Trail Wise - August 18, 2025. Ontario Trail News and Events, plus Canadian Trail News! Click the link to see more news and info about OTC programs and services.

 

Ontario Trails Council - a provincial charity working for the development, use, management and preservation of trails and trail based activity. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Ontario Trails Council is a charity, led by a volunteer board of directors, that promotes the use, management, development, and preservation of trails and trail-based activities in Ontario.  Please consider supporting us through a donation or a membership. Thanks.     ONTARIO TRAIL NEWS Forest fire alerts up in Ontario this summer due to dry hot conditions Haliburton 19 (HAL019) has been deemed Under Control. A wildland fire is considered under control once it has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire. Thank you to AFFES and the City of Kawartha Lake firefighters and support staff for their collaborative efforts in suppressing this fire. Stay updated on wildland fires in Ontario via our Interactive Fire Map  https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/.../index.html... Outside Fire Region (OFR001) near Kirkfield is now Being Held. The status of being held is given to a wildland fire that indicates with current committed resources, sufficient suppression action has been taken so that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined control boundaries under prevailing or forecasted conditions. Another big thank you to all AFFES staff and the firefighters from the City of Kawartha Lakes for their incredible efforts in suppressing this fire. Stay updated on wildland fires in Ontario via our Interactive Fire Map  https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/.../index.html... Visit Ontario Forest Fires on Facebook Haliburton 18 (HAL018) has been deemed Under Control. A wildland fire is considered under control once it has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire. This wouldn’t have be possible without the hard work and dedication of our FireRangers, Pilots, and support and overhead staff. Stay updated on wildland fires in Ontario via our Interactive Fire Map  https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/.../index.html... AROUND ONTARIO After many weeks of effort by FireRangers, flight crews, overhead and support staff, multiple Incident Management Teams and a little help from the weather, the Bak Lake Cluster of Fires reached a milestone, Aug. 13, with several control status changes. Red Lake 62 (near Pikangikum First Nation) is now under control. Fires Red Lake 40 (near North Spirit Lake First Nation) and Red Lake 67 (near McDowell Lake First Nation) have changed to being observed, having seen enough fire suppression to prevent further growth. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Worth thinking about! Limit time outdoors, wildfire smoke unhealthy | News | mlstargazette.com Star Gazette Throughout the summer, Canadian wildfires have sent a smoky haze our way. If you've stepped outside and caught a whiff of that campfire-like smell ...   Ontario Trails Council presents Trail Stewardship - Coming this Fall Offered in Partnership with Confederation College OnLine Learning Why Confederation College? Learn more about OnLine Learning. Course details coming soon. Unit 1 - Safety and Training By the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following:​ Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the trail industry in Canada. Work safely as a trail crew member – (prepare self and others to be effective trail crew members). Explain the basics to trail building. Recognize common trail issues and how to resolve problematic areas. Handle trail tools safely and effectively. Unit 2 - Trail Assessment By the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following:​ Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the on the ground trail environment. Explain key features of recreational trails. Describe the basics of trail tread, site preparation and construction elements. Assess the key components of trail issues and how to resolve them. Explain the basic elements to designing and installing a trail tread. Unit 3 - Food and Nutrition By the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following:​ Demonstrate basic knowledge of the various food groups that are important to nutrition. Explain why keeping hydrated on the worksite is important to worker health and wellbeing. Describe what types of food and drink are available on the worksite. Provide an example of what you would take with you as snack, lunch or dinner out to the trail. Provide an example as to how you would prepare a meal on the trail.