Join Gerry Racey and Al Harris for a winter hike through parts of the Pine Bay 2 Nature Reserve and the Western Lake Superior Conservation Reserve.  These make up parts of a provincially significant wetland on the shores of Pine Bay on Lake Superior.  We will snowshoe into and through wetland environments, conifer forest, swamp, fen and treed bog. We will examine snow conditions, identify (to the best of our ability) animal tracks and develop an appreciation for how northern animals, birds and plants cope with the snow and the winter environment.  Snowshoes are required.  Bring a hearty lunch, water, and dress appropriately for the winter conditions considering level of physical exertion, wind and temperature.  The total hike length will be about 5 km and depending on snow conditions could represent a high level of physical exertion.  Depending on shoreline ice conditions the hike may involve an exploration of part of the Pine Bay or Little Pidgeon Bay shoreline. Weather forecasts will be monitored leading up to the date of the hike and an alternate date may be selected if extreme cold or blowing snow make for unsafe conditions. 

Please notify Gerry Racey (807-939-1620; gdracey@tbaytel.net) of your intent to participate.  Special rules apply to this hike under TBFN Covid-19 protocols;  members only, limit 12 participants, advance registration by email that contains contact information is mandatory, limited car-pooling unless all in a vehicle are part of the same household, participants encouraged to maintain 2m distancing or wear masks if distancing is not possible.  

Meet at the Movati Centre Parking lot, at 9:20 am and depart together at 9:30.  The total driving distance is approximately 56 km down highway 61 and total driving time will be about 1 hr each way.