Though some may be weary of winter at this point, for the history-loving adventurers in the Pontiac the snow provides a unique opportunity this time of year.

That’s because the densely-packed precipitation allows comfortable traversal of railbed inaccessible in summer conditions, so the Friends of Chats Falls can see the path taken by the horse railway to bypass their group’s namesake.

“We were right on the railbed, exactly the right spot,” said Bob Baser, the group’s secretary. “In spite of the snow, there were signs it was there.”

Starting from chemin du Canal, just past the Tim Horton’s Camp, the group toured 2.1 km while directed by Baser’s knowledge to notable landmarks and what the railway would have been used for.

He explained that the railway was once used to efficiently and quickly move people from the steamships that would dock in Pontiac Bay.

“No one could get past the falls except with canoes, and in those days you’d have to portage,” he said. “So, people and passengers who came on these steamships … they’d have to walk through the woods to meet up with another steamship.”

He said the purpose of the adventure was to educate, inform, and entertain the group about the history of the region.

“It’s not a backwater, [as some] might say,” said Baser. “There’s interesting things out here.”

Baser listed off many nearly unbelievable facts associated with the railway, and what it meant for establishing the Pontiac. These include that every spring there was 1,000 ships loading the timber that was floated down the river, and that as many as 50,000 labourers were working in the Ottawa and West Quebec area at this time.

Once the outing wrapped up, the group was invited back to the Bert Kennedy Centre in Quyon, for further discussion, refreshments, and the chance to dive into some of Baser’s research on the horse railway.

However, their outing hadn’t been without its challenges for organizers. Originally it was to be held a few weeks back, but unfavourable forecasts squashed those plans.

Then they decided to hold it on March 10, but the days leading up to it the forecast proved worrying once again. So, it was moved to the Saturday when they enjoyed not just safer conditions, but warming sunshine and clear skies the entire trek.

Baser said he was disappointed to have changed the date once again, as it meant less people could join them, but was glad they were able to do so. Especially as the weather in 2019 has already upset many of their plans, such as hosting an Anishinabe Algonquin speaker from Maniwaki in February.

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