RELIVING THE MILLENNIUM TRAIL EXPERIENCE 

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 (Napanee Beaver) 

Friday, October 31, 2008 (Picton Gazette)

Walking the Millennium Trail from Carrying Place to Picton has become almost a tradition for many. If one includes the six km spur that veers off at the western outskirts of Picton and heads towards Highway 49, the total distance on this former CNR route is 51.8 km. In 2005, my wife and I walked it both ways, and I have walked all of it, or most of it, several times since. Last week, over 15 of us staggered out onto Highway 49 once again.

The event was part of an outdoor program hosted by Quinte Conservation. It was an experiment to see if anyone might be interested in joining me on this cross country trek to learn the human history of the route, and the natural history along the way. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect so many avid outdoor enthusiasts to respond.

The route was broken down into five sections, of approximately 10 km each, with scheduled hikes taking place in April, May and June, and again in September and October. The first stretch, in April, from the Murray Canal to Consecon, was by far the longest at 11.8 km. Leaves had not even thought about emerging yet on this cool start to the hike, and ice was still on the trail a week earlier. Last week, as we passed by fields of pumpkins, and trees still in glorious orange and red under sunny skies, the temperatures still hovering at a balmy autumn 12 degrees, we reflected on the sights and sounds we had encountered on this cross county trek in the past months.

There had been the lingering winter migrants at the Murray Canal, the pied-billed grebes wheezing in the cattails at Consecon Lake, secretive Virginia rails running across the lily pads in a wetland near Danforth Road, and the sight of golfers in Wellington. We came across numerous golfers at Picton too last week, also out enjoying the balmy fall temperatures.

We still don’t understand though why some local residents feel it is necessary to accent the approach to the Picton golf course along the Millennium Trail with their yard waste and garbage. In past years, this waste has included discarded lumber, drywall, mattresses, even the remains of a burn barrel. Last week, it was scattered piles of leaves and walnuts. If these property owners don’t care to see this waste in their own back yard, why do they think that hikers, bikers, ATVers and others who use this section of the trail daily wish to see it?

However, this blight is along only one short stretch of the Millennium Trail. Not bad for a trail that runs across the county for over 50 km. It indicates that, at least, those who use the trail are responsible, and this is a good sign. Speaking of which, last week as we approached Highway 33 near Canadian Tire, we found a box containing a brand new air powered tool which must have fallen off an ATV. If you lost such an item, please get in touch with me and you can have it back by describing the item.

Quinte Conservation is pleased to offer these hiking opportunities, and it is has been a treat for me to lead them for the past 13 years. This particular event will be repeated in 2009, but instead will follow the passenger train route from Lake Street in Picton to the Murray Canal, a distance of only 45.8 km. We have a few surprises in store along the way.

In addition, we will be walking a 14 km section of the Trans Canada Trail between Highway 62 and Tweed next year, a one day only event, likely taking place in the fall. Together, with a 16 km canoe paddle on the Napanee River, and our regular series of both Monday and Wednesday evening hikes through the spring and summer, and a six-week backyard naturalization course that I will be teaching, we think we have a great outdoor program lined up for everyone in 2009.