Telegraph Trail Preservation Society NEWSLETTERS Home | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993

2006

After being in existence for twenty-five years, the Telegraph Trail Preservation Society has been disbanded due to a lack of funding and a lack of interest. However, some sections of the trail will be kept open on a volunteer basis. The newsletter and website will continue. Anyone wishing to contact the author may do so by going to our website at www.telegraphtrail.org and click on .

Jan. 7 -- Ventured as far as Diamond road (about 8 km) with the skidoo on the telegraph wagon road. Cleared windfalls along the way. Met Mueller the trapper.

April 30 -- Drove out to Blackwater river to check on the telegraph trail signs. Saw a bear and several deer.

May 22 -- Marked Victoria day by hiking the ridge loop on the telegraph trail and trimming up the branches as I went. Some blue virgin's bower (clematis) still lingering on. Arnica in bloom along the ridge top. Met a rare garter snake. Met a couple out hiking on the old telegraph wagon road. Very pleasant day, not too hot and no mosquitoes.

May 27 -- +4 C. and clear this morning. Cleared a section of T. Trail beyond Hidden Valley. Very peaceful in the forest.

May 30 -- Took Donny with me out to Blackwater river. Cleared from Pantage creek down to the river. We cut out the windfalls on the Nazkonate loop section of the telegraph trail. Met a man who lives in the cabin at the bridge. Nice fellow. Roads good. Saw a bear on the way out.

June 3 -- Cleared the rest of the way to Diamond road on the T. Trail and wagon road. Mosquitoes bad in the forest. Couple of rain showers this evening.

June 6 -- Frost on the windshield this morning but no frost on the ground. Cut the grass in the telegraph park.

June 12 -- The Bourkes rode through on horseback on their way up the telegraph trail. Blazing hot weather.

June 17 -- Conducted 18 of the newly formed Quesnel Hiking club along the Nazkonate T. Trail loop. We found wild onions along the river. Several Indian stone blades were spotted.

June 20 -- Had to cut through a big cottonwood that had fallen across the t. wagon road in the last wind storm.

June 23 -- Took the quad up to Diamond road via the t. wagon road. No windfalls. The aroma from the clover in the clear-cuts was very pleasant.

July 4 -- Cleared the t. trail from Goose lake to Diamond road, about 8 kilometres. Brought home a load of fire wood. Still hot and dry.

July 16 -- Took the quad up to the Diamond road area. Crossed the creek and up onto the mountain. Blue sky with beautiful views. Found a few huckleberries. Pleased to see that ranchers have removed some of the barbed wire from the old telegraph wagon road, allowing for safer access.

Aug. 20 -- Conducted a group of fifteen hikers down to the Fraser river and back along the telegraph trail, a six hour hike.

Sept. 2 -- Drove by quad to Punjab lake on the telegraph wagon road. Was pleased to see they have left the dead pine trees standing around one side of the lake. It is still a forest, providing shade and shelter for the animals. Saw a large black bear walking along the shore across the lake. Shortly after, a doe and her yearling came out onto the shore. Stopped at Goose lake on the way back. Observed a cow moose and her calf feeding on the water plants along the shore across the lake. Saw lots of grouse along the way. Most beautiful weather but some of the smaller creeks are drying up.

Oct. 25 -- Received a letter from the Ministry of Tourism saying they might help develop certain sections of the telegraph trail. That is encouraging.

Nov. 9 -- Took the motoski along the telegraph wagon road as far as Hidden valley. Cleaned up several small windfalls. Good snow conditions.

Nov. 12 -- Cleared the telegraph wagon road trail all the way to Marshall ranch by snowmobile. Only a few blow-down.

Dec. 17 -- Minus 12 C., clear. Cut windfalls on the t. wagon road as far as Diamond road. Good to be out on the snow. One feels so alive out there.

Happy trails everyone!

Dwight Dodge