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

Spring hike at Cloverlawn

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Twenty people came out to the Cloverlawn hike. The trail has a long list of landmark sights: the north end of Coal Lake, the beginning of Blackmud Creek, two lovely ravines with wooden boardwalks at the bottom, fields, a horse pasture, a pet cemetery, a climb up to the tableland to Stan’s Bench, and many, many stiles.

On one side of the hill is a pasture, on the other side a stubble field.

This hike is a favourite all through the hiking season, but only at this time of year can you see the prairie crocuses at Stan’s Bench.

The landowner’s horses posed for us.

Lunch was on a slope overlooking Mud Lake.

Thanks to Johanna for scouting and leading the hike, and to the landowners for their continuing permission to let us hike through. You can see all the photos on Flickr.

See where we’re going next.

Garage Day for Trail Maintenance

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The Trail Maintenance volunteers have been preparing for the new season, making all the equipment and tools ready go.

A couple of weeks ago Brad took the trailer to his farm to do some necessary repairs. He made the fender firm, the gate better, and installed a new electrical connection to replace the damaged one. In between all of this, his bison herd has been calving—seven so far!

This trailer, which was purchased many years ago second-hand, is now back in the garage and ready for many more maintenance trips.

This week, eleven volunteers came out to the garage:

  • All the clippers were sharpened
  • The mowers got an oil change
  • Gas was mixed for the chainsaws and weed-eaters
  • Gas tanks were filled
  • Signage was cut
  • Sign bags were restocked
  • Weed-eaters were started
  • Shelves and countertops were cleaned

And Oscar checked all the chainsaws and started them. One of these chainsaws is going home to the Oscar “hospital”.

Also, Gary began a hands-on introduction to trailer pulling with Jon S.

It was a very productive day. The eleven members of the maintenance gang made a pretty big job enjoyable. Let’s hear it for teamwork!

Find out more about trail maintenance.