Voyageur Trail Association – Saulteaux Section
December Trail Maintenance - Impressions of a newcomer Dec 3rd, 2021
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| Snow whipped trees en route, can you see the white blaze? It was a blustery snow-whipping Saturday morning when all was decided in a parking lot. “Are you crazy enough?” [to head out for some trail maintenance west of town]. “For sure!”. Who doesn’t love being out during a few squalls? Fast as a breeze we were off – Ian, Donna, and Bill to Old Goulais Bay Road in their sturdy vehicles (to clear from A3, west to A8) and Mark, Cheryl, and I to Carpin Beach Road to tackle a fallen maple (at about 2.2). Our footprints were the first on the freshly fallen snow, the white blazes blending seamlessly into their surroundings. I got regaled by stories of springtime ski adventures of when the hounds refused to cross the rushing streams and summertime scenery (“Imagine all the beautifully polished rock outcrops underneath the thick layer of snow!”). We cut deadfall until the gas ran out and the triceps were sore, hacked away at discarded plastic metal ornaments, and added some extra trail markers. By mid-afternoon all was accomplished and we set about the annual December tradition of making a wreath. Were you wondering what kind of novelty trail maintenance equipment is depicted in the upper left hand corner? That’s Mark carrying his wreath on top of the chainsaw, work boots and safety equipment. Merry Christmas to you all! I am looking forward to the next outing already! By Iris Lenauer p.s. This expedition was just a small part of the HUGE effort that goes into keeping the Voyageur Trail, a trail. Check out the Trail Maintenance Logs https://www.voyageurtrail.ca/trail-maintenance-logs/ . Kudos to Steve, Don and friends, Bill, Karen, Susan, Cliff, Chuck, Kees, Paul, Tom, Derek and many others who have worked hard on the trail in the Stokely > Sault Ste. Marie > Echo Bay > Thessalon area this year…mc |
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