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Ontario Trails News – News on fatbikes, from Trailhead North
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From Trailhead North
The organizers of Trailhead North are pleased to announce a significant outcome expected from the two day symposium on trails taking place in Thunder Bay, April 17, 18 2015.
A fat bike etiquette. Fat bikes are those larger tire all season all terrain human powered bicycles that are emerging as a winter riding option for road cyclists and mountain bikers in the winter.
The Ontario Trails Council, the provincial trails association and co-organizer of the symposium was approached by the cycling community to come up with guidelines on use of fat bikes on trails.
“Fatbikes are becoming more and more popular, there are many cross country and other types of trails that fatbikers can use, but that aren;t necessarily designed for their use – we want to work with the FB community to develop and etiquette for users so they can expect and respect other users on trails,” states Patrick Connor Executive Director of Ontario Trails Council.
Co-organizer, Kirsten Spence of Quercwood Consulting, adds, “Multi-use trails often have complicated numbers of people using a variety of equipment to do their recreation. This means bicycles now with fatbikes, snowmobiles, cross-country, snowshoers, winter hikers etc. So having an etiquette will educate all users what to expect and how to interact safely on recreational trails.”
Through the Trailhead North development process the event has secured support from various groups and organizations. These included the City of Thunder Bay, The Active transportation Committee in the City, The Kinghorn Rail Trail, Trans Canada Trail through Path of the Paddle, City of Marathon Economic development – all of these groups want groups like OTC and Trailhead North to produce outcomes from meetings.
The creation of a fatbike committee will be such an outcome and should produce a guideline before the summer is out in time for the next riding season.
With a membership of over 200 organizations that stretches all over Ontario, including Trans Canada Trail,Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, and over 80,000 km of trails the OTC will carry this northern fatbike etiquette to all other Ontario trail communities.
Trailhead North is taking place April 17, 18 at the Nor’wester Best Western. More information can be found at trailheadnorth.com
Lots of signs of spring at Ontario Parks – some in the north too!
JIM FOX, SPECIAL TO QMI AGENCY
Mar 31, 2015
, Last Updated: 11:43 AM ET
You know it’s spring in Ontario Parks when you discover these 10 signs.
Lori Waldbrook of Ontario Parks has put together this list, starting with seeing moose that are salt-depleted by the end of winter.
They head to roadside ditches to lick up road salt especially along Highway 60 in Algonquin Provincial Park.
Then there’s hearing the great horned and eastern screech owls and seeing mourning cloak butterflies in forests on sunny days and spotting spring tails, tiny insects that look like black powder on patches of snow and downed wood.
Listen for a chorus of spring peepers – tiny frogs on warm evenings – seeing the sap flow and turning into maple syrup, hearing the chickadees sing and the tundra swans return en route to the Arctic.
You can see buds forming on trees during a spring park hike and see experienced paddlers on an ice-out adventure with higher water levels that allow them to explore areas not accessible by canoe or kayak in the summer.
More details on the Ontario Parks blog.
Full Article Here http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Canada/2015/03/31/22318891.html
DISTURBING CONTENT – please be advised someone is killing animals along trails – WARNING
If you see this anywhere, to any animal, contact trails and animal management authorities immediately. If animals are a nuisance problem contact animal control.
Trails – a word that knows no bounds, we love that. Trailhead North.
A new partner for Trailhead North? We are exploring options.
Ontario Endorses Northern Ontario Experiences – Trailhead North
Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario
Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario (CNW Group/Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation)
Tourism Experiences Promoted for the 2015 Season
TORONTO, March 5, 2015 /CNW/ – There is no better time than now to explore the great outdoors and tourism experiences in Northern Ontario. Through its current marketing campaign, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) is encouraging visitors to “Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario” in 2015.
Working with tourism partners from Northern Ontario, the OTMPC campaign shares the endless, unique and awe-inspiring opportunities available in the North. A key piece of the marketing campaign is the distribution of 810,000 copies of the new Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario magazine. The magazine contains a distinctive ‘flip-the-book’ feature with half of the publication dedicated to activities across Northern Ontario’s regions and half dedicated to specific avid experiences such as angling, hunting, power sports touring and outdoor adventures.
The campaign is targeted at visitors from across Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and the United States. Northern Ontariowill be prominently featured at trade and consumer shows focussed on activities popular in the north such as fresh-water fishing, kayaking adventures and motorcycle touring. Urban areas of the North are providing travellers with ideas: visitors can enjoy a boat ride with beautiful scenery during the day, followed by a delicious culinary dinner and festival concert in the evening.
The magazine will also be directly distributed over the next few months to outdoor enthusiast subscribers of magazines such as Outdoor Canada, Maclean’s, Our Canada and National Geographic Traveler (U.S.).
Tourists are encouraged to visit www.ontariotravel.net/north to obtain more information on Northern Ontario tourism experiences and packages.
QUOTES
“With its stunning landscapes and unique tourist attractions, Northern Ontario has long been a special destination for those who have visited. We are lucky to live in a great province with so many cultural, historic and eco experiences at our fingertips and I encourage everyone to enjoy them all. Consider choosing Northern Ontario for your next adventure – it’s closer than you think.”
— Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
“The North is truly one of Ontario’s gems. The beauty of the landscape and the experiences both indoors and outdoors will have visitors raving when they return home. OTMPC is pleased to partner with tourism stakeholders to share all the possibilities that Northern Ontario has to offer.”
— Ronald Holgerson, President and CEO, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation
“Northern Ontario is front and centre with the new campaign launched by the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation. Great outdoor products, cities, towns and attractions are all captured through thoughtful stories about why everyone should visit this part of our province. From fantastic fishing and hunting, touring experiences that are second to none and, of course, our nature and adventure product, the campaign is sure to entice travellers to the North.”
— Carol Caputo, Chair, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation Northern Tourism Marketing Committee
“Northern Ontario is a vast and inviting region with a diverse and dynamic tourism economy. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to work with OTMPC and our sub-regional partners on this important campaign featuring the Northern experiences that resonate with consumers.”
— David MacLachlan, Executive Director, Tourism Northern Ontario
“The best thing about the famous Canadian wilderness is that it’s closer than you think. Just two hours north ofToronto, you will find some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the nation, from iconic Algonquin Park in the east to sparkling Georgian Bay in the west. Head to the Explorers’ Edge region of Ontario to experience this province’s seriously great outdoors in a thousand spectacular ways.”
— James Murphy, Executive Director, Explorers’ Edge
QUICK FACTS
- Visitors can obtain Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario magazine from an Ontario Travel Information Centre, by calling 1-800-ONTARIO, at SAIL stores throughout Ontario and by download.
- To jointly market the North, OTMPC works in partnership with Regional Tourism Organizations (RTO) Tourism Northern Ontario and Explorers’ Edge, and Northern Destination Marketing Organizations.
- Visitors are encouraged to share their Ontario tourism experience on Twitter using the hashtag #DiscoverON.
- Tourism is an important economic driver. 2012 figures indicate that tourism supported over 359,400 jobs and generated$28 billion for Ontario’s economy.
- Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation is an agency of the Government of Ontario with a vision to positionOntario as a preferred global destination.
LEARN MORE
- Learn more about Northern Ontario adventures and experiences.
- Enter the Great Canadian Boreal Forest Adventure Contest.
- Learn more about OTMPC, its programs and partnership opportunities.
If you do not wish to receive electronic messages regarding OTMPC news, please e-mail otmpc.news@ontario.caindicating “unsubscribe”.
SOURCE Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation
Image with caption: “Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario (CNW Group/Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation)”. Image available at:http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150305_C4345_PHOTO_EN_12867.jpg
For further information: Lydia McCourt, Corporate Communications Manager, OTMPC, 416-314-6590,lydia.mccourt@ontario.ca, 10 Dundas Street East, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2A1
Lot’s of great parks north or south!
How to explore the great outdoors at Ontario Parks this winter
By Jim Fox, Special to QMI Agency
Saturday, January 3, 2015 8:00:00 EST AM
Skiers stay warm in a yurt at Algonquin Provincial Park. (Ontario Parks photo)
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Once winter weather finally arrives and sticks around, Ontario provincial parks are ready for the challenge.
“Summer campers love Ontario Parks, but many have never experienced their favourite park in winter,” said Lori Waldbrook, senior marketing specialist.
Nineteen provincial parks are open with cross-country ski trails while 13 have groomed or track-set trails and eight offer comfortable roofed accommodation.
There are designated snowshoe trails in many parks and some have skating and tubing, too. Three parks will host ski loppets, another will have an annual snowshoe race and at least five plan to mark Family Day weekend next month with special events.
Trailhead North – connecting northern trails, connecting northern communities!
Developing regional trail network can have tourism benefitsLOCAL
Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com
Area trail development coordinator Kirsten Spence says developing a regional trail network can help boost tourism.
THUNDER BAY — An area trail development coordinator sees a vast amount of untapped potential in Northwestern Ontario.
Kirsten Spence gave a presentation to the Thunder Bay District Municipal League and said trails are overlooked when it comes to their ability to enhance regional tourism.
“They’re an excellent product that’s already developed which can be used to keep people half a day long or an hour longer in a community, that’s a success,” Spence said.
“A lot of municipalities are looking at trail development as a way to diversify their economies moving from single sector to multi sectors. Trails are one of those offerings that can help municipalities with attraction.”
She said there’s an extensive inventory of existing trails through Northwestern Ontario that can all play a part in showcasing the region.
There’s already evidence showing trails can serve as an attraction.
“You look at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. That park has a lot of trails and that’s a large reason why people visit that park,” she said.
Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey has been working on developing both local and regional trail development strategies as a tourist draw.
Having a network benefits the entire region.
“What people have to realize is if you have one good tourist attraction you’ll get some people to come in for a day,” Harvey said. “If you have attractions through a whole region people will stay an awful lot of longer and that money they spend is not only multiplied, it’s multiplied exponentially.”
Development is ongoing with the Kinghorn Rail Trail, which would use a discontinued rail corridor to provide a path from Thunder Bay to Nipigon.
Spence said the project is a “work in progress” as developers are trying to get it right.
“Most people aren’t going to travel the 111 kilometre trail at one time,” she said. “We have to make sure it’s well planned out in terms of access areas and logical starts and stops.
Harvey sees the Kinghorn Rail Trail, which has been discussed since 2005, as having the potential to be a significant draw.
“That could easily become a world-class trail where people would come from around the world for things like the Pass Lake Trestle, the incredible vistas and views, the lakeside experience you can have on that trail,” Harvey said.
The rails have already been cleared from the trail while the ties are in the process of being removed. There are also a number of hurdles which need to be cleared, which Spence hopes an upcoming Provincial Trails Act will help address.
Tags in this story: LOCAL NORTHWEST
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