Landowner Rights & Trail User Responsibilities

The Waskahegan Trail is a unique resource that exists only because of the generosity of landowners. Before you set foot on the trail:

  1. Know the landowner rights and the trail user responsibilities.
  2. Check the trail conditions

Coal Lake Hikes to Point Cooperation

by

In June, we had two hikes a week apart to Point Cooperation on Coal Lake. The landmark takes its name from Project Cooperation, a 1975 summer project funded by the Alberta provincial government and the Waskahegan Trail Association. In this project, a group of six 15- and 16-year olds cleared the section for the trail. The landmark is not marked except on the guidebook’s trail map, and in the heads of trail maintenance and hike leaders .

southern section
northern section

In the two recent hikes, we did not quite make it all the way. Both times, we had come to a wide open spot overlooking the lake, with warm sun, gentle breezes, and views of pelicans. We decided it would be just fine to have our lunches there. Perhaps next year we will go all the way.

A highlight of the first hike, which started at Kjorlein Corner, was the Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid. It was in an open field overlooking the trail.

This particular plant had blooms that were larger than usual, which may be a sign of ideal growing conditions.

On the second hike, which went from north to south starting at a road allowance, we encountered patches of wild strawberries and lots of saskatoons just coming into ripeness. It looks like it will be a great year for berries.

Thanks to Johanna for scouting and leading these hikes, to trail maintenance for all their hard work, and to the landowners for their generous permissions. You can find more photos on Flickr (June 22
 and June 29),

southern section hikers
northern section hikers

Where we’re going next.

Kopp Lake Hike

by

Fourteen people came out to the Kopp Lake hike. This was the first hike of the season in which the trail was recently maintained. The trail maintenance crew did an excellent job.

The weather was comfortably warm and the air was relatively pure, as the recent rain had taken out the smoke.

This trail has a unique “kitty corner” stile that connects the trail from one farm to a diagonally-opposite farm, while avoiding the adjacent farms in the other corners.

A highlight of the hike was watching the lama herding cattle in the field adjacent to our lunch area.

Thank you to everyone for leading the hike and to Trail Maintenance for clearing the trail. You can find more photos on Flickr. (While you are there, check out these photos from Trail Maintenance this past week. The baby owl is priceless!)

Where we’re going next.