January 3, 2014

Happy New Year everyone! 

It has been quiet over the holiday season, and I haven't ventured far from home with the cold weather, heavy snows, and winds.  But with January 3 being warmer, I decided I needed my McIntyre Creek fix, and hiked the area.  I was glad to find  that others hadn't been as whimpy as I was, and had beaten down the trails to make walking easy.

The Creek had flooded significantly over the bridge closest to the College, and on my recent hike, I see signs posted warning of the icy bridge.  The heavy snows have now covered the ice, and walking over it is no longer treacherous.

  There are many interesting ice formations from the ice breaking off after the water level receded, and more water and snow covered the broken ice.

Flooded Creek - November 24, 2013

I had not hiked middle McIntyre for a few days because of cold weather, but on my hike today, saw there has been a mass flooding over the bridge closest to the College, and also the area surrounding the bridge by the Pump House.  There is a lot of broken ice, and the water is still fairly high.  The red marks show how far the flooding and ice extend.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Each day brings new opportunities to enjoy and take pictures of the changing scenery, as winter moves into the Middle McIntyre Creek area.  The following two photos were taken one day apart, and you can see the difference in the stream as it heads towards the little bridge nearest the Yukon College.

November 10, 2013 

 

 

 

 

 

November 11, 2013

 

 

 

 The water forms some interesting sculptures as it freezes over the grasses, logs, and branches along the edges of the Creek.  Use your imagination on the following photo, and you can see some of the creatures that make their home in the McIntyre Creek area.

Natures ice sculpture - bird, fish, weasel, and what else can you see?

Website Update

Check out the updated website at http://friendsofmcintyrecreek.org.  You can download the newly created trail guides  in pdf format.  The new trail information signs are also available to view.  Check it out, and please try out the trails using the guides. We would be happy to get your comments for improvements to the guides, and of course, any other comments you may have. Just send an email to friendsofmcintyre@gmail.com.

With the assistance of people who hike/run/cycle the trails, four summer students walked the trails, and created the maps and descriptions. We hope these guides will encourage people to try some of the trails in the area that they may not have traveled previously.

But please travel cautiously, as with the skiff of snow over the previously melted snow, there are some very treacherous patches, which may not be visible until you step on them and start to slide.

"Happy trails to you" (from Roy Rogers theme song "Happy trails to you, until we meet again".

Sign Project October 25, 2013

There was a very good turn out for the official launch of the sign project in Middle McIntyre Creek.  Christina MacDonald of the Yukon Conservation Society, and Dorothy Bradley, President of Friends of McIntyre Creek, said a few words about the sign project, and the hope that this area would be protected for a park.

 Is it a wave?  Is it a blessing?  Let this be a park!

Dorothy Bradley and Christina MacDonald

Some of the people out for the noon hour launch of the sign project.

Dear FOMC members,

Please join the Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) and the Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) in celebrating the official opening of the Middle McIntyre Creek Trail and Signage Project.  Over the past 6 months, FOMC and YCS have collaborated with community members and representatives of governments and local organizations to develop new features to increase responsible trail use and awareness of the environmental and recreational values of Middle McIntyre Creek.  These features are:

• 5 interpretive signs that present information about the local ecology
• 4 self-guided hike brochures (copies will be available at the event and at the YCS Office)
• Regulatory signage on designated motorized multiuse trails through the area

When: Friday, October 25, 2013, noon-1pm.  Please stay longer and take a guided hike around the area.

Where: meet at the McIntyre Creek multiuse bridge by the blue pumphouse.  Access is via the dirt road ¾ of the way up College Drive.

I hope you can join us to view these new trail features and celebrate the hard work of so many volunteers.  If you aren’t able to attend, the interpretive signs and brochures will shortly be available for viewing on the YCS and FOMC websites:

www.yukonconservation.org

www.friendsofmcintyrecreek.org

Sincerely,

Christina Macdonald

Project Coordinator

Yukon Conservation Society

ycswild@ycs.yk.ca

867-668-5678

Volunteers install an interpretive sign overlooking Stinky Lake in Middle McIntyre Creek

Yukon College Students

Yukon College students have been back into the McIntyre Creek area, using this area to supplement their studies, of flora, fauna, and the water.  Below are a few photos of some of the students I have seen on my hikes.

This looks pretty darned cold standing in the rushing creek!