In January the NCC brought together hiking and walking groups that use Gatineau Park, to explore the interplay between their interest and the aim of the Ecosystem Conservation Plan to protect fragile natural areas of the Park. Last week participants were sent the NCC’s report on that meeting.
The meeting first tried to capture what hikers like about Gatineau Park, and then tried to map where in the park they like to do that what. Elements such as “wilderness experience,” exposure to plants and animals, and a feeling of independence out in a vast expanse of woodland were explored. But one of the most important elements identified was glorious views.
Mapping “experience” to “park locale” is most inseparable when it comes to views and the Eardley Escarpment. Herein lies the problem. It is the Eardly Escarpment that is identified as the most important and most fragile portion of the park in the Ecosystem Conservation Plan.
Luckily the hikers don’t want large numbers of people trooping through the backcountry any more than the NCC does; that would diminish the elements that make going there a wilderness experience. There are semi-secret unofficial trails out there that you could cross without noticing; experienced users want to keep it that way.
The tone of the NCC report does not seem to indicate any immediate move to further restrict use of these backcountry spaces but they certainly want to protect the ecological resources there in addition to keeping Park users from tumbling off cliffs or wandering lost in the bush. It remains to be seen whether they will feel compelled to take actions against these risks, or whether just keeping the spaces mysterious will continue to deter people sufficiently to leave the areas lightly trodden.
In the short to medium term the NCC is looking to develop “a code of conduct of the hinterland. This code will be specifically focused on the responsible conduct of outdoor activities in the wilderness.” [Quote as translated by Google—translated pretty well, I must say.]
The cards that GuideGatineau has begun distributing to promote the website are considered to be highly environmentally responsible due to the fact that the paper used is 100% recycled and is produced using energy from biofuels plus the ink is vegetable based.
So the NCC is willing to work with ‘groups’ that share an interest in the escarpment then goes out and installs banners along the east side of the Park?
C’mon, the NCC wants us all back on the trails and is hoping these ‘group’ talks over fragile escarpments avoids another stink like last year’s climber’s fight. Given that hiking requires less equipment than virtually every other sport, it’s due time the NCC realizes that most hikers don’t join these group that spew a “feeling of independance”