In 1970 or thereabouts, Vern "Skink" Dutton (who just happens to be an amateur radio operator, VE4VQ) had a "vision". His vision was a trail following what he saw as the old fur trader/explorer routes across Manitoba from the Assiniboine River headwaters in the west to the West Hawk Lake area in the South-east. But since this was a very large undertaking to do by yourself, he figured that he better start small. Skink decided that he would explore and mark a portion of trail starting near McGillivray Falls along Hwy. 44 in Whiteshell Provincial Park and call it the "Centennial Trail" in honour of Manitoba's 100th Anniversary of becoming a province in Canada.
Together with his sister, they started marking the trail using rock "cairns" similar to what the explorers may have done. Well, the job became pretty labour intensive, so he decided to get his Scout troop involved. He and the Scouts marked a section of trail from McGillivray Falls to Hansen's Creek and because they had no way to cross, came back out to the Highway at that point.
Good old Skink had done it. He had created the Centennial Trail (well, ok..... GOD created it, but Skink had found it and marked it). Skink and his family came out the first Sunday in October every year to re-explore this 20km long piece of nature. He came every October because the weather was usually good and the bugs were hibernating although the bears probably weren't.
The trail cuts through typical Pre-Cambrian Shield country following high granite ridges and low areas of deep boggy boreal forest while avoiding the large areas of impassable (unless you want to be wet to your armpits) swampland that dot the area. The trail twists and turns and is not for the weak of heart as there are several steep rock slopes to climb and traverse.
The total distance of trail is approximately 20 km. although there is an exit point at about the half way point. Along the way you pass through a great variety of special geographical and natural features. How many of us actually get the opportunity to sit by a tranquil beaver pond and watch a busy beaver at work building his lodge or dam and then actually have a chance to walk on top of that dam as we follow the rest of the trail. Or, have you ever happened upon a pair of deer as they graze at the edge of a meadow. There are even a couple of streams with a small waterfall that you could soak your sore, tired feet in if you like really cold water.
Well.....Skink didn't make his pilgrimage to the trail this year (1998) and might not make any more either as he just doesn't feel that he can hike very far these days, but we, the 1st Sun Valley Venturers hosted a hike on the same October weekend for any and all who could attend. The Venturers guided for the approximately 80 people (both very young and old too) who turned up to carry on Skink's tradition. With that number of people out in the wilderness, we used our amateur radio skills to maintain communication between two different and very spread out groups of hikers. Had there been any kind of accident, we could have communicated out to an external radio repeater and got help if needed.
It is our intention to host both a May JOTT (Jamboree On The Trail) and fall hike every year and you are quite welcome to join us. This May, we had over 85 people on the trail for JOTT. Just let us know that you want to attend and we'll tell you when and where it is exactly.
We hope to see you there!
The 1st Sun Valley Venturers and some scouts listening to one of Skink's stories along the trail.
