NCC Magazinespring 2016

BACKPACK
ESSENTIALS
4
The famous “Last Spike”
SIR WILLIAM VAN HORNE
Sir William Van Horne was a railway
giant himself. Appointed as the General
Manager of Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR) in 1882 and promoted to President
in 1888, Van Horne led the construction
of the renowned railway. This incredible
engineering feat was completed in 1885.
Van Horne was present when the famous
last spike was hammered in.
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Some of Van Horne’s other professional
accomplishments include launching
the Empress line of Pacific steamships
and founding the well-known Canadian
Pacific hotels.
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THE LAST SPIKE: LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA. BACKPACK ESSENTIALS: JUAN LUNA. JOHN LOUNDS: NEIL OSBORNE.
Highway. An old logging road transects the
property. The road allows opportunities for
hiking and bird watching.
The property can be accessed through the
former logging road or by walking along the
shoreline from the T’Railway bridge.
SPECIES TO SPOT
Crabbes River is known for its wildlife, rare plants
and trees. Some native species, including yellow
birch, and rare plants, including long-styled rush
and mad-dog skullcap, have been found here.
Birds that have been spotted here include tree
swallow, olive-sided flycatcher, northern waterthrush
and American bittern.
TRAIL
Length: 1.7 km Difficulty: Easy
Surface: Compacted soil
Province: Newfoundland & Labrador
Nearest town: St. Fintan’s
Character: The trail is an old logging road through
forest. It also passes through lush wetland areas
teeming with life (where you can spot yellow lady’sslippers).
The trail opens to a panoramic view
of the property. 1
DOWNLOAD THE TRAIL MAP
Visit natureconservancy.ca/crabbes-trails
to download a trail map and driving directions
Tried‐and-True
NCC President and CEO, John Lounds, shares his backpack
essentials for his annual birding trip to Pelee Island
1. HAT & BANDANA This hat, with its oilskin-
like coating, works in sun and rain. If it’s hot,
or sunny, I wear a bandana with it.
2. BINOCULARS These binoculars are
25 years old. I have to get the little plastic
eye cups replaced because of a bit of
over use.
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3. BIRD BOOK This book is also 25 years
old. But I always find it’s better to go with
someone who knows the birds so you don’t
have to look them up all the time.
4. ZIPPERED PANTS I’ve mucked through
wetlands helping to do vegetation surveys in
these pants. That’s where you have to have
a pair of socks wrapped up over top of them,
otherwise you’ll end up with ticks.
5. FLASK The great thing about this flask,
which a dear friend gave me, is it has a little
set of cups so I can share some warmth with
whoever I’m with. 1
natureconservancy.ca
SPRING 2016 7