Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
Communication To AP And FOA ... February 3rd, 2009 ... ABR News Item
Following is the text of an email sent on January 27th, 2009 to John Winters, Jim Murphy, Rick Stronks, and Beth Cragg for Algonquin Park and Ontario Parks .. as well as to the Board of Directors/Executive Committee of The Friends of Algonquin.
The Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists wishes to bring three issues to the attention of Algonquin Park management and The Friends of Algonquin.
Firstly, the ABR appreciates that mention was made on page 20 of last year's Algonquin Information Guide (Tips For Backcountry Camping) about "not defacing standing trees by using nails". However, we are hoping that this common problem will be addressed more forcefully this year with an official park policy prohibiting the use of nails, encouraging their removal and promoting the use of alternatives for hanging items on trees.
Nails driven into trees at backcountry campsites are a danger both to campers and to maintenance staff. Please refer to the ABR's website .. specifically the articles featured on its front page: "The Case Against Nails" and "Alternatives To Nails".
The ABR intends to address the 'nails' problem in our 2009 activities. We hope that the park and the FOA will actively support the ABR in dealing with this problem.
Secondly, the ABR has observed an inconsistency in the process of access point staff holding permit applicants accountable for having read the basic backcountry rules prior to receiving their camping permits.
The range of accountability practices is varied. While some staff require the permit applicant to read a laminated page of the basic rules and to sign to that effect on the back of the permit (the actual page of rules remains with staff), other staff apply a sticker (listing some of the most important rules) on the back of the permit, which the applicant is then required to sign.
Unfortunately, too many other access point staff make no mention of there even being any rules. Proper promotion of the rules by staff can only help reduce the incidence of campers using glass-bottled beer and canned food, setting-off fireworks, cutting down live trees, and committing other such infractions.
The ABR formally requests that a concerted effort be made to have all Access Point operators vigorously and consistently promote the observance of backcountry park rules and regulations.
Thirdly, we wish to comment upon propane tanks being abandoned in the backcountry of the park. In pursuit of our concerns, we succeeded in obtaining helpful information from both the Coleman Corporation and the Town of Markham Waste Management Department.
We featured our findings on this matter in our website article "Propane Tanks In the Backcountry - ABR Position", described both the park's MOLOK system and the Coleman Green Key program, and concluded with ... "The Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists position is that while responsible and safe operation of refillable 'white gas' camp-stoves is preferred ... all alternative 'single-use' fuel tanks, should be 'taken home' in keeping with current official park policy."
The ABR is pleased to be able to support and promote the park's official position regarding propane tanks in the backcountry.
The ABR formally requests that the park and the FOA act firmly with all resources at their disposal to discourage the use of nails at backcountry campsites, and that the park improve its staff's promotion of the backcountry's rules and regulations.
For your reference ...
ABR website address: http://www.ABRweb.ca
ABR website archive: http://www.ABRweb.ca/archive.htm
Thank you,
Barry Bridgeford
http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry
(for the Executive Committee of the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists)
news010.htm