June 20, 2021
@
9:45 am
–
3:00 pm
MDT
We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 status and will gradually restart our hikes, with some obvious protocol changes listed at the bottom.
The hike is through the Ministik Bird Sanctuary and a bit beyond, much of which is the ‘Ball Berg’ section recently donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada by the Ball family. This is of course a good chance to see birds, including waterfowl, as well as beaver. A small camera with a zoom lens or lightweight binoculars would be handy. The pictures from
September 13th, 2020.
We’ll meet from the trail head on
“A89A” on Range Road 210 (1 km off Hwy 14, there is a new driveway across the road from “A89A’ & they have both Alberta & Canadian flags) at 9:45 a.m.. The hike will leave from ‘A89A’ at 10:00 where we will go past several small lakes towards & the ‘Berg Stopover’ to where we leave the trail at Township Road 510 (‘A88’) where we’ll do a short walk down the road to the UofA entrance (also ‘A88’) & go on to Williams Lake for lunch.
Note: We have not had a chance to do our regular trail maintenance but the trail is be OK, as trail maintenance did a great job clearing the trail in the fall and the landowners have been through to clear the deadfall. There has been some new foliage growth, so would recommend against short sleeved shirts & pants to minimize the effects of getting whacked by the occasional rose bush, etc..
If you are new to WTA hikes, then you should visit the
Guided Hikes webpage for essential information. For further information specific to this hike, refer to The Waskahegan Trail Guide Book, pages 76-77, or contact the Hike Leader, JoAnne B. & Lee S. via
e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (780-487-0645).
Initial protocol changes due to COVID-19:
- using public trails, in/near the city (not the WTA Trail as virtually all of the trail is on private land and we do not want to impact the landowners);
- meeting at the trailhead, no car pooling (so the start time reflects driving to the trailhead from the city rather than a 9am meeting point at Century Park or Belvedere Park & Ride);
- the hike leader will fill out all forms (e.g., signup sheet) & please use the online waver (to minimize what we all touch);
- Government of Alberta – Guidance on outdoor activities – “Stage 2 reopening, starts June 10” with Outdoor social gatherings for up to 20 people with distancing;
- recommending wearing a face mask (Government of Alberta – Guidance for wearing non-medical face masks);
- only attend if you are feeling well & comfortable being with the group.
