VOYAGEUR

NO. 105 SPRING 2010 TRAIL NEWS Published by the

VOYAGEUR TRAIL EDITOR: Cheryl Landmark LAYOUT BY: Dawn Elmore

ASSOCIATION Back on the Voyageur Trail - by Kas Stone P.O. BOX 20040

150 Churchill Blvd. For many years I made a twice an isolated cobble -annual pilgrimage to Lake beach, struggling Sault Ste. Marie, ON Superior to hike on the Voya- with frozen fingers to geur Trail. Then suddenly I light the stove for a P6A 6W3 found myself diverted to other cup of tea in the parts of the country by various morning. So off to Visit our web site at: writing and photographic pro- the Rossport camp- www.voyageurtrail.ca jects. Several years were de- ground I retreated. voted to Georgian Bay, doing Nice soft grass under Email address: research for my Paddling & the tent. Picnic table. [email protected] Hiking guidebook, followed by Comfort station. The Voyageur Trail Association is a a lengthy trip to Quebec‟s Côte Flush toilets. Hot non-profit, volunteer group dedi- -Nord, and western showers. And the cated to building and maintaining a Newfoundland in 2007, and a Casque Isles section public hiking trail along the northern visit to the Gaspé Peninsula in of the Voyageur shores of Lakes Superior and Huron, 2008. Now I don‟t want you Trail! from to Sudbury. feeling sorry for me! It‟s not The VTA is a member of Hike Can- that I didn‟t thoroughly enjoy The next few days ada En Marche, Hike , On- these expeditions. But at the were some of the tario Trails Council, and Trans end of each year I felt I was happiest I‟ve had in Trail. missing something. ages. I climbed One of the new signs along Hwy If you would prefer us to email you a Mount Gwynne and 17 that promotes hiking on the short message when the VTA news- wasn‟t com- Casque Isles Trail. letter is available on our website, pletely off my radar during that admired the view, and this just send an email to: time. In fact, I enjoyed two time I was able to identify had to be carried part of the [email protected] splendid paddling holidays in most of the islands (I swear I way). It was like visiting old the western region of the lake, could see the Battle Island friends! poking among the islands of lighthouse tower through my Inside this issue: the new Lake Superior Na- binoculars, though perhaps I Well, the upshot is a feature tional Marine Conservation was just imagining it). I found article, “Hiking and History on Betty Nassoiy 2 Area. But not much hiking. the Worthington Bay picto- the Casque Isles Trail”, that graphs again, looking only just Superior Outdoors magazine has I set out on the trail last year slightly more faded than they scheduled for their Summer Arctic Ice Floes 3 almost by accident. It was had the last time I was there. I 2010 edition. I hope it inspires early spring, and I‟d spent marvelled at the spring flow other people to come and see Coureurs de Bois 4 some time around Thunder over Aguasabon Falls and the this gorgeous part of the world Bay, exploring Pigeon River, beautiful cascades down Rain- for themselves – and to support , Kakabeka bow Falls. I played with the the Voyageur Trail Association Outing Schedule 5 Falls and Sleeping Giant Pro- cobbles on Schreiber Beach – with membership fees and vol- vincial Parks. I was supposed and said a few words of thanks unteer efforts. It remains one Wikipedia 7 to launch from Silver Islet for a for that brilliant new road that of my very favourite trails, and few days of paddling. But the allowed me to drive down the one to which I will continue to weather was miserable, and if hill from town. I scrambled escape to every chance I get! Guidebook 7 truth be told I‟m getting older rather more gingerly than I Updates and more fond of creature used to over the talus and Kas Stone is an avid hiker, pad- comforts, and I just didn‟t raised beaches near Lyda Bay dler, photographer and author. fancy another bitter night on (my dog Skye is 10 now, and www.kasstone.ca. Page 2 VOYAGEUR TRAIL NEWS

Betty Nassoiy (1922-2009) by Dieter and Erica Ropke

In May 1979 Betty, her husband formidable but it did help her come to when she enjoyed talking politics in a Duke, Tom Allinson, Erika and I grips with what had happened. country where „liberal‟ was not a four- backpacked from the Pic River to letter-word. Until she got quite ill she Oiseau Bay (Pukaskwa National Betty made frequent wilderness trips with was a frequent visitor, often driving Park). There were no bridges across Robyn, her grandson in the Gulf Islands. home late at night. Even totaling a car the Pic and Willow Rivers and the She was also an intrepid world traveler in a deer collision and losing another White River was in spring flood, the and made friends wherever she went. one with electrical faults which even trail under water with some serious the dealer was unable to fix, you could count on her showing up for the Al- bushwhacking for our group. Never- She had vitality, joy and spontaneous goma foreign films. theless it was a memorable trip with humor. All eyes lit up when she showed its camaraderie and the stunning up for an outing, she was such good com- panorama. pany. Betty was fond of the word Betty‟s demise was a continuum of her „elegant‟. Little did she know that we life; she aged with grace and died with Betty had always looked forward to a considered her elegant; she had class. dignity. „Life goes on‟ is more than a long retirement with Duke who, as cliché. We celebrate who she was and we are all richer for having had her in an Air Force pilot had been away for Over the years we sometimes mused that, our lives. so much of their married life. It was with Betty‟s genes and her laudable life- not to be, as he died in 1983. Betty style, we would some day see her photo felt cheated and she was so dis- on the front page of the Chippewa News Ed. Note: Betty Nassoiy was a long- traught and needed to mitigate those to celebrate her 105th birthday. The only time member of the Voyageur Trail feelings. She asked Tom Allinson, question being, would we still be around Association and lived in Brimley, always a faithful friend, to accom- to celebrate that birthday with her. . Dieter‟s and Erika‟s tale pany her on a bushwhacking trip truly captures the spirit of this special from the mouth of the Red Rock Betty always had a special relationship woman and echoes the sentiments of all those who had the pleasure to know River to Hwy. 17 (L.Superior Prov. with Canada. Her parents were born in her. We will think of Betty often, and Pk.). It was a trip from hell; it rained Saskatchewan. Betty felt at home here hard throughout and the terrain was and especially during the „shrub‟ years fondly.

Betty on a 2002 canoe trip along the San Juan River (‘4-corners’ area of US Southwest). EDITOR: Cheryl Landmark Page 3

Snowshoeing on Arctic Ice Flows?? by Steve Dominy Picture this… Sunny skies, tempera- sition. kers had to be pried off the rocks when tures in the high teens, snowshoeing in the time finally came to retrace our steps. shirt sleeves. What comes to mind? The 17 intrepid explorers that day The trail that paralleled the shoreline was Whistler in April? Labrador in June? walked on bare ground from the road mainly bare and reasonably dry, so sev- Well, brace yourself – this was the to the shoreline, where we witnessed eral folks chose to return on foot via that scene on March 13, 2010 at Red Rock what mighty Lake Superior had been route. Others continued to work on their along the Voyageur Trail. It wasn‟t up to over the winter months. Don- winter tans on the snow fields. It turned your ordinary outing, either. A very ning snowshoes, we trekked over out to be the last gasp of the 2010 winter, special visitor came along – Aimee snow and ice that had been pushed but one of the most memorable snowshoe Nassoiy. Aimee is Betty Nassoiy‟s into artistic shapes by the lake. We outings on the Voyageur Trail. This was daughter who lives on Lopez Island, walked on what resembled snow truly a day for the record books, in more Washington. balls spread out by children having ways than one. The perfect day culmi- the fight to end all fights, but what nated in an „après-snowshoe‟ at Tim Hor- We were all saddened by Betty‟s pass- was in fact snow that had been ton‟s. Thanks to Dieter and Erika Ropke ing in her late 80‟s on Sept. 2, 2009. carved by the wind and heat from the for leading such a wonderful excursion. Betty had been an injection of free sun into patterns one dared not dis- spirit and joie de vivre in Voyageur turb by walking on it. There were Trail outings since the 1970s. She and caves and tunnels in the ice mounds, her husband Duke discovered the trail and many relived their childhood through people like Dieter and Erika when climbing in and around these. Ropke and Tom Allinson. They fre- The bare rocks along the treeline quently backpacked together along the were well heated by the noonday Lake Superior coast in Pukaskwa Na- sun, thus serving as a lunch spot with tional and Lake Superior Provincial near-magnetic properties. The trek- Parks. After Duke‟s untimely passing in 1983, Betty continued to explore the trail, making (and keeping) new Val Walker, Dieter Ropke friends on each outing. Her infectious and Aimee Nassoiy admire laugh and indomitable attitude made Lake Superior’s handiwork. each hike, canoe trip or backcountry ski a sheer pleasure for everyone who could enjoy the pleasure of her com- pany. Dieter and Erika Ropke have captured the essence of what Betty meant to many of us in their tribute in this newsletter. To read more about this special woman visit the Sault Naturalists webpage at http:// soonats.pbworks.com/.

Having Aimee along on a hike along The March 13 outing contingent. the Lake Superior coastline was very fitting. Although I had not previously met Aimee, it became immediately clear that she shares her mother‟s love of adventure. She made the trip across the international bridge alone to join the Saulteaux Section mem- bers on this Saturday morning. This was something Betty would have done perhaps hundreds of times in her lifetime, and Aimee knew she was traveling in her mother‟s footsteps. Ironically, the forecast had been for rain, and yet the sun shone brightly when we started out, and not a cloud was seen all day. There could be no Nature-made snow better reflection of Betty‟s sunny dispo- and ice balls. An Arctic ice floe? Page 4 VOYAGEUR TRAIL NEWS

Coureurs de Bois Club Takes to the Trail by Phil Barnes, Coureurs de Bois Club It's that time of year again. The snow has either hardened into something between ice and slush and the trails are getting wet and muddy. Old logging roads and mining properties are the best bet for hiking and people still want to get out in the fresh air. This year has seen an early end to snowshoeing and skiing with temperatures well above normal. Attendance at most hikes has been very high and last Tuesday, 16th March was no exception for an easy hike on an old logging road near the airport. 34 hikers turned out, including 2 grandchildren of one member. The track alternated between dry and firm to icy snow in the shadows. Lots of muddy areas in between. We walked in about 3 km. and then had a lunch break alongside the road where a waterfall descends to the road. A sure sign that we will probably have a dry spring is the small volume of water at the falls and very little snow left in the bush.

Determined group eh? Getting ready to hike

Any fish in there?

The falls Just sittin' in the sun! EDITOR: Cheryl Landmark Page 5

Outing Schedules Typical meeting locations: Goodlife building, 589 Second Line East (Second Line side); Market Mall, 275 Second Line West (on Korah Road corner); Churchill Plaza, 150 Churchill Blvd (on Trunk Road between Lake & Wellington Streets) near Beer Store; Wellington Square Mall, 625 Trunk Road, near the now closed restaurant.

Saulteaux Club Sun., May 23 ~ Hike with *Sat., July 17 and Sun., July Gayle (942-1891). Please call 18 Backpack outing to LSPP (Sault Ste. Marie and area— for meeting place and time. contact Mike for details at 705- outings marked with an asterisk 779-3409. (*) are outside Sault Ste. Sat., May 29 ~ Hike with Marie). For all outings, bring Doris Welz (942-9466). Please Mon., July 19th ~ Saulteaux water, a lunch, dress appropri- call for meeting place and time. Club meeting at 7PM in the ately, and be prepared to sign Civic Centre. We will plan our an assumption of risk agree- Sat., June 5 ~ Trout Lake fall outing schedule. Call 942- ment. paddle with Mark Crofts. Call 1891 for more info. 254-2356 for meeting place and Sat., May 1st ~ "Go to time. Sat., July 24 ~ Hike with This schedule was

Blazes" work party on the Doris (942-9466). Please call put together early TAST with Gail (942-0768). Sat. June 12 ~ Opening cere- for all the details. Meet at Market Mall at 9:30AM. mony for Finn Hill section of and may have last Tools will be provided. HUB trail and Jim Miller dedica- Sun., August 1 ~ Hike in the tion ceremony. 10AM-2PM. Hiawatha Highlands with Ila minute changes. Jim Miller dedication at 12:00. (949-1097). Meet 10AM in the Sun., May 2nd ~ Robertson Please call the Cliffs hike with Mark (254- Call Susan at 949-4105 for info. Goodlife parking lot to car 2356). Meet 10AM in the pool. Behaved pets welcome. outing leader listed Goodlife parking lot to car *Sun., June 13 ~ Hike in LSPP pool. with Carole & Chris (649- *Sat., August 7 ~ Paddle the to check if any 2235). Car pool leaves Good- (2-3 hours) with Sat., May 8th ~ Hike Leader's life at 9AM. Be prepared to Carole & Chris (649-2235) and details have stop for dinner on the way bring a dish to share at potluck course at Glenview Cottages. changed. This Cost $25. Contact Dawn at home. afterwards. Call for meeting

649-4936 for more info or to time and place. schedule is also on register. *Sun., June 20 ~ Hike to Pancake Bay lookout with Ila *Sat., August 14 ~ Hike the our website: Sun., May 9 ~ Annual (949-1097). Meet 9:30 AM in North Country Trail and swim Mother’s Day Hike and Hot the Goodlife parking lot to car in Lake Superior afterwards. www./voyageurtrail.ca/ Dog Roast at the Wetzl home- pool. Behaved, leashed pets Bring lunch,water and swimsuit. stead (end of Peoples Road). welcome. No pets please. Meet at saulteaux.html Bring water, snacks and meet in 9:30AM at the Michigan Wel- the Market Mall parking lot at *Sat., June 26 ~ Hike in the come Center. Contact Gail at 10AM to car pool. area (50 km drive) 942-0768 for more info. and potluck to follow with Sun., May 16 ~ 2nd Annual Dieter & Erika (942-9636). *Fri. Aug. 20th to Sun., Meet at 10AM in the Welling- Geocaching event at Glenview 22nd ~ LSPP Mijin Lake or Sun., August 29 ~ Cottages. 1-4p.m. All required ton Square. Please leave your Gargantua kayak with Mark Hike with Gayle (942- pets at home for this outing. equipment is supplied and no Crofts. Call 254-2356 for 1891). Please call for . experience is necessary. The meeting place and time. meeting place and time event will start with an indoor Sun., July 4 ~ Hike with Gayle (942-1891). Please call for Mon., Sept. 6th ~ briefing and end with an après- *Sun., August 22 ~ Hike to meeting place and time. Labour Day family hike hike. Pre-registration by May Griffin Lake Peak (3rd highest with Gayle (942-1891). 10 is requested by calling Steve peak in Ontario and across *Sat., July 10 ~ Kayak Lake Behaved pets welcome. at 946-2484 or e-mailing from Batchewana Mountain). Superior at Montreal River Call for meeting place [email protected]. Lots of uphills on this hike! with Mark Crofts. Call 254- and time. Contact Dawn Elmore at 649- Mon., May 17 ~ Saulteaux 2356 for meeting place and time. 4936 for meeting place and Club meeting at 7PM in the time. Civic Centre. Call 942-1891 for more info.

Page 6 VOYAGEUR TRAIL NEWS

EDITOR: Cheryl Landmark Page 7

Voyageur Trail Guidebook Updates WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!! Association is on UPDATE to the 2007 GUIDEBOOK DESCRIPTION for Penewobikong sec- Wikipedia by Steve Dominy Jeanette Biemann Barton Thomson tion where it meets the Coureurs de Bois Malcolm Bridgen Sonyia Tuomi (Elliot Lake) section (Page 130, approx. Justin Campbell Austin Walker The is now included in km 44.0 to 45.5): Rick Cathrae Laurie Walker the Wikipedia Encyclopaedia. An article giving Pam Cathrae Ryan Walker

an overview of the trail and its history has been Ray Charron Mike Walker Following text to be inserted just add new started under the title "Voyageur Hiking Trail, Adam Collins Wendy Walker after …between Intersect and Granary Vicki Collins- Laura Waters Ontario, Canada". Surprisingly, if you search Lakes (and replacing all following text). Theriault Tim Waters Voyageur Trail online you'll find a number of Linda Coulter Emily Waters

hits, so this title distinguishes our trail. Joy Croft Maggie Waters "Follow it N for 100m until meeting a blue Bill Elliott Chris John

side trail that heads east up a rocky ridge. Chris Filioglou Cleghorn Members are invited to review the article and Marcel Gagnon Ian Laws Continue following the white blazes N on improve it. This is a place where you can in- Don Harvey Donna Hakansson the portage trail for approx. 500m. The clude the types of information you think others Melissa Hemy Brigitte Orchard trail is quite steep here, notice a rock face Philip Hemy Barbara Cloughley would be interested in reading. The article is a and talus slope through the trees to the Jackie Hemy Dave Rogers work in progress, and is written by anyone who Alison Hemy Anita McConnell East. At the bottom of the hill meet an takes an interest in the Trail. Please tell your Erika Holmberg Francine ATV trail. Turn E and follow for approx. Adriana Holmberg Quenneville friends, and let your Coordinating Council 900m (there are some very wet sections) Jerome Kroetsch Brenda Gallander know what you think. The URL is: http:// and continue until you cross Intersect Ken Ladouceur David Beaumont en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Bonnie Lloyd Ruth Beaumont Creek. This is the end of the Penewobik- Shirley Mantyla Bev Pelletier Voyageur_Hiking_Trail,_Ontario,_Canada. ong Section." Nancy McLaren Allan Rutherford Murry McLean Charlotte VTA MARKETPLACE Gene Monin Rutherford David Ness FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE Otto M. Pedersen Cathie Randell CURRENT Land along the Tom Land between A2 and A3 Hannah Randell DESIGN KAYAK Allinson Side Trail beside of the Saulteaux section Corey Randell Asking $800.00 Lake Superior by the Walls Lake Area Matthew Theriault Christine Call 705-949-1302 517-896-9815 403-341-5390 Thomson

VOYAGEUR TRAIL ASSOCIATION YEARLY MEMBERSHIP FORM (please print)

*Name(s):______Address: ______City: ______Prov./State: ______Postal/Zip Code: ______Please send my VTA Please check one: __ New Member __ Renewal Phone (home): ______newsletter via: (work/cell): _____ Email Address: ______Reminder to upload pdf from VTA web site. MEMBERSHIP FEES: (**limit of 2 per member) Email address: ______Individual—$25.00 = ____ Shipping for mailed guidebooks—$8.00 Family or Group—$30.00 = ____ = ____ (*please provide names) For topography maps, call Student (full-time) - $10.00 = ____ Steve at 705-946-2484 Donations (tax receipt will = ____ TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED be sent) = ____ Charitable Reg. #119261923RR0001 Make cheques payable and mail to: VTA Crest—$3.00 = ____ VOYAGEUR TRAIL ASSOCIATION 2007 Guidebook**: PO Box 20040, 150 Churchill Blvd. Members $25 Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W3 Non-Members $35 = ____ 12/09 cont’d on back The Voyageur Trail News is published three times per year. Your Voyageur Trail News—Spring 2010 articles and photos are welcome! VTA CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL Deadline for the next issue is August 1, 2010. President - General Secretary - Data Management - Alan Day 705-848-8776 Carole Blaquiere 705-649-2235 Bob Sinclair 705-946-3126 Mail to Cheryl Landmark, c/o Voyageur Trail Association, Vice-President West - Membership/Landowners - Newsletter Committee - PO Box 20040, 150 Churchill Duncan MacKay 807-825-3338 Mike Landmark 705-779-3409 Blvd., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W3 Editor: Vice-President Central - Publicity Director - vacant Cheryl Landmark 705-779-3409 Tel. 705-779-3409 or e-mail to Susan Graham 705-949-4105 [email protected] Hike Ontario Layout by:

Articles in this newsletter can be Vice-President East - Representative - Dawn Elmore 705-649-4936 copied if credit is given to the Alan Day (Acting)705-848-8776 Patrick Capper 519-524-9209 Voyageur Trail Association. Alternate (vacant) Treasurer/Tools Inventory - Debbie Morettin 705-785-3247 Guidebook Committee - Steve Dominy 705-946-2484 We’re on the Web! www.voyageurtrail.ca For information on any of these positions (especially the vacant ones), please contact us at our toll-free number 1-877-393-4003. Contacts: Casques Isles: Doug Stefurak Voyageur Hiking Trail Users’ Code  Protect and do not disturb wildlife. 807-824-2724 Marathon:  Hike only along marked routes. Do not take  Keep dogs under control (leash if necessary) Volunteer contact needed short cuts. and follow your club’s guidelines concerning Michipicoten: Andy Stevens  Do not climb fences. dogs. 705-856-2884  Carry out all garbage (if you can carry it in, you  Respect the privacy of people living off the Saulteaux: Gayle Philips can carry it out) trail. Walk around the edges of fields, not 705-942-1891  Light cooking fires at official campsites only. across them. Bruce Mines/: Drench fires after use. (or better still carry a  Leave only your thanks and take nothing but Volunteer contact needed lightweight hiker’s stove) photographs. BE A LOW-IMPACT HIKER!! Penewobikong: Joanne Marck  Leave flowers and plants for others to enjoy. 705-843-2199  Do not damage live trees or strip off bark. Coureurs de Bois: Phill Barnes 705-848-8767

Declaration: I understand that the Voyageur Trail is a wilderness trail and some remote or little-used sections may be in poor condition due to falling trees or regrowth of vegetation. I understand I hike it at my own risk. I have read and will abide by the Trail Users’ Code. Signature ______

I WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH:  LANDOWNER LIAISON, RECORDS, MAPS  TRAIL DEVELOPMENT  SPECIAL EVENTS, CONFERENCES, DINNERS  HIKE LEADER  NEWSLETTER, GUIDEBOOK, PHOTOGRAPHY  ORGANIZATION—EXECUTIVE, DIRECTORS  PUBLICITY COMMITTEE  SORRY NOT AT THIS TIME Voyageur Trail  TRAIL MAINTENANCE Association

 Please add my membership to the membership list of the club closest to my home, OR  Consider me a member-at-large, OR  Consider me a member of the following club ______.