The Big Surprise!

 After all that sad history of Talisman, out of the blue the Bruce Trail Conservancy announced in December that they had bought the core parcel of Talisman!  We (retired Bruce Trail volunteers) were shocked to say the least.

The purchase was facilitated by the Escarpment Corridor Alliance, a land trust working in the southern Georgian Bay region, and it was supported by hundreds of local outdoor lovers.  It has been described as the only open break in several miles of forest cover on the west side of the Beaver Valley, and I think this photo shows the pattern.

The Talisman ski runs are to the left of centre in this photo, but it gives you a sense of the forest extending north and south, all of which I have hiked.  The gap to the far right of the photo is the former Old Smokey Ski Club.  It was abandoned at least 30 years ago, and is growing up in trees already, its buildings falling apart!.

The Bruce Trail is of course at a very early stage of planning for the property, but they have referred to extensive opportunities for reforestation.  The part they purchased is the brow of the hill, the slope, and the old buildings at the bottom.  The buildings will be an immediate challenge!

This shot was taken from the top of those Talisman ski hills, right where the Bruce Trail starts across the property heading north.  If you look carefully you can see the blue water of Georgian Bay in the top left.  The bright blue pond in the middle of the photo is the sewage lagoon for the Amik subdivision of ski chalets.  And of course the chairs of the ski lift are dangling in mid-air, useless!

And this photo underscores the first recommendation I'd make - Don't reforest the entire slopes, keep the upper part of the southern ski run open as a lookout.  This is the only spot on the entire west slope in this area where you can get a valley view like this!

There remain two big further challenges.  The buildings are one; urban adventurers are already exploring the buildings. a Security guard has been hired, but it will take constant oversight just to protect the property.  But there is also a large parcel above the top of the slope, and the former golf course at the bottom that are owned by a development company, and local residents are determined that these parcels won't become condos!

The upper parcel, which looks just like an old field, is part of the karst recharge area that provides the water supply for both the Amik subdivision and the village of Kimberley.  You can see the karst-fed spring when you hike the Bruce Trail as you leave the Talisman property heading north.  Excess water burbles out and forms a stream tumbling downhill.  In my opinion it should never be built on.

As for the golf course, take a look at the photo below, taken during the serious flood of early April 2016.

This road is the main entrance to Talisman, or Talisman Mountain Springs Inn as it was known until recently.  The flooded land on both sides of the road is the golf course they've been trying to restore.  I wouldn't want to be buying a condo on land that has been known to flood recently!

So the fate of Talisman has changed dramatically, for the better in my view, but it will be very interesting to see how this story unfolds over the coming years.  I for one, am looking forward to it!