WHERE TRAINS ONCE TRAVELLED   

Thursday, September 01, 2011

As I gazed down upon Tweed and the adjacent countryside from the helicopter, I could see the Trans Canada Trail stretching in either direction from town. I caught sight of Drag Lake where we enjoyed lunch last year on a 14 km walk from Highway 62 to Tweed. In the other direction, the trail crossing the Moira River and skipping across Sulphide Road three times as it eventually melted into the haze toward the Jack Pine Barrens and Kaladar. On Countryman Road, the Hastings Farm Show and Plowing Match was humming, and I had just gone AWOL from the conservation authority tent where I was supposed to be that afternoon. However, an idling helicopter waiting for passengers was far more of a draw.

As we landed, the Trans Canada Trail disappeared from sight despite it being only a stone's throw from the farm show site. I have, so far, walked this trail from Highway 62 to Sulphide Road, well beyond the eastern limits of Tweed. It is a remarkable trail, although I don't expect to ever finish walking the trail in its entirety. From end to end it is 18,000 kilometres, winding its way through every province and territory, from the Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic Oceans. In the Tweed area, the trail is maintained by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, an agency that oversees some 700 kilometres of shared use trails in the area. The trail was conceived in 1992, in recognition of Canada's 125th birthday. Much of the funding comes from the sale of ATV passes.

In the Quinte area, a similar partnership evolved in 2000 which resulted in the creation of the Cataraqui Trail which runs from Strathcona to Smith's Falls, a distance of 104 kilometres. Walking this trail in its entirety is a bit more realistic goal, and so far, I have walked from Strathcona to beyond Yarker. The trail is maintained by two snowmobile clubs - the Lennox and Addington Ridgerunners and the Rideau Ridge Riders. Both are snowmobile clubs and their hard work and volunteerism has resulted in a trail that is not only a pleasure for snowmobilers in the winter, but also hikers, casual strollers and horseback riders.  Trails are constantly being resurfaced as funds become available, birdhouses have been erected along some stretches of the trail and strategically placed brochure racks along the trails and interpretive signs spread the word of their volunteer work with the trail even further. 

Beyond the Cataraqui Trail itself, the Ridgerunners partner with local landowners for access to their properties which gives them about 240 kilometres of accessible trails. Signs proudly advertise, "If you have eaten today thank our farmers - if you are snowmobiling today thank them twice." Past president Duncan Parker says the 400-member club is extremely proud of its volunteer base who range from nine to 70 years of age. One of their projects was resurfacing the overpass high above the village of Yarker, and adding extra security to the crossover by adding a chain link fence on either side for its entire length.

When partnering organizations like snowmobile and ATV clubs band together and take on the responsibility of maintaining these former rail trails, they, in turn, make the trails better for everyone. It is an admirable way for a variety of user groups to work harmoniously and cooperatively together. Certainly hikers who have joined me on my interpretive walks on both the Trans Canada Trail and the Cataraqui Trail have expressed their appreciation to these organizations who finance these ongoing improvements through permit sales and fund raising events. The Trans Canada Trail, for example, boasts an oasis at Drag Lake which is delight for trail users who round a corner and suddenly arrive at a picnic area, replete with tables, benches, flower beds and a panoramic view of the lake itself, also known as Palmateer Lake. The site also includes a plaque, dedicated to the memory of Erin Palmateer, an avid snowmobiler who died in a farming accident.

The 52-km Millennium Trail from Carrying Place to Picton which I have walked in its entirety five times has enjoyed untiring support in the past from the Prince Edward Trail Riders Snowmobile Club who rebuilt both the Consecon Lake bridge and the Lane Creek bridge in Wellington and provided caution and directional signs. But there is only so much that any snowmobile club can do with a small core group of volunteers. Unfortunately, the trail sadly lacks the volunteer base and support that trails elsewhere have enjoyed with gravel dust resurfacing, trail shoulder maintenance and amenities. While the County does its best with what funds it has in mowing and grading sections in desperate need, and a praiseworthy effort in rebuilding the washed out approach to the bridge at Gardenville,  there is no regular infusion of money to bring it up to the standards that this trail deserves to enjoy. It needs funding, it needs an enthusiastic volunteer base who believes in the trail and it needs dedication. A trail committee a few years ago representing various user groups accomplished little except repetitive wheel spinning at every meeting and the conclusion that a perfect trail surface that would appeal to all users simply did not exist, or was prohibitive in cost.

The Millennium Trail needs parking areas large enough to allow one or two cars to park safely at key access points, it needs a strong group of enthusiastic volunteers who will adopt achievable sections, it needs sponsorship and it needs commitment. Until it receives this, the trail will continue to be the undulating surface that it has become in some sections through excessive and high speed ATV use, fraught with loose rocks, overgrown trail edges, flooded depressions and questionable parking, and usable by only those who don't mind a challenge. And that it sad, as the Millennium Trail has the potential to be so much more.