The Marathon Gap Filler Annex

Neys Provincial Park, Ontario 
Believe to be located in Neys Provincial Park, the exact location of the Marathon Gap Filler Annex is presumed to be the location of a current commercial antenna tower, which can be seen from the Google Maps satellite imagery.  What exactly remains is unknown, I would expect foundations, and perhaps evidence of a fence.
It's worth mentioning that this site, while remote, does have a fully functioning campground nearby, and therefore may have physical security at the entrance to the access road that leads up the mountain (like a farm gate).  I was pleasantly surprised that wasn't the case at Mont Ste Marie, and similarly, I hope there are no barricades here either.  The road to the top of 5 Kilometres of dirt road, but I know it has to be passable by some kind of full size maintenance vehicle, so travel in a 3/4 ton Suburban must be possible.  4WD may be required.  Worst case, I can walk it!


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The Oba Gap Filler Annex

Oba, Ontario
This could be called The Grudge. During my 2012 Northern Ontario trip I didn't quite get to the Oba GFA, but now know how to get there, so the next time should be much easier than the last time. From where the Suburban will be able to get it's about a 5Km hike to the top of the hill where the two Steelox buildings and 100,000 gallon fuel tank should be.

The dotted line below shows what I will need to traverse on foot, and most of the path is actually an old logging road, now likely used by hunters and such. On the far side of the tracks the road is the original Gap Filler Annex access road. As there was a fire tower at the location, I expect the road will still be cleared of scrub, and shouldn't have any obstacles or wash outs. The distance is ~7.5 Kilometres from the green dot (safe parking spot) and the red circle (the Oba Gap Filler Annex). From the reconnaissance I did in 2012, I can tell you, this is the least problematic way to access the site, unless you know some one who can get you a lift with CN freight or VIA Rail and drop you at the Neswabin siding (and if you do - get in touch!).

Don't believe me?  Think there's a better way?  Here is the Google satellite view AND Bing view; show me a better way that doesn't involve a water crossing.  Also, the rail line is extremely active with steep gravel embankments on either side of the track - there's no way to "walk along the track" (legally or illegally)

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Nipigon Gap Filler Annex

Nipigon, Ontario
Located 14 Kilometres off the pavement, West of Nipigon, on the top of a hill, is likely where the Nipigon Gap Filler Annex was located.  There is at least one active antenna tower on the site today, and therefore the access road must be in good enough condition for maintenance crews to pass.  It's hard to judge the condition of the entire road without visiting the site, or knowing if there is a "farm gate" blocking vehicular access. 

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Belleterre GFA

Belleterre, Quebec
Belleterre is a community originally based on a gold rush.  While the mine closed down decades ago, it seems with the higher price of Gold renewed interest in the previously uneconomical veins has been rekindled.  I'm not sure if the mine is active today, or if they're still looking for the best vein to explore.
The geology is less interesting to me than the location of a Gap Filler Site, 50% constructed by ~1963, on a nearby mountain top.  Local reports indicate the foundations remain, potentially some original telephone poles, and some of the original perimeter fence.  The location is still used for antennas today, and the satellite photos show two buildings standing (as well as something in the woods to the East...)

Belleterre Gap Filler Annex

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Timmins GFA

Timmins, ON
What remains of the Timmins Gap Filler Site is being put to good use by the Kamiskotia Snow Resort; the generator building and the tower are still standing - it's a great example of reusing and re-purposing buildings.  The mixed-use Gap Filler tower was built there in the early 1960s, and the dual purpose fire tower / radar tower is still standing. I was able to park at the bottom and climb to the top.  A Jeep using 4WD or ATV would be able to make it up the hill in the summer, but I'm not sure if the owners of the ski hill would appreciate it.

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Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Manitouwadge Gap Filler Annex

Manitouwadge, ON
From the satellite and available photos I'm not sure what is left of the Manitouwadge GFA.  There looks like there is a well maintained road and a modern antenna on the top of the hill, so I assume the road is used actively for maintenance of the gear which is still up there, and should be passable. Manitouage was never completed, but it's positioning was attractive to future communications needs, and now has some kind of commercial tower at the location.  This is very handy for me, as the road needs to have a degree of maintenance for crews to service the tower.

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Tobermory GFA

The Tobermory Gap Filler Station was built around 1963 and from the satellite pictures still has both of the original buildings and fence.  I am not sure who owns the land, or if the adjacent airport owns the land.  I have not yet been there to take pictures of the site myself, and cannot find any recent pictures online.


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Algonquin Park GFA

Based in Algonquin Park, just off Highway 60, lies another gap filler annex.  Easy to get to, I believe it's being used for a communications tower, of some sort, from the most recent satellite imagery.  I haven't been to the location to confirm that the buildings are indeed of the right vintage, but it's highly likely this is where the GFA was located.


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Types of Gap Filler Radar Towers

As I believe I've mentioned in a previous post, there were two types of towers being used by the engineers of the Gap Filler Radar stations of the late 1950s and early 1960s.  

3 footed towers were "standard" towers intended to be topped with a radar, such as the one which still stands atop Mont Ste-Marie.  

Lac Ste Marie Gap Filler Radar- 2012

 
4 footed towers were to be topped by a radar, but would also have a fire tower / lookout directly underneath, such as the one at Timmins.

Timmins Gap Filler Radar Station - August 2013

Here is a list of all the Gap FIller Stations which were partially built, and the kind of tower they were intended to have (Documented by DND on Feb 13th 1963).  This is not an indication that the tower still stands there today, or was ever erected to begin with.

Algonquin Park	Standard Tower
Atikokan	Joint Tower
Batchewana	Joint Tower
Belleterre	Joint Tower
Biscotasing	Joint Tower
Bridgetown	Standard Tower
Chapleau	Standard Tower
Elliot Lake	Joint Tower
Formosa	Standard Tower
Lac St Marie	Standard Tower
La Tuque	Standard Tower
Lucknow	Standard Tower
Manitouwadge	Standard Tower
Marathon	Standard Tower
Nicolet	Standard Tower
Nipigon	Standard Tower
Oba	Joint Tower
Scotch Settlement	Standard Tower
Sparta	Standard Tower
St Josephs	Standard Tower
Summerville Centre	Standard Tower
Timmins	Joint Tower
Tobermory	Standard Tower
Todd Mountain	Joint Tower
Westport	Standard Tower

In the end the program was cut due to budget cuts, and by 1964 the land and partially built structures and buildings were being sold to private interests.

The Biscotasing Gap Filler Annex

Several of the Gap Filler Annexes were never built, as the program was cancelled in 1964.  However, many of them were in the middle of some stage of construction; foundations were poured, tanks for fuel installed, access roads were built, etc..

This is the location that is believed to have been the site of the Biscotasing Gap Filler Annex.  Despite the map, there was an access road built, and it goes from Bisco Road right to the tower.  I am not sure if the GFA tower was supposed to be a dual-usage tower, like the one in Timmins, or if a seperate tower was built near the location.  There is, or was up until recently, a fire tower near the same location.  Are both towers one and the same?  Someone is going to need to get there and take a picture of the tower to tell!

map courtesy of atlas.gc.ca

Location of Biscotasing GFA?
(Imagery from HERE Maps)

1:50000 Scale - Courtesy of http://geogratis.gc.ca/

Green - Location of Tower? | Blue - Biscotasing

I'm reasonably sure the site is where the green circle is shown above, but the question is, will my extremely heavy 1999 4WD Diesel Suburban make it down the trail?  I dont think so.  Will I?  I dont think so either.  I need boots on the ground or even better imagery to tell is the trail is passable by foot - without hip waders?  To me, it looks like parts of the trail are under water.  Looking at the topographic maps it seems like a stream and swamp are likely located at and around the beginning of the trail.  The access road was built properly, with culverts and appropriate grading in around 1962, but may not have been maintained after that.  If you know better, please let me know!  I may need to trailer an ATV, or hook up with someone in Bisco who has an ATV in order to access this location.



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