Welcome to the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists' website. Those of us who are increasingly concerned for the state of Algonquin Park's backcountry are encouraged to help the ABR increase park users' awareness of low-impact practices, of protective park regulations and of negative pressures affecting the wilderness-like qualities of the backcountry.
Dev. of a Comment Form
May 21/09 ... View of Events
... an enhanced database-driven trackable comment system would meet both the requirements of the AFA certification process and the needs of park management ... read more!
Ignorance and Vandalism
Dec. 12/08 ... Community view
This photo was taken in July '07 at a campsite on Tom Thomson Lake. Each letter was appoximately 3/4" to 1.5" wide and 3 to 4" long. The damage was no more than a day old. ... read more!
Alternatives To Nails
Sept. 5/08 ... Community view
When at a backcountry campsite, it's definitely convenient to have hooks on the trees, from which to hang towels, coats, pots and pans. However, achieving these hooks by driving nails into the trees is both damaging and dangerous. What's being proposed as alternatives to the use of nails. ... read more!
The Case Against Nails
Aug. 30/08 ... view of B. Bridgeford
Anyone who's gone on a few backcountry trips has come across nails sticking out of trees around campsites' firepits and tent sites. Ranging from small rusty nails from years gone by to giant galvanized spiral nails, they serve as hangers for pots and pans, as tie-downs for tarp ropes and as a means to secure "camp furniture" to trees. However, nails have no place in campsite trees. ... read more!
Additional Submission to FMP
January 27/10 ... news item
Jeffrey McMurtie, of the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists Executive Committee, has compiled and submitted a nine-page report "Comments Regarding The Algonquin Park 2010-2020 FMP"
...read more!
Draft 2010-2020 FMP Released
Dec. 3/09 ... news item
Excerpts of key points of special interest to the ABR .. with notations in red explain the pertinence of each extract. Plus an extracted sample of an Operations Map
...read more!
High Definition Joint Proposal Map Available
Nov. 21/09 ... news item
The "Joint Proposal For Lightening The Ecological Footprint Of Logging in Algonquin Park" report's original high-definition map is now available.
...read more!
Joint Proposal For Lightening The Ecological Footprint Of Logging in Algonquin Park
Nov. 6/09 ... news item
The Ontario government declared that it is moving forward on recommendations in the report ... it definitely isn't the scale of improvement that the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists were hoping for ...read more!
FMP Stage 3 Info Feedback
July 24/09 ... news item
Stage 3 started with the info centre open-houses for public review of the finalized 'Stage 2' information. The open-houses are now completed. The 60 day period for feedback and input, regarding this information continues Stage 3 of the process and will run through to September 14th, 2009 ... read more!
FMP Stage 3 Information Centres
June 26/09 ... news item
In April, the ABR made formal Stage 2 Input to the 2010 - 2020 Forest Management Plan .. the ABR was informed that once the Primary Road selections were finally made, they would be presented to the public at information open-houses in July and that discussions would then be held concerning Secondary and Branch Roads. Notification has subsequently been received concerning the Stage 3 Information Centres ...
... read more!
ABR Supports "Skills Centre"
June 5/09 ... news item
The park is exploring options for a "Skills Centre". John Winters describes the concept as being two-pronged. As well as teaching outdoor recreational skills, it would also promote the importance of the park's ecological integrity and "walking softly on the environment" of the park ...
... read more!
Members' Mailing & Newsletter
May 7/09 ... news item
As part of the ABR's first regular mail-out, registered members have received their membership cards (with individualized ID numbers).
Members also received ABR bumper-stickers and a color-printed 2009 Otter Newsletter.
... read more!
Many recreational users are strong supporters of the recent "Recommendations of the Ontario Parks Board - Lightening The Ecological Footprint of Logging in Algonquin Provincial Park". At the outset, there was a frustration that while organized logging interests made strong objections to the recommendations, there was no opportunity for backcountry recreational users to show their organized support of the recommendations.
Another concern involves inadequate government funding being provided for the adequate maintenance and improvement of backcountry features such as campsites and portages.
With increasing use and abuse of Algonquin Park's backcountry, and with increasing organized pressure from conflicting interests, it is only prudent that backcountry recreational users group together to represent their interests.
If you are an "Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalist", you are invited to join the ABR and help us achieve our objectives.
Together we can all make a difference!
This front page provides quick access to "news" and "views". The two side-bars allow you to quickly access the latest updates and contain links to the corresponding full articles. The bottom of this center section also provides access to an archive of earlier "News & Views" articles.
Check out the complete
News & Views Archives