... from Wednesday, 30 November, 2011

It's been great...it's been fun...it's been an education for us as well. The amount of information coming our way was impressive. We hope educators, students and outdoor lovers alike will use our website as a resource centre for the healthy outdoors. We aren't professionals but we like to think writing with passion will inspire young and old alike. We will keep the website open to receive any comments or questions you may have. Send your email to pinerypeople@me.com They will all be answered. From opening day May 1st. 2010 to this final day Nov. 30th 2011 our website has received over 5700 visits from regular viewers like you and for this we feel amply rewarded. If you are new to this site, you can read all What's Happening? entries by clicking on <go to archives>. There you will find headings from Day One. The What's Happening? feature will resume on April 1st. 2012 with some new and expanded information on the area we cover on behalf of all outdoor enthusiasts. Until then, eat healthy and keep fit.

Bruce Boswell - Editor
John Blackmore - Somerville Tract Consultant
Russ Boswell - Webmaster 

... from Wednesday, 23 November, 2011 

Five years ago, nobody knew there was a Boiler in the Bush. Five weeks ago, nobody knew there was an Old Oak Tree just off the Rail Trail. Five days ago, nobody knew there was a way to link the two with a connective trail. Enter KATVA's top team of bush workers. John, Tony, Gabe, Kerrie, and Eric are seen here before heading out for the day's task. Link these two sites with a trail was the mandate!
Armed with the best GPS tech the club has, off they went and created
that important link. Look for it next season after required signage has been installed. Many photos were taken that can be seen by going to their website www.kawarthaatv.com. Why the photo taken at Burnt
River? They warmed up by relocating a 250 lb welcome sign that now offers better sight lines for the up and coming snowmobile season.

... from Thursday, 10 November, 2011

Simply go to Google Images and type in Railroad Handcars. You'll find plenty. We'll try to find and print a story about a hockey team in the old days that "borrowed" a jigger to get to a game down the tracks to Fenelon Falls. When a snow storm hit, the Jigger wouldn't move on the rails to get them back home up in Somerville. They bunked in at Fell's Station overnight.

http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZAG_enCA442CA442&q=railroad+handcars

... from Friday, 4 November, 2011

The deer hunting season starts Mon. Nov.7th and runs right through to Sat. Nov.19th including the Sunday in between.The Pinery and the Rail Trail are in Wildlife Management Unit 60 (WMU 60). It's a very active area for hunters and we must all respect their right to be here for this event.

... from Thursday, 3 November, 2011

First of all, a Jigger was one of several names given to those 2 man handcars railroad workers would use to inspect the track. They would check it daily and when a train was approaching they would lift the Jigger off the tracks and store it in front of the Jigger Stop. It also afforded protection from the weather on a cold winter's day. The front wall has collapsed backwards into what would have been a shed used to store spare spikes and sill plates Look for it northbound on the Rail Trail on your right just north of Pinery Road. We have cleared away some dead brush for better visibility.

... from Thursday, 3 November, 2011

Photographed yesterday on the Pinery Trail is a collection of Tamarack evergreen trees doing their "deciduous thing". In the summer they blend in with true evergreens and don't stand out until late fall. Right now the needles have turned a beautiful gold colour in the bright sunlight just before they fall off. Look for them in areas that have wet soil. Don't worry, in the spring new bright green needles form to start the process all over again. Mother Nature won't let us down.

... from Saturday, October 29, 2011

Old Somerville Tract records have been carefully stored at the City of Kawartha Lakes Records Department. We have received permission to access these records to get some background on the evolution of Forest Management all the way from 1928 when the County of Victoria started purchasing property from landowners for the purpose of starting plantations mostly of Red Pine. The Forest Management document itself is 68 pages (we read it through). There are  also aerial photos and a map to study. Did you know that Red Pine trees were grown primarily for utility poles? They were planted close together on purpose to encourage tall growth with few lower branches. The primary cut was all trees in every fourth row to allow access to the other rows for selective harvesting.

... from Saturday, October 22, 2011

Last Saturday a dozen members were among the first to view the Old Oak Tree soon after the Halfway Bridge was constructed. Many took photos that some said would go on their Facebook page. Also on the agenda was the Boiler in the Bush. We've all seen pictures of ATVs at various locations but how about one just for fun. Lunch was in Kinmount and in the background can be seen a delightful lion offering free BBQ at the Community Centre. Yes we went and also had the opportunity to chat with their organization and the work they do in the community.

... from Friday, October 14, 2011

This is just an unofficial notice to Somerville Tract Forest (the Pinery) recreational users that moose season opens as follows. WMU 60 (Wildlife Management Unit 60). Monday Oct. 17th to Saturday Oct. 22nd. Please mark your calendar. You may find various Rail Trail gates unlocked and wide open. Please show the hunters the respect they deserve for this annual event. After the moose season there is two weeks of no hunting so get out there and enjoy the fall experience during this two week interlude. We will publish the deer season timetable on the Friday before it opens. For complete details, your best bet to learn more about hunting in Ontario is the MNR website. A link is on our hope page.

... from Saturday, October 1, 2011

Better yet. Why did the grouse cross the Rail Trail? The Ruffed Grouse is that small chicken-like upland gamebird bird that is currently being hunted in forests of aspen and pine trees (that's us). In the early morning they can be seen trailside dusting their feathers to rid themselves of skin pests. They often return in the late afternoon to bask in the dust. Look for disturbed areas that may include a feather or two. If you hear a rapid drumming sound in the distance, that's the male flapping his wings hoping to get lucky!

http://www.google.ca/search?q=ruffed+grouse&hl=en&rlz=1T4GZAG_enCA442CA442&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nemGTpehI4Hd0QGtstgD&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1093&bih=490