November 2022 Minutes

Minutes from Regular Quarterly Meeting on November 7, 2022

Big Canoe Trails Committee

Minutes by S. Johnson

Mtg took place in person outdoors at the Wildcat Pavilion.

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

Members in attendance = 25

NEXT MEETING is February 6, 2023 @ 4:00.  - Venue : TBD

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

(i.e. first Monday of Feb/May/Aug/Nov)

NEXT WORK DAY:  tbd

FITNESS FRIDAY PROGRAM

The weekly “Fitness Friday Program” has been ongoing since early June 2022, with over 180 work hours logged by BCTC members.

Fitness Friday projects have included Blackwell Creek Trail and the Nature Trail leading from the Terraces parking area to the covered bridge; these projects are almost completed.

-Contact Liz or Mitch with suggestions for future Fitness Friday projects.

COMPLETED PROJECTS THIS YEAR (some of the larger ones):

  1. Garden Trail (near the playground equipment at the Playfield).

Plan was to restore and clean up the garden trail that was originally located in this area (destroyed by mudslide 12 yrs ago) and turn it over to a BC garden club to replant and maintain as a garden.  BCTC members logged 50 hours clearing the area of saplings, deadwood and weeds.  Unfortunately, the garden clubs have not found volunteers to replant and maintain the garden.  After discussion with Lydell Mack (BC Dir. Operations), it was decided to discontinue project.  INQUIRY: Does the Trail Cmte want to cut back the sapling stumps left behind after the saplings were cleared? – Will be discussed with Lydell Mack.

2. Yellow Root Access Trail.  BCTC members logged approx. 80 hours removing & replacing steps and restoring the trail.  Dion and his heavy excavator equipment was a huge help, handling the heaviest lifting. NOTE: Buckets of gravel still needed.

3. Nancy Womack Trail above Ponder Point.  Heavy erosion and drainage issues were fixed in July with 32 BCTC work hours logged.

4. Nature Trail (between the Terraces parking area and log cabin).  BCTC members removed a huge birch tree with large canopy that had fallen, just missing the cabin.

5. Issi Run Steps.  Steps at Issi Run were removed by Dion and his heavy excavator equipment and the area smoothed into a walking path.

6. Water Wheel near Jeep Trail.  BCTC members logged 81 hours to fix the water wheel, which had not been working, including running a 300 foot hose to operate the wheel.  Unfortunately, it stopped working again.  BCTC members will continue to address this to get it fixed.

7. Covered Bridge Trail & Blackwell Creek Trail: John & Jim Hansen have logged 360 hours restoring and improving these trails year to date.

8. Created a Trails info insert to be included in (a) the BC “Welcome Packet” handed out to visitors and (b) the new owner packets.  Includes a QR Code and link to Trails webpage and trails map.

UPCOMING PROJECTS FOR 2022

  1. Wildcat Dog Park: There is an informal path acting as a shortcut from the parking area to the dog parks.  To discourage its use and prevent erosion, the POA will  install a split rail fence.  No action required from BCTC.

  2. Steps at Wilderness Parkway leading to Lower Falls Trail (near the Jeep Trail/Lower Falls parking area).  The railroad timber steps need to be replaced. Update: This has been scheduled for the week of 12/12. Materials ordered through Lydell Mack.

  3. Goal: Replace all railroad timber steps.  Rotting from the inside out, they become hazardous.  Please advise if any steps on your trails are railroad ties or are otherwise in bad shape so that they can be replaced.

SUGGESTED PROJECTS FOR 2023

  1. Mike Davis Trail / Blackwell Springs Trail: Open up some viewing areas so that the lake can be viewed from the trail. Update: Carl and Dianna Peterson met/walked with Kay Davis and they sent out detailed plan of action to Liz and Mitch on 11/14/22

  2. Red Loop Trail near Mile Marker 5: Are replacement steps needed?  Additional clean up needed?

  3. Wildcat Dog Park Access Trail (leading from parking area to the two dog parks):  A number of downed trees along this trail are caught up in other trees and could be trimmed/cut so they can rest on the ground and decay.

  4. Replica of the old still (located on the Jeep Trail): Could the plastic barrel be replaced with a wooden barrel?  Steve Papke has offered to try to locate a wooden barrel for this purpose. (To discuss with Lydell Mack )

NOTICE SIGNAGE (in fabrication)

  1. “No Bikes” - to be posted at main entrances to hiking trails as reminder that bikes are permitted only on paved and gravel hiking trails.

  2. “Dogs on Leashes” to be posted at main entrances to the trail parks.

  3. “Do not build rock mounds in streams”

  4. “Do not Disturb” signs for the existing Indian rock cairns in Indian Rocks Park.

REQUESTS FOR INPUT

  1. The Hansens installed some natural sapling handrails on the steeper areas on their trails, and some have been installed on the Lake Trail.

  • Please advise if any of your trails require handrails.

  1. If you have any topic ideas for the Thursday Trail Talks that Mitch or Liz post on facebook “Neighbor to Neighbor”, let them know.

  2. Suggestion Form: Should the Trail Cmte member website include a form for making suggestions? Or is a text / email sufficient?

DONATIONS TO TRAIL COMMITTEE

  1. $2,000 recently donated by the Big Canoe WildFlower Bunch.

  2. $500 donated by BC homeowner earlier this year.

NEW & DEPARTING MEMBERS

  1. John Mitchell has joined as new member.  Assigned to Yellow Root Trail.

Welcome!

  1. Departing members include: Pierre Grimes, Alan Moffatt, and Doug Hanley.

Thank you for all your great work with the Trail Cmte, gentlemen!

REMINDERS

  1. Keep your trail brochure holders filled with approx. 1” of brochures.  They are available in the Trail Cmte alpha box.

  2. Walk your trails with a fresh set of eyes - are improvements possible?  Are repairs or restoration needed? Do you need additional blazes? Less blazes, or some relocated? Liz has blazes and paint as needed. Also, some ‘blank’ signs/posts are still on trails, remove as you see fit (Mitch has some pictures/examples)

  3. Log your time!  Include details of any work you did, including who participated. You can use the online reporting system at bctrails.info OR email your time to Liz at trails@bctrails.info.

TRAIL CMTE INVITED BCTC MEMBER TERRY STEWART TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE POA BOARD.

Terry is one of 4 remaining candidates running to fill one of two open positions on the Big Canoe POA Board, and he explained why he is running for the POA Board and the steps he has taken to be prepared for the position if elected so that he can be effective from day one.

Stacy Johnson