Spring activities

check out http://yukonbirdobservatories.blogspot.com for days to view the birdbanding operations in McIntyre Creek. There are a great many interesting birds to see while visiting this site.

Ugly Duckling??

On our Easter Sunday hike through the trails of McIntyre Creek, we spotted this lone swan hanging out with a flock of ducks. It brought back the memory of the children's story, where the swan was considered an "ugly duckling". I thought it was rather strange to see a single swan, and wondered how it had gotten separated from its flock.

Easter Weekend

Spring has sprung, but it wasn't crocuses that were filling the woods, but people. The sunny, warm days had lots of folks out and about to enjoy the McIntyre Creek hikes and play in the creek. People were happy to shed the heavy winter clothing, and enjoy the sun.

Signs of Spring - We need your Help

Today on our hike along McIntyre Creek, we spotted a young eagle dining on some camp fire left overs. I would have expected to see crocus flowers popping up by this time of year, but there is still too much snow this year.

McIntyre Creek needs your support to protect the wildlife corridor. Please keep working, talking with City Council, writing letters to your MLA, letters to the editor, and whatever you can do to get your friends and neighbours onside before Porter Creek D development destroys this jewel. The City appears to be on the fast track to proceed with this development. They had assured us that work would not proceed on Porter Creek D until Whistle Bend was completed, but I am afraid it does not look like this is their current view. The plans are still going forward to have a road crossing the Creek for Whistle Bend, and there is talk of more work with culverts for bringing water services to the Porter Creek D development. We cannot relax our vigil to save this wildlife corridor. We need your help!! You can contact us at friendsofmcintyre@gmail.com.

Spring is on its way & Jane Goodall Comments

Spring is quickly melting the Creek. Only a week ago, this was still frozen, and now it is rushing towards the Yukon River.

I was reading a Readers Digest (November 2010) interview with Jane Goodall, the world famous primatologist, and found these comments relevant to our City's development plans.

"RD: Is our planet better or worse off today than it was when you first began your work in 1960?

Goodall: In most ways, it is worse off. The human population has soared, as has the damage to the ecosystem. We still face the loss of species and the threat from climate change . I think we've lost wisdom. We don't ask how decisions made today will affect generations to come, but instead how they affect the bottom line. Perhaps there has been a separation between the clever brain and the heart - the seat of love and compassion."

I believe this is where our City officials are, in that they only are concerned with the bottom line, and not how their decisions will affect future generations and the ecosystem. It is up to the people like you, members of the Friends of McIntyre Creek who still care about the ecosystem, to make their voices known to the Officials as well as the public, and hopefully we can make them see the light before it is too late, and the wildlife corridor is destroyed with Porter Creek D. The City of Whitehorse advertises itself as a Wilderness City, so we need them to step up and prove it by not destroying the wilderness that is easily accessible from our neighbourhoods within our City.

Bridges Across McIntyre Creek - December 2010

I have to admit, that with the weather being so cold, and the work closing the bridge closest to the Yukon College, I have not been hiking my usual trails. However, today with close to zero temperatures, I took the hike to see what changes had happened.

The bridge closest to the water station had been finished weeks ago, and is now a busy snow mobile trail. As I feared, more snowmobile access has also increased the snowmobiles on trails where they are not to go, but the tracks in the snow tell the tale, as well as attempted blockades to prevent their access.

The bridge closest to the College was the biggest surprise. For years I complained to the City that the pole barriers were often set too wide, which still allowed motorized vehicles on some of the trails & bridges, where they were not supposed to go. I was told that they had to have them wide enough for wheel chair access. Now honestly, I doubted very much any wheel chair would want to traverse those hills and trails, but that was their explanation. The new bridge nearest the College has steps on both sides to get onto to the bridge. Hmmmm....I wonder how a wheel chair is supposed to access the bridge now? Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the steps should be turned into ramps, but it makes me question the reasoning in the replies I got from the City.

At any rate, here are some photos of the bridges being built and finished. Now that the weather has warmed up, I am sure more folks will be out and about enjoying the McIntyre Creek trails.

Gerry

New Bridges - McIntyre Creek November 2010

Well the "trail closed" signs have been up for several weeks, but as of November 18, 2010, it is for real. The work on the pedestrian bridge by the Water Station (Takhini area) has now closed the bridge, and will likely be closed at least until Monday 22nd. The small log bridge is still accessible further up the trail. I have been taking photos as the various stages of the bridge have progressed, from the foundations, to the dropping of the beams, and will post photos at a later date on Flickr. But for now, this is the current stage of the snowmobile access bridge.

I had hoped that the rail would be left up to separate the pedestrian path from the snowmobiles, but unfortunately, it will become one bridge for all to access.

The creek has been flooding, and whether it is an ice jam further down, or an increase water flow is hard to determine, but the water is moving very quickly, and could hamper the replacement of the bridge closer to the College if it continues to rise.