No More Exit for Ardbeg South Trail?!?!?

[Anonymous]

(– by BrettDez #6815 –)

We just finished spending the weekend at Ardbeg. We played around Black Lake Friday night, made camp at the lake. Then in the morning we went up North Trail until around 10:45, then turned around. Had lunch on the rocks south of Black lake overlooking it. Then we proceeded down the South Trail and made camp about 3/4 of the way through it. The campsite was trashed but we cleaned it up and hauled out the trash. Very dissappointing to see such a beautiful area disrespected like that…..ugh

Anyway, on Sunday morning as we went to leave we got to about the last mile or two left. THere is a split where you can continue straight or go left passing the power station. The GPS track says to go left.

Well, there is now two signs posted for going left that says "No Trespassing" and "Vehicular Access Prohibited." Now, if you don't go left listening to the sign and instead go straight, you reach a closed gate.

This leaves no exit to complete the South Trail in full??? This will be dissappointing if from now on the only option is to turn around.

[Anonymous]

(– by Wrangler #5246 –)

There is a land dispute going on there … the land owner is even trying to restrict other local cottagers from using the roadway that crosses his land for them to get to theres … a roadway that these other cottagers have been using for 20 years.  A friend of mine is one of those other cottagers, he told me that this landowner is fighting with the township who is insisting he cannot gate it off (locked gate) because it's also a fire route.

[Anonymous]

(– by sibbles #2090 –)

Hi guys

We received your trail report and I was going to look into this today or next week.  Now I see that there is more information about a land dispute, is it possible that I can get some contact info for the cottager (Your friend) mentioned as I would like to give him a call and get up to date on the issue before proceeding.

We have some tricks up our sleeve and some legal backing to perhaps push pressure on this individual who is closing off access.  We have excellent repour with the MNR in that area and can likely help.

[Anonymous]

(– by BrettDez #6815 –)

Good to hear we may be able to get it resolved.

On the brighter side, here's a neat video from our 2nd trip to Ardbeg this summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HRl6f-BzWk

[Anonymous]

(– by BullwinkleTJ #6222 –)

Thanks for the heads up on this Brett.
8) Another great video too

[Anonymous]

(– by jason #6707 –)

Hey guys i dont know if this helps at all butt I was up in Ardbeg last weekend(labour day) we drove the south trail til the end. When you come to the end of the trail there is a fork in the road. Left turn takes you  throught the new hydro station (still on the trail) then ends on Kirkham rd. If u go straight at the fork about 100-200 feet there is a gate. We turned around and exited on Kirkham rd and drove on Bunny trail and tryed to get back on the south trail at the "Ardbeg Alternate Route" butt someone has blocked it off (sorry no pic) with a concrete barrier.So the only way in or out is at Black Lake or Kirkham rd.

[Anonymous]

(– by Wrangler #5246 –)

Sibbles you have a PM …

8)

[Anonymous]

(– by sibbles #2090 –)

Got your message, thank you very much.  I am going to send it to Peter Wood as he will be taking it from here.

Cheers

[Anonymous]

(– by peterw #2012 –)

There is a land dispute going on there … the land owner is even trying to restrict other local cottagers from using the roadway that crosses his land for them to get to theres … a roadway that these other cottagers have been using for 20 years.  A friend of mine is one of those other cottagers, he told me that this landowner is fighting with the township who is insisting he cannot gate it off (locked gate) because it's also a fire route.

I had good conversation with your contact. It seems they are in process of Discovery. Once they have all relevant title/historical use info, further court action may result. However, it seems there may be a bypass that could be improved for everyone's access. Cottagers did not see it as an option as they estimated many $10ks… ~$80k to fix for car access. However as a fallback, with OF4WD and OFSC manpower and equip't could may be "improved" for everyone's use for much much less. If we can do this as part of an agreement then there would be significant long term benefits. Saying that however, not good to let bullies put up illegal gates. If it is deemed legal access that should be opened for public access/fire route etc. then good case for municipality to have gates removed. We will know more after discovery.

Seems the guy who may be responsible for putting the gate up may not be the most reasonable of chaps … based on conversation with another local official.

I will follow up further to see if any info could help your friend.

If it was Crown land then MNR would take action.

[Anonymous]

(– by Wrangler #5246 –)

Good stuff Peter !!

Hopefully we can help ourselves, the OFSC and the cottagers concurrently !!!

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