Cleaning

VTA – Saulteaux Section – Trip Report

Spring Cleaning!

The week of May 11 was Trail Maintenance Week…

On May 11 we chose the messiest section of the trail in our Section. The trail parallels 6th Line and Highway 17 and both motorways are resplendent with litter every spring. It really is amazing just how much junk is deposited over the course of a year…and an interesting assemblage of junk it is. From a delicate high heel shoe to 30 feet length of big “o” drainage pipe this area has it all. Seven VTAers filled 10 big garbage bags with trash this day.

Ila installs the new VTA trail marker at the corner of Highway 17 and 6th Line

On the evening of 13th Cheryl and I paddled up the Root River in the same area by canoe and collected another two big bags…more on that later.

On Wednesday the 14th 18 VTAers, Sault Naturalists and friends focused on the west side of Highway 17…where very little garbage was found but several large trees were cleared from the trail and a number of blazes were replaced.

Thanks to all who participated in Trail Maintenance Week!

Mark C