Walking with my son a week ago in the Home Cliffs area, we found, on our return, that a section of trail had been flagged during the day with many bright streamers. He was adamant that they were a blight on the landscape and while I agreed with this impression, because I didn’t know why the flags had been placed there, I didn’t feel that it was our perogative to remove them. On a solo hike Sunday, our discussion about the flags got me thinking: the unofficial trails are not unmanaged, rather they are informally managed. To a large extent the informal management works very well; the yellow-blazed trails between the Fire Tower and the Eardley-Masham Road were cleared of deadfall after the ice storm more quickly than the official trails. However it is performed by a range of people who obviously have quite different visions for what the unofficial trails should be like, how they should be marked, how they should be cleared of deadfall.

On one extreme, we have those who apparently like to be able to see two or three blazes ahead, and on the other, those who would like the unofficial trails to be invisible (hence no markings and no worn treadway). If the informal management of the unofficial trails is to be successful, both finding some compromise between the disparate users and avoiding running afoul (too much) of the NCC, it will need to be co-operative, and based on some established etiquette.

Establishing that etiquette, one that strikes a balance between the visions of various users and pays attention to what will least raise the ire of the NCC, might be something we can discuss here.

For over 38 years I have used, commented on, and enjoyed Gatineau Park. Much of that time I was accompanied by my wife and/or groups of hikers, skiers and snowshoers. Most of our time has been spent on unofficial trails. I believe that the presence of the trails is not detrimental; the marking of the trails is. Let me explain.

Access to many unofficial trails from official trails is not obvious. In turn the trails are not obvious, in fact we have walked across trails which we know were there. “Eric Morse” trails invariably started a few yards in from any other trail. Thus one had to know that there was a trail there. In winter Eric would ski in a short distance away from the access trail, make like it was a toilet stop, and continue.

Some people who joined us said they felt we were never on a trail. I have given portions of my map to select hikers and they have not been able to find the trails, trails accessible from Pilon Road area for example.

I recently tried walking the unofficial trail from Crilly (Kelly) Road to Hollow Glen with little success. The point being that use of many of the unofficial trails do not cause deterioration. They are the same as surrounding areas. This is not true where markers are applied. We have taken down ribbons only to have paint used instead. The markers, not the trail are the problem.

Some unofficial trails are very obvious – Crilly for example. They could serve as a test to see how well the signs and banners work in discouraging people from using the trails.

I hope that the NCC will stop trying to keep people off unofficial trails; like prohibition, people will continue to use trails; concentrate instead on keeping paint and ribbons out of the park, and encourage walkers to remove ribbons and paint which they see on unofficial trails. Some of us have been doing this and thus improving the park. We also have been removing objects brought in by others. The usual plastic bottles and bags, empty six packs; we found a mattress but did not remove it.

I suggest then that the current emphasis on discouraging the use of unofficial trails be changed to

A. trying to stop paint and ribbons from being imported into the park
B. encouraging people to remove paint and ribbons on unofficial trails.

A policy of “you know that we are using the trails, and we know that you know” seems to have worked in the past. I believe that groups that i have walked with and guided have been an asset to the park.

-are the official trails too busy?
-do we want to see more wildlife?
-are the official trails too wide?
-do the official trails offer service to most features of the Park?
-do signs and stairs distract us from a wilderness experience?
-do we want more variety than current trails offer?
-do we feel that unofficial trails aren’t harmful to the Park?
-is hiking funner when you don’t really know where you are?
-do we like the challenge of discovering new routes?
-are official trails suffering from too much erosion?
-and so on…

It’s hoped the NCC will see this issue as a signal that needed improvements/changes to the official trail network are likely to keep a greater number of users on proper trails. This approach enriches everyone’s outdoor experience and also contributes less damage to the Park.

I’m very interested in any discussion with the NCC on the use of unofficial trails or routes, so long as the NCC is interested in managing a longstanding traditional use of the park, rather than eliminating it.

We’re not sure whether these banners have contributed to a supposed decrease in ‘off-trail’ use, but it’s a strategy the NCC has employed since late last summer to encourage proper trail usage, enabling them a better control of Park fragmentation and un-checked trail erosion.

Despite rash moves, like closing the hang glider parking lot, the NCC seems quite responsive to discussion with off trail users.

Any word, Charles, on a rescheduled meeting?