Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

To truly appreciate a trail, it should be visited in different seasons. A tour above the snow line in winter on snow shoes or skis can deliver a winter camping experience.
The spring, although will probably be wet, will be of interest to those interested in new growth. Bird-watching is at its dramatic best with the mating activity and joyful songs from a great variety of various avian species.
In the summer, the trails tend to be busiest. You will meet people new to you who are anxious for a new experience, as well as practicing their skills in camping, orienteering and food preparation.
Autumn brings a world of delightful colour, magic, mystery and tranquility.
Many trails lead one through a wilderness that leaves few opportunities for checking the route. If a hiker loses sight of the trail markers, they should retrace their steps until some indisputable evidence of the trail appears. The essential trail rules for conduct in woods travel anywhere are basic in Canada as well.

In case of doubt as to the route, stop. Never go forward. Do not panic. Retrace your route deliberately. Carefully and slowly mark it in an unmistakable manner. Until you come to some clear indication of the trail, do not halt. The horrid mistake of all is to insist on going forward when you have made a mistake in haste to get to camp, or to avoid dark, or for any other reason.

Attention to the time is an important dynamic in hiking a wilderness trail. One must always be aware of the sunset hour. Whether on a day hike or an extended trip the excursion must be planned to be away from the woods - and making camp much before sunset.
Experience shows that takes about an hour to set up camp and have a meal. Always check the time you entered the trail. Know how many hours you have before sundown. Plan distance and rest stops accordingly. Allow that a "short rest stop" can become a long period of time.
Most hikers pace themselves accordingly. They establish a constant but light pace. Their rest stops last five to six minutes. A pattern as such is much easier than energetic bursts of speed and a subsequent 15-20 minute rest to regain strength and breath. Too swift a pace, can have the hiker miss many features along the walk.

If you have no watch, face the sun and extend your arm full in front of you. Have the palm of your hand facing you. Ensure the fingers touch each other. Each of your five fingers represents 15 minutes of time. Line up your hand so that the little finger is on the horizon line. The number of fingers between horizon and sun indicates the number of minutes left before sundown.

You must prepare that on most trails toilet facilities are nil. The forest appears to be infinite for usage, but such an event should never occur on or close to the actual trail. All trails are narrow ribbons, which must be kept clean and pristine.
An experienced hiker will move off the trail at least 15-30 metres for toilet needs. At a group site, where groups gather regularly, it is advisable to penetrate the woods even deeper for toilet use. Otherwise the area will be nothing more than a disgusting latrine. Leaders of groups must be conscious of toilet issues and plan ahead to select an appropriate latrine location, well away from the sleeping and cooking area.
Paper must be buried or poked into the ground where it can decompose out of sight.

There is nothing more distressing than entering any area on a trail, tired and having to clean up the area of another hiker's rubbish before pitching a tent or preparing a meal. The most important activity on any trail or a campsite is ensuring the area is pristine before you leave.
While the trail may have an ownership and a group responsible for its maintenance, you as a hiker and user must show responsibility. It is a footpath to be trod upon by many. Do not camp or build a fire on the trail. If you carry anything in, it must be carried back out anything that does not decompose or return to nature's cycle. Stewardship counteracts man's irresponsibility to the environment. A tiny piece of metal or plastic such as bottle cap lies on the ground for centuries to come.
Responsible hikers plan how they package food and drink which is carried into a forest setting. What cannot be burned must be carried out. Ensure you place a plastic bag in your pack for this purpose.

A responsible hiker always makes someone aware where they are going to hike, and when they intend approximately to return.

If you are happy with your experience, do tell someone else. If not please constructively advise those responsible so they may improve and maintain the quality of the property. Ideas and suggestions are happily accepted.

All pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
They may not be copied without permission of the photographer and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.