August 2021 Meeting Minutes

Minutes from Regular Quarterly Meeting on August 2, 2021

Big Canoe Trails Committee 

Mtg took place in person under tent at the Canoe Lodge.

Commenced at 4:00 p.m.; ended at 4:45

NEXT MEETING is November 1, 2021

FYI: Meetings are scheduled for the 1st Monday of 2nd month of each quarter

INTRODUCTION of New Member:

  • Terry Stewart

Welcome!

VOLUNTEERS

Sarah Beall will be assisting Liz Scherer with administrative matters.

John Hansen will be assisting Liz with website matters.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

NOTE: If you generally want to see what trail committee members have accomplished, check out the trail report spreadsheet on the Trail Committee MEMBERS ONLY website (bigcanoetrails.com/members); scroll down to click on the link “View 2021 Trail Report Entries”. To see the most recent entries, sort it from “Z to A” using column A (date/time).  

  1. New Article. Written by Mary Ann Hansen - “Do Not Mess with the Resolve of the Trails Committee”; located on the public Big Canoe Trails website (bigcanoetrails.com/resources). Scroll down to see link for BCTC Articles.

  2. John William Trail and Covered Bridge Trail – Creek clean up.

Large tree fell and took down 3 other trees, which jammed up the creek.

Clean up involved 2 workdays with multiple Trail Committee members led by John Hansen (see article by Mary Ann Hansen “Do Not Mess with the Resolve of the Trails Committee”). 

  1. Lake Trail: Lake Disharoon Pavilion - View Restoration.

The Big Canoe POA requested assistance from the Trails Committee to remove trees in order to restore the view of Lake Disharoon from the pavilion located at the beginning of the Lake Trail. This work involved 4 workdays with multiple Trail Committee members, this time led by Mitch Waldman. 

  1. Choctaw Trail – Reroute portion of trail and install new steps.

This work was needed to move portions of the trail off private property and onto BC green space and to make portion of trail less steep. Involved 7 workdays with multiple Trail Committee members led by Liz Scherer.  New signs fabricated by BC Maintenance and painted by Sheila Waldman will be installed.  New trail location will be noted on revised trail maps. 

  1. Ponder Point – tree clean up on trail; involved workday with multiple Trail Committee members working in the rain.

UPCOMING / NEEDED PROJECTS

  1. Choctaw Trail – new steps needed. (approx. 50 steps)

ISSUE: Railroad ties (which comprise the old steps) are no longer permitted in Big Canoe, so new steps must be fabricated with different material. 

It was mentioned that Southscape in Jasper has 6x6 lumber available for $35; Three steps could be made per beam. 

ISSUE: Difficult to dispose of old RR ties due to environmental concerns; landfills apparently no longer accept them.  Disposal of old steps must be addressed.

  1. Lake Trail – Floating bridge on Lake Disharoon. Tetherss have been disconnected; bridge is no longer safe. Requires Big Canoe maintenance to address this. It has been brought to their attention and Mitch Waldman is following up.

  2. Lake Petit Trail – bench needed. NOTE: discarded benches are available at the Borrow Pit on Hubbard Road.

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. “Confluence Point” on Upper Falls Trail– Name officially approved by BC POA.

Area just below the Upper Falls where 2 creeks and a small stream converge.  It’s a pretty area near Jeep Trail where formal photos (e.g. wedding photos) are often taken.  The new name will begin to appear on the Trail maps.  

  1. Donations to Trail Committee

    • Sara Gill donated $500 to the Trail Committee.

    • If anyone offers to make a donation to the Trail Committee, checks can be made payable to “Big Canoe Trail Committee” and placed in the Trail Committee alpha box in the post office. Liz will deposit the check with the POA and provide the donor with a thank you letter.

    • Big Canoe POA reimburses the Trail Committee for expenses it incurs.

  1. Discarded BC guard rails: Clardy Schwarz will contact Mike May (BC subcontractor) regarding how to claim discarded guardrail materials before they are claimed by others.

EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS AVAILABILITY

  1. Bee protection hats (limited number) are available. Contact Liz Scherer.

  2. Yellow “Trail Committee” hats are available. Contact Liz Scherer.

  3. Discarded Benches - available in the Borrow Pit on Hubbard Road.

NEW TRAIL SIGNS – STATUS

Additional new trail signs on hold pending Joe Tipton’s receipt of his CNC router, which will simplify and expedite sign fabrication.



Stacy Johnson