Snowshoe to Freedom
Stephanie Kelley
Tomlinson Lake marked the finish line for those enslaved people seeking freedom….once they had reached the lake, they knew they were free at last from slavers and bounty hunters. From Carlingford, these now free people traveled further into New Brunswick, and onward to Nova Scotia to settle.
Last fall, over 60 people joined the Hike to Freedom to retrace the route the refugees would have taken. It was a fantastic celebration of our history, with a number of folks travelling from around New Brunswick to participate. Now, the Tomlinson Lake Hike non-profit group asks anyone and everyone to come join the fun as we retrace the trail on snowshoes!
The gathering site for this event will be at Jim Dunlap’s Christmas tree plantation next to Tomlinson Lake. The site is accessible by car, and there will be several snowshoe trails marked for all levels of fitness and ability. Healthy snacks, water, juice and hot chocolate will be available for all participants. If you don’t have your own snowshoes, the Perth-Andover Recreation Commission will be generously donating the use of 17 extra pairs of snowshoes for this event.
A variety of activities are planned for this event, including snowshoeing on the pre-made trails, winter outdoor survival skills, medicinal and edible plants of the region and more. We will connect with and celebrate the natural habitat and our connection with our Mother Earth.
This is a non-profit event, so there is no charge to attend…just bring your enthusiasm and join the winter fun!
The art of snowshoeing itself is part of our history. These tools have enabled humans to travel and survive during winter. Winter can be a difficult time to get out and about to exercise and get some fresh air, and we tend to get housebound, or if we do get out, we rely on vehicles to travel. This event will allow us to become more personally empowered as we join together in a group , socialize and play in the snow together!
Even if you are unable to snowshoe, there will be plenty going on at the “base camp” to entertain and educate all attendees and participants. Literature explaining the historical significance of the Underground Railroad will be available, and we will learn about animal tracks and the habits and habitats of the creatures who make the tracks as we sit around the bonfire.
As a non-profit organization, the Tomlinson Lake Hike to Freedom group depends upon sponsors and donations to fund activities and future events. Joe Gee and the Freedom Trail Committee plan to make this an annual event. The plan is to recreate this hike to freedom during every season of the year, four times a year, and to make this signature event part of our community.
We are Canadians, we live in a free country, and we will be using the significance of the Underground Railroad to celebrate and support Freedom everywhere, for everyone.
If you would like to help support this and other upcoming events, consider becoming a sponsor. You may contribute at Bronze ($20-49), Silver ($50-99) and Gold levels ($100 and up), and you will be officially recognized for your generosity!
Contact Joe Gee on Facebook for more details.
Any funding left over from this event will go towards the next event.
Tomlinson Lake is just 10 minutes away from Perth-Andover. To get there, take the old highway (Fred Tribe Road heading south) as if heading to Florenceville. Take a right on the Beaconsfield Road. Stay on this toad until you come to Miller Road, where you will turn right and will come onto Tomlinson Lake.
The Tomlinson Lake Hike to Freedom initiative is huge boon to our community, and its importance cannot be overstated. Cultural Tourism is growing, and we are located right at a spot of enormous historical and emotional meaning. From little event acorns like this, huge oak trees grow…attracting visitors who are retracing history, or perhaps even the path their own ancestors took on their valiant and perilous hike to freedom!
We’d like to ask you to take a moment to remember Art Mraz, the marvelous historian and teacher who shared with us the story of the significance of the Underground Railroad in our local history. Art came on the very first hike last year. He passed away on January 5 at the age of 89.
This date also marks the beginning of NB Heritage week….another terrific reason to get outside and celebrate!
Tomlinson Lake Snowshoe to Freedom: Saturday March 8, 2014
Noon—5 pm
Strom Date: Saturday March 15
Hope to see you there!
