This is the ski trail map for what is currently groomed and track-set.
Dec 28, 2012
Dec 23, 2012
December 23
Most of the lake froze overnight with a thin sheet of ice. There is still a big hole over the deepest part of the lake, about a half kilometer south of where the official skidoo trail crosses the lake. It can't be seen in this photo, but there is a little mist in the background from the open water.
There is another big open area in the deep part of the lake just west of the outlet bay.
There is another big open area in the deep part of the lake just west of the outlet bay.
Dec 22, 2012
Snow and Ice
December 22.........
Klondike Bay froze over long ago and has seen skaters, skiers and snowmobilers. The rest of the lake is taking more time to settle in to winter mode. The widest part of the lake is still wide open.
Nearly a foot of snow has made it possible to put a nice track on the cross country ski trails! There are a few icy spots, so caution is advised, as always. The snowshoe track will also be packed before Christmas.
Skiers depend on those two skinny tracks in the snow to enjoy the trails. Non-skiers are requested to use the skidoo trails and snowshoe trails so as not to wreck the ski trails.
Ski and snowshoe trails begin at the big white pine across from the northern entrance to Sportsman's Lodge.
Check here often for photos and updates on ice and snow.
KEW Winter News will be sent on January 1st. Stories and photos are welcome.
Dec 16, 2012
Freeze-up 2012
Most of Kukagami Lake was frozen over by the middle of December, but the main body of the lake remains open. Warm temperatures and heavy snow predicted this week will likely keep the ice from forming for perhaps another week.
Sep 28, 2012
Autumn Newsletter
Kukagami Environment Watch Area News
http://www.kewatch.blogspot.com/ Autumn 2012
A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air. Eric Sloane
Harvest Moon Gathering
People will be gathering at the widest part of Kukagami Lake (about a kilometer north of Lion's Head*) on the evening of Saturday, September 29th, weather permitting. Everyone is welcome!
Be there at 6:30 to watch the sun set in the west just as the full moon rises in the east. Boats will raft up as they arrive, and will drift along in the early autumn breeze. If you don't see anyone when you get there, look downwind!
Mushroom Walk October 6, 2 pm.
The third annual mushroom walk will be on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, rain or shine. This is an hour long walk through the forest. You will learn what to look for and what to avoid. You must pre-register for this event. Send a note with your phone number to kewatch@gmail.com to get the information regarding meeting time and place.
Road Clean-up October 12-21
Thanks to the many neighbours who take the time to pick up litter from our roadsides every spring and fall. For most people this is not just a twice a year event. The busy parts of the road are tended to frequently.
There's always room for more volunteers! Contact KEW if you would like to have a section of road to call your own.
Logging Update
You have probably noticed that the old rail bed heading east had a lot more traffic the last little while. Logging occurred in a couple of places to the east of Kukagami Road and is now complete. There will be more logging trucks on the road again from October to December, as Goulard cuts red pine to the west of Wolf Lake. Operations there begin this week.
Last year, much of the western side of McLaren creek was logged. If you haven't driven up the Matagamasi fork in the past year, you might be interested to take a side trip on your way home. Most of the forest was jack pine, which is always clearcut. There is a narrow band of uncut forest along the road. The waterway is protected from erosion, so the reserve along the creek is much wider. If you paddle the creek, you probably won't even be able to tell that logging occurred.
The slash from the McLaren cut is being piled, but it will not be burned as these things usually are. Burning of slash piles creates a lot of smoke, and the company does not want to irritate the folks who live nearby.
The logging company is hoping to see a lot of natural regeneration in the area over the next 2 years. If all goes well, they will only need to do a little 'fill-in' planting after that.
Birch Tree Problems?
The Pella's wanted to share this information from MNR – they observed "birch skeletonizer" while at the camp in late August. Apparently many areas across northern Ontario are experiencing unusual colouration of the birch trees over large areas of forest. This event is being caused by a combination of a native insect, birch skeletonizer, and a native disease, septoria leaf spot.
While the trees appear unsightly, the event is not likely to affect the overall health of the trees because it is occurring late in the growing season.
A draft fact sheet that provides information on the event and the insect and fungus is posted on the KEW website. (Scroll down below this newsletter.)
White Clouds of Algae
Lots of people have noticed a 'new' cloud-like algae in the lake over the past few years, and especially this summer. KEW is working to find out more about this invasion, and will report what we find in future newsletters.
So far we have learned that it is naturally occurring, especially in warm shallow water. There was lots of it this year because the summer was so warm. As the water cools, it is disappearing. It is not dangerous, and is not connected to the very toxic blue-green algae we have heard about.
Where on the Lake is that?
This new item in the newsletter will begin a series of places and place names. Folks who have been around since the 50's and longer seem to have a language of their own when describing places around the lake. Do you know where to find Sturgeon Point? The jumping rock? The Outlet…or is that Carafel Creek? Do you have place names that you would like to share with Kukagami neighbours? Send the name, and send along a story if there is one. KEW will be producing a map early next year with all the information we gather. One or two places will be featured in each newsletter.
* Lion's Head is a big rock at the narrowest passage of the lake as you head north out of Klondike Bay. Over the years some campers have thought if looks like a dragon's head, or a wolf's head. But most people on the lake have known it as Lion's Head for the past 60 years.
Zombies Spotted around Kukagami!!
In June of 2011, the film "A Little Bit Zombie" was filmed at our lake! The crew stayed at Sportsman's Lodge and the filming took place over a few weeks at a camp on Klondike Bay as well as the forest nearby. Bodies were seen flying off cliffs near one of the northern portages!! Local zombies were recruited for extras (but have not received any more casting calls??!!)
Check out the website for more gory details www.alittlebitzombie.com
KEW celebrates 7th year with New online photo album!
Go to the KEW photo webpage whenever you feel a need to breathe in the fresh air and peace of life at the lake. Submit your own photos and we'll post them! kewatch@gmail.com.
Website and Newsletter
The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person. The Website is updated randomly through the year – so check for new information and photos! Submit photos and news items to our email – listed below.
If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.
Sep 23, 2012
Birch Trees Information
DRAFT September 14, 2012
Birch skeletonizer and septoria leaf spot affecting birch trees across northern Ontario
August-September 2012
Symptoms:
Leaves of white birch trees have been turning yellow, orange, or brown in mid- to late August and early September. The leaves then dry and fall from the trees. Surrounding hardwoods remain green and fully foliated until normal fall colouration begins.
Area affected:
This event is occurring in 2012 across a wide swath of northern Ontario, from the western portion of Northwest Region east to Sudbury and south to Killarney.
This is the third year in a row for this event. In 2010 and 2011 it was heavily concentrated in north western Ontario, becoming more scattered in the eastern parts of the region in Wawa District. In 2012 it has moved south of Wawa with heavy amounts now occurring in Lake Superior Park and further east to Sudbury and south along Georgian Bay.
Causes:
In some areas, most of the damage is being caused by a native insect, birch skeletonizer (Bucculatrix canadensisella). In other locations the primary agent is a native fungal disease, septoria leaf spot (Septoria betulae). Often both agents are occurring together on the same leaves.
Birch skeletonizer tends to turn the leaves brown as the insect eats the green tissues between the veins of the leaf, with only the translucent skeleton of the leaf remaining.
Septoria leaf spot starts out as black spots on the leaves. The fungus kills surrounding tissues, and tends to turn the leaves yellow to orange. Over a few weeks the fungus kills sections of the leaf, and in severe cases the entire leaf is discoloured and killed.
Similar symptoms:
Drought is sometimes confused with the skeletonizer or the leaf spot disease. Drought however turns the leaves reddish brown to brown. It does not cause skeletonizing of the leaf or result in numerous black spots.
Fall colouration typically occurs later in September and October, and like drought doesn't cause skeletonizing or black spots. Also, other hardwoods will be turning colour in the fall at the same time as the birches.
Impact:
Although the trees appear unsightly and unhealthy, the impact on the tree is minor. The event occurs late in the growing season, allowing enough time for the tree manufacture enough food from the leaves before they are affected by the insect or the fungus.
Control:
Generally no control action is needed for either the fungus or the skeletonizer. For ornamentals, the fallen leaves can be raked up and disposed of off-site or burned, but re-infection by the fungus or re-infestation by the insect can occur from surrounding areas.
For more information:
For specifics on what is occurring in your area, or for questions regarding other aspects of forest health, please contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources forest health technical specialist, or:
Dan Rowlinson (Forest Health Field Program Coordinator (705) 946-7445 dan.rowlinson@ontario.ca )
Taylor Scarr (Provincial Forest Entomologist (705) 945-5723, taylor.scarr@ontario.ca ), or
Richard Wilson (Forest Program Pathologist (705) 541-5106 richard.wilson@ontario.ca ).
Prepared by:
Taylor Scarr, with the assistance and information from the forest health monitoring program, Inventory Monitoring and Assessment Section, Ministry of Natural Resources.
Jul 22, 2012
Logging Update
A quick update on activities in our area of interest.
Goulard Lumber is currently harvesting along the railbed a few kilometres East of the Kukagami Road. Hauling has begun as you are probably aware with the wood coming down the Kukagami Rd. Things are progressing well in this block.
Some equipment was also moved to the Wolf Mountain area this week and some work is being done to prepare roads for harvesting in that area this Fall. Brushing of roads as well as a few culvert replacements.
Information is courtesy of Vermilion Forest Management
Jun 22, 2012
Kukagami Summer News 2012
Kukagami Environment Watch Area News
http://www.kewatch.blogspot.com/ Summer 2012
The rainbows of life follow the storm. Anon
Summer is here and the swimming is wonderful!
Can it be that just 10 weeks ago there was ice on the lake? Will we get 10 weeks of warm water for swimming? Then 10 weeks of chilling water before the ice comes again. Round and round the cycle goes. Life at the lake is a marvel every day. Especially on these hot summer days. It's all about the water: cool, clear, clean…love it!
KEW celebrates 7th year with New online photo album!
Go to the KEW photo webpage whenever you feel a need to breathe in the fresh air and peace of life at the lake. Submit your own photos and we'll post them! kewatch@gmail.com.
Kukagami Forest Reserve Review
In 1999 Kukagami Lake was included in Ontario's Living Legacy as a Forest Reserve. Forest Reserves were designated on important ecological, historical and recreational lands where they overlapped with mining claims. Once the mining claims lapsed through normal processes, the reserved land would be regulated as Provincial Park or Conservation Reserve.
Thirteen years later, Kukagami Lake is still protected from logging, new claim staking, etc. With the ever-shrinking resources of the Ministry of Natural Resources, it is unlikely that the change from Forest Reserve will happen any time soon.
If you want to learn more about the differences between Parks, Conservation Reserves and Forest Reserves, click on the link above.
For a short summary, go to the link on the KEW webpage.
John Royer 1936 – 2011
Our Kukagami "Mayor" was a big city boy, born and raised in downtown Toronto. In 1962, he discovered the joys of hunting in the Kukagami wilderness; the city man fell in love with the Kukagami lake area and the lifestyle.
He had married Betty DelBosco in 1957; her brothers welcomed him to their favourite place and Kukagami shores became central to the Royer family happiness. No hydro, no phones, no running water, no road to their lot after the hours long ride from Toronto; nothing could stop their trek.
Life at camp was a series of adventures; hauling the material to build the camp down the lake, living in a tent, helping friends build their camps- not one experienced builder among them, but the friendships and the camps have lasted a lifetime.
Only true Kukagami enthusiasts enjoyed cold winter holidays in their snow covered camps. The Royer family - John and Betty, brother Bill, 5 kids, 2 dogs - drove 7 hours from Belleville to the Kukagami turnoff. In the dark, they skidooed the 30 kms down the unplowed road to their freezing camp. John happily lit the fire while everyone shivered in their sleeping bags.
When not building, chopping wood, hunting or laughing with friends, John worked tirelessly for the Kukagami community. In late 1970's, John, helped by Norm McGillis, founded the Kukagami Lake Campers' Association. To raise money, a winter dance was held in Garson; in the summer, neighbours gathered at the airstrip for a barbecue, baseball games, an auction and prizes for winners. Soon the gathering evolved into a variety of events for children and adults and the half and half draw. The countless volunteer hours guaranteed that enough money was raised for the essential projects initiated and carried out by KLCA; all of the work once again done by cooperation of fun loving volunteers.
• Equipment for the Volunteer Fire Department
• Marking hazards on the lake
• Neighbourhood Watch and Road Blocks
• Maintenance of the area dump
John volunteered even more time as a trustee on the Kukagami Lake Local Roads Board. He donated his own money to ensure that a road was built and maintained to the last camp.
He never lost his enthusiasm for the area and the people. Even as his health deteriorated, he attended meetings and the family picnics. Though John Royer never built the Community Center of his dreams, he earned his title as our Kukagami "Mayor".
John's final trip away from Kukagami was by helicopter; conscious of his surroundings he had his first panoramic view of his favourite place on earth.
Blog from the bog ... is back!
Time to check out some of the spring or should I say summer nature happenings around the lake.
Snapping turtles --This time of the year – you might see snapping turtles laying their eggs on sandy or gravelly sites. They come out of the water and dig a hole –using one back foot at a time and lay their eggs in the hole in the sand counting on the warm sand to help hatch them in September or October. If you see soft rubbery ping pong like shells in an area near water – they are most likely turtle eggs that some fox has had for dinner!! Very few of these eggs make it to adulthood – but some of them live up to 90 years!! Look for the jagged-ridge dragon tail.
Moths – two of my favourites I watch for in the spring are the Luna moth and rosy maple. Once a week or so – leave your back porch light on all night and in the morning you will find moths covering your wall – it is great to be able to check them out – BUT please leave them to fly away the next night.
The rosy maple is a smaller moth –cream in colour with a pink tinge on the upper and lower parts of the wings. The Luna moth is a large moth with a wingspan of 95mm and is a pale green in colour. Spotting a Luna moth is always a cool find!!
Wascally wabbits – better fence your veggies and even your flowers – word has it they like pansies. why don't we see them in the winter – because their new fur that grows in the fall is white and similarly the new fur in the spring comes in brown. The new growth is triggered by decreasing or increasing sunlight . If there is a winter with little snow – the rabbit (hare) stands out with its white coat and makes an easy mark for foxes, martens and even owls!!
From the dog whisperer - Did you know there is a disease that dogs can catch from digging in the dirt – blastomycosis. It would be good just to be aware of the possibility so if your dog develops an unexplained illness – this might be the reason. Check out these websites for more information. http://blastomycosis.ca/doginfo.html http://cottagelife.com/14413/qa/blastomycosis
Road Clean-up
Thanks to the many neighbours who took extra time to pick up litter from our roadsides this spring! For many people this is not just a twice a year event. The busy parts of the road are tended to frequently.
Summer is a good time to clean up lakeshores too! If you are out and about in a boat, take a few minutes to gather in the junk that's washed up on shore.
Website and Newsletter---The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person. The Website is updated randomly through the year – so check for new information and photos! Submit photos and news items to our email – listed below.
If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.
May 25, 2012
May Update: Wolf Lake, Fire!, Logging
Kukagami Environment Watch Spring Update
Wolf Lake, the Largest Area of Old Growth Red Pine in the World!
Efforts to bring the Wolf Lake area into the Chiniguchi Waterway Park continue. On May 31st, one of the leases at Wolf Lake will expire...IF the Minster of Northern Development and Mines allows it to go. Rick Bartolucci, our Sudbury MPP is the Minister! Please call his office and tell him you want this beautiful area to be protected. 705-675-1914 Stop the lease renewal!
See www.savewolflake.org, click on "Report..." for more information.
Fire on Kukagami Lake!
Last weekend, 2 cars and a truck burned in a parking lot. It is suspected the hot pipes under one car ignited the tinder dry pine needles, which spread to the tires and got worse from there. Tires exploded, the next car caught, gas tanks exploded, the wind blew the fire across more dry needles, then a truck 60 feet away joined the inferno. Our local volunteers responded very quickly and were able to bring the fire under control.
It is exceedingly dry in the forest! Look around your camp for possible fire hazards, rake your driveway, inspect your sauna, be vigilant!
Saunas are the most likely buildings to burn. After decades of use, the wood inside the sauna will get very, very dry. Sometimes the wood will char. Check your sauna walls by scratching with your fingernail. If the fibres easily scratch off, it's time to replace that wood! It can spontaneously combust at temperatures that are normal in a sauna.
Summer Logging Plans
Road and bridge construction has already begun approximately 3km East of Kukagami Rd and South of the rail-bed. Logging will continue through the summer in this location. If you have any questions, contact Pat Bazinet at Vermilion Forest Management Company Ltd. cell: 705-929-1677
If you have news or photos to share with neighbours at Kukagami Lake, send them to KEWatch@gmail.com.
Apr 9, 2012
Spring Newsletter
Kukagami Environment Watch Area News
http://www.kewatch.blogspot.com/ Spring 2012
In the spring,
at the end of the day,
you should smell like dirt. Margaret Atwood
(here's hoping you can get out to the garden soon!)
The Ice is Gone!
Early afternoon, Monday April 9th, the last floes of ice were blowing down the lake with the strong northwest winds. This is one of the earliest dates for an ice free lake, second only to 2010, when the ice blew away on April 3rd. The average ice-out date for the past 30 years occurred in the last ten days of April.
The long warm weeks of mid-March almost resulted in the earliest ever ice-off Kukagami Lake. But alas, seasonal temperatures returned, and the ice got thicker for a week or two. Even though all the ice was gone from Klondike Bay by April 5th, it was just possible to walk on the ice of the big lake on the morning of Friday April 6th. This was only possible because the overnight temperature dipped well below freezing each of the preceding 5 nights. See lots of photos on the KEW website.
Oops!
Someone went skidooing a little late this year, don't ya think? If it was you let us know and we'll help get a crew to pull the skidoo out of the water!
Spring Road Clean-up
Early spring means we can get an early start to the annual spring Road Clean up! Between now and May 5th, you can sign up to clear the litter from a section of Kukagami and Fox Roads. To register for your section of the road, drop a line here at kewatch@gmail.com.
Bring a friend – it's a fine way to spend a spring day while at camp.
**Please note! The City wants us to sort the roadside trash into separate bags of recyclables and garbage. We have clear bags for the recyclables, and black bags for the garbage. Please let us know if you need these supplies!**
You also need to sign a waiver. Please wear a bright orange vest while working…and keep yourself safe!
Wolf Lake!
Efforts are underway to bring stronger protection to Wolf Lake and the Chiniguchi River system. A postcard campaign to encourage the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, our own Rick Bartolucci, to stop auto-renewing the mining claims and leases in the area. Check out www.savewolflake.org and request a postcard from KEW at KEWatch@gmail.com
Water Watcher
Now that the ice is off the lake, it's time to think about how we can keep the water clean – clean enough to drink while having a swim this summer!
#1 Check your septic system…is it working properly?
#2 Does the drainage from your sump pump and eaves troughs go to a leaching pit at least 50 feet from the lake?
#3 Check your boat…clean before launching? Motor working properly? All bilge water dumped before changing lakes?
#4 Do you have a place far from the lake for cleaning your car and/or ATV?
Website and Newsletter
The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person. The Website is updated randomly through the year – so check for new information and photos! Submit photos and news items to our email – listed below.
If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.
Satellite Photo from April 6th
You can see that Klondike Bay is ice-free, as is Ashigami Lake and most of Wanapitae. Ice still lingered in the northeast bay on Wanapitae, and great sheets of ice remained on Lake Nipissing.
Apr 8, 2012
Mar 30, 2012
Break-up 2012
Kukagami Environment Watch March 30, 2012
Spring Newsletter
We are now gathering stories and photos for the spring newsletter. Send your submissions to kewatch@gmail.com
Feb 6, 2012
Kukagami Trails!
Public Service Announcement:
There are now 7 km of Ski trails track-set! The trails start across from Sportsman's Lodge.
Snowshoe trails are also available at two locations. Some begin across from Sportsman's Lodge and travel through the white pine forest. Another trail starts at the tall tower (across from the dump) and goes about a kilometer to the Klondike scenic cliffs.
Skidoo trails have been open for a few weeks, and now nearly all the slush has gone from the lakes so travel is good!
Maps for all trails are available at Sportsman's Lodge, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Mondays)
We ask that all trail users stay on their designated trails! There are lots of opportunities for everyone to have fun in winter...so please don't drive on the ski and snowshoe trails.
Snowshoe trails are also available at two locations. Some begin across from Sportsman's Lodge and travel through the white pine forest. Another trail starts at the tall tower (across from the dump) and goes about a kilometer to the Klondike scenic cliffs.
Skidoo trails have been open for a few weeks, and now nearly all the slush has gone from the lakes so travel is good!
Maps for all trails are available at Sportsman's Lodge, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Mondays)
We ask that all trail users stay on their designated trails! There are lots of opportunities for everyone to have fun in winter...so please don't drive on the ski and snowshoe trails.
Jan 19, 2012
Winter 2012
Kukagami Environment Watch Winter 2012
www.kewatch.blogspot.com
Live in each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Thoreau
www.kewatch.blogspot.com
Live in each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Thoreau
Winter has arrived!
After a long and lovely autumn, winter has finally come to Kukagami. The last bit of water turned to ice on the chilly night of December 28th. The snow came in small quantities until just a few days ago, and now there is a lot! Time to get outside… snowshowing, skiing, skidooing, ice fishing…enjoy!
Photos
The KEW Website has winter photos of freeze-up and snowy landscapes. It is a great place to post stories and photos. Send these to us at kewatch@gmail.com and we'll get them online!
If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.
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