Thursday, April 9, 2015

Ontario Trails News - News on fatbikes, from Trailhead North

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From Trailhead North

The organizers of Trailhead North are pleased to announce a significant outcome expected from the two day symposium on trails taking place in Thunder Bay, April 17, 18 2015.

A fat bike etiquette. Fat bikes are those larger tire all season all terrain human powered bicycles that are emerging as a winter riding option for road cyclists and mountain bikers in the winter.

The Ontario Trails Council, the provincial trails association and co-organizer of the symposium was approached by the cycling community to come up with guidelines on use of fat bikes on trails.

"Fatbikes are becoming more and more popular, there are many cross country and other types of trails that fatbikers can use, but that aren;t necessarily designed for their use - we want to work with the FB community to develop and etiquette for users so they can expect and respect other users on trails," states Patrick Connor Executive Director of Ontario Trails Council.

Co-organizer, Kirsten Spence of Quercwood Consulting, adds, "Multi-use trails often have complicated numbers of people using a variety of equipment to do their recreation. This means bicycles now with fatbikes, snowmobiles, cross-country, snowshoers, winter hikers etc. So having an etiquette will educate all users what to expect and how to interact safely on recreational trails."

Through the Trailhead North development process the event has secured support from various groups and organizations. These included the City of Thunder Bay, The Active transportation Committee in the City, The Kinghorn Rail Trail, Trans Canada Trail through Path of the Paddle, City of Marathon Economic development - all of these groups want groups like OTC and Trailhead North to produce outcomes from meetings.

The creation of a fatbike committee will be such an outcome and should produce a guideline before the summer is out in time for the next riding season.

With a membership of over 200 organizations that stretches all over Ontario, including Trans Canada Trail, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, and over 80,000 km of trails the OTC will carry this northern fatbike etiquette to all other Ontario trail communities.

Trailhead North is taking place April 17, 18 at the Nor'wester Best Western. More information can be found at trailheadnorth.com

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Ontario Trails News - OFAH promote youth getting outdoors, and find your favourite Ontario trails!

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March 18, 2015 11:09 ET

OFAH Youth 'Get Outdoors' This Weekend

PETERBOROUGH, ON--(Marketwired - March 18, 2015) - Eighty youth from across the province will come together at the OFAH Get Outdoors Youth Leadership Conference this weekend in Orangeville to learn about Ontario's outdoor heritage. Whether they come from the country or the city, each of these youth has a common passion to "get outdoors."
With the theme of "Reaching New Heights," participants will have the opportunity to push themselves while indoor rock climbing with the help of the trained staff at Boulderz Climbing Centre in Etobicoke
On Saturday, participants will head to the Dufferin Northern Peel Anglers & Hunters Association for an action-packed day on the ranges. With one-on-one instruction from qualified instructors, participants will take part in trap shooting, rifle shooting and archery and then bolster their fishing skills with a fly tying demo and invertebrate identification.
Media are invited to attend the day, which includes terrific video and photo opportunities. Event highlights will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter (#OFAH15).
Date & Start Time: March 21, 2015 - 9:30 a.m. sharp
     
Where: EASY TO FIND -- Dufferin Northern Peel Anglers and Hunters Association, just north of Orangeville, located at 246147 Dufferin Road 16, Orangeville. 
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) launched the Get Outdoors program in 2002 to inspire more youth involvement in hunting, fishing and conservation. This national award-winning youth conservation program puts the emphasis on promoting our outdoor heritage through first-hand exposure and is the only one of its kind in Ontario. The Youth Leadership Conference is held in conjunction with the 87th OFAH Annual General Meeting and Fishing & Wildlife Conference. For more information visit www.getoutdoors.org.
With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 725 member clubs, the OFAH is the largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization in Ontario. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Ontario Trails News - many snowmobile trails are closing now, beware of ice conditions says OTC.

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Snowmobile ice trails closed for the season

by  - 
4
MANITOULIN—In light of the recent news (and the front page article in this paper regarding the Brechin couple that found themselves in the North Channel Friday afternoon during a snowmobile trip), The Expositor contacted Manitoulin Snowdusters media spokesperson Brad Middleton for a trail update. Currently all Snowdusters trails on Manitoulin and area waters are listed as ‘closed’ or ‘limited.’

Mr. Middleton explained that following the Friday incident, the Ontario Provincial Police requested the Manitoulin Snowdusters close all of the ice trails, which they did.
As of Monday morning, the land trails are listed on the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club’s website as either ‘closed’ or ‘limited.’
“This is not only because there are some big bare patches starting to show, but also because it is getting hard to get in and out of the towns to get gas etc. due to bare roads and streets,” Mr. Middleton explained.
“However, if anyone chooses to use the land trails on March Break they still can, technically,” he added. “As always, and like the signs say, you are using the trails at your own risk.”

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Ontario Trails News - kayaking for a cure, and find your favourite Ontario Trails!

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Kayaking for a cure

Alison Langley
Scott Robinson plans to kayak across Lake Ontario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto this summer to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

"I've been kayaking since I was 9 and would kayak every morning," the 18-year-old said.
"It has always been a dream of mine to go across the lake to Toronto."
The McMaster University business student plans make his dream a reality this summer.
While it will be personal challenge for the Laura Secord Secondary School graduate, the 52 kilometre trek will also be in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Robinson hopes to raise $10,000 for the non-profit agency from his Kayak for the Cure Niagara.
He hopes to take to the water sometime between Aug. 12 and 16, depending on weather conditions.
"It's going to be pretty rough - those waves can reach eight feet - but I'm already training so I'll be ready by the time it comes."
He plans to leave from Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake at sunset and end at the mouth of the Humber River in Toronto.
He expects his journey will take between 12 and 16 hours.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Ontario Trails News - Greenbelt Consultations on now, find your favorite Ontario Trails!

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Opinion / Commentary

Greenbelt makes GTA more, not less, livable

As Ontario revisits legislation protecting 1.8-million acres of land around the region, it should dismiss critics who argue that the Greenbelt makes homes less affordable in the GTA.

The rich bracken and foliage of the Greenbelt can be seen in a Pickering woodlot. Queen's Park is set to review legislation that protects this area.
TONY BOCK / TORONTO STAR Order this photo
The rich bracken and foliage of the Greenbelt can be seen in a Pickering woodlot. Queen's Park is set to review legislation that protects this area.
A 10-year anniversary is usually cause for celebration. That should certainly be the case with Ontario’s Greenbelt, the 1.8 million acres of protected farmland, wetlands, watersheds and green spaces that surround our region. The Greenbelt has helped to reduce sprawl, protect our natural environment and provide food for our growing urban region.
Now that we have a decade of experience to consider, the province is formally reviewing its two marquee planning policies: the Greenbelt Act and the Places to Grow Act. Some critics are using this opportunity to suggest that the Greenbelt and provincial land-use rules are making homes less affordable in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). However, that argument doesn’t hold water.
(OTC Members Say - It also displaced a lot of farmers, and we hope they will support our work in trails)

Friday, March 27, 2015

Ontario Trail News - OEF and Horse Country Campground partnership and find your favorite Ontario Trail!

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BY JULIA HASKINS / MAR 17, 2015(Digital Vision./ThinkStock)

A new partnership between the Ontario Equestrian Federation and Horse Country Campground offers horse enthusiasts the perfect excuse to get out and ride.What’s the benefit? After a long, frigid winter, horse lovers are itching to get back in the saddle and enjoy the outdoors once again. The Ontario Equestrian Federation is helping its members—competitive and recreational riders—do that via a new partnership with Horse Country Campground, an equestrian-focused recreation destination in the Ottawa Valley. To get equestrians ready for summertime fun, the program will offer OEF members 10 percent off regular camping rates. And members who complete a short survey about trail riding can enter a contest to win a free weekend at the campground.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Ontario Trails News - fatbike championships? and find your favorite Ontario Trail!

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Is Canada ready for a national fat bike championships?

by Peter Hein

The 2015 Milky Way Intergalactic Fat Bike Championships in Barrie, Ont. Photo credit: Peter Hein
The 2015 Milky Way Intergalactic Fat Bike Championships in Barrie, Ont. Photo credit: Peter Hein
Jack Sasseville, race director of the Milky Way Intergalactic Fat Bike Championships and former cross-country ski national coach, was thrilled with the the turn out for this first fat tire championship on March 8. It is his goal to make this event a national championship event sanctioned by Cycling Canada and the Ontario Cycling Association.
Fat bike racing is the new kid on the block gaining recognition and a dedicated following. Fat bikes have been around for about a decade and, in the last two years, have captured the imagination of the cycling mainstream because of their versatility in winter snow conditions.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Ontario Trails News - adventurer making Minnesota/Ontario trek, and find your favorite Ontario Trail!

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Will Steger will make canoe-sledding trek along the Canadian border

This time, Will Steger won’t have to go to the North Pole, Antarctica, the Northwest Territories or the Arctic Ocean to mount an expedition.
The Ely explorer, now 70, has found a formidable challenge right in his backyard. On Wednesday, Steger plans to embark on a monthlong, 200-mile solo trek by canoe-sled through spring break-up along the Minnesota-Ontario border.
“I feel so fortunate I found something where I could stretch my skills,” Steger said in a telephone interview last week. “The learning curve is really high.”
He will make the journey hauling a reinforced canoe-sled behind him over the ice, paddling open rivers where he can. He has made similar ice-out trips, often solo, several times over the past 20 years, he said.
Steger will leave from Saganaga Lake at the tip of the Gunflint Trail, travel through the heart of Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park, then down the Maligne River to Lac La Croix on the border. From there, he’ll travel west to Namakan Lake in Voyageurs National Park, finishing either by continuing west to International Falls or traveling east along the border to his homestead north of Ely.