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.

Residents of McIntyre Creek

A coyote walking along the wildlife corridor, was curious about us, and stopped to watch us approaching him.

A young eagle was seen waiting patiently for a fish to come by the opening in the freezing pond.

There is a new access road created on the wildlife corridor in anticipation of a traffic circle which will be built on Mountain View connecting with the road for Whistle Bend. Lots of changes happening in the area.

There are new bridges about to be placed over the creek. Signs have been up for over a week stating the trails are closed, although as of this afternoon, (Oct. 23), they were still passable.

Fall 2010 - McIntyre Creek Scenes

Yesterday I spotted an eagle perched on the tree where (s)he hung out most of the summer. I also saw a very healthy coyote who stopped and stared at us. Today I saw a lone duck swimming. I wondered if it was damaged that it had not flown with the rest of the ducks who had been resident on the pond. I am certain the early snow was a surprise to the ducks as well as the humans in Whitehorse.

Today there were signs out on the trails saying they were closed. I suspect that the new bridges are about to be installed over the Creek over the next several days, and this was the reason the trails were closed. However, it did not stop the many dog walkers and joggers from continuing on their regular paths throughout the area.

Photo by Gerry Steers

Wetland Keepers Program

The wetland keepers program had only 4 attendees out of the 10 that had registered. However the program was well received by those who took it and they learned a lot. They worked in the McIntyre Marsh on the Fish lake road and were observers to many birds while they worked. This is a recommended course for all who love the outdoors. Watch for the dates of a course next summer.

TD Shore Cleanup - McIntyre Creek

The McIntyre Cleanup was held near the lower pumphouse. Because there were so many helpers we were finished in two hours. While we were there hauling out wrecked computers, bikes, pallets, etc some ran across a stolen truck and others were able to deter some adventurous individuals testing out the endurance of their vehicles by running them up steep sandy slopes. We met some new people who were interested in the area. Many thanks to the students from the college who helped clean up as well. They were the helpers who missed the hotdog/hamburger barbeque supplied by the Friends of McIntyre Creek. The Friends of McIntyre Creek would invite you to join us next year.