Saturday, July 13, 2013
Low Water Levels -
The pond below Yukon College by the Blue water station has been dropping at an alarming rate. Soon, it will return to just being a creek, as the beavers are not there to keep the pond full, and the water levels must also be controlled from higher up the Creek at the pump station.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Want to be happy? Live near a park!
Interesting article - want to be happy? Live near a park!
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681792/want-to-be-happy-live-near-a-park
Sadly, the water levels continue to drop in the little pond below the Yukon College. Removing the beavers has upset what was a lovely area for ducks to hatch their young, for people to enjoy the water canoeing, and other features of nature.
There are still people building fires there, along the shore line, and near the water station. It is very dangerous with things being dry, and with this park being close to residences, and all it takes is one spark to dry areas for a fire to start.
Awhile back, there was a fire that may have been caused from a lightning strike, and fortunately a senior in the residence spotted the smoke and reported it. I came across the fire fighters as they were finishing putting the fire out.
I have been taking photos like crazy, like the little rose bush beginning to grow right in the middle of the trail, tire tracks around it, the many different flowers, the eagle on its perch, and of course the rushing water in the creek as it passes near the bridges. It never ceases to amaze me how nature survives even the toughest treatment.
I hope you are all out enjoying the good weather we have been having, and you know what is really great about the middle McIntyre Creek area - there no mosquitoes in the afternoon!!! Now doesn't that make a hike more enjoyable?!?!?
I hiked the trails in the Crestview area with a friend in the middle of the afternoon, and was buzzed, and harrassed constantly by swarms of the little biters! Although the trails are lovely, with little streams, and lakes, I wouldn't hike there again in the summer, just because of the bugs. The fact that I never needed bug spray in the 26 years I have been hiking middle McIntyre Creek has always been amazing to me, and just makes me appreciate this area even more as a little local paradise.
So everyone, get out and enjoy the summer while you can, before we are again stomping out our trails in the snow.
By the way, be careful on the trail below the Yukon College, as the erosion is reducing the trail even more, and it seems daily, although I am sure it isn't that fast, but it is a sharp drop off, and if you aren't watching your feet, and perhaps watching the eagle on its perch, you could be in for a nasty fall.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681792/want-to-be-happy-live-near-a-park
Sadly, the water levels continue to drop in the little pond below the Yukon College. Removing the beavers has upset what was a lovely area for ducks to hatch their young, for people to enjoy the water canoeing, and other features of nature.
There are still people building fires there, along the shore line, and near the water station. It is very dangerous with things being dry, and with this park being close to residences, and all it takes is one spark to dry areas for a fire to start.
Awhile back, there was a fire that may have been caused from a lightning strike, and fortunately a senior in the residence spotted the smoke and reported it. I came across the fire fighters as they were finishing putting the fire out.
I have been taking photos like crazy, like the little rose bush beginning to grow right in the middle of the trail, tire tracks around it, the many different flowers, the eagle on its perch, and of course the rushing water in the creek as it passes near the bridges. It never ceases to amaze me how nature survives even the toughest treatment.
I hiked the trails in the Crestview area with a friend in the middle of the afternoon, and was buzzed, and harrassed constantly by swarms of the little biters! Although the trails are lovely, with little streams, and lakes, I wouldn't hike there again in the summer, just because of the bugs. The fact that I never needed bug spray in the 26 years I have been hiking middle McIntyre Creek has always been amazing to me, and just makes me appreciate this area even more as a little local paradise.
So everyone, get out and enjoy the summer while you can, before we are again stomping out our trails in the snow.
By the way, be careful on the trail below the Yukon College, as the erosion is reducing the trail even more, and it seems daily, although I am sure it isn't that fast, but it is a sharp drop off, and if you aren't watching your feet, and perhaps watching the eagle on its perch, you could be in for a nasty fall.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
June 19, 2013 - Team
You may see four students wearing green t-shirts roaming the middle McIntyre Creek area, and wonder what they are doing. Well they are part of a joint project of FOMC and YCS to document the trails, points of interest, and compile this information into a brochure so more people can plan their hikes, through the area, and enjoy all that this area has to offer.
So if you see this team out and about on the McIntyre Creek trails, feel free to say "Hi", and tell them about any interesting features, plants, birds and animals you have seen in this area.
From left to right: Ella Parker, Erica Nickel, Victor Chowdhury, and Aaron Dewhurst.
So if you see this team out and about on the McIntyre Creek trails, feel free to say "Hi", and tell them about any interesting features, plants, birds and animals you have seen in this area.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
June 18 - Celebration
There was a good turnout with great food provided by our volunteer members, with many discussions on the park proposal for McIntyre Creek. Thanks to everyone who filled out the questionnaires with information on how they use the trails and suggestions and ideas for the park.
Congratulations to the FOMC members who won the draws:
John Carney - won the Cuisinart BBQ donated by the Friends of McIntyre Creek and the Porter Creek Community Association.
This was lucky for John, as the big wind yesterday blew down a big tree which came down and damaged his deck and current BBQ. John has been a great supporter for the Friends of McIntyre Creek, and it is nice to see great supporters get rewarded.
The two packages of 5 lb. fish fillets donated by Icy Waters were won by Jennifer Moorlag and Jeanette Carney.
So John and Jeanette, I guess the next BBQ will be a your place with the fish on your new BBQ.
Seen below are members pouring over the trail map of Middle McIntyre Creek, which will be used to plan the booklet mapping out various trails in the area, with signs placed at various points describing the features.
(All Photos by Gerry Steers.)
Congratulations to the FOMC members who won the draws:
John Carney - won the Cuisinart BBQ donated by the Friends of McIntyre Creek and the Porter Creek Community Association.
This was lucky for John, as the big wind yesterday blew down a big tree which came down and damaged his deck and current BBQ. John has been a great supporter for the Friends of McIntyre Creek, and it is nice to see great supporters get rewarded.
The two packages of 5 lb. fish fillets donated by Icy Waters were won by Jennifer Moorlag and Jeanette Carney.
So John and Jeanette, I guess the next BBQ will be a your place with the fish on your new BBQ.
Seen below are members pouring over the trail map of Middle McIntyre Creek, which will be used to plan the booklet mapping out various trails in the area, with signs placed at various points describing the features.
Friday, June 7, 2013
June 18th - Celebration
In case you can't read the small print, there will be a draw for a Cuisinart BBQ for members who are attending the celebration. Our thanks to the Porter Creek Community Association for their donation towards the purchase of the BBQ and to all the people who are generously donating the food.
Put your thinking caps on, and come out and share your thoughts on what McIntyre Creek Park should be.
June 6, 2013 hiking in Middle McIntyre Creek
It is so great to be hiking along the trails, with the green leaves, and all the flowers bursting from the earth. I am looking forward to the arrival of the wild roses, as they give off such a wonderful scent to the hiking trails. The birds chirping in the trees remind us of how great it is to have this wonderful area to enjoy.
For the first time in quite awhile, I spotted a small, very red fox and a coyote today. It is nice to see the wild life out and about, and I am sure they are happy to have some warmer weather, as are we. I wasn't close enough or quick enough to get a good photo of them, so will have to start carrying a longer range camera, now that I see the animals are more active.
I noticed some new signs posted along my route. One new sign by the bridge closest to the College, has sadly replaced the original sign. I did think that the post that was put up last year across from the original sigh would be where the new sign would go, but instead, it replaced the sign that was telling about the trail and the salmon stream.
The trail just below the seniors residences has deteriorated even more this year, with extreme erosion. People are beginning to walk a little higher above the original trail, creating a new one. It is hard to tell whether this erosion is natural, or whether people are intentionally damaging the fragile edge.
This is the area where the eagles have perched on the cropped tree. In previous years there was rarely a day that went by that I would not see an eagle perched there or a couple in a neighbouring tree, but I have only see one eagle on the perch once this spring. Perhaps the Bird Club will be more successful when they do their hike this week.
For the first time in quite awhile, I spotted a small, very red fox and a coyote today. It is nice to see the wild life out and about, and I am sure they are happy to have some warmer weather, as are we. I wasn't close enough or quick enough to get a good photo of them, so will have to start carrying a longer range camera, now that I see the animals are more active.
I noticed some new signs posted along my route. One new sign by the bridge closest to the College, has sadly replaced the original sign. I did think that the post that was put up last year across from the original sigh would be where the new sign would go, but instead, it replaced the sign that was telling about the trail and the salmon stream.
The trail just below the seniors residences has deteriorated even more this year, with extreme erosion. People are beginning to walk a little higher above the original trail, creating a new one. It is hard to tell whether this erosion is natural, or whether people are intentionally damaging the fragile edge.
This is the area where the eagles have perched on the cropped tree. In previous years there was rarely a day that went by that I would not see an eagle perched there or a couple in a neighbouring tree, but I have only see one eagle on the perch once this spring. Perhaps the Bird Club will be more successful when they do their hike this week.
Further along the trail, where people take their dogs down the trail to swim, another sign is posted.
Last week, in the above area, I saw a couple of tents where people had set up camp, including a fire pit. Also a couple of kids were panning for gold near the multiple user bridge. So with the warmer weather, we don't just have hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, fishers, bird watchers, canoeists and rafters along with various motorized recreational vehicles enjoying the area, but new uses of the area as well. I know the fire pit isn't legal, and likely neither is the camping, but people will do what they can get away with.
I know we are all hoping for a warmer summer this year, than we had last year, but I am sure we will be taking advantage of whatever summer we get, as the winters are very long.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Middle McIntyre Creek Trail Users
The Friends of McIntyre Creek and the Yukon Conservation Society are partnering this summer on a signage project to promote environmentally responsible use of trails in Middle McIntyre Creek. Please see the attached document for an ad for this project.
There will be a meeting tomorrow, Tuesday June 4 at 5:30 at the YCS Office (302 Hawkins) to look at maps of Middle McIntyre Creek and begin to identify potential locations for interpretive signs and directional and regulatory signs. If you're a trail user in the area please join us - your local knowledge will help make this project a success.
If you would like to learn more about this project, how to get involved or provide input, please contact the Project Manager, Christina Macdonald, at ycswild@ycs.yk.ca or 668-5678.
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