For more information contact: 
Murray & Vicky Muir
705 648 3310
hikers@nastawgantrails.org  

As you know we have been updating the Tracks and Caches section.  We have recently corrected some problems with the gpx files, and you should now be able to right click on them to save.

Thanks for your patience, happy trails.

-admin

Thanks to the efforts of Roger, Bryan, and Vicky the trail is cleared of the winters debris of fallen branches and wind fallen trees that could be cut by bow-saw. A special thanks to Gordon for dropping us off at the start, which involved getting up at five, to Pete who resupplied us with food (without homemade butter tarts) at the Matabitchuan River and to Bryan who picked us up in Latchford.

As far as I know Vicky is the youngest and the oldest woman to hike the entire trail. Roger is now the oldest man to walk the trail. This was Roger’s first backpacking trip and he flew over the trail in fine style. One thing we worry about with first time backpackers is that they take extra heavy packs and don’t enjoy themselves. Not only was Roger’s pack well under forty pounds but he pulled out an amazing quantity of items like a full length bath towel, full bar of soap and enough extra food to feed an army.

Bryan and Roger were great hikers and showed the enthusiasm and wonder we feel at the beauty spots like Guiding Spirit Lookout, the Matabitchuan River Falls, Fourbass Lookouts and the Rib Mountain crevasse.

Our dog Peg, at six months old, entertained us by falling off a log into Owl Creek, dragging sticks that we threw off the trail back onto the trail and by helping others wash their faces in the morning. She also frustrated us by disappearing after two moose and by parking in the middle of the trail, often.

We had a good lynx sighting, saw turkey vultures at Vulture’s View, saw one bald eagle and avoided carnivorous beavers while fording Lowdown Creek.

All of our camps were by lakes and we swam in Copper, Gorrie, Snort and Bryan Lakes. Copper Lake Camp was rated the best. With pine clad hills, comfortable tenting, serenading loons and a picnic table we had it made.

The forests are spouting wild flowers by the millions and the birds are trying to out-sing each other.

See you on the trails,

Murray

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Sorry for any problems this may cause

-admin

For the past quarter century Murray and Vicky Muir have been exploring, blazing and documenting hiking trails and out-of-the-way canoe routes throughout the Temagami/Temiskaming area. The new revised edition of Discovering Wild Temiskaming, One Day Adventures and Beyond is the culmination of their lifes work on the trail. Murray and Vicky have raised four children on their homestead in the woods west of New Liskeard and much of the new guide book was recorded during family outings.  Over one hundred adventures are outlined in the pages of Discovering Wild Temiskaming and there’s something for everyone. For the expert backpacker there’s the rugged and beautiful Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland Trail which can be done in sections or as a continuous one hundred kilometre trek. For the novice there are easy walks to the spectacular Devil’s Rock on Lake Temiskaming, the Anima-Nipissing Fire Tower or Pete’s Dam just off Hwy. 65 west of New Liskeard. Intermediate hikers might like to try the Hermit Lake Trails, Beaver Mountain Lookouts or the Grand Campment Bay Trail. If you don’t mind a short paddle there’s the old growth trails on Temagami Island and Blueberry Lake. For paddlers who don’t wish to follow the crowd there are some little, vertually unknown canoe trips for a weekend get away. And if you like real cross country skiing or snoeshoeing there are several beautiful routes across frozen lakes and through snow covered pines. The book contains sections for Things To Know Before You Go, Temagami, Little Clay Belt, Ottawa River Valley, Englehart to Kirkland Lake, The Wild Northwest (of this area), Picnic Spots and Swimming Beaches and the Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland Trail. At the back you’ll find the Trail User’s Code, additional reference materials and information sources. If you just like to look at the pictures there’s a centre colour photo gallery and black and white photos throughout to take you on vicarious journeys to discover wild Temiskaming. The companion Trails of Temiskaming, Hiking Trails Location Map produced by Nastawgan Trails allows you to see at a glance the where abouts of thirty six area trails with directions and brief trail descriptions on the back. The map also features the artwork of Hap Wilson and a short story about this area’s Trail of Human History. More information is available at www.nastawgantrails.com . All proceeds from map and book sales go to Nastawgan Trails and will be used for trail work. Discovering Wild Temiskaming and Trails of Temiskaming are now the principle references for hiking trails in this area and a must for the cottage bookshelf or map wall. They can be purchased at local outlets.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Nastawgantrails.org has added another gallery into the photo section. Doug Adams’ pictures can be viewed within the gallery section of the site (http://www.nastawgantrails.org/photo-galleries_en.html).

Some of these images are breathtaking…

Dear Member

Nastawgan would not exist if it were not for its members. The variety of interest and involvement of our membership is the lifeblood of the organization. As with any organization, we need a steady flow of new members to establish a sustainable base and provide for natural attrition.

Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to go forth and seek similar life forms that will take up the cause.

Nastawgan is launching a challenge to its membership. That member, who precipitates the most new memberships in the month of June and July, will receive a yet to be disclosed prize. In an attempt to not compromise negotiations for said prize, the contents will be announced at a later date.

Don’t waste time. Go out there and beat the bushes for aspiring Nastawganites. Prospective members can be recognized by evident, or latent, tendencies to self propel themselves throughout our local forested areas.

Earl
Nastawgan Trails

Ps this message may self destruct if you have resident viruses in your computer.

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