Pics from Rochester Falls hike courtesy Al. Thx.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
FW: Old Baldy hike, Sat. 2 Oct.
Subject: Old Baldy hike, Sat. 2 Oct.
The list of hikers needing a ride across Flack Lake to the trailhead for Old Baldy is now complete. If, for some reason, you have not registered for a ride, you must do so now by calling Nickie & Gerry at 461 6304
The party will leave Sears at 9.30am on Sat. 2 Oct. Do not show up there if you have not previously registered as you will not get on a boat.
Bring your own life jacket, lunch and water. You will need hiking boots or substantial grip footwear for this fairly strenuous climb and descent. Bear in mind it may also be cool crossing the lake, so an extra jacket would not be out of order for the boat ride.
The boat owners are generously supplying their boat, hauling it to Flack Lake and ferrying you across. Remember they have supplied the fuel for the trip.
Rochester Falls
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sept 25 Hike to viewpoint at Lacnor
There were nine hikers, including me, on the hike to a viewpoint above Lacnor Mine site.
Paula
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
White Nose Fungus in bats - Elliot Lake
White Nose Fungus in bats - Elliot Lake
Hello Phill!
We had a big adventure last weekend on the Cobre Lake Trail. There were about 31 hikers, but Stan, Stephanie and I went into the Blue Sky Mine adit to look for bats - and we found some. Stan was looking for bats with WNF, white nose fungus, which is killing off the bats in northeastern North America. We think we may have photographed about 5 bats that looked like they were covered in the white fungus. There were also healthier ones at the back of the adit. I'm not a biologist, so my first question was whether these were 2 separate species of bats, but no one could tell. So we took lots of photos and I notified the Wildlife Health Centre (see below) about our findings.
A conservation officer, Eden Boyko, finally got back to me on Friday Sept 17th with the message below. She can't tell from my photos whether the bats at Cobre Lake trail/Blue Sky Mine are ill with WNF. She said that this area has been targeted for a visit by the Conservation Officers to check out the bats. The bats start their hibernation in full next month and it lasts until March. The officers will come in their sterilization suits to do their stuff. She is asking that all hikers refrain from going into the mine adit - see her message below. The illness actually comes from humans carrying the fungus into the cave/adit, so that is the main point. As we hike from cave/adit to cave/adit we are actually the carriers of the fungus and we are the reason that the bats are dying off.
Is there a way to send this message out to all the hikers? And to pass it on to the public. I am not the alarmist and would like to know if the bats I saw actually carried the WNF - but even then with bat hibernation just around the corner, we shouldn't be going into the caves anyways.
Eden sent some information, but if you google White Nose Fungus, Ontario, bats etc. you will get lots of info. The reputable sites are below: the MNR, The USGS.
Let me know if there are other groups that we can notify.
Paula
The contact should you find any sick or dead bats, or ones with the white fungus around their muzzle:
Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-866-673-4781
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/278166.html for local information
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2058 - shows the biologists in their sterilization suits
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From: Boyko, Eden (MNR) [mailto:Eden.Boyko@ontario.ca]
Sent: September-17-10 3:17 PM
To: Paula Takats
Subject: RE: WNF in bats - Elliot Lake
Hi Paula,
Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and send these photos. I have directed the photos to experts in MNR for some preliminary discussion, however, it will not likely be possible to confirm or deny the presence of White-nose syndrome (WNS) from photos alone.
As we discussed, I have some information that I'd really appreciate if you'd pass on to the folks in your hiking group. Do you have a contact that I might speak with to get this information posted on the VTA website? I think that might be a really good step to reach a lot of folks.
Again I wanted to reiterate that we ask folks to always refrain from touching bats (alive or dead) since a small percentage can carry rabies. Also, refraining from entering caves or abandoned mines where bats might be present may help to control the spread of WNS. I really appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Thank you again for your interest and concern and I'll be in touch,
Eden
From: Paula Takats [mailto:ptakats@denisonenvironmental.com]
Sent: September 17, 2010 2:55 PM
To: Boyko, Eden (MNR)
Subject: WNF in bats - Elliot Lake
Hi Eden,
I am sending you the last of my 3 messages. Actually there will be one more, a pdf of the map area, that I have on my home computer and I will send to you on Monday. The photos in this message were taken at the back of the cave/adit. The bats were roosting in groups or alone but close together. They wiggled around as we moved up close to take photos. I am trying to contact the other person, Stephanie who was taking photos with a better camera and I will be sure to send you those pictures as well.
Two of the club members were in the cave/adit last fall, Thanksgiving weekend, and claimed to see hundreds of bats flying out of the cave/adit when they went in. There were only 3 hikers that trip.
The local hiking group is called Courreurs de Bois, and is part of the Voyageur Trail Association:
http://coureursdeboiselliotlake.blogspot.com/
You will see some of the photos of the hikers during the Cobre Trail hike, and the opening of the cave/adit on this blogsport. The members are mostly retired and tend to be very active.
Another active group in the area are the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists. I think that they would be the ones to write up this story and tell everyone about the plight of the bats.
The Blue Sky Mine was operational in 1955 for only a short period of time. I can't find much information on it except that copper sulphide was the ore.
Let me know if you need more information. Don't hesitate to call me at work. I am really curious to see if there are actually two species of bats and no white nose fungus!
Paula
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Monday, September 20, 2010
Hike to Blind river
On Saturday, 25th. Sept., Fred is leading a hike on the Trans Canada Trail from Rossmere Creek to Granary Lake, north of Blind River. This is an intermediate hike of approximately 15-16km. on varying terrain. Allow 8 hours for the entire day.
The plan is to have cars at either end of the hike and this will entail driving cars to Blind River early on Saturday and parking them at Granary Lake.
We need to know who will be attending this hike to ensure enough cars are at the Blind River end.
Please contact Jean-Guy at 848-2544 if you will be hiking.
The plan is to have cars at either end of the hike and this will entail driving cars to Blind River early on Saturday and parking them at Granary Lake.
We need to know who will be attending this hike to ensure enough cars are at the Blind River end.
Please contact Jean-Guy at 848-2544 if you will be hiking.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Cross Country Skis for sale
For Sale :
One pair of cross country skis 215 cm and waxless
New bindings and new boots men's size 11
Ski poles are included.
Package is $80.00
Please call 848-9690
Saturday, September 18, 2010
HUNTING SEASON
A reminder, HUNTING SEASON is here! Be wise, wear the bright clothing designed to deferentiate you from the target.
Esten Lake Area.
Thx to Scott for the pics and comments below.
Throught the gravel pit near boat launch
Esten Lk
On the road agin!
End of Esten east
Come on Steve, eat the mushroom!Gerry & Nickie took 26 Hikers on a hike around Esten Lake, passing by a large gravel pit on the road to Spur Lake. We turned back at the short cut & had Lunch on some rocks overlooking Esten Lake near the boat launch and causway. Most of the hikers were back from their summer hiatus.
Scott Helman.
We found a number of credit cards, drivers licence and health card, scattered on the side of the road in the pit near the boat launch. We were able to return the cards to the owner, several of us knew her from the Ren. Cen. Apparently, her car was stolen from her driveway the night before, her purse inside. The perps then joy rode the car and sent it down a cliff somewhere. It was a write off. Don't think it can not happen here. Lock your car, even in your driveway. Remember...They are out there! Phill
Friday, September 17, 2010
COUREURS de BOIS VOYAGEUR OUTDOORS CLUB
AGENDA, GENERAL MEETING, 7 pm, SEPT 21st. 2010
- Welcome to all and recognize new members
- Minutes of previous meeting
- Presidents’ report - Phill Barnes
- Past Presidents’ report - Alan Day
- Trail Masters’ report - Chuck Zietsma
- Treasurers’ report - Brenda Gooding
- Secretarys’ report - Larry Clinesmith
- Guest Speaker - Emily Elliot,
Katimavik
We have an interesting agenda for our meeting next week. We will be discussing our financial situation in the light of our having been "cut-off" from our trail clearing funds by the City of Elliot Lake. This will affect our participation on some existing programs, our ability to donate funds, and some of the "freebies"the club has offered our members in the past.
We do not anticipate major changes in the way we operate, just more careful consideration of our spending.
We also have some interesting items on the forward agenda.
This is the first meeting since May 18th. so please plan to come out and participate.
CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER(S) FOR GOODIES? Coffee will be available, as usual.
We do not anticipate major changes in the way we operate, just more careful consideration of our spending.
We also have some interesting items on the forward agenda.
This is the first meeting since May 18th. so please plan to come out and participate.
CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER(S) FOR GOODIES? Coffee will be available, as usual.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
September 11, Cobre Lake hike
Meeting at Sears. Thx Pim for the pics and comments below.
Cobre Lk boardwalk
Climbing to the viewpoint
A well earned view
Vaseau Lk crossing
On the beach at Ten Fish Lk
Crossing at Blue Sky Lk
The mine adit
The Katimavik group
Back to the parking lot, whew!September 11 Cobre Lake hike
Thirty-three people went out Saturday, September 11 for a hike on the Cobre Lake Trail. After setting off from Cobre Lake, we climbed Belvedere Mountain to the lookouts overlooking Cobre, Tenfish and Vasseau Lakes, took pictures at Vasseau Lake, had lunch at Tenfish Lake, explored a mine adit (tunnel) near Blue Sky Lake, checked out the remains of a cabin back at Cobre Lake before wrapping things up with dinner at Dunlop Lake Lodge.
Pim
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