Dodge City?

The Common Mullein (attractive yellow flowers) takes over a clearing.

The rocky trail down to Rigaud town.

The Association's Mission Statement

Les Sentiers Vaudreuil-Soulanges/Vaudreuil-Soulanges Trails is a non-profit volunteer organization whose aim is to develop, maintain, promote and protect public walking trails throughout the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC in harmony with the natural environment while working to foster land stewardship, environmental awareness and conservationism among land owners and municipal officials.

SVS/VST Objectives:

* To provide members with safe, quality hiking, outdoor exploration and other natural experiences at various levels;

* To promote the creation and maintenance of hiking trails throughout the wider Vaudreuil-Soulanges region;

* To instil respect for and knowledge of forest systems ecology, wildlife and respect for property;

* To provide enjoyable social outlets for members;

* To promote health, enjoyment and fellowship through non-competitive walking and sporting events;

* To secure, complete and improve scenic trails and loops; and

* To work with municipalities and landowners to ensure public access in perpetuity.

VST HIKERS' CODE

RESPECT - PROTECT - ENJOY

* Hike only along established, marked trails. Do not bushwack or cut trails unless specifically given permission to do so.

* Do not take short cuts. Do not climb fences nor tresspass onto other peoples' properties.

* Respect the privacy of people living near to the trail network.

* Leave all trails spotlessly clean. If you find garbage, carry it out and dispose properly.

* Do not light fires; do not pick flowers or plants.

* Do not cut live trees; do not damage nor strip off bark.

* Protect and do not disturb wildlife.

* Always keep dogs on a leash. Remember to control dogs especially when equestrian riders approach.

* Respect the rights of way of equestrian riders, after all they were the first to develop this beautiful trail network. When they pass, stand to one side and especially, do not spook the horses.

* Remember: - Respect, protect, enjoy.

Organizer: Jean-Yves Massenet. Two hiking groups.

Team 1 - Park: Mtee Neuve Car Park. Explore north to blue trail, then east to points 20 and 19 to lookout at point 40.

Team 2 - Park; Mtee Neuve Car Park. Explore west to points 9 and 21, then along brown trail to Lac Des Castors and Sucerie Des Gallant.

First Ground Proving of Sector 1

Organizer: Jim Duff. One hiking group.

Prove ground from downtown Hudson, RV 1 to RV 3 at entrance to Chevrier sand pit. Return to RV 1

Second Ground Proving of Sector 2

Organizer: Heidi Wright. One hiking group.

Prove ground from RV 3 south to RV 6. Return to RV 3.

Third Ground Proving of Sector 3

Organizer: Gary Dover. One hiking group.

Prove ground from RV 6, south to RV 7, then west to RV 9 on the 201 and west to RV 10. Return to RV 9 and recover group from 201 to Hudson by vehicle. Details to follow

Fourth Ground Proving of Sector 4

Organizer: Gary Dover and Jean-Yves Massenet. One hiking group.

Travel by vehicle to RV 9. Prove ground west to RV 10 and then along the servitude to RV 12. Proceed north to Mount Rigaud entry point at RV 13. Continue north to RV 15. Descend to downtown Rigaud and finish at RV 16.

Final rehersal for "Long Trek". Further details to follow.

THE "LONG TREK"

Hudson to Rigaud

(More details to follow)

We had a very successful trek on Sunday the 10th of August. Our goal was to find the link from the 201, just off Little Ste. Angelique, to an entry point leading up to the summit of Rigaud Mountain. Having split up into two teams, Frank Heidt's first team explored the region leading down to the Raquette River and discovered the horse bridge as expected. Gary's second team initially was unsuccessful at finding the logging trail at the Marmite junction on St. Henri. There has been extensive development all along this stretch of St. Henri and it is highly likely that these logging trails are now on private land, and are no longer accessible from the road. The second team bounced back and moved west to Mtee Neuve further along St. Henri where they discovered an excellent road leading up to a car park at the top. From there they hiked east to a quite spectacular lookout and then down a sharp drop to another excellent lookout, just south of the Cabot/Etang des Castors development. The Escapade network of trails is truly world-class and is the high point in all respects of our Long Trail from Hudson and St. Lazare. Frank's team provided us with a significant tidbit of info; that there was a good ATV bridge over the Raquette along the Hydro servitude. On Thursday 14 Aug we explored the servitude back from the Mtee. St Henri crossing point, north of Ste. Marthe. Happily, this was no boring servitude road but a very scenic trail in both open field and wooded terrain leading to the ATV bridge. Success! The full link was made and we now have our continuous Long Trail.

For our group trek of Sunday the 24th of August we will all meet at the 4 Corners car park at 0800 a.m. as usual. From there we will form into two teams. Jean-Yves will take his team to the Escapade Chalet in Rigaud town. They will then approach Rigaud Mountain from the north and move south up along the green trail. Gary will take his team to the Mtee Neuve car park where they will hike north along the orange trail. Both groups will plan to meet at Point 23 where all will take a well-deserved break. Here Association Members will receive a short briefing on a possible fundraising event and the lead-up to the Thanksgiving Weekend Long Trek. Following this both teams will return to their respective start-points. For more info, contact Gary at g.dover@sympatico.ca.