Long Weekend Hiking and Annoying Signage

[Mentor]

Hi All,

I went for three hikes this weekend, in and around Blue Mountain. My new camera (a Fujifilm Finepix S1500) came along, and I had a blast messing around with it. It replaces my venerable Canon Powershot, which never really fully recovered after its brief swim during my Algonquin hike in August. The weather could not have been better for hiking, so I spent as much time as possible on the trails. Here are a few photos!

Bush-whacking along one of my snowshoe trails. Honestly, it’s a trail. Well, at least in winter ...

At one point, I came across a deer hanging out in the tall grass. He bolted before I could snap a shot, and his crashing through the bush startled this squirrel, who ran up a tree and swore at me for a few minutes.

My hiking knife, a JK-AK. From the looks of it, you wouldn’t guess that it is only one season old, but it sees constant use. I love this knife.

The seemingly-endless forest of the Kolapore Uplands:

Some sections of the Bruce Trail:

“The Big Rock”, as it is known locally. This is a huge boulder that was left behind by the glaciers. It is in the middle of a forest. As you can see, the side has split off. This is my favourite spot to stop and enjoy a snack while hiking.

Ruby, my hiking companion, likes to stop here for a snack as well. I was trying desperately to get her to look at the camera, but I had forgotten that I had left my pack (which she knows to contain a small bag of dog food) on the rock.

It was a full moon the other night, and the light on top of Blue Mountain was so bright that I couldn’t resist the urge to take a midnight walk along the roads. Here’s a shot of the moon. Almost bright enough to read by.

This last picture really bothers me. It is a shot of part of a sign that some idiots have posted along one of my favourite sections of the Bruce Trail (the same section that has the Big Rock and a bunch of nice caves). I don’t care how eco-friendly your message is - you automatically undermine it when you choose to post SIX big (20x24” or so) freaking signs along a stretch of trail through a protected escarpment. Utter BS, and pure propaganda for this farming group. I’m assuming that some money changed hands here, but as a member of the Bruce Trail Association, I didn’t hear anything about it. The bloody signs are set on thick steel posts and bolted directly into the rock of the escarpment. Apparently, these folks decided that the best way to show their appreciation of the trail was to drill holes in rock that has been untouched for thousands of years. The LAST thing I want to see when I’m hiking is unnecessary propaganda and other visual pollution. I have nothing against farmers, agriculture, or anything of that sort (quite the contrary), but this was an ignorant call. What do you guys think? Should organizations be allowed to post signs like this along wilderness trails? So far, this phenomenon seems to be confined to this particular section of the Bruce, and I'm hoping that it doesn't spread.

That’s about it. Thanks for looking, and all the best!

I hope everyone else enjoyed their Labour Day.

- Mike

 

[Bushman5]

I hate that crap too, BC trails are full of signs like that.

 

[Joel Stave]

The sign suggests that the trails run on some farmers' lands. Did those farmers donate an easement, or give permission for the trail to go over their land? If so, it seems like an official "thank you" is in order and a sign like this is a good way to do it, especially if those farmers can get rescind their permission if they get annoyed at the hikers' behavior.

If not, then I don't understand why the signs would be there.

 

[stingray4540]

A sign at all the trailheads would be cool, but on the trail?! It is obnoxious and takes away from the experience of being outdoors.

 

[baldtaco-II]

"It is obnoxious and takes away from the experience of being outdoors."

Excellent use of "obnoxious". Hard to better that.

 

[Mentor]

I agree with Stingray - a sign at the trailhead would be the appropriate recognition for an easement (easements are common along the Bruce). The trail ought to be preserved in a reasonably natural state, though. I'll put it this way: If I had the opportunity to donate a million dollars to a trail, I would absolutely not ask to have my signs posted along the path in question, even if it was my right as a donor. Bad taste.

Best,

- Mike

 

[x39]

Ditto on the signage. Many years ago I was in the Pachaug State Forest in Connecticut and it seemed like every time I rounded a bend in the trail there was another sign, "No Smoking", "Kindle no fires", "No camping", etc. I considered making signs in the same style that said "Shut up and keep moving" or "No smiling" and posting them along the trail, but never bothered.

 

[Mentor]

Ditto on the signage. Many years ago I was in the Pachaug State Forest in Connecticut and it seemed like every time I rounded a bend in the trail there was another sign, "No Smoking", "Kindle no fires", "No camping", etc. I considered making signs in the same style that said "Shut up and keep moving" or "No smiling" and posting them along the trail, but never bothered.

I actually want to take a picture of pristine forest, then paste it over a sign, so as to say "look at what you could be looking at, if only this sign weren't in the way!".

 

[x39]

I actually want to take a picture of pristine forest, then paste it over a sign, so as to say "look at what you could be looking at, if only this sign weren't in the way!".

Good idea. It would be especially poignant if the picture were of the forest beyond the sign!

 

[mcjhrobinson]

you need a sign that reads "all signs posted at trailheads only"

signs signs everywhere signs!

 

[Flipincanadian]

Gah, i hate signs on trails. Especially hours up a remote trail. Something similar happend to me and my dad when we were on a pack trip with clients ~5 hours up a trail. It was nailed to a tree, needles to say we pulled it down and packed it out.

 

[Dekz]

Gah, i hate signs on trails. Especially hours up a remote trail. Something similar happend to me and my dad when we were on a pack trip with clients ~5 hours up a trail. It was nailed to a tree, needles to say we pulled it down and packed it out.

With perhaps the exception of this story, it sounds to me like you guys aren't going far enought from town

 

[SouthernCross]

It's a pity that some people feel it necessary to erect signs inorder to remind others to respect nature




Kind regards
Mick

 

[myright]

Next time bring some wrenches with you and take the signs home with you one by one

Cool pics - thanks for sharing.

 

[SIXFOOTER]

I think Bilboards should banned from the planet, period

 

[Joel Stave]

Mentor, you and Stingray are right. I hadn't thought about the specific placement of the signs. The trailhead is the right place for them.

If I had the opportunity to donate a million dollars to a trail, I would absolutely not ask to have my signs posted along the path in question, even if it was my right as a donor. Bad taste.

A lot of times the donors aren't consulted on this sort of thing. It's just expected that they'd like the acknowledgment.

 

[skitertank]

i agree,when im hiking the last thing i want to be reminded of is people and society.i hate crap like that

 

[coaldigger]

Nice pics 'Ol Bud ! I have been thinking about getting the same camera for my self ! How do you like it ? How is the Macro on it & the long range shots ? I'm currently using a Canon Powershot A480 & it takes some Sweet pics for a point & shoot camera :thumbup: I just can't take those far out shots

 

[TheGame]

Nice pics, and I agree about the sign. At the beginning of a trail, they are fine. However, on the trail, they do not need to be there, not when you are going to enjoy the outdoors. Not having signs randomly pop up.