MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2018

54 ML BLUE SUMMER 2018 In its 31st year, the Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular is as much an excuse to enjoy the big top derby tent (locally referred to as the “fish tent,”) as it is to fish. The biggest fishing derby in the region is hosted by the Sydenham Sportsmen Association, an organization whose roots are deeply connected to conservation. The group undertakes some epic wildlife and fishery projects, including maintaining some of the largest man-made spawning grounds west of Banff, and building hundreds of eastern bluebird nesting boxes. The Salmon Spectacular is sanctioned by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, and represents the main funding artery for these and other conservation projects. The Chinook salmon found in Georgian Bay are the direct byproduct of American stocking efforts which pulled ancestral populations from British Columbia’s Pacific-exiting watersheds in the 1970s. The fish have adapted to life in the Great Lakes, and were originally brought in to help tame the swelling population of alewives. Derby participants can fish the downstream side of Owen Sound’s 10th Street bridge on the Sydenham River; at the walking bridge on the Pottawatomi River at Kelso Beach; the Sykes Street bridge on the Bighead River; the mouths of the Beaver River and Indian Brook; and in Georgian Bay, respecting the boundary extending to a point 16km directly north of Delphi Point, to the Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker) Lighthouse on the Bruce Peninsula. Last year, a 22.84 lbs. catch took home the top prize for biggest salmon, while a 17 lbs. lake trout took home top honours for the trout division. These monsters are kept on display at the derby tent weigh-in station for attendees to catch a glimpse of, in between a packed entertainment schedule, fish fry, prize giveaways, and a serious beer tent experience. —Nelson Phillips DIY: the Salmon Spectacular Derby runs from August 24 to September 2. 26 27 Off-camber singletrack, fast, flowing trail, heinous climbs, thrilling descents, a pump track and dirt jumps. Sounds like the kind of place you need to drive hours to get to right? Not so. The Don Valley has been a hotspot for mountain biking for well over a decade now and there’s good reason for it. The trails, and the people who maintain them, are awesome. Back when I lived in Toronto this trail system was my saving grace: a little slice of green heaven complete with like-minded people and tons of fun trail to ride. But it’s been over a decade since I’ve ridden there. Thankfully, one of the guys that was always there back in the day is still always there. Master builder of the pump track and the dirt jumps, Paul Stuart is as much a part of the trail system as the hills themselves. “There are easily over 50 kilometres of trail down here,” he says. “It’s pretty chill. Everybody under the sun rides here; we have cross-country guys, run bikes, we have all kinds of stuff. There are more group rides than ever.” For the uninitiated, Stuart suggests checking out the Trailforks app. “You’ll get a bigger scope of what’s there.” Indeed with trail names like Bunny Poop, Rim Job, Motown and Fruitloop there is something for every skill level complete with mid-trail stunts, gap jumps and drops. If you find yourself in the Big Smoke and you’re jonesing for a singletrack fix, the Don Valley provides in spades. —Colin Field DIY: Enter “Don Valley” into trailforks.com or the Trailforks app. COURTESY SALMON SPECTACULAR Rob Fraser on the Don Jumps. MARC LANDRY Don Valley MTB A little slice of green heaven complete with like- minded people and tons of fun trail to ride. Salmon Spectacular Derby FULL DAY TRIPS