Dobson Trail celebrates 50 years
Published Friday September 25th, 2009
Art Dobson to be honoured Oct. 3 for creating trail
Dr. Art Dobson says it's nice that he's being honoured on the 50th anniversary of his creation of the Dobson Trail.
But he says the fact this trail has survived and thrived over five decades is thanks to many people, from the volunteers who maintain the trail to the communities that support it.
"What feels better is how it's been kept up since I was active with it," says Dobson, of Riverview. "I had a lot of help over the years."
Dobson, 84, still makes use of the 58-kilometre trail, which stretches from Pine Glen Road in Riverview to Fundy National Park.
"Near every day I take the dogs there," he says. "I can't walk as far as I used to, but I go to the one or two kilometre mark."
Dobson is an anesthetist by trade and still keeps busy at that, having assisted with a surgery Thursday morning at The Moncton Hospital. He's also always enjoyed spending time in the woods.
In the 1950s he studied the Appalachian Trail, which stretches across the northeastern U.S.
"I realized I'd probably never get to walk it, so why don't I build a trail from here to Fundy?" says Dobson.
He got some maps of the region and began exploring in the woods to find the best route for the trail, with his father and his friends helping out. Dobson says the first section of trail was done in 1959 and it took about 10 years for the work to be complete. The trail is approximately a metre wide and is open year-round.
"Quite a gang of people use it up to the three kilometre mark to walk their dogs," he says. "Some people meet me on the trail and they thank me once they know who I am."
Alonzo Leger, a member of the Fundy Hiking Trail Association Inc., says Dobson is worthy of being honoured because the trail is so important to many people in the community.
"Every time of day, people are coming in and going out on the Riverview end of the trail," says Leger, estimating thousands of people use it every year.
The association plans to celebrate the anniversary and honour Dobson Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the trail entrance on Pine Glen Road. The event will begin with a dedication ceremony and the unveiling of a new monument. Leger says they have a stone from the old Gunningsville Bridge that will have a plaque on it for Dobson.
Government officials, people from the tri-community area, volunteers and trail users are all invited to take part in the event. Leger says there will be a short hike following the ceremony, and then the more ambitious hikers on hand will drive to access trails for a 40-minute hike to Prosser Ridge and then a 90-minute hike, return, to Hayward Pinnacle overlooking the Albert County Highlands. Good walking shoes, a hiking pole, water, lunch and rain gear, if necessary, are all recommended.
Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland says he plans to attend the ceremony to honour Dobson.
"People of all ages use that trail and I remember my own sons, when they were teenagers, hiked all the way to Fundy Park," says the mayor.
"I've been down there a number of times in the snow with my grandkids and it's good because you can be out in the wilderness but not far from the community."
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