Grand Manan Trails
Annual Newsletter #3
November 1995
Grand Manan Trails
Annual Newsletter #3
November 1995
(See page bottom for prev. editions)This third annual newsletter is distributed to all members of the Grand Manan Tourism Association which supports the upkeep of our trails and brought the 'Trails Committee' into being. In addition it is mailed to all 'Friends of Grand Manan Trails' known to us. Anyone who has donated time, money or effort to the maintenance of our trails system automatically becomes a 'Friend' . See the last page. If you know of someone who should be receiving this newsletter please give us his or her address.'Heritage Trails and Footpaths on Grand Manan' - reissued The revised guide reached us in time for the September
hikers. They are coming in greater numbers and had glorious weather this
year. The cover of the new guide features a handsome sketch of the Swallow
Tail Lighthouse which many readers will recognize as the work of former
island resident, Robin Wall. The number of maps (9) remains the same although
some corrections have been made. Adorned by 6 of Thisbee Schenks charming
little wildflower sketches and her husband Oswalds crest design, this revision
returns to the more attractive format of earlier editions. The text has
been updated including the addition of the Ross Island shoreline trail
as described in last years newsletter. It retails for $4.00. top
In order to give the new edition a longer life
yet keep users up-to-date, an annual addendum will be produced each spring
and included with the sale of each guide. Extra copies of the insert will
be made available, free of charge, at the Tourist Information Centre for
those who wish to continue using our earlier edition. The addendum will
be folded and inserted by Wendy Dathan's student helpers.
Maude Hunter has recently donated to our 'mini archive' a copy of J. Wilson Craigs 'Walks and Trails in the vicinity of North Head Grand Manan' (1972) In it he says "This little guide to the hiking trails…was first issued in 1962". and "several revisions have been made". It is a charming little compendium of local lore and description which remains as fresh today (to an island-lovers eye) as when he wrote it. The title not withstanding he includes mention of trails as far down the back of the island as Dark Harbour as well as "Shepherds Trail to Flock of Sheep" and "Southern Head Light to Bradfords Pond. Mr. Wilson also bemoans; "Another phenomenon has
recently and regretably appeared; the "NO TRESSPASSING" sign. We hikers
have no wish to intrude an anyone's privacy far less do any damage or litter
the landscape. In most cases, it could, we believe, be easily proved that
the parts of the trail it is sought to close to the hiker is a right-of-way.
However, if you are challenged, it is recommended that you use the technique
of "the soft answer turneth away wrath" and report the incident to the
writer." Nowadays Grand Manan Tourism Association. top
Would readers please make available a copy of
any trails information they have which dates before Mr. Wilson's '72 guide.
Thank you, Maude and Gerald.
In the spring, as their annual contribution to
our trails upkeep, the 1st Mananook Troop built a bridge across Dark Harbour
Brook making it easier to get up to 'The Lookout' on Western Head dry-shod.
They also found time to do some brushing out. Their work was much appreciated
by hikers climbing to this spectacular spot over-looking The Grand Manan
channel. This trail starts at Dark Harbour Road where the gravel heaps
are situated before the road drops down to Dark Harbour. top
Designed by Oswald K. Schenk with production researched by his wife Thisbee (see '94 newsletter). These attractive crests were available for sale by the start of the hiking season. Distributed by Maude Hunter and Maureen Baldwin, they were offered for sale by a number of our tourism association's members and the Grand Manan Museum. Top seller was Linda L'Aventure of Island Arts. Linda sold $152.00 worth with Maureen Baldwin of Baldwins' Bed & Breakfast in second place at $106.00. Special thanks to these two 'boosters' and all others who helped. At $5.00 per crest a total of $956.00 was raised. We sold a total of 317 crests. Of these 100 went to our Boy Scouts troop at a special price of $2.00 each. The scouts 1ike to wear them on their camp blankets and exchange them with visiting troops. Since the original production cost was donated by Grand Manan Tourism Association your committee made it a first priority to set aside sufficient funds from their sale to cover further supplies. This will be done over the winter so that an adequate supply will be on hand for 1996. Cecilia Bowden has agree to take over the ordering, distribution and sale of crests and we welcome her as the Trails Committee's newest member. top
We were again fortunate to receive an Environmental
Trust Fund grant from the Provincial government. It allowed a four-man
crew to work for ten weeks. Although the operating funds attached to the
workers wages was limited we were able to complete the programme of planned
work. Donations from 'Friends' to our maintenance fund made up the slack
and leave us with some funds in hand at years end. top
We are, once again, indebted to the Grand Marian
Rotarians for their sponsorship of our application for provincial funds.
This is the third time they have obliged us. The Rotarians actually put
up the monies for the first month's work and their hard-working Treasurer,
Andrew Jones did the book-keeping and cheque writing. In August D.H.B.
was given the opportunity to attend one of their breakfast meetings and
thank them personally. We feel their contribution has not been appropriately
recognized in the past and their participation in our work broadens the
community base. Charles Jensen, Grand Manan Boys and Girls Club, again
provided an indoor work space for sign making on wet days. However, the
crew enjoyed very good weather. Commencing on June 12th they worked the
entire ten weeks with only 2 or 3 wet days.
Ably led by Shawn Green (one of the 1992 crew headed by Neree Losier) it consisted of David Green, Castalia; Derik Raymond, Castalia and John Dorion, Woodwards Cove. This energetic foursome set themselves a good pace and got the most heavily used trails into working order by the time hikers in any numbers began appearing. By July, with hot and buggy conditions to contend with, the crew opted to go into the woods as early as 7.00 a.m. in order to get their days work done before the worst of the heat! ('Stoifling, stoifling"!) Not until their sixth week was any indoor work occasioned by heavy rain. By marking the already present trail across the
east-side of White Head island they increased the mileage in the system
to close to 80 kms (50 miles). top
During the past year or so a Provincial Task Force has been at work to develop a Province-wide system of formal graded trails to cater to hikers, joggers, bicyclists, horse-riders, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers (but not A.T.V.'s) . Published specifications were supplied to Grand Manan Tourism Association's Trails Committee by the Provincial Resource Planning Department this Spring. A large part of the total mileage involved will consist of "rails to trails", the reworking of obsolete railway right-of-ways to this new broadly based recreational purpose. To link existing road-beds, large amounts of new trails will need to be constructed. The cost will be enormous and the target date for completion is New Brunswick Day in the year 2000. A typical trail cross-section shows a cut through
the forest of 4.5m (14.5 ft) limbed up to a height of 3m (10 ft) with a
gravelled 'treadwidth' of 3.5m (12 ft) upon which to walk or ride. After
debating the proposal in detail, your Committee formulated the following
response. top
PO Box 193, North Head Grand Manan NB EOG 2M0 Eric G. Hadley
RE: The Sentier New Brunswick Trail and Grand Manan Dear Eric: Grand Manan trails have a long history and an enthusiastic following. Trail guides have been produrced and updated since the early '60s. The latest edition, printed this past summer, is now on sale locally. In 1991, Grand Manan Tourism Association appointed a Trails sub-committee to maintain and publicize our trails. By adding a Ross Island shoreline trail and marking the trail across the east coast of White Head during the past two summers, we now have approximately 50 miles of trails. With the exception of 'The Boardwalk' linking the Anchorage Provincial Park with Red Point, all of the trails are on privately owned land. Landowners have traditionally tolerated the presence of these unobtrusive trails and their use by islanders and visitors alike. The Grand Manan Tourism Association Trails Committee has studied and debated the Sentier New Brunswick Trails outline document supplied by Eric Hadley. Resource Planner (Recreation and Environment). In comparing its stated goals and constitution specifications with our existing trails policy, we feel strongly that the status quo on the island must be carefully maintained and would he seriously threatened by the construction of improved and landscaped trails such outlined in the provincial plan. Our trails are narrow and unimproved. Vegetation is kept back only to allow single file access. Colored trail marks are used sparingly and our signs are rustic; made from driftwood. Steps down steep hills and bridges over streams are almost nonexistent so that the degree of exercise and challenge offered is considerable. The resulting naturalness is the feature most often commented on favorably by visitors. Some trails are short and easy. The previous printing of our trails guide book sold out 3000 copies in just two hiking seasons indicating the high level of use our trails are getting. Media coverage as well as provincially generated publicity continues to laud the unspoiled nature of the island, so much of which can only be seen from one of our twenty-four trails. Our committee views the new province-wide trail system as an exciting prospect. It will appeal to all outdoors lovers, not least those of us on Grand Manan. We welcome being associated with the scheme and offering island visitors our own style of hiking experience. One can not hike across to Grand Manan. We believe the 1½ hour ferry trip is a natural way in which to "change gear" and adapt to our slower pace and traditional approach to hiking. We do not want to cater to bikes or snowmobiles, we get very little snow anyway. We are challenged by the unregulated use of ATV's as it is. We would like to be involved with the rest of the province in the Sentier New Brunswick Trails publications and other publicity. We can benefit from access to legal skills, administrative and mapping skills. Funding of future trails maintenance and improvements are ongoing concerns which the new scheme will address. Noting a steady increase in the number of visitors bringing bicycles of all types with them on holiday, the committee wonders if they would not be best served by the provision of a paved cycle lane along one side of our highway. Failing this some of our back roads such as The Dock Road, The Back Road and Dark Harbour Road all have scenic potential and are less travelled. Such a facility would be invaluable to hikers, casual walkers, joggers and islanders pushing baby carriages. Even roller blading could be enjoyed if the surface was fine enough. As it is, the volume of motorized traffic during the peak tourist months is now such that cyclists and walkers are being placed at hazard. Could we be kept fully informed regarding the progress of the Sentier New Brunswick Trails project please. Sincerely. Andrew Normandeau
CC: Eric Allaby top Anchorage Provincial Park Improvements Hundreds of walkers used 'The Boardwalk' (as it has been dubbed by islanders) this year. Adjacent to the Provincial Park picnic site, it offers everyone, old and very young, islander or visitor alike a scenic, quiet, easy stroll west to Red Point and the geological contact point. Merlins again nested close to the trail. This year the province acquired Red Point (a worked out gravel pit from the late 1940's). Plans are in place to improve public access; a larger parking area will be added and the trail extended out to the contact point itself which many have had difficulty finding in the past. A toilet will be provided. Red Point is a prime viewing spot with grand views east to Wood Island and south down Seal Cove Sound. You reach Red Point via Red Point Road from Seal Cove. It is a good birding venue for land birds along the trail and sea ducks and grebes out on the water. At the Anchorage end a hiking/biking trail has been extended eastward to 'The Outlet' which drains Great Pond to the sea. Built behind the fragile dunes, it will cut down on erosion. A.T.V.s are forbidden.Also new in 1995 are the Bog Walk on the west side of Great Pond and Bagley Trail (0.8 kms - ½ mile). The former offers close-up views of the spongy sphagnum and such bog specialties as Sheep Laurel, Pitcher Plant and Sun-dew. The latter gives views over Great Pond and is a very good birding spot. Interpretive signs have been added in several spots. To be added to future guide revisions. top
Board the car ferry at Ingalls Head for the approximately 22 minute crossing. There are 7 trips per day (4 on Sundays). Check schedule for times. The Lady White Head overnights on the island and there is no evening service so take note that the last boat back to Grand Manan leaves the island at 4.3Opm. If you take your car across be sure to put it in line in good time. A toilet is available on the ferry. Watch for Harbour Seals, Bald Eagles and Common Eiders en route. Black Guillemots are also regularly seen. As you approach White Head note the white quartzite headland (74' above sea level) which gives the island its name. White Head is approximately 4 kms (2½ miles) in length with close to 5 kms (3.l miles) of paved road on it. Champlain (1606) and John James Audubon (1833) visited here, the first to repair his ship, the second to see Herring Gulls nesting (then) in spruces! Hiking completely around the island involves using the road between The Head and Gull Cove with a side road out to Sheep Rock Head and Prangle Point - good for shorebirds during migration. The marked trail begins at the dump near Langmaid Cove (400 metres from the dump) and heads S.W. to Sandy Cove and the Long Point Lighthouse. Note that the pebbly beach out to Long Point from The Head and Battle Beach is sometimes undriveable to regular vehicles in the spring. Since the interior of the island is mostly sphagnum bog you are largely confined to the roads and shorelines. Between mid-July and September whales are frequently spotted off the south shore making this 'back-of-the-island' hike especially worthwhile. Birders are sometimes rewarded with views of the brown-capped Boreal Chickadee in the conifers near Langmaid Cove. Trail bicyclists, who can always fit aboard the ferry, are finding White Head an attractive hiking/biking venue. For the second year in a row a sketch by Albertan, Dennis Brooks graces our newsletter. He has kindly donated his matted originals for our future use. Hurry back Dennis. Copies of our previous newsletters are available to anyone who needs them. Please forward postage. Finally our sincere thanks to all who made this past season so successful. Special thanks to our 'adopters' who regularly monitor their portion of the trails and typically rectify any problems encountered without even mentioning their efforts to the Trails Committee. Maureen Baldwin again produced the newsletter. Our 1996 'wish-list' is much like last years. We especially need volunteers to
Don Baldwin - Chair Andrew Normandeau Maude Hunter Billy Daggett Walter Wilson Sidney Guptill Fugene Gilles Barbara Guptill Cecilia Bowden Baldwins' Bed & Breakfast, 2071 Route 776, Grand Manan, New Brunswick, N.B. E5G 4K6. top Note: Laurie Murison prepared the newsletter for the web site version. |
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