Magical Manitoulin Island

Transcription

Spring 2016
THE QUARTERLY OF THE TORONTO BRUCE TRAIL CLUB Vol. LIII No. 1
www.torontobrucetrailclub.org | 416-763-9061 | information@torontobrucetrailclub.org
Todd Bardes: An Appreciation
by John Grandy
2015 ended on a very sad note for our club, with the news that our highly respected President, Todd Bardes, passed away suddenly on New
Year’s Eve while on vacation in Costa Rica.
Todd was an inspiration to us all, and a true leader. He joined our club in 1994 and was an active volunteer for at least twenty years, a hike
leader since 1996 and a member of our Board of Directors since 1999. He served as club President twice, from 2001 until 2003 and once
again from 2012 until now. He filled other volunteer roles within the club too numerous to mention – almost every volunteer position we
have at one time or another. At the Bruce Trail Conservancy, he was a member of the Board from 2011-2012, and also served as Chair of
the Land Stewardship Committee, where he worked actively to protect the many properties that the BTC has acquired. Todd trained an
entire generation of volunteer land stewards over a term of six years.
Outside the BTC, Todd was a passionate advocate for hiking through his role as President of Hike Ontario. Todd managed to combine
all this volunteer work with his active career at the Royal
Bank of Canada and as a management consultant. Todd had
planned to retire from his position as President at our next
Annual General Meeting.
When I last spoke to him, just two weeks before his death,
he was excited about moving on to the next stage in his volunteer career. He wanted to take his Bruce Trail stewardship
experience and use it to help other environmental charities
in Canada. It is a real tragedy that now all that experience
and enthusiasm has been lost.
He told me once that the work he was most proud of at the
club was leading hikes for disadvantaged young people. You
could tell that he took real pleasure in helping these city
kids get exposure to the outdoors. This tells you the kind of
person he was.
For those of us who remain
behind, the best way we can
honour Todd is to redouble
our own volunteer efforts and
make him be proud of us.
Please join me in expressing
our sympathy and support to
Christina Bardes.
Magical Manitoulin Island
Come discover the natural beauty of Manitoulin and
spend three days with us hiking and learning about the
indigenous culture. We travel by coach and get to the
world’s largest freshwater island on the Chi-Cheemaun
ferry. Accommodation is in Little Current.
August 26 to 28, 2016
(Friday to Sunday)
This special event is organized in honour of TBTC
August Hike-A-Thon fund raising campaign.
Check out the Hike Calendar for details.
Hike Leader Lucy Leung
hikeontario@gmail.com
www.torontobrucetrailclub.org
Table of Contents
Footnotes
Todd Bardes: An Appreciation
P1
Magical Manitoulin
P1
President’s PenP3
Hiking Director’s Notes
P3
Announcements & Events
P4
General Information
P5
Activities Calendar
P6
Looking ForwardP18
Other HikesP22
Looking at Plants in Ontario P23
The Ultimate Treasure Hunt
P24
Volunteer AppealP26
Ganaraska Reunion
P27
Wildflower Meadow
P27
ExerciseP28
2015 Badge Recipients
P30
2016 AGMP32
Publication Deadlines
ISSUE: ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL
Summer 2016: Fall 2016: Winter 2016-17: Spring 2017: March 11/March 18
June 15/June 24
Sept. 15/Sept. 24
Dec.15/Dec.20
Send advertisements to:
information@torontobrucetrailclub.org
is published quarterly by the
Toronto Bruce Trail Club
PO Box 597
2938 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6P 4E7
information@torontobrucetrailclub.org
ISSN 0380-9354
A member of the Bruce Trail Conservancy
Many thanks to all the volunteers who
helped in the production of this issue.
Send address changes to:
The Bruce Trail Conservancy
PO Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9
www.brucetrail.org 1-800-665-4453
For missing copies of Footnotes
call 1-800-665-4453,
Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Opinions expressed in Footnotes are not
necessarily the views of the TBTC unless
stated as such. Advertising does not
imply endorsement by the TBTC.
Footnotes Resource Support
(not members of the Board)
Footnotes Editor: Brent Michaluk
Proofreaders: Marilyn MacKellar
Kathryn Emirzian
Advertising & Mail Coordinator:
Jude Keast
Activities Editor: Victor Ramautar
Webmaster: Stephen Kamnitzer
e-Notes Editor: Brent Michaluk
Archivist: John Drew
Information Line: Judy Leeney
City of Toronto Liaison:
John Hough
Halton Hills Chapter:
Janet Le Lievre
The Toronto Bruce Trail Club is one of nine clubs
making up the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which
is dedicated to the conservation of the Niagara
Escarpment. You are invited to visit the Toronto
Club’s website at www.torontobrucetrailclub.org
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Toronto Bruce Trail Club
Board of Directors
Spring 2016
President:
John Grandy
johncgrandy@gmail.com
Past President:
Peter Leeney, 905-822-1877
peter.leeney@utoronto.ca
BTC Director:
Marlis Butcher,
m.butcher@live.ca
Hiking Director:
Wayne Crockett,
647-786-4537
wayne.crockett@gmail.com
Secretary:
Vacant
Treasurer :
Malcolm Sanderson,
905-294-5866
malcolm.sanderson@sympatico.ca
Public Relations & Education:
Magdalena Van Der Kooy
647-983-7938
Mvkooy@gmail.com
Trail Maintenance:
David Paape, 416-445-9028
dpaape@sympatico.ca
Land Owner Relations
Paul Vanhanen, 905-877-1294 pvanhanen@sympatico.ca
Land Stewardship:
Vladimir Bosnar, 905-273-7569
bosnar@sympatico.ca
Fundraising:
Patricia Peel, 416-436-2710
patriciapeel@hotmail.com
Land Management Committee Chair;
Land Securement Secretariat BTC
Representative:
David Tyson, 416-966-1379
tyson.consult@sympatico.ca
Volunteer Co-ordinator:
Kevin B. Warburton,
416-717-4163
kbw4343@gmail.com
Membership:
Sima Patel, 416-844-5640
Member at Large:
Oonagh Maley
Club Info Line: 416-763-9061
President’s Pen
by Todd Bardes
Where do we go from here?
For the past few years we have been
celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Bruce Trail. It started out with the birthday
party for the Toronto Bruce Trail Club
(known as the Mid-Ontario Club back
then). We had the Founder’s Dinner in June
of 2012, with Ian Lamont Smith, Doug
Brown, Philip Gosling, Howard Wills,
Doug Campbell and Jim Allan. At that
time in the “President’s Pen” , I raised the
question…”where will we be going, over the
next 50 years? Will future generations be
able to look back to 2012 and remark about
the progress and development of the years
now and 2062?”
An interesting comment from that issue of
Footnotes reads, “ We have so many issues
that will need to be resolved in order to
conserve the Escarpment and preserve the
Bruce Trail, including dealing with the
growing population, the impact of global
warming, and the increasing demands for
water and green space.”
“Keeping in mind the original goals of
the club, we plan to move forward over
the next few years with an emphasis on
education, conservation, and respect for the
environment, while having fun.”
Well, over the past few years, we have been
working to seek these ends. There have been
the creation of the Conservation Committee
and the celebration of the Earth Day
Events. There has been the planting of trees,
milkweed, and wild flowers. There has been
the addition of new properties as we work
with our partners (land owners, conservation
authorizes and BT donors) towards the goal
to secure the “OR” (optimal route) of the
Bruce Trail.
We have been working to share, the ‘Best
Kept Secret’ in southern Ontario, The
Bruce Trail. We are working to improve
the communications with the community.
We have developed a new front-end to
the TBTC Website, Facebook and Twitter
accounts. We also undertook a major study
of the GTA market with the help of IpsosReid and surveyed the outdoor recreational
needs of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton
and Halton Hills. This survey was followed
by the creation of the 4000 Committee
(with the mandate to raise the membership
of the Toronto Club to over 4000 members).
our section of Trail while recording some
of the worst weather conditions in the BT’s
history (ice storm and many trees down).
After six years, I plan to step down as
President of the Toronto Club but will
continue with my work on the Bruce Trail
as a Trail Captain and Land Steward. Also I
would like to spend more time sharing our
knowledge from the Bruce Trail. Something
new for me will be the study and protection
of the over 69 endangered/threatened
species that depends on the Escarpment
habitat for their survival.
So the real question is: “Where are we going
from here?” It’s up to you!
Editor’s Note: Todd submitted this to me prior
to his passing.
We have continued with our hiking program
with over 500 organized hikes per year led
by trained leaders. We have also maintained
Hiking Director’s Notes
by Wayne Crockett
Welcome to the spring hiking season. I’m
looking forward, after the winter woods, to
some greener vistas. I hope you had a great
winter and are looking forward to new
adventures in the outdoors.
Please check out the many urban, car and
bus hikes listed in this issue of Footnotes.
But don’t forget to regularly check the
website calendar for additions to the
schedule. The flexibility provided by the
online presentation of events allows us to
make a greater variety of events available to
our members and potential members.
In the coming months I would like
to concentrate on how we can use the
website to improve how we offer car hikes,
particularly in organizing car pools. I know
that many people who don’t have their
own vehicles find it difficult to participate
in these outings which significantly
reduces their potential. From practical
organizational matters to reducing our
carbon footprint, the greater number of
people we carry in the smallest number of
vehicles the more we promote conservation
of the trail and the environment. In the
spring and summer months I hope to
present some specific ideas to the hike
E-mail: information@torontobrucetrailclub.org
Spring 2016
leaders and the members on how to
accomplish this. Please contact me at
wayne.crockett@gmail.com if you have any
comments or input on this idea.
Have a fun, safe time on the trail.
Log in to the Members section of
the Club website using your BTC
membership number and your
own password
3
2016 Toronto Section End-to-End
Come and challenge yourself. Complete the 49.5 km Toronto section in two days.
Sat. October 1 and Sunday October 2
You will hike 28.2 km on Saturday and 21.3 km on Sunday. Meet both days at Limehouse at 7:45 am.
The cost is $20 for the two days.
The costs cover transportation, badges and refreshments. Volunteers will be posted at checkpoints along the way to cheer you on and provide sustenance.
To register for the event, please send your cheque (You may post-date it to October 1st) payable to the Toronto Bruce Trail Club along with
your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address to:
Nijole Mockevicius
107 Wembley Rd
Toronto ON M6C 2G5
Alternatively, this year we will be offering payment through Interac money transfers for your convenience. Please contact Nijole to arrange
payment. When your payment is received, you will be sent complete information about meeting places, etc.
If you have questions about registration, contact Nijole at nijole.mockevicius026@sympatico.ca
For any other questions about the event, including volunteering inquiries, contact the coordinator, Molle Dorst, at 647-448-5258 or
molledorst@gmail.com
Celebrating Earth Day
EXPLORING WETLANDS ON THE ESCARPMENT
Sunday April 24, 2016
Location To Be Announced
You, your family and friends, TBTC members and guests, are invited to our 3rd Annual Earth Day celebration.
PRESENTATIONS AND GUEST SPEAKERS: Learn about the importance of protecting and conserving wetlands: marshes, swamps,
vernal pools and bogs on the Niagara Escarpment.
NATURE RAMBLE: Plant and animal identification specific to these complex and important ecosystems.
•
DEMONSTRATIONS
•BBQ
Presented to you by the Toronto Bruce Trail Club Conservation Committee
The BTC Calypso Orchid Environmental Award
Nominations For The Annual BTC Calypso Orchid Award - The recipient of the BTC Calypso Orchid Environmental Award may
include individuals, volunteer groups, institutions and commercial companies that have demonstrated a significant contribution to the
restoration and preservation of the Bruce Trail and/or the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, or significantly enhance the education of
users or potential users of the Trail and/or the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
Recipients do not have to be members of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. Exemplary actions by the recipients can have either a direct and/or
indirect effect on the Bruce Trail. Meritorious actions can be a single event or undertaken over several years.
At the AGM, award recipients are presented with a certificate and their own engraved walking staff. The recipient must demonstrate a
significant contribution to the restoration and preservation of the Bruce Trail and/or the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, or significantly enhance the education of users or potential users of the Trail and/or the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.
How to Nominate - If you know of a worthy recipient for 2016, nomination forms are available online from the BTC website or from the
BTC Head Office. Completed forms must be submitted to the BTC Head Office by June 1, 2016. For further information contact Paul
Toffoletti, Chair, Environmental Committee, at paulandellen@cogeco.ca
4
Spring 2016
Comfortable
Hiking Holidays
(416) 445-2628
www.letshike.com
CORFU, GREECE
May 9 to 21, 2016
This Greek island is the perfect
combination of European flare and
tranquil sea-side living. Hike to the
heavens to visit holy monasteries and
trek in shade of ancient olive groves.
We promise - you will never tire of the
deep, deep blue of the sea that
surrounds you. Opa!
IRELAND
June 7 to 17, 2016
With more shades of green than you
can imagine, the Emerald Isle lives up
to its deserving reputation. From
historical Dublin to picturesque
Killarney & parts in between, we will
take you hiking through some of the
most sought-after scenery the country
has to offer - and we'll even make a
few pub stops along the way!
MACHU PICCHU
September 16 to 28, 2016
Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas
by hiking through the famed salt pans
of Maras, the ancient ruins of Pisac,
and trekking high up into the
Urubamba mountain range. Then that
all important day arrives when we hike
into Machu Picchu – rounding the
corner of the Sun Gate and seeing
Machu Picchu with your own eyes
will give you goose bumps!
(Note: This trip does not involve ANY
camping – all accommodations are in
hotel & lodges.)
Do not to delay in making your
reservation.
Inca permits must be booked now
to ensure we get into Machu
Picchu on our desired date!
TURKEY
October 15 to 26, 2016
Hike in Cappadocia with its secret
frescoed churches, underground cities
and volcanic tuff sculpted into fairy
chimneys. Visit ancient ruins, shop the
bazaars of Istanbul and take a history
lesson through time. Steeped in
tradition and a masterpiece of nature,
Turkey will impress you.
TICO # 50018498
General Information
Bus Hikes
Hikers are discouraged from meeting bus hikes at the Trail in their own vehicles, unless the hike
description includes this option.
Meeting Place:
For maps, see www.torontobrucetrailclub.org under General Information on Bus hikes.
• York Mills subway station: buses park on Old York Mills Road near the south exit of the
station (not the exit for TTC buses)
• Islington subway station: buses wait at the Beer Store on Bloor Street, two short blocks west
of the subway station and opposite the TTC parking lot
• Clarence Square: located south of King Street, north of Front Street, at 49 Spadina Avenue
on the east side (south of the gas station). Buses wait at the west side of the Square.
Return:
• usual return time is 6 pm; late returns are noted in the listing
Seating:
• based on a first-come, first-seated basis — guests are welcome but they must pre-register
• check the listings for exceptions — leaders may give priority to defined groups
• some outings involve extra costs; some require advance registration
Bus Fare (includes $1 donation to the Escarpment Legacy Fund):
• $17 members, $23 non-members; $5 children under 12
• Long distance fares (over 140 km one-way) $22 for members and $28 for
non-members
Car Hikes
• meet at the point stipulated in Footnotes and travel by car shuttle to the starting point; contact
Hike Leader if you have questions
Car-Pool Hikes
• meet at the point listed in Footnotes and ride or drive to the starting point as a group; save fuel
and reduce pollution
• passengers are expected to contribute to the driver’s costs (the suggested amount is $10, which
should be offered — the driver should not have to request it)
Map References
• the 28th edition of the Bruce Trail Reference is used
Things to Remember
Changes are also posted in the Members section of the website (www.torontobrucetrailclub.
org).
Members log in using their BTC membership number and their own passwords.
• all Club events are non-smoking
• carry your BTC membership card at all times
• bring a lunch, 2 litres of water, suncreen and insect repellent
• arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time for any hike
• dogs are not permitted on bus hikes with the exception of registered guide dogs. Dogs may
only be taken on urban and car hikes if published in advance by hike leaders.
Pre-registration (
Online,
Email or
Phone )
You must pre-register even though the meeting time and place may be listed.Please register
using the listed method before the deadline.
Spring 2016
5
Activity Calendar
Spring 2016
Notice to Participants
All Hike Leaders are volunteers. You
are welcome to take part in their
activities, but you do so at your
own risk. Only written complaints
against a Hike Leader or end person
will be considered. Complaints (or
commendations) may be addressed to
the Hiking Director, Toronto Bruce
Trail Club, PO Box 597, 2938 Dundas
St. W., Toronto, ON M6P 4E7. The
focus of the complaints policy is on
improvement rather than discipline.
Please note that the maps and kilometre
references in this listing are from
the 28th Edition of the Bruce Trail
Reference.
Friday, March 4 -- Oak Ridges
Trail, Uxbridge (Map 5 ORTA)
Level II Car hike Length of Hike: 15 km,
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout,
Refreshments after, Ice footwear or
snowshoes (in case required),
Pre-registration by Email to Leader.
Depart 9:30 am, Glasgow tract parking
area [GPS coordinates: N43 59.485 W79
12.191].
From Hwy 401, exit at Markham Rd
(interchange 383) and drive 10.3 km north,
then 6.9 km east on Hwy 7, then 8.4 km
north on York-Durham Line, then 1.9 km
east on Uxbridge-Pickering Townline, then
1.8 km north on Concession Rd 2 to the
parking area on your right. Alternately;
from Hwy 407, exit at Markham-Pickering
Townline (interchange 98) and drive 9.6
km north (on York-Durham Line) to
the Uxbridge-Pickering Townline (then
proceed as above).
Charlie Atkinson, (905) 642-2408 or
(day of hike) mobile (416) 668-2734 or
CAhikes@bell.net
A late winter woodland hike, consisting of
a There and Back/Loop in the Goodwood,
Secord sections, combining four side trails
with the main trail. Hike pace and distance
may be adjusted depending on the trail
conditions.
Saturday, March 5 -- Wasaga Nordic
Peter Leeney, peter.leeney@utoronto.ca
Luisa Lee
Martina Furrer, 705-768-3250 or
martinabeatrice@hotmail.com
Snowshoers: You can explore the resort’s
trails on your own or join Peter and Louisa
for a guided snowshoe hike. This will be
approximately an 8.0 km Level I snowshoe
hike on the Blueberry Plains loop trail.
The group will be walking through an area
of Rare Pine Savanah and Sand Dunes
(hopefully covered with snow). Depending
on snow conditions the group hike may
also include part of the Ganaraska Trail
in this area. Skiers: Explore the Wasaga
Dunes on 30 km of trails groomed for
classic skiing.
Saturday, March 12 -- Scenic Caves
Sophie Chuchra, sophie88@bell.net
Join us for a great winter day at Scenic
Caves. Snowshoers: Join Sophie for a
guided hike or explore the resort’s trails on
your own. Skiers: Explore 27 km of trails
groomed for classic and skate skiing with
spectacular views of Georgian Bay.
Sunday, March 13 -- Toronto, Along the
East Don River
Level I/II Urban walk
Duration of Hike: 3.5
hrs, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
The Toronto Hiking and Conservation Club
Terrain: Mostly flat,
organizes Sunday hikes in the countryside
Variable. Dropout,
surrounding Toronto
Beginners, Families,
Hiking boots.
Hikes leave each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (unless stated otherwise in
Depart 11 am, Leslie
the program) from the parking lot on the northwest corner of
subway station.
Yonge and York Mills, via car-pools. Hikes usually end around 3
Leslie subway station,
p.m. and return to York Mills around 4 p.m. See our program at
Leslie exit. Meet on the
www.sproulephoto.ca/thcc or call 416-693-8639 for more
information
SW corner of Leslie
and Sheppard.
6
Spring 2016
Monica Feran, (416) 736-6636 Before 9 pm
or mferan@teksavvy.com
Larry Haigh, (416) 432-1239 before 8 pm
We will walk from Leslie subway station,
north along the East Don River, to Steeles.
Lunch at Cummer Community Centre.
The walk will continue with an optional
loop, north of Steeles, finishing at Steeles
and Don Mills. Bring lunch. Ice footware
recommended. Please check with the
leader if it is a very cold day.
Friday, March 18 -- Iroquoia,
Rattlesnake Point, Crawford Lake (Map
11)
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable, hilly with a couple of
hilly sections. No dropout, Refreshments
after, Ice footwear (or possibly snowshoes)
in case required, Please note that there
is a (per person) entry charge into the
conservation area (bring the appropriate
coins with you),
Depart 9:30 am, Rattlesnake Point
Conservation Area (upper parking lot)
[GPS coordinates: N43 28.164 W79
54.811].
Take Hwy 401 to Milton (interchange
320), drive south 1.2 km on Reg. Rd 25 to
Steeles Ave (Reg. Rd 8) then drive west for
5 km to where it ends at Appleby Line (5th
Line). Turn south (left) and drive 2.3 km
to the Rattlesnake Point C.A. entrance on
the right.
CAhikes@bell.net
We will hike from Rattlesnake Point via
the Nassagaweya Canyon to Crawford
Lake, loop around the lake and then return
to our starting point via the Crawford Lake
and Leech-Porter Side Trails. Some scenic
lookouts along the way.
Saturday, March 19 -- Moore Park
Ravine and the Brickworks
Level I Urban walk Duration of Hike: 3.0
hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. No dropout,
Beginners, Families, No dogs,
Refreshments after,
Pre-registration Online using Website.
Depart 10 am, Davisville Subway
entrance.
Wayne Crockett, waynehikes@gmail.com
Join me for a pleasant walk from Mount
Pleasant Cemetery to the Brickworks.
Possibly muddy but should be a good
start to the season. Registration is
recommended but not mandatory. It saves
time.
Nicely varied scenery for a gently paced
hike with the “Walking Wounded” group.
Length may be adjusted in accord with
trail conditions.
Saturday, March 19 -- TBD
Join us for the last ski and snowshoe
outing of 2016.
Saturday, March 19 -- Caledon Hills,
Caledon Trailway, Annual Spring Pizza
Hike
Level II Bus hike Length of Hike: 12 km,
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at 8 km,
Refreshments after, Pub stop after, at
Trailside Bistro and Cafe,
Depart 8:30 am, York Mills.
Ruth Dorey, pathway.tech@sympatico.ca
We skipped this annual hike in 2015
because of low turnout in 2014. By request
we will try again in 2016. This will be the
20th pizza hike. If the bus is full, free hot
pizza delivered to us on the trail. If the bus
is NOT full you pay $5 over and above the
bus fare. Bring your friends, pre-register,
arrive early and fill the bus. Back in
Toronto about 5:00 pm.
Saturday, March 26 -- Iroquoia,
Crawford Lake (Map 11)
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. Dropout at 8 km,
Hiking boots, Refreshments after,
Depart 9 am, Islington.
Join me for a spring hike comprising a
loop on the Main Trail and the Crawford
Lake Side Trail. A little rocky in places but
great scenery.
Saturday, March 26 -- Caledon Hills,
Caledon Trailway (Maps N/A)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. No dropout, Hiking
boots, Refreshments after, Pub stop after.
Depart 10 am, Parking lot behind Town of
Caledon offices east of arena.
North on Airport Rd to Caledon East. East
on Old Church Rd about 1 km to town
offices on your right.
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812 or
thumperhead@sympatico.ca
Come out for an early spring hike and
stretch your legs. Late winter conditions
may be expected. We will hike from the old
quarry on Mississauga Rd to Caledon East.
Saturday, March 19 -- Toronto Section,
Scotsdale Farm (Map 13)
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots,
pack your ice footwear.
Depart 9 am, McDonalds, Georgetown.
North west corner of the junction between
highway 7 and Mountainview Road.
Vladimir Bosnar, (905) 273-7569 7-9 pm
P. Lynn McFerran, (905) 791-9156
Hike Difficulty Levels
Average Pace
3 km/hr
4 km/hr
5 km/hr
Distance
10 km
15 km
20 km
Terrain
Easily managed
Variable
May be difficult
These are general guidelines. In rating their hikes, hike leaders
use a “two out of three” rule. For example, a Level II hike could
correspond to the table above for average pace and terrain but be
considerably longer or shorter than indicated there. Be sure you
look at both the rating and the description to decide whether the
hike suits your abilities and preferences.
Friday, April 1 -- Oak Ridges Trail,
Whitchurch-Stouffville (Map 4 ORTA)
Level II/III Car hike Length of Hike: 18
km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout,
Refreshments after, Ice footwear (just in
case).
Depart 9:30 am, Hall Tract parking
area [GPS coordinates: N44 02.547 W79
19.366].
From Hwy 404 (interchange 45), drive 7
km east on Aurora Rd (York Rd 15), then
drive 1 km north on McCowan Rd (York
Rd 67), keeping a lookout for the (easy to
miss) parking lot on your right.
CAhikes@bell.net
We will do a short shuttle to the Pangman
Springs area and then hike back through
5 of the York Regional Forest tracts using
a combination of the main ORT and a few
side trails. Some road walking.
Saturday, April 2 -- Elmira Maple
Syrup Festival
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable, Icers, microspikes
or crampons are required on icy trails.
Dropout, Hiking boots, Late return (after
6pm), trails may be icy depending on
weather conditions, Long distance bus fare
applies,
Depart 8 am, York Mills.
Lucy Leung, (647) 280-8868 or
hikeontario@gmail.com Larry Haigh
Trail Users’ Code
Our level of difficulty ratings follow these general guidelines:
Level
I
II
III
Activity Calendar
•Hike only along marked routes. Do not take short cuts.
•Do not climb fences - use the
stiles.
•Respect the privacy of people
living along the Trail.
•Leave the Trail cleaner than
you found it. Carry out all
litter.
•No open fires are allowed on
the Trail. Use a portable stove.
Spring 2016
•Camp at designated camp
sites.
•Leave flowers and plants for
others to enjoy.
•Do not damage live trees or
strip off bark.
•Keep dogs on a leash and
under control at all times.
•Do not disturb wildlife.
•Leave only your thanks and
take nothing but photographs.
•Obey all signs.
7
Activity Calendar
Elmira’s Maple Syrup Festival is considered
a true sign of spring, come and join the
fun. We start the day wandering along
trails in Woolwich Township, winding
through an oasis of rural tranquility, and
make our way to Elmira where we explore
a local sugar bush and take in all the sights
and aromas at the annual Elmira Maple
Syrup Festival; recognized by the Guinness
Book of World Records as the World’s
Largest Single Day Maple Syrup Festival.
Admission to the festival is free. On our
way home, enjoy a visit to the picturesque
West Montrose Kissing Bridge, built in
1881 and is best known for being the last
remaining historical covered bridge in
Ontario.
Saturday, April 2 -- Iroquoia, Rock
Chapel to Cootes Paradise. (Map 8)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after, Pub stop after, Ice footwear may be
needed,
Barbara Euler, (416) 695-1838 before 10
pm
or bjeuler@rogers.com
The first section of the hike has great views
from the Escarpment. We’ll visit Borer’s
Falls then follow the Ray Lowes Side Trail
into the RBG Arboretum where we’ll visit
the interpretive centre and walk along
the shoreline of Coote’s Paradise. Perhaps
there will be a few early signs of spring.
Saturday, April 2 -- Caledon Hills,
Palgrave (Map 17)
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at optional,
Hiking boots, pack your ice footwear.
Depart 9 am, Tim Horton’s.
on the north side of Highway 9 50 m from
the junction with Airport Road.
Peter Tomlin, (905) 791-9156 Mon-Wed,
7-9 pm P. Lynn McFerran, (905) 791-9156
or lynnm@rogers.com
On the Palgrave side trail with the
“Walking Wounded” group. This side trail
links the Bruce trail with the Oak Ridges
trail. Hike length may be adjusted to take
account of conditions.
Sunday, April 3 -- Toronto Section
Level I Urban walk Length of Hike: 9 km,
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at Can
dropout anyt, Refreshments after.
Depart 10 am, St. Clair West subway
station (in front of Loblaws on
north side of St. Clair). Note:
this is not the St. Clair station
but the St. Clair West station.
Danny Pivnick, (416) 484-6824
or dannypivnick@hotmail.com
Join us for a nice casual walk
up through Cedarvale Park and
along the Beltline Trail ending
in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(Yonge and St. Clair area) where
we will look at the gravestones
of some famous Canadians. Be
sure to dress warmly for this
early spring walk.
Saturday, April 9 -Toronto Section, Hilton Falls
(Map Maps 11)
Level II Bus hike Length of
Hike: 19 km, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, Variable.
Dropout, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, Pub stop
8
Spring 2016
after, No Dogs,
Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797 or fberktin@
rogers.com
Victor Ramautar, 905-294-6718 Before 9
pm
or mychamprian@gmail.com
This hike is mainly on the Hilton Falls
Side Trail, that takes hikers through the
falls. This time of year the falls will be
gushing with water as the spring flowers
start to show their heads. It is a lovely time
of the year, before it gets too hot and the
bugs come out. There will be an option to
stop at 15km for those hikers who wish
to cut the hike short, but they will have
to sit on the bus until the rest are finished
(app. 45 minutes). Bring a good book or
magazine. We will start from the Pear
Tree Park parking lot and head south, and
end at the Hilton Falls Conservation Area
parking lot on Campbelville Rd. Please
note that, we will give hikers a choice
as we near the end of the 15km hike to
continue for about another 3+kms around
the reservoir, also very scenic. Those who
chose not to continue this extension can
stay on the bus and wait for the others
to finish. If that is your intention bring a
good book or magazine or socialize with
fellow hikers.. We’ll stop near Milton for
refreshmants.
Sunday, April 10 -- Iroquoia,
Dundas Valley (Map 8)
Level I/II Bus hike Length of Hike: 12 km,
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout, Beginners,
Families, Refreshments after,
Sufiya Mary Reid, (416) 767-7571 or
sufiyamary@gmail.com
pm
We’ll hike the headwaters trail, and
a short section of the rail trail. Lunch
indoors at the trail centre. Ice footwear
recommended.
Sunday, April 10 -- Lynn Valley Trail
km, Pace: 4.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. No dropout, No dogs.
Depart 9:30 am, Memorial Park, Simcoe.
Hwy 24 South through Simcoe to
Woodhouse Ave. to Memorial Park,
parking. If not familiar with the area leave
extra time.
Gregory & Jeanette Vincent, vincent.greg@
gmail.com
Jeanette Vincent
This rail trail in Carolinian Canada is one
of Canada’s best following the Lynn River
to Lake Erie. Spring flowers will welcome
us as we hike from Simcoe to Port Dover
and retrace our steps to Simcoe.
Tuesday, April 12 -- Toronto
Level II Urban walk Length of Hike: 16
km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at Anywhere,
Hiking boots, Refreshments after.
Depart 10 am, St. Clair West Subway
Station, Tichester Rd. street level entrance.
Taizo Shinkoda, (416) 423-4454 7-9 pm
Johanna Lanfranco, (416) 961-4701 7-9
pm
oin us for a relaxing hike through the
Cedarvale Park, the Belt Line, the Mt.
Pleasant Cemetery, Moore Park Ravine
and the David Balfour Park ending at
Yonge and St Clair.
Friday, April 15 -- Iroquoia,
Kilbride, Mount Nemo (Map 10)
km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable, rocky. No dropout,
Refreshments after,
Depart 9:30 am, Walker’s Line (near km
87.0) [GPS coordinates: N43 25.132 W79
51.662].
From Hwy 401, exit at Guelph Line
(interchange 312) and drive 7.6 km south,
then 1.4 km east on Derry Rd, then 6.2 km
south on Walker’s Line to roadside parking
on your left.
CAhikes@bell.net
We will shuttle to km 102.5 and hike back
(via the River and Ruin side trail).
Saturday, April 16 -- Easy AGM
Hike at Kortright Centre
Level I Bus hike Duration of Hike: 2.0 hrs,
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. No dropout,
Beginners, Families,
Sophie Chuchra, (416) 482-9843 or
sophie88@bell.net
Join me for an easy walk around the trails
at the Kortright Centre. After the walk
you can enjoy the lunch and the TBTC
Annual General Meeting. The bus fare for
members is $10 which we will be collecting
on the bus.
Saturday, April 16 -- AGM Hike at
Kortright Centre
Pace: 4.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout, Hiking
boots.
Depart 9:45 am, Kortright Centre outside
Visitor Centre.
Kortright Centre is located at 9550 Pine
Valley Dr 3km west of Hwy 400, north
of Rutherford Rd and south of Major
Mackenzie Dr.
http://www.kortright.org/visitorinformation/directions.dot.
Lucy Leung, (647) 280-8868 or
hikeontario@gmail.com
Join us to explore woodlands and
meadows, from the boardwalk through
the marsh to scenic lookout points at
Korthright Centre. We walk for approx.
10 km at a steady pace of 4.5 km/hr before
enjoying lunch and attending the Annual
General Meeting. We meet outside the
Visitor Centre and start the hike at 9.45
a.m.
Activity Calendar
Sunday, April 17 -- Iroquoia, Crawford
Lake, Wildflower Hike (Maps 10/11)
Level I/II Car hike Length of Hike: 16 km,
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Rocky. No dropout, Hiking
boots, No dogs.
Depart 9 am, Kelso Conservation Area
south access.
From Hwy 401, take Hwy 25 south to
Steeles Ave, west (right) on Steeles to Bell
School Line. The parking lot is on the right
side. Parking fee applies.
Andrew Negus, (905) 510-0929 or
andrew.n.59@gmail.com
The first of two hikes in this area to see
the arrival and development of the spring
wildflowers. The pace will be leisurely
through the wildflower sections and
moderate where there are few wildflowers.
Sunday, April 17 -- Paris to Cambridge
Rail Trail
km, Pace: 4.5 km/hr,
Depart 9 am, Trail Head Parking.
Trail Head parking on west side of Hwy 24
(Water St.) just south of Cambridge beside
gas station.
gmail.com
Jeanette Vincent, Mon-Thur 7-9 pm
This is it, my favorite rail trail, Cambridge
to Paris, walking beside the Grand River.
Note a car shuttle will be required at the
start and end of this outing, all participate.
Saturday, April 23 -- Toronto, Theater
Hike
Level I/II Urban walk Duration of Hike:
3.0 hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, 4 steep staircases.
Dropout at any time, Beginners, Families,
No dogs.
Sunday, April 17 -- Trans Canada
Trail, Walker Woods
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, Hiking boots, Refreshments after,
Pre-registration Online

using Website.

Monica Feran, (416) 736

6636 Before 9 pm

Tessa Shelvey, 416-320 
8555


Beautiful walk in the
forest, relatively easy, good


for an early spring hike.




We may see some spring



flowers.
Spring 2016
9
Activity Calendar
Depart 3 pm, South east corner of Scarlett
Rd and Eglinton Ave. West.
From Runnymede subway station take
the 79 bus to the meeting place. For bus
frequency and times call the TTC at:
416 393 4636 (416 393 INFO) Parking is
available east of Runnymede station, north
of Bloor on side streets. Do not park at
the starting point of the hike. We finish
the hike at the south side of Bloor and
Runnymede.
Miriam Stevens, (416) 443-6242 6-10 pm
or stevensmiriam1@gmail.com
THIS HIKE IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY.
Bring your valid Bruce Trail Conservancy
card. Will walk along the Humber River
Park southbound and Swansea Village
via ravines and city streets. We will have
dinner at 6 PM at a local restaurant and
then attend the Village Playhouse Theater
at 2190 Bloor Street West (lower level) at 8
PM to see “Fox on the Fairway” a comedy
by Ken Ludwig. Call the theatre directly
416 767 7702 to reserve your ticket ($22.00
regular and seniors) and state that you are
with the Bruce Trail Hiking Club. You may
hike only, join in for dinner or just come
to the theatre performance - or, do all. The
only reservation required is for your ticket
to the show with the Village Playhouse.
Please bring a flashlight. It gets dark early
and there are a few steep staircases and one
hidden path with obstacles.
Saturday, April 23 -- Toronto Section
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, Hiking boots, Dogs welcome.
Depart 10 am, Corner of Yonge and
Heath St. (in front of the Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church at 1585 Yonge St.).
Danny Pivnick, (416) 484-6824 or
dannypivnick@hotmail.com
Join us for a pleasant walk through the
Rosedale Ravine. We will take an extended
break to have some lunch and enjoy the
Brickworks Farmers Market (you can
either bring or buy your lunch). **Note
that the ravine will likely be wet so please
be prepared for possible mud. After the
market, we will loop back up to the Yonge
and St. Clair area where we will finish the
walk.
Saturday, April 23 -- Iroquoia,
Mount Nemo, Mount Nemo to
Waterdown (Maps 9/10)
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout at 9 km, Hiking
boots, Pub stop after,
Join me for a beautiful walk beginning
at the Mount Nemo Conservation Area.
The hike will follow the Main Trail down
to Great Falls near Waterdown and then
into town for refreshments. After doing
the loop in the Mount Nemo Conservation
Area we will reboard the bus to cut out 4
km of road walking.
Saturday, April 23 -- Caledon Hills (Map
17)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout, Beginners,
Hiking boots, No dogs.
Depart 10 am, Coolihans Sideroad where
the trail crosses the road, km 37.4.
From Hwy 7 go north on Airport Rd to the
Town of Caledon East, then continue north
about 9 km to Coolihans Sdrd. Turn right
on Coolihans for 2 km, then park on the
road at intersection of Coolihans and Glen
Haffy Rd. Cell on day of hike 416-320-8555.
Tessa Shelvey, 416-320-8555 or tjshelvey@
yahoo.com
Pretty hike along the Palgrave Side Trail
(now part of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail).
We will car shuttle over to the Palgrave
Forest on Hwy 50 just north of the town
of Palgrave and hike back to Coolihans
Sideroad.
ECO
ECO--Knowledgeable Tours for 2016 and Beyond
Black Sea and Danube Birding: Exploring the Wild Side of Romania: Kristen Martyn of Natura Tours escorts this small
group to the relatively unknown, western shores of the Black Sea, one of Europe's major migration areas. Farmland along the Black
Sea coast feeds an excellent array of birds on their way from and to their breeding areas in Northern Europe and also a diversity of
birds that breed in the area. The wonderful Danube Delta with it’s extensive reed beds, channels and lakes is one of the little known
birding areas with ever changing conditions featuring local harbor wetland birds, a large variety of passerines and birds of prey. We
also go in search of Eurasian Brown Bears and visit “Dracula’s Castle” in the village of Bran!
Departing Toronto on September 10, this inclusive tour for 16 travellers is attractively priced at $3,495 p.p. double.
Walking the Carpathians: Foothills in
Romania: You are invited to join Charles Whitlock of Walkaway Treks as he
explores the Eastern European treasures of Romania. Departing September 24 from Toronto our fully-escorted tour includes return air
flights, very interesting accommodation, almost all meals, and some of the most scenic walking in Europe. The tailor-made itinerary will
be especially well-received by those looking for a visually spectacular late fall tour in the company of a small group of walkers.
September 24 to October 5 priced at $3,680 p.p. double.
Andalusia “An Exploration of Moorish Spain”: We return with Charles Whitlock in March of 2017 to southern
Spain walking and visiting Granada, Alpujarras (Sierra Nevada Natural Park), Doña Mecia, Cordoba, Medina Azahara,
Seville, Antequera, "Caminito del Rey", Malaga (Costa Del Sol) and Gibraltar. Very limited number of travelers will enjoy
this tour and information will be available by the time of this publication on our web site. A popular destination and an
outstanding tour! We recommend (suggest) you act fast as our last tour in Spain sold out in under 2 months!
Frederick Travel Waterloo
Worldwide Central Trips
572 Weber Street North, Unit 1, Waterloo, On N2L 5C6
(519) 745 1860 ext 303
(800) 578 8958
e-mail to: scotta@ftwaterloo.com
10
Spring 2016
TICO: 50015067
Scott cell (519) 897 9673
Saturday, April 23 -- Dufferin HiLand, Mono Cliffs (Maps 19/20)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. Dropout,
Beginners, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after,
Pre-registration Online Using Website.
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812 or
We will hike from Mono Cliffs Provincial
Park to Murphy’s Pinnacle, through the
Boyne River Valley. This section is one of
my favorites. Wet conditions expected.
Refreshments in Primrose after the hike.
Hockley Valley (Map 18)
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, Hiking boots.
Depart 9 am, McDonalds, Orangeville.
At the north west corner of the junction
between Highway 10 and Broadview.
Mike Dhesi, (416) 760-2602 4 to 7 pm
Mon-Wed
With the “Walking Wounded” group
through hilly country. With luck we may
even see some spring flowers. Length may
be adjusted depending on trail conditions.
Sunday, April 24 -- Toronto Section,
Silver Creek (Map 13)
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. No dropout,
Hiking boots, No dogs, Refreshments after,
Cell number for day of hike 647-918-4180.
Depart 9 am, Parking is on the roadside on
10th Line, north of Side Road 27 (km 38.5
on map 13).
North on Windston Churchill Blvd.
(County Road 19) to where it meets
County Road 9. Continue north, the road
becomes Side Road 27 and veers west. Turn
right on 10th Line and park on the road at
the main trail entrance on your left.
Maureen McFarland, (416) 489-3703 Not
later than 9 pm
or maureen.mcfarland@gmail.com
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
or jvanderlip@sympatico.ca
A pleasant spring hike at Silver Creek and
Scotdale Farm. We will hike the main trail,
the Bennett Heritage Trail and the Roberts
Side Trail. The trail may be muddy if we
have a wet spring.
Sunday, April 24 -- Kissing Bridge Trail
Level II/III Car hike Length of Hike: 20 km,
Pace: 4.5 km/hr,
Depart 9 am, Trail Crossing Regional Rd.
21.
Where rail trail crosses Regional Rd 21/
Arthur St, 500 metres north of the main
intersection in Elmira. If you are not
familiar with this area leave additional
time.
gmail.com
Jeanette Vincent
Today we hike from outside of Guelph
to Elmira past rich Ontario farm land, we
pass over the Grand River on the West
Montrose covered bridge. A car shuttle will
be required at the start and end of this hike.
All participate.
Activity Calendar
a stop at the Hilton Falls viewpoint and
there are also some nice views from the
escarpment edge.
Saturday, April 30 -- High Park to
Fort York History Walk.
hrs, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Beginners, Families, No dogs, Pub stop
after,
Depart 10 am, Grenadier Restaurant, High
Park.
Join me for my annual history walk from
High Park to Fort York and Victoria
Memorial Park. Along the way I will
describe the Battle of York in 1813 and
point out a few of the historical sites in
High Park and along the waterfront. After
the hike those who wish can join me at
Toronto’s oldest tavern for refreshments.
Registration is not mandatory but it does
speed up the sign in.
Friday, April 29 -- Toronto Section,
Hilton Falls, Speyside (Maps 11/12)
Level II/III Car hike Length of Hike: 18 km,
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Generally level,
but rocky. No dropout,
Refreshments after,
Pre-registration by Email to
Leader.
Depart 9:30 am, Pear Tree
parking lot (km 11.2, map 12)
[GPS coordinates: N43 34.671
W79 58.630].
From Hwy 401 (interchange
ps
o
Lo
320), drive 8 km north on
37
–
Regional Rd 25, then 270 m
k
boo
C aledon
e
west on 15th Sideroad to the
d
i
u
G
’s N e w
meeting place on your left.
Charlie Atkinson, (905) 6422408 or (day of hike) mobile
(416) 668-2734 or
CAhikes@bell.net
After a short shuttle to
the (south) parking area
on the 6th Line, we’ll hike
back, combining (in a CCW
direction) the Hilton Falls
Buy your copy at NicolaRoss.ca
and Al Shaw side trails with
the main trail. We will make
Spring 2016
11
Activity Calendar
Saturday, April 30 -- Toronto Section
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, Dogs welcome.
Depart 10 am, Old Mill subway station.
Danny Pivnick, (416) 484-6824 or
dannypivnick@hotmail.com
Please join us for a lovely spring walk
down the Humber River Trail to the
waterfront and then into High Park to
hopefully view Cherry Blossoms at or near
their peak. Bring along a lunch to enjoy in
the park or buy something there.
Saturday, April 30 -- Iroquoia,
Dundas Valley, Dundas Valley
Conservation Area (Map 8)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. Dropout, Hiking
boots, Refreshments after,
Victor Ramautar, 905-294-6718 Before 9 pm
Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797 or
fberktin@rogers.com
Spring is here and the water levels should be
at its maximum flow; so imagine the falls.
Dress for the weather, Bring a lunch and lots
of water and lots of expectations.
12
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, Pub stop after.
Depart 10 am, Parking lot on Hockley Rd
east of provincial nature preserve.
Drive north on Hwy 10 to past
Orangeville. Turn right onto Hockley
Rd. Drive east about 5 km to parking lot
located east of the entrance to the reserve.
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812 or
We will hike through the Hockley Valley
Provincial Nature Reserve, one of the
hilliest sections of the Bruce Trail. Spring
flowers including Trilliums should be in
full bloom. Refreshments at the Hockley
Valley resort after. Also plan on a visit to
the Eagles Nest honey shop.
Saturday, April 30 -- Caledon Hills, Glen
Haffy (Map 17)
Pace: 3 km/hr,
boots.
Depart 9 am, Trailside Bistro and Cafe.
On the west side of Airport Road in the
village of Caledon East near where the
Spring 2016
Caledon Trailway crosses.
Mike Dhesi, (416) 760-2602 4 to 7 pm
Mon-Wed
Join the “Walking Wounded” group for
a shorter hike in the varied terrain in the
conservation area and through a nicely
wooded ravine.
Sunday, May 1 -- Toronto Section
(Maps 11/ 12)
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. No dropout,
Beginners, Families, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after,
Tessa Shelvey, 416-320-8555
Beautiful section along the top of the
escarpment with good views. A few rocky
sections. Spring flowers, maybe trillium.
Sunday, May 1 -- Iroquoia, Crawford
Lake, Wildflower Hike (Maps 10/11)
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Rocky. No dropout, Hiking
boots, No dogs.
Depart 9 am, Kelso Conservation Area
south access.
From Hwy 401, take Hwy 25 south to
Steeles Ave, west (right) on Steeles to Bell
School Line. The parking lot is on the right
side. Parking fee applies.
Andrew Negus, (905) 510-0929 or
andrew.n.59@gmail.com
The second of two hikes in this area to see
the arrival and development of the spring
wildflowers. The pace will be leisurely
through the wildflower sections and
moderate where there are few wildflowers.
Sunday, May 1 -- Kissing Bridge Trailway
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Depart 9 am, Trail crossing Regional Rd.
21.
Where the trail crosses Regional Rd 21/
Arthur St 500 metres north of the main
intersection in Elmira. If you are not
familiar with the area leave additional
time.
gmail.com. Jeanette Vincent
Today we hike from Linwood to Elmira on
the Kissing Bridge Trailway through rich
Ontario farmland. This is the railbed of
the now out of service Guelph to Goderich
CPR line. My uncle Percy was the CPR
agent at Walton on the line and the train
crews would bring “packages” from “wet
Guelph to “dry” Walton. A car shuttle will
be required at the start and end of this
hike. All participate.
Thursday, May 5 -- Toronto, Toronto
Islands
Level I/II Urban walk Duration of Hike:
3.0 hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, drop outs, beginners.
Dropout, Beginners, Families, No dogs.
Depart 6 pm, At the Ferry Docks near the
gate to Wards island.
From Union station take the LRT
(street car) to the stop Docks. Then walk
southbound over to the ferry on the south
side of Queens Quay at the foot of Bay st.
Or take bus number 6 to the Ferry Docks
stop and walk south bound to the ferry.
FOR MEMBERS ONLY with valid
membership card rain or shine after a
days work come and “cool off ” on the
Islands where there are no fumes. Enjoy
the view of the city skyline. Bring dinner
for a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and
a flashlight.You can not buy food on the
Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for
adults and less for seniors. No reservation
required. Just show up on the day of the
hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday
in May and June 2016.
Friday, May 6 -- Algonquin Park
Pace: 4 km/hr,
boots.
Depart 1:30 pm, Cedar Grove Lodge.
cedargrove.on.ca 1-800-461-4269.
Join Haigh’s Happy Hikers. Split Hikes, 4
Hike Leaders: Larry Haigh, Ruth Dorey,
David Royle, Kent Breen.
Activity Calendar
Saturday, May 7 -- Fort Erie,
Lundy’s Lane Historical Walk
Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Beginners, Families, Refreshments after,
Long distance bus fare applies,
Depart 8:30 am, Islington.
Join me for the annual walk and talk along
the southern portion of the Niagara River.
We will begin at Old Fort Erie where I
will describe the siege and battle of 1814.
We will then reboard the bus and drive
to a point near the Battle of Chippawa
Battlefield and from there we will walk
on to Niagara Falls. Participants will have
an opportunity to have refreshments and
do photography while at the Falls. The
final stop of the day will be at the Battle of
Lundy’s Lane Memorial. An easy walk and
painless history lesson.
Friday, May 6 -- Dufferin HiLand, Mono Cliffs, Primrose (Maps
19/20)
km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable, hilly. No
SUSQUEHANNOCK LODGE and TRAIL CENTRE
dropout, Refreshments after,
Hiking in the Highlands of North Central Pennsylvania
Pre-registration by Email to
Leader.
Depart 9:30 am, Parking area
on east side of Prince of Wales
Rd (map 20) [GPS coordinates:
N44 06.006 W80 08.241].
From the Primrose junction at
EASTER March 25-28
Hwys 89 and 10, drive 1.1 km
Welcome Spring on the trails.
north on Prince of Wales Rd
CANADA DAY July 1-4
Celebrate two national holidays!
(Dufferin Rd 19) to just over
the bridge.
The Lodge is located in Potter County, Pennsylvania,
2.5 hours south of Buffalo. There is no agriculture or industry
Charlie Atkinson, (905) 642in the area, just great trails. Daily hikes of 10 to 15 km are
2408 or (day of hike) mobile
led through hardwood forest, many beside mountain
streams. Our lodge provides comfortable accommodation &
(416) 668-2734 or
excellent meals for $70.00 semi-private or $75.00 private
CAhikes@bell.net
USD per day per person. These outings have proven to be
popular with the lodge filling quickly.
We will shuttle to the 2nd
Line EHS (at Splitrock
For more information, including driving directions, please
see hikevincent.wordpress.com or contact Greg Vincent
Narrows) and hike back via a
at 519-579-8210 or vincent.greg@gmail.com
combination of the main trail
and several side trails, plus the
For reservations call Carol Szymanik at 1-814-435-2163
customary stop at Murphy’s
Pinnacle.
Spring 2016
13
Activity Calendar
Saturday, May 7 -- Caledon Hills,
Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, Pub stop after,
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812 or
This is a loop hike through one of the
hilliest sections of the Bruce Trail. We
should see spring flowers in bloom.
Refreshments in the Hockley Valley resort
after the hike.
Saturday, May 7 -- Algonquin Park
Pace: 4 km/hr,
boots.
Depart 9 am, Cedar Grove Lodge.
Sunday, May 8 -- Iroquoia, Three
Falls: Borer’s, Tews, Webster’s. (Map 8)
Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Rocky. Dropout at several
location, Hiking boots, Refreshments after,
Pub stop after,
pm
We’ll explore three waterfalls, see great
views over the Dundas Valley and look for
early wildflowers along a varied part of the
Bruce Trail. We’ll also visit the ruins of the
Hermitage.
Sunday, May 8 -- Algonquin Park
Pace: 4 km/hr,
boots.
Depart 9 am, Cedar Grove Lodge.
SKYLINE HIKERS OF THE
CANADIAN ROCKIES
Celebrating 83 years of backcountry hiking
Join us for an incredible
wilderness experience in 2016
The camp fee includes return bus transportation from Banff to
the trailhead, 5 nights in the backcountry, tent accommodation
with heating stoves, wholesome meals, camp support staff, day
hikes and an evening campfire program. Hikers carry only a
daypack, but must be fit for mountain hiking.
Details on camp location and fees will be available soon!
Visit our web page at www.skylinehikers.ca, call 1-866-445-3774
or email us at registrar@skylinehikers.ca.
Registrations open January 2, 2016.
2016 Camp dates:
Camp 1 July 11 to July 16
Camp 4 August 1 to August 6
Camp 5 August 8 to August 13
Thursday, May 12 -- Toronto,
Toronto Islands
Level I/II Urban walk Duration
of Hike: 3.0 hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, drop outs,
beginners. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, No dogs.
Depart 6 pm, At the Ferry
Docks near the gate to Wards
island.
From Union station take the
LRT (street car) to the stop docks. Then
walk southbound over to the ferry on the
south side of Queens Quay at the foot of
Bay st. Or take bus number 6 to the ferry
docks stop and walk south bound to the
ferry.
FOR MEMBERS ONLY with valid
membership card rain or shine after a
days work come and “cool off ” on the
Islands where there are no fumes. Enjoy
the view of the city skyline. Bring dinner
for a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and
a flashlight. You can not buy food on the
Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for
adults and less for seniors. No reservation
required. Just show up on the day of the
hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday in
May and June 2016.
Saturday, May 14 -- Heritage walk to
Black Creek Pioneer Village
hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at 4
km, Beginners, Families, No dogs,
Refreshments after,
Depart 9 am, 9 am at the Jane Street
Subway bus platform or ca 9:20 at the
corner of Jane and Wilson Ave. NE corner.
Join me for a walk through Toronto
parkland to Black Creek Pioneer Village
near York University. Because of a bridge
closure we will have to do a 45 minute
detour through residential areas but most
of the day will be in parkland. After the
walk you can join me for a few hours in
Black Creek Pioneer Village to experience
19th century life in Ontario.
4 Easy Steps to get Footnotes, hike schedules
and updates by E-mail
1. Visit brucetrail.org and click on “Subscribe to Newsletters”
https://brucetrail.org/subscribers/new
2. Login as a member (or create a member login first)
3. Add or update your email address
4. Choose to receive any or all of the following by
email: BTC eNews, Trail Change Notices, Footnotes
Newsletter, E-mail Updates from the Toronto Club
Skyline Hikers is a not-for-profit organization
14
Spring 2016
Saturday, May 14 -- Toronto Section, Limehouse (Map
Map 12)
Level II Bus hike Length of Hike: 14 km, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments after, No
Dogs,
Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797 or fberktin@rogers.com
Spring flowers coming out, still no bugs, and no humidity. Ideal
conditions to do this hike. We’ll start from St Helena Rd and
hike north through the Pear Tree Park parking lot, through some
farmers’ fields, around Black Creek, visit the Lime Kiln, Powder
house, Black Creek Rapids and hike through the Hole In The Wall
and end up in the parking lot of the Limehouse Conservation
Area. We’ll stop in the Hamlet of Glen Williams or in Georgetown
for refreshments.
Saturday, May 14 -- Oak Ridges Trail, Uxbridge Section.
Level II Bus hike Length of Hike: 16 km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, Some challenging hills. Dropout at 7, 9.5,
13 km, Hiking boots, Refreshments after, Pub stop after, Preregistration Online using Website.
Barbara Euler, (416) 695-1838 before 10 pm
Explore two parts of this section of the trail. We’ll walk
through forests in the North Walker Woods. Then the bus
Activity Calendar
will transport us to the Goodwood Tract and we’ll go through
the Secord Forest and Wildlife Area, including the Secord Pet
Cemetery. Lots of wildflowers and great views over the Moraine.
ORTA Map 5.
Saturday, May 14 -- Dufferin Hi-Land, Mono Cliffs (Map 19)
Level II Car hike Length of Hike: 12 km, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly. Dropout, bug spray might be useful.
Depart 9 am, McDonalds, Orangeville.
North west corner of the junction between Highway 10 and
Broadview.
Join the “Walking Wounded” for a gentle hike when we hope to
see lots of spring flowers if the weather has been warm.
Saturday, May 14 -- Grand Valley Trail, Kitchener, Black Walnut
Section
Level II/III Car hike Length of Hike: 21 km, Pace: 4.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout, End to End #9 of 18, No dogs,
Refreshments after.
Depart 9 am, GVTA map 10, KM 39.9 close to the intersection of
Otterbein Rd & Forwell Rd (GPS 43.60237,-80.420112).
Directions: To access this parking area from Hwy 7 (Victoria St North,
Kitchener) you should drive south from Hwy 7 on either Lackner
Rd or Forwell Rd. If you are using Lackner Rd follow it south to its
intersection with Ottawa St North and turn left (east) onto Ottawa St
North. Follow east to its intersection with Forwell Rd/ Otterbein Rd
(Forwell is to your left and Otterbein to your right). Turn right onto
Otterbein and follow to parking area. If you are using Forwell Rd,
follow it south from Hwy 7 through its intersection with Ottawa St
North and continue on Otterbein Rd to the parking area.
Toll Free: (855) 999-5200
jim@swisshikingvacations.com
www.swisshikingvacations.com
BEAUTIFUL GUIDED HIKING TRIPS
BOOK YOUR 2016 SWISS
ALPS ADVENTURE!
Sign up for a trip with Swiss Hiking
Vacations and you will receive both a
$100 discount and a $100 matching
donation to your local club.
THIS OFFER CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER
OFFER AND IS ONLY VALID ON A 2 VILLAGE STAY. LIMITED
OFFER, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL FOR DETAILS.
Spring 2016
15
Activity Calendar
Charles Whitlock, (519) 742-7435 or
walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
Join Jim and Charles for the continued 280 kilometer trek on the
Grand Valley Trail. Please feel free to join us for any or all of these
hikes. Be prepared to have a great time. We welcome hike leaders
in training. Refreshments after.
in their quest to walk the 280 kilometer trail along the Grand
River. Please feel free to join us for any or all of these hikes.
Be prepared to have a great time. We welcome hike leaders in
training. Refreshments after. The main trail mileage for today is
approximately 15 kilometres due to the loss of approximately 7
kilometres of main trail in the Snyder’s Flats area. If the weather
permits and the hikers are enthusiastic we can add mileage on
the side trails and conservation area trails in Snyder’s Flats not
affected by the closure.
Sunday, May 15 -- Iroquoia, Cootes Paradise (Map 8)
Level I/II Bus hike Length of Hike: 13 km, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout at 5 km, 8 km, Beginners, Families,
Refreshments after,
Sufiya Mary Reid, (416) 767-7571 or sufiyamary@gmail.com
We’ll hike some of the South Shore trails of Cootes Paradise.
Varied scenery.
Thursday, May 19 -- Toronto, Toronto Islands
Level I/II Urban walk Duration of Hike: 3.0 hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat, drop outs, beginners. Dropout, Beginners,
Families, No dogs.
Depart 6 pm, At the Ferry Docks near the gate to Wards island.
From Union station take the LRT (street car) to the stop Docks.
Then walk southbound over to the ferry on the south side of
Queens Quay at the foot of Bay st. Or take bus number 6 to the
ferry docks stop and walk south bound to the ferry.
FOR MEMBERS ONLY with valid membership card rain or shine
after a days work come and “cool off ” on the Islands where there
are no fumes. Enjoy the view of the city skyline. Bring dinner for
a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and a flashlight. You can not buy
food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for adults and
less for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up on the day
of the hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday in May and June
2016.
Sunday, May 15 -- Caledon Hills, Hockley Valley (Map 18)
Terrain: Rocky, Challenging. Dropout, Families, Hiking boots, No
dogs.
Depart 9 am, We will meet at the parking lot just off Hockley
Road and past 3rd Line.
Go north on Hwy 400, turn west (left) on Hwy 9, then north on
Airport Rd, then west (left) on Hockley Rd. The parking lot is just
past 3rd Line. We will depart promptly at 9:00am and hike both
blue trails and the main/white trail.
Remi Fahy, 416 903-7572 before 9:00pm
or bgfahy@mccain.ca
Brandon Fahy, (416) 903-7572 before 9:00pm
or bgfahy@mccain.ca
Come out for some fresh air and exercise and enjoy some time
with friends and family.
Sunday, May 15 -- Grand Valley Trail, Conestogo, Black Walnut
section
Refreshments after.
Depart 9 am, Meet at George Priddle Park at 40 Golf Course Rd,
Conestogo off Sawmill Rd (43.541594-80.492750). This parking
area is near mile marker 61.3 on Map # 11.
To reach this parking area from Hwy 7 you should turn north
onto Ebycrest Rd North to the north of Breslau. Follow Ebycrest
Rd north passing Rosendale where the road changes name to
Sawmill Rd. Continue north on Sawmill Rd until you reach the
intersection of Golf Course Rd to your right. Parking is to the
north of Sawmill Rd.
Charles Whitlock, (519) 742-7435 or
walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
Continue to join Jim and Charles and other hardy walkers
16
Friday, May 20 -- Blue Mountains, Nottawasaga Bluffs,
Ganaraska Trail (Maps 22/Gan25)
Level II/III Car hike Length of Hike: 18 km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable, with rocky, muddy or rough bush sections. No
dropout, Refreshments after,
Depart 9:30 am, Gowan Park in Creemore (Edward and Library
Streets) [GPS coordinates: N44 19.473 W80 06.137].
From County Rd 124 (north of Shelburne) or Airport Rd
(County Rd 42), take County Rd 9 into Creemore. In Creemore,
drive south on Mill St, then turn left at Edward St to roadside
parking by the park.
Charlie Atkinson, (905) 642-2408 or (day of hike) mobile (416)
668-2734 or CAhikes@bell.net
We will shuttle to km 16.3 (map 22) and start off with a main
trail/side trail combination in the Nottawasaga Bluffs area before
joining the Mad River section of the Ganaraska Trail - and then
continue on over a combination of farmland, pastureland and
rolling countryside on our way to Creemore.
Saturday, May 21 -- Toronto, Leslie Street Spit
Terrain: Mostly flat, Educational and eye opening!. Dropout at
any time, Beginners, Families, No dogs, Bring a lunch.
Depart 10 am, gate at Leslie St at Unwin Ave.
TTC directions: take the Queen streetcar from east or west and
get off at Leslie and (long) walk south; OR from Donlands subway
Spring 2016
station take Jones #83 bus to Leslie & Commissioners St and walk
south. (For TTC Holiday service call 416.393-4636) Parking is
available at the entrance to the spit.
Ray Berzins, (647)207-4954 before 9:30 pm
or berzinsg@sympatico.ca
A popular Victoria Day hike. Bob Kortright of the Toronto Field
Naturalists Club will narrate this slow walk around Tommy
Thompson Park on the Leslie Street Spit as we observe nature
during spring migration. Bring lunch, water and binoculars
to view birds (whimbrels if we are lucky, warblers for sure),
butterflies, flowers, ferns, fungi, and the skyline. We will visit a
bird banding station. Lots to photograph at an unhurried pace. A
donation to the Escarpment Legacy Fund would be appreciated.
Saturday, May 21 -- Toronto Section, Silver Creek (Maps
14/15)
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. Dropout at TBA, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, Pub stop after,
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812 or thumperhead@sympatico.ca
We will hike from Scotsdale Farm area to Boston Mills Rd ending
at the Spirit Tree Cidery for post hike refreshments.
Saturday, May 21 -- Niagara Glen to the Whirlpool
Level II Bus hike Duration of Hike: 4.5 hrs, Pace: 3.5 km/hr,
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. Dropout at after 2.5 hrs., Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, Long distance bus fare applies,
Join me for a beautiful walk through the trails of the Niagara
Glen and along the edge of the river to the Whirlpool. Rocky and
possibly wet conditions but worth the effort.
Saturday, May 21 -- Iroquoia, Dundas Valley (Map 8)
Level I Car hike Length of Hike: 9 km, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout at after 1 km, Beginners, Hiking boots,
No dogs, Refreshments after.
Depart 10 am, Tiffany Falls parking - Map 8, km 45.
Take Hwy 403 to Hamilton. At exit 64 take Mohawk Rd (becomes
Rousseaux). After 2 km turn right at Wilson and follow for 2
km to parking on right at Tiffany Falls. Free parking with BTC
membership card on dash.
Peter Leeney, (905) 822-1877 Mon-Thur before 10 pm
or peter.leeney@utoronto.ca
A shorter hike for prospective members, new members, and old
members getting back into harness.
Activity Calendar
Sunday, May 22 -- Orangeville, Island Lake Conservation
area
Terrain: Mostly flat. No dropout, Beginners, Families,
Refreshments after,
Tessa Shelvey, 416-320-8555
Easy hike through a beautiful conservation area, going around
the Island lake and exploring the other trails.
Thursday, May 26 -- Toronto, Toronto Islands
Families, No dogs.
From Union station take the LRT (street car) to the stop docks.
Queens Quay at the foot of BAY st. Or take bus number 6 to the
FOR MEMBERS ONLY with valid membership card rain or
shine after a days work come and “cool off ” on the Islands where
there are no fumes. Enjoy the view of the city skyline. Bring
dinner for a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and a flashlight. You
can not buy food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for
adults and less for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up
on the day of the hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday in May
and June 2016.
Saturday, May 28 -- Dufferin Hi-Land, Boyne Valley,
Boyne Valley (Map 20)
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after,
or mychamprian@gmail.com Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797
It is getting warmer and no one can turn the clock back. Besides it
is the right time to get back into hiking if you took the winter off.
Bring water, lunch and the other essentials.
Saturday, May 28 -- Iroquoia, Upper Spencer Creek
Terrain: Variable. Dropout at 7 km, 10 km, Beginners, Families,
Refreshments after,
Sufiya Mary Reid, (416) 767-7571 or sufiyamary@gmail.com
Marilyn MacKellar, 416 653-4120 6-9 pm
We’ll hike through Crook’s Hollow, to Webster’s Falls, Tews Falls,
and Dundas Peak.
Spring 2016
17
Activity Calendar
Saturday, May 28 -- Dufferin Hi-Land, Boyne Valley (Map 20)
Terrain: Challenging, bugs could be bothersome. No dropout,
Hiking boots, bring bug repellent.
Depart 9 am, Pete’s Donuts cafe in Primrose.
At the south east corner of the junction of Highways 89 and 10.
Mike Dhesi, (416) 760-2602 4 to 7 pm Mon-Wed
Through very hilly terrain but at a gentle pace. There are several
spectacular viewpoints on this part of the main trail.
Saturday, May 28 -- Grand Valley Trail, Kitchener, Black
Walnut Section
Refreshments after, Car Shuttle..
Depart 9 am, Meet at GVTA map 12, West Montrose, Pinnacle
Section close to km 3.00 on 8th Line West, Centre Wellington
(GPS 43.627093, -80.450910). Roadside parking. Watch for a
series of trail signs for Elmira, Fergus, Elora.
From West Montrose travel west on Line 86 (old Hwy 86) across
the Grand River to its intersection with Middlebrook Rd. Turn
right (north) onto Middlebrook Rd and follow towards Elora.
When you reach 8th Line West turn right and follow to meeting
place near the old tree nursery where the trail leaves the road to
the left and enters the fields.
Charles Whitlock, (519) 742-7435
or walkaway.treks@sympatico.ca
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
Slowly and with every step of the way we are nearing the
completion of our GVTA end-to-end walk. Distance is 19kms.
During this hike we will hike north along the Grand River
from Conestogo through the Village of West Montrose with its
renowned Kissing Bridge, Ontario’s last remaining covered bridge.
Please feel free to join us for any or all of these end-to-end hikes.
Be prepared to have a great time. We welcome hike leaders in
training. Refreshments after.
Saturday, May 28 -- Beaver Valley, Eugenia Falls (Map 26)
Level III Car hike Length of Hike: 22 km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. No dropout, Hiking boots, No dogs,
Trekking poles highly recommended,
Depart 9 am, Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot, km
56.2.
Go north on Hwy 10 to Flesherton. Turn right at County Rd 4 and
then left at County Rd 13 to town of Eugenia. Turn left at Pellisier
St to Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot.
Luisa Lee, (647) 770-9977 before 9 pm
or luisa.brucetrail@gmail.com
Smiti Gupta
A 22-km loop hike with lots of ups and downs in the upper Beaver
Valley. The trail passes through spectacular lookouts and views of
Eugenia Falls, Hogg’s Falls, Cuckoo Valley and Beaver Valley.
18
Sunday, May 29 -- Oak Ridges Trail, Long Sault Conservation
Area (Map ORTA 7)
Terrain: Rocky, Challenging. Dropout, Families, Hiking boots, No
dogs.
Depart 9 am, Long Sault Conservation Area parking lot.
Hwy 401, exit 431 at Waverly Rd, travel north for 17 km on
Regional Rd 57. turn right at Regional Rd 20. After 2 km, turn left
on Woodley Rd and travel 2km to the conservation parking lot.
Bring some toonies and loonies for the parking meter, you might
need about $5.00.
Remi Fahy, 416 903-7572 before 9:00pm
or bgfahy@mccain.ca
Brandon Fahy, (416) 903-7572 before 9:00pm
or bgfahy@mccain.ca
A loop hike in forest-covered rolling hills. No car shuttles
required. We will return to the parking lot for lunch so that people
can leave if they only want to hike for half day.
Sunday, May 29 -- Grand Valley Trail, Elora/Fergus, Pinnacle
Section
Refreshments after, Car Shuttle.
Depart 9 am, Meet at Km 22.3 on GVTA Map 13 (Elora /Fergus)
near the intersection of 2nd Line and Wellington Rd 19 (Belwood
Rd). This parking area is near the hamlet of Spier (GPS 43.738622,
-80.363598).
To access this parking area you should follow Belwood Rd north
from Fergus to its intersection with 2nd Line where the Elora
Cataract Trailway crosses the road. This point is to the west of
Belwood Lake near the Shand Dam.
Charles Whitlock, (519) 742-7435 or walkaway.treks@sympatico.
ca
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
Every pace draws us closer towards the completion of our 280
km walk along the Grand River. Today’s walk will continue north
along the Grand River and through the picturesque villages of
Elora and Fergus. We will resume the completion of the end-toend on October 29 & 30, 2016.
Looking Forward
Thursday, June 2 -- Toronto, Toronto Islands
Families, No dogs.
Spring 2016
there are no fumes. Enjoy the view of the city skyline. Bring dinner
for a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and a flashlight.You can not
buy food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for adults
and less for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up on the
day of the hike. This hike is repeated each Thursday in May and
June 2016.
Saturday, June 4 -- Blue Mountains, Devil’s Glen (Map 22)
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after, Pub stop after, Long distance bus fare applies,
We will hike through the Devil’s Glen area. Some serious hills to
challenge us. Refreshments in Creemore after the hike.
Saturday, June 4 -- Caledon Hills, Forks of the Credit,
Descending Devil’s Pulpit (Maps 14/15)
Terrain: Hilly, Rocky. Dropout at 9 km, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after,
Join me for a more challenging walk: The Main Trail down Devil’s
Pulpit and along The Ring Kiln Side Trail and then along the
Credit River. Always great photographic opportunities on this
walk. After the hike we will visit the Spirit Tree Cidery.
Saturday, June 4 -- Beaver Valley, Blantyre (Maps 28/29)
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, End to End #1 of 6, Hiking boots, be
prepared for ice and/or mud.
Depart 9 am, km 92.5 parking lot of John Muir Lookout, Epping.
on 7 (Eric Winkler Parkway) north of Sideroad 19.
Brenda D, 416-729-1373 or brenda_dalglish@hotmail.com
We will car shuttle to the end of the Beaver Valley section (km
113.8) and hike back south.
Saturday, June 4 -- Beaver Valley, Eugenia Falls (Map 26)
Level III Car hike Length of Hike: 20 km, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. No dropout, Hiking boots, No dogs,
Trekking poles highly recommended,
Depart 9 am, Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot, km
56.2.
Go north on Hwy 10 to Flesherton. Turn right at County Rd 4 and
then left at County Rd 13 to town of Eugenia. Turn left at Pellisier
St to Eugenia Falls Conservation Area parking lot.
Luisa Lee, (647) 770-9977 before 9 pm
or luisa.brucetrail@gmail.com
Smiti Gupta
A 20-km lollipop hike with lots of ups and downs. We will be
Activity Calendar
crossing over the Beaver Valley twice via the Valley Crossover Side
Trail and the Campbell’s/Graham’s Hill Side Trail.
Sunday, June 5 -- Toronto, Cedarvale Ravine Plant ID Hike
Level I Urban walk Length of Hike: 3 km, Pace: 1 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout, Beginners, Families, No dogs.
Depart 10 am, St. Clair West Station, Heath St. exit.
Marilyn MacKellar, 416 653-4120 6-9 pm
Glynn Richardson, (905) 426-5600 7-9 pm
This hike will follow the Cedarvale Ravine north from St. Clair
Ave. It will be very slow. It will focus on plants in the area and
some of the historical background, since the Eglinton Crosstown
has an older history in Cedarvale (and so do the Spadina Line and
the Allen Expressway). We will stop and go for the length of the
hike, so be prepared for a slow progress. The distance we travel will
depend on what we see. Bring lunch and water.
Sunday, June 5 -- Beaver Valley, Epping (Maps 26/27)
Terrain: Hilly, Challenging. No dropout, End to End #2 of 6,
Hiking boots, be prepared for ice and/or snow.
Depart 8:30 am, same as Saturday’s hike km 92.5 parking lot of
John Muir Lookout, Epping.
on 7 (Eric Winkler Parkway) north of Sideroad 19.
We will car shuttle to km 74.8 and hike north through Wodehouse
Karst and other areas.
Families, No dogs.
Queens Quay at the foot of Bay stt. Or take bus number 6 to the
food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for adults and less
for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up on the day of the
hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday in May and June 2016.
Saturday, June 11 -- Beltline Trail, Mount Pleasant
Cemetery and the Vale of Avoca to the Brickworks.
Level I Urban walk Duration of Hike: 4.5 hrs, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Mostly flat. Dropout at 5 km, Beginners, Families, No
dogs, Refreshments after.
Depart 9 am, Eglinton West Subway main entrance.
Join me for a stroll along the central part of the Beltline Trail into
Mount Pleasant Cemetery and and through the Vale of Avoca.
Spring 2016
19
Activity Calendar
Saturday, June 11 -- SEATON HIKING TRAIL,
PICKERING
Terrain: Hilly, Challenging. Dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after, Pub stop after, No Dogs,
Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797 or fberktin@rogers.com
Established in 1970, and brought back to life only a few years
ago, Short drive from the City, in Pickering, let me introduce you
to this gem if you have not been on this hike with me before.. It
is the perfect time of the year to hike this well maintained and
blazed trail where I work as a trail maintenance volunteer. We
will hike from south to north, although the trail’s tendency is
uphill the challenging hills are in the beginning. I will slow down
on the hills and allow fast hikers to pass and wait for the slower
hikers at the top. The trail visits two spectacular lookout points
on top of a glacial till, where you can see how the West Duffins
Creek has carved the glacial till for over ten thousand years.
Trail follows this creek which is in the Duffins and Caruthers
Creek watershed and it is one of the most widely studied riparian
habitat watersheds in Ontario if not Canada. This is a Level II/III
terrain but we will hike at a slower pace. Refreshments will be at
an outdoor complex where there is a very hiker friendly British
sports bar, Swiss Chalet and Tim Hortons.
Saturday, June 11 -- Niagara Glen, Ontario and Cave of the
Winds on Goat Island in New York State
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots, Late return (after 6pm),
Long distance bus fare applies,
Lucy Leung, (647) 280-8868 or hikeontario@gmail.com
Luisa Lee
Enjoy the day exploring the Niagara River gorge and getting a
glimpse of the majestic beauty of the falls within the Niagara Falls
State Park in the United States. Our hike begins at Niagara Glen
on the Canadian side, an enchanting nature reserve deep in the
Great Gorge with its tangle of giant boulders. We meander along
the river edge and reach the Niagara Whirlpool, a mesmerizing
natural phenomenon formed at the end of the rapids. Walking
across the Rainbow Bridge to the oldest state park in the United
States, we explore the uninhabited Goat Island surrounded by
fast running shallow waters and offering a magnanimous view of
the falls. From atop the Niagara Falls Observation Tower, we look
directly out into the cascading waters of the American Falls and
peer into the raging torrents below. Discover the thrill of walking
right up to the base of Niagara Falls in the Cave of the Winds tour.
Clad in a souvenir rain poncho and sandals, we follow wooden
walkways to the Hurricane Deck, a mere 6 metres (20 feet) from
the billowing torrents of Bridal Veil Falls and face tropical stormlike conditions. This is a truly amazing experience. Those who
20
have already experienced the exhilarating Cave of the Winds
tour in previous outings would have the opportunity to visit
Terrapin Point overlooking the Canadian Falls and Three Sisters
Islands which offers a great view of the Upper Rapids. You must
BRING A VALID PASSPORT for border crossing. The toll to
cross the Rainbow Bridge is 50 cents (two quarters exact change).
Admission to the Cave of the Winds is US$14; and the Niagara
Falls Observation Tower is US$1.
Saturday, June 11 -- Beaver Valley, Hogg’s Falls (Map 26)
Hiking boots, poles recommended, bring lots of water.
Depart 9 am, km 56 parking lot of Eugenia Falls C.A.
go to Flesherton on Highway 10 and then to Eugenia on Country
Rd 13.
We will car shuttle to km 74.8 and hike back around the Hoggs
Falls loop to Eugenia. Very scenic.
Sunday, June 12 -- Beaver Valley, Old Baldy (Maps 25/26)
Hiking boots, poles recommended, bring lots of water.
Depart 8:30 am, same as Saturday’s hike km 56 parking lot of
Eugenia Falls C.A.
go to Flesherton on Highway 10 and then to Eugenia on Country
Rd 13.
We will shuttle to km 37.6 and hike back to Eugenia past Old
Baldy. Some road work.
Families, No dogs.
there are no fumes. Enjoy the view of the city skyline. Bring
dinner for a sit down picnic. A warm jacket and a flashlight. You
can not buy food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for
adults and less for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up
on the day of the hike.This hike is repeated each Thursday in May
and June 2016.
Spring 2016
We will shuttle to km 18.4 and finish off the Beaver Valley section.
Saturday, June 18 -- Dufferin Hi-Land, Mono Cliffs (Map
19)
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. No dropout, Families, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after,
Fred Berktin, 416 520 3797
Indeed a beautiful time of year to hike Mono Cliffs Provincial
Park with Splitrock Side Trail in our sights. Bring the essentials
including a lunch and lots of water.
Saturday, June 18 -- Kelso through Hilton Falls (Map 11)
Terrain: Hilly, Variable. Dropout at 9 km, Pub stop after,
Join me for a hike with great views and the beauty of Hilton Falls.
The hike will take in a part of the Main Trail plus a portion of the
Hilton Falls Side Trail.
Saturday, June 18 -- Toronto Section, Scotsdale Farm
Terrain: Rocky, Variable. No dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments
after, Pub stop after.
Depart 10 am, Parking lot at Scotsdale Farm.
North on Trafalgar Rd past the west side of Georgetown. Turn
North onto Hwy 7 and continue to Silver Creek. Go right at
stoplight back onto Trafalgar Rd. North 1.5 km to entrance to
Scotsdale Farm. Parking area near old farmstead.
Alex Brown, (905) 764-0812
We will complete a loop hike including the Bennett and Great
Esker side trails and the main Bruce Trail. Refreshments in
Georgetown after the hike.
Saturday, June 18 -- Beaver Valley, Kolapore (Map 25)
Hiking boots, bring lots of water.
Depart 8:30 am, km 18.4 roadside along 12th Sideroad between 2
and 6th line.
Note the earlier start time to beat the heat.
We will car shuttle to km 37.6 and do the road work early in the
day. Duncan Crevice Caves and Metcalfe Rock make it worthwhile.
Sunday, June 19 -- Beaver Valley, Blue Mountain (Maps 24/25)
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, End to End #6 of 6, Hiking boots,
Refreshments after, bring lots of water.
Depart 8 am, km 0 of Beaver Valley, km 66 of Blue Mountain
parking lot at end of Maple Lane in Swiss Meadows.
Note earlier start time to beat the heat.
Activity Calendar
Families, No dogs.
food on the Islands. Ferry cost return approx. $8 for adults and less
for seniors. No reservation required. Just show up on the day of the
hike. This hike is repeated each Thursday in May and June 2016.
Saturday, June 25 -- Beaver Valley, Blue Mountain (Map 24)
Level I/II Bus hike Length of Hike: 13 km, Pace: 3 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. Dropout, Hiking boots, Refreshments after, Pub
stop after, Late return (after 6pm), Long distance bus fare applies,
Edmond Brown, (416) 535-1059
This is the annual berries and beach hike. We will hike a section
of the trail with excellent views of Georgian Bay. After the hike we
will drop in to a berry patch if in season (we will buy berries only)
then visit Wasaga Beach. Bring your bathing suit. The expected
return from this hike is 8:30 pm to allow all to enjoy the beach.
Sunday, June 26 -- Caledon Hills, Hockley Valley (Map 18)
Terrain: Hilly. No dropout, Hiking boots, No dogs, Refreshments
after, Cell number for day of hike is 647-918-4180.
Depart 9 am, Hockley Road Parking Lot.
Take Hwy 410 north, continue north on Hwy 10 north of
Orangeville to County Road 7. Hockley Road veers off on the
left. Continue on Hockley Road to just east of 2nd Line EHS. The
parking lot is on the north side of the road.
Maureen McFarland, (416) 489-3703 Not later than 9 pm
or maureen.mcfarland@gmail.com
Jim Vanderlip, (416) 925-9134 7-10 pm
Come out and enjoy an early summer hike in the Hockley Valley,
where there is usually a breeze to blow the bugs away. We will hike
a loop including the Tom East Side Trail, the Isabel East Side Trail
and the Cam Snell Side Trail.
Spring 2016
21
Activity Calendar
Friday, August 26 -- Magical Manitoulin Island August 26
to 28 (Friday to Sunday)
Level II Bus hike Duration of Hike: 4.0 hrs, Pace: 4 km/hr,
Terrain: Variable. No dropout, Hiking boots, Long distance bus
fare applies,
Manitoulin is a magical and remote place; it is the largest
freshwater island in the world where Native life and legend
blend with European history to provide a unique and enchanting
experience. Join us to explore this idyllic retreat and let the spirit
of this place capture your soul. We depart early on Friday and
our comfortable coach will take us across the Bruce Peninsula to
Tobermory where we catch the Chi-Cheemaun ferry for a cruise
to South Baymouth at the southern tip of Manitoulin. There is
incredible natural beauty with intriguing landscape in Manitoulin.
We hike each day on select scenic trails and many of which are
on the Niagara Escarpment, including the Cup and Saucer Trail
which is the highest point on Manitoulin and has spectacular
views. We also have time to experience the history and enjoy
the culture from an Aboriginal perspective. After spending the
weekend exploring Manitoulin; we leave on Sunday afternoon
crossing the historic swing bridge from the northeastern tip and
return to Toronto late in the evening. Bus fare is $170 for BTC
members and $210 for non-members; this includes the ChiCheemaun ferry cruise and three days travel in an air-conditioned
coach with washroom. Accommodation is at comfortable hotel
in Little Current and will be booked directly by each participant.
The rate per person is $154 Twin, $116 Triple, $97 Quad and
$289 Single for two nights accommodation and two hot buffet
breakfasts with taxes included. This special outing is organized in
honour of the TBTC August Hike-a-thon fund raising campaign;
albeit not on the Bruce Trail, all participants are asked to make a
special donation of $35 to the BTC; a tax receipt will be issued.
Our goal is to raise over $1,000 towards securing the remaining
50% of the Bruce Trail corridor still vulnerable to development.
If you are interested to join our Manitoulin Island hiking venture
or would like more information, please contact Hike Leader at
hikeontario@gmail.com. Group size is limited to 32.
Saturday, August 27 -- Magical Manitoulin Island August
26 to 28 (Friday to Sunday)
fare applies,
This is our second day in Manitoulin as described for August 26.
We have a full day to experience the unique beauty and nature the
Island offers.
Sunday, August 28 -- Magical Manitoulin Island August
26 to 28 (Friday to Sunday)
fare applies, Pre-registration by Email to Leader.
Our last day on Manitoulin Island we explore a nature reserve
located on an ancient flat rock sea bottom. See the write up of
August 26 for more information.
Other Hikes
1. Independent outings:
Independent outings are not
sanctioned by the Toronto
Bruce Trail Club (TBTC). The
TBTC accepts no responsibility
for how these events are run, nor
is it involved in the collection of
funds or administration of these
events. The events listed here
are not commercial operations
but are offered by members
of the TBTC on a cost shared
basis.
2. Commercial Trips:
FOOTNOTES has a number
of advertisements from
commercial hiking and outing
organizations.
22
Friday, May 20 -- Lower Bruce Peninsula
Victoria Day Weekend in the Lower Bruce Peninsula. The Spring wildflowers will
welcome us on three hiking days on the Bruce Trail and its side trails to form loops.
We stay and have our meals at a comfortable resort on Lake Huron, the outing is
restricted to those joining us at the resort. Our daily walks of approx. 15 will be at
a moderate pace to take pictures of the great views of Georgian Bay and the Spring
flowers. More information hikevincent.wordpress.com
leader Greg Vincent vincent.greg@gmail.com
For membership information, call the
Bruce Trail Conservancy Head Office at
1-800-665-HIKE (1-800-665-4453)
8:30 am -4:30 pm
Monday - Friday
or visit www.brucetrail.org
Spring 2016
Looking At Plants In Ontario
by Marilyn MacKellar
This year I began looking at the plants in a local ravine. What started on a spring walk, where nothing was at the stage I expected and many
things were a total mystery, has developed into a plant list for that ravine. It has been an interesting experience, since this small ravine has a
range of plants I hadn’t expected. It has also been an interesting experience because, within some species, there is a vast amount of diversity,
not all of it easy to separate. Goldenrods, for example, are often similar to each other. Asters are worse. This fall has been a revelation.
How does one begin to look at plants more closely?
1. Start with a basic plant book and concentrate on one kind of plants: wildflowers, trees, bushes, grasses (save this one for later!), ferns….
I will include a few good book titles at the end, and many are available at the Public Library.
2. Invest in a small magnifying glass.
3. Take your camera and a notebook.
I start out with my camera and notebook handy. When I see a plant I don’t know I try to find it in the guidebook. It helps if there are
flowers, since many guidebooks are divided by the colour of the flower, but you may just have to look through the whole book for some of
them. You will learn to look at leaves, the height of the plant, the habitat, the shape of the stem….it’s a whole new world!
If I can’t identify the plant immediately, and I don’t want to spend all my time on one plant, I will take a photo of it. You may need more
than one photo to include the flower and the leaves and the way it is placed (e.g. with lots of others, in a bog, about 4 ft high). Write in
your notebook where you found it and what the numbers are for the photos and any other info you think may help. Use your magnifying
glass to see if there are hairs on the leaves or stems and what the flowers really look like (especially useful for goldenrods!). Then you can
take the photos home and look more closely at what you have seen. A little map sometimes helps place the plant.
It is also interesting, with the help of the guidebooks, to find out how many of our plants have come from outside the country (called ‘Alien’
in the books). I’ve been surprised by many.
Looking at plants has been very good for me. I have spent more time during the week walking into the ravine and around the area and it
has improved my fitness, even when it’s such a slow walk. Curiosity has led me to appreciate some plants more than before. Asters used to
be white or blue to me before this year. Now they are much more diverse and when I see them I really look at them. They will be in my
garden next year. I have met some new people as a result of this interest. And I have a long list for next year.
Sources (a basic list):
Dickinson, Richard & France Royer
Plants of Southern Ontario. Lone Pine 2014
Farrar, John Laird
Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside and Canada Forest Service, 1995
Soper, James H. & Margaret L. Heimburger
Shrubs of Ontario, ROM, 1982
[Be sure to note Marilyn’s plant hike on June 5th; see the Activity Calendar for more details - Ed.]
Trout Lily and Orchids along the Trail. Photographs by Brent Michaluk.
Spring 2016
23
The Ultimate Treasure Hunt
by Kevin Warburton
Birding is the ultimate treasure hunt and one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in North America. It is an excellent way to learn more
about whom we share the Niagara Escarpment environment with and can be a great way to enhance your hiking experience. All you need
are: binoculars (nothing fancy or expensive), a check list, a field guide for Eastern North American birds and a little patience. If toting a
field guide is too much of a hassle, there are numerous excellent IPhone apps available.
Early spring is a great time to get started. There are far fewer birds in the various Niagara Escarpment habitats but there are always some
around. Stop and quietly listen for a short time and they will begin to reveal themselves to you. Listen for the faint tap-a-tap-tap of the
little Downey Woodpecker (he may be closer than you realize). If you hear a soft “zeet zeet” it could be a Brown Creeper. Look for a small
bird that spirals its way up a tree trunk from bottom to top, then flies down to begin again on another tree. Nuthatches and Black-capped
Chickadees are always around too. Pay particular attention to the Chickadees. When they sound excited and happy, it’s a good indicator
that other interesting birds are nearby, possibly early migrants.
Male Downy Woodpecker
Some of the other winter visitors and year round residents of the Niagara Escarpment you are likely to hear and see include:
Hairy Woodpecker - a larger cousin of the Downey Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker - our largest woodpecker. It is the size of a small crow and often chips out a somewhat rectangular shaped hole in tree trunks.
Northern Cardinal
American Tree Sparrow
Red Tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Some say winter is never really over until the Dark-eyed Juncos disappear in the spring.
From spring to fall escorting you along the trail are more than 150 species of birds. Many rely on the Niagara Escarpment for breeding, others for building up fat reserves needed to continue their migration. Most of these birds can be challenging to spot but with a little practice
you can learn to recognize their songs.
Some of the more common birds that migrate to the Niagara Escarpment to breed are listed below. It would be a very rare day during the
spring and summer to not hear most of these birds while on a hike.
24
Spring 2016
Forest and Forest Edge:
- Red-eyed Vireos are one of the more common birds nesting along the Bruce Trail from spring to early fall. Their song is a little like a soft spoken American Robin.
- Ovenbirds are warblers that build a domed nest on the ground out of leaves and grass. The side entrance hole is shaped like the
opening of an old outdoor oven, hence the name Ovenbird. Like other ground nesting birds, the nests are well camouflaged so stay on the trail to avoid trampling.
- Baltimore Orioles
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Great-crested Flycatcher - a cavity nesting bird with a lemon yellow breast that weaves snake skin into the nesting material.
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Indigo Bunting
- White-Throated Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- House Wren
- Winter Wren (A personal favourite)
- Wood Thrush (Another personal favourite)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker (Woodpecker)
Open habitat, wetlands and new growth wooded area birds:
- Bobolinks
- Savannah Sparrow (a personal favourite)
- Field Sparrow
- Song Sparrows
- Yellow Warbler
- Common Yellow-Throated Warbler
- Swamp Sparrows
- Red-winged Blackbirds
- American Kestrel AKA Sparrow Hawk. This small falcon nests in tree cavities.
American Kestrel
Why not take the remaining weeks of cold weather to learn a little about our feathered friends that share the Niagara Escarpment with us.
To see and hear what these birds look and sound like visit All About Birds at www.allaboutbirds.org. YouTube is also a great resource.
Be sure to check E-notes for spring migration time tables.
Bird Survey
The Toronto Bruce Trail Club’s Conservation Committee is looking for experienced birders to assist with a bird survey of TBTC managed
properties in June 2016. If you are interested please contact the TBTC Conservation Committee at tbtc.cc@hotmail.com
People with little or no experience who are willing to learn are welcome and will be paired with more experienced birders.
Spring 2016
25
Our Club Needs Your Help!
by Magdalena Vander Kooy
Our much-loved former President, Todd Bardes, used to say: “There are more activities than the Toronto Bruce Trail Club can currently
handle”. “That’s the message we need to get to our members. We need more of our members to come forward and help us in order to keep
our club going.”
Our Club, like all the other Clubs in the Bruce Trail Conservancy, relies completely on volunteer support. This is remarkable when you
think about what we achieve every year. We conduct a busy hiking program, we maintain the main trail and side trails in our section, we
run a Hiker Initiation Program, we organize the Toronto Section End to End, we run a Hike-a-thon that raised more than $20,000 last
year. All of this is done by a crew of fantastic volunteers. “If we want to continue,” said Todd, “we need to engage a lot of new volunteers.”
There are many ways to offer help. According to Kevin Warburton, our Club’s Volunteer Coordinator, “Often people start by just assisting.
They come and they’re part of the team at the End to End. Or they join one of the maintenance crews. Or they become part of the Conservation Committee and help at the Earth Day event. And it’s a way for them to get a sense of what’s going on in the club. For some people,
that’s what they want to keep doing, no particular responsibility, just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. But for others, they start seeing places
where they can contribute from their particular skill set, or particular passion for the trail. And that’s how the club gets stronger, from both
sets of people.”
What would you like to do? We have a job for you!
Contact Kevin Warburton today to say how you can help: kbw4343@gmail.com. You can also visit the TBTC website and fill in our online
application form.
More information about volunteering with TBTC
Some of our volunteer roles require meetings, some require physical work, and some can be done from home. Some are occasional commitments, others require ongoing regular commitment.
Most TBTC volunteer opportunities do not require special skills, but if you have a particular interest or skill you are willing to share with
the Club, we would love to know. Here are examples:
Conservation & the environment
Flora, Fauna, Birding
Teaching/presentationsOrganizing & archiving
PhotographyWriting/editing
Project managementBusiness management
Media relationsHiking
In terms of the kinds of jobs to volunteer for, consider joining the TBTC Volunteer Pool. You will receive an email message when volunteers are needed for a particular activity. If you are able to help just let us know, it’s as easy as that.
Or, sign up to help us with one or more of the following tasks and responsibilities:
Board of Directors
Publicity and promotion
PublicationsSocial media
Event Planning Team
Event Day assistants
Website teamSocial Committee
TreasurerSecretary
Bookkeeper
Trail Maintenance Director & assistants
Volunteer CoordinatorTrail Maintenance Team
Membership Team
End to End Event team
Archives TeamFundraising Team
AGM Planning TeamTrail Captains
Species Monitoring Team
Conservation Team (on and off the trail)
Event reportersEvent photographers
GPS teamLand Stewardship Team
Project managerHike leaders
With your help, we can make sure the Toronto Bruce Trail Club remains vibrant and strong. We look forward to working with you.
26
Spring 2016
Ganaraska End-to-End Hikers Reunion
Were you part of the group of hikers who slogged through water, mud and snow on the end to end with Peter Tomlin and Don Priestman
in 1995 through to the fall of 1996? It does not seem like it was 20 years ago that these hikes started until you look at the photos! Do you
recognize any of those in these photos? The group that started in 1995 and the group on that final hike in October 1996.
Peter and I thought it would be fun to try and get the people who walked this trail together for an afternoon catch up on what you have
been doing for 20 years and renew friendships. NO we are not going to try and walk the Trail again! But think there have been many more
hikers on it since you hiked it.
Before we started planning we thought we would put this in Footnotes and see what the response is to having a get together in the fall of
2016. Please send us a note or call and we will start planning. It would be fun to see those who walked it all or parts of it. As Maureen
Smith remembers the Wilderness section hike Labour Day weekend 1996 “The Hike from Hell” Who could forget that backpacking venture!
Contact Lynn or Peter 905-791-9156 lynnm@rogers.com or petertomlin@rogers.com
A Wildflower Meadow in the Making
by Nancy McGlone; TBTC Conservation Committee
Serendipity; the faculty of happening upon fortunate discoveries when not in search of them. The TBTC Conservation Committee happened upon Sandy Gillian and vice versa. Sandy is an avid gardener with a mighty green thumb! After attending a workshop on native
plants, Sandy planted hundreds of tiny seeds, and tenderly watched them grow. Meanwhile, the Conservation Committee hosted an
EARTH DAY event, with the theme Pollinators – birds, bees and butterflies, where the
committee and guests planted over 1200 milkweed plants on a property owned by the
Bruce Trail Conservancy near the town of Limehouse. Sandy happened to be one of
the guests of this event, and she thereby discovered a home on the Springle property for
most of her seedlings. Bruce Trail ecologists Brian Popelier and Adam Brylowski were
consulted to ensure they were locally native plants. Tarps were laid out in early spring in
five areas on the property – the perfect place for Sandy’s plants! The Conservation Committee members spent a wonderful sunny late summer day transporting 516 wildflowers
from Sandy’s house to the five planting beds. The plants include swamp milkweed, New
England asters, mountain mint, coreopsis and rudbeckia. Spades, shovels and watering
cans were put to good use and many seedlings found a home that day. Mother Nature cooperated with a gentle shower the following day. We are hoping that approximately half
of these wildflowers will survive the winter. The property is now registered as a Monarch
Waystation. All in all, a great success story.
Spring 2016
27
Exercise for Health and Longevity
by Victor Ramautar
Life is a journey and for most of us health is an important part of that journey, because if you have health challenges your ability to manifest
your passions will be seriously impaired. There’s no denying that exercise and proper nutrition will have a profound impact on our health,
and a major part of its benefit lies in its ability to prevent disease. Most people are well aware that if you want to be optimally healthy and
happy with energy and vitality to spare, exercise is essential. Yet many still don’t make the time for it. Excuses abound; from “I don’t have
enough time,” to “if you can’t be consistent, then there’s no point in even beginning.” Exercise can boost your health in seemingly infinite
ways, but a fear of fitness can stop you from experiencing the benefits. With the right tools, and a few tricks, you can overcome your fears
and make exercise a positive part of your life.
As we age it becomes more difficult for many to continue or to start an exercise program but research suggests that as mobility decreases
over time, modern humans developed increasingly lighter, more brittle bones. It is now a fact that putting bones under the ‘stress’ of walking, lifting and running leads them to pack on more calcium and grow stronger. So for strong, healthy bones, weight-bearing exercises like
strength training should be a regular part of your fitness routine. Bone-building is a dynamic process, and you need to exert enough force
on your bones to stimulate the development of new bone.
Exercise with good nutrition needs to be a lifelong commitment because bone is living tissue that requires regular physical activity in order
to renew and rebuild itself. As you build more muscle, and make the muscle that you already have stronger, you automatically put more
constant pressure on your bones. Depending on your current level of fitness, a walking lunge, is a good weight-bearing exercise to incorporate into your routine, as it helps build bone density in your hips, even without any additional weights.
Exercise Boosts Youthfulness, Even with Advancing Age
Age does not matter, because exercise can provide enormous benefits for your health, and if you’re over that magical 40, it’s especially
important to either start or step up your exercise program. Apparently it has been noted that this is the time of life when your physical
strength, stamina, balance, and flexibility start to decline, and exercise can help to counteract most age-related decline. Exercise is one of the
“golden tickets” to preventing disease and slowing the aging process.
If you make the wise decision to engage in some intense exercise a couple of times a week, you’ll also boost your body’s natural production
of human growth hormone (HGH)—a biochemical often referred to as “the fitness hormone” for its invigorating, age-defying effects. It not
only promotes muscle growth and effectively burns excessive fat; it also plays an important part in promoting longevity. Men will also be
pleased to know that high-intensity interval training (HIIT), specifically, also helps boost testosterone levels naturally. That’s unlike aerobics
or prolonged moderate exercise, which has been shown to have virtually no effect on testosterone levels.
So, now could be the right time, perhaps with some guidance, to establish a comprehensive exercise and nutrition program that includes
hiking, high-intensity exercises, strength training, core exercises, and stretching.
At the gym I talk to many women who are under the impression that weight training will make them too bulky or turn them into a HULK.
This is a mistake, as gaining more muscle has many benefits, from losing excess fat to maintaining healthy bone mass, and preventing agerelated muscle loss as you grow older. Muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells, so simply carrying more muscle on your frame helps
you use up more calories even when you’re not exercising.
Consider the following scientific findings:
You are never too old to start exercising. In fact, research shows that, no matter how old you are when you start, you can gain significant
improvements in strength, range of motion, balance, bone density, and mental clarity through exercise. Even a small amount of exercise
may protect the elderly from long-term memory loss and even help reverse some of the effects of aging. Women between the ages of 75 and
85, all of whom had reduced bone mass or full-blown osteoporosis, were able to lower their risk of falling with strength training and agility
activities. Moderate exercise among those aged 55 to 75 may cut the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which increases heart disease
and diabetes risk.
Among those who started exercising at age 50 and continued for 10 years, the rate of premature death declined dramatically, similar to giving up smoking and mirroring the level as seen among people who had been working out their entire lives.
28
Spring 2016
A combined aerobic and resistance exercise program improved physical function, muscle strength, and symptom severity among heart
failure patients.
Well, if you agree with the above whether in part or whole, and are convinced that you should and would like to start an exercise program
but you are out of shape physically, you can start by going on a daily walk. At this point it would be prudent to consult your doctor and let
him/her know of your exercise program. Your doctor’s advice is very important.
Walking is an excellent option if you’re so out of shape and/or overweight that the very idea of exercising seems too daunting to even attempt. Walking is among the easiest exercises to perform, no matter what your age or fitness level. Everyone would benefit from walking,
even if you have a regular fitness program. As a start, walk 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day, over and above any regimented exercise you may
be doing. A fitness tracker can be a helpful tool to ensure you’re hitting your mark. Once you’re in the habit of walking more, consider
switching up the pace, interspersing bouts of speed walking followed by more casual strolling.
Modern fitness research offers many potent reminders that physical activity is one of the best “preventive drugs” for many common ailments, from psychiatric disorders to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Make Exercise Part of Life
Making time for exercise is an important part of self-care, without which we’ll be less capable of attending to the needs of others. Viewing it
as just another part of life, on par with brushing your teeth and washing your hair, can really help improve the quality of your life. Should
your weight happen to be an issue, it’s likely to improve providing you incorporate some high intensity exercises. And if you don’t need to
lose weight, remember there’s so much more to gain than a few less pounds.
Exercise may mean the difference between being too infirm to move when you reach your senior years or ripping up the dance floor on your
75th birthday. Depression, which affects about one in 10, can also be alleviated with the help of exercise. In fact, a number of studies have
found the effectiveness of exercise to meet or exceed that of antidepressants.
In short, exercise is preventive medicine, although you may not realize exactly which diseases you’re preventing in the long run. Beyond
that, it also adds to your general quality of life. Sleep and mental health, for example, are two areas that can greatly benefit. Those who
succeed at maintaining good health into old age typically have one thing in common: a healthy diet and regular exercise is part of their dayto-day lifestyle.
Along the Trail. Photograph by Brent Michaluk
Spring 2016
29
2015 End-to-End Badge Recipients
NameIssued
Joe Verhaeghe
January 9, 2015
Susan Masters
January 16, 2015
Elena Domnina
January 16, 2015
Nick Rodmore
January 16, 2015
Terry Grice
January 16, 2015
Amine Bou
January 16, 2015
Louise & Ian Notley
January 16, 2015
Mike Beechey
January 23, 2015
Rose Hartnett
February 6, 2015
Mala Ramu
February 10, 2015
Patsy Chalmers
March 6, 2015
Ernie Fullante
March 6, 2015
Imelda Santiago
March 6, 2015
Bree Radtke
March 13, 2015
Bernie Webber
April 17, 2015
Karen Nourse
April 17, 2015
Steve Kelly
April 17, 2015
Heldy Sinden
April 17, 2015
Case Vanderplas
April 17, 2015
Rick McCoy
April 24, 2015
Kathy Roberts
May 29, 2015
Paul Roberts
May 29, 2015
Julie Scott
May 29, 2015
Ruth McMath
May 29, 2015
Annette Rutherford
June 5, 2015
Rodney Rutherford
June 5, 2015
Arlene & Gary Van Meer
June 5, 2015
Ursula Hopkins
June 13, 2015
Jan De Grijs
June 13, 2015
Donna Plyley
June 13, 2015
Bert Cocks
June 20, 2015
A.David Williamson
June 26, 2015
A. Van Dyk
July 8, 2015
Kim Keckes
July 8, 2015
Blossom
July 8, 2015
Lorysa & Mike Cornish
July 11, 2015
Margaret & Gary Ewert
July 11, 2015
Helena Nyland
July 11, 2015
Tammy Reis
July 17, 2015
Colleen Maunder
July 17, 2015
Trish Langton
July 17, 2015
Susan Fraser
July 17, 2015
Nick Key
July 24, 2015
Mark Nicholson
July 24, 2015
Robert Johnston
July 30, 2015
Dan Calder
July 30, 2015
Herb Hastings
August 7, 2015
Margaret Teasdale
August 7, 2015
Myrna Smith
August 7, 2015
Jacquie Van Dyke
August 8, 2015
Alina Lin
August 15, 2015
Karen Eng
August 15, 2015
Alex Feral
August 15, 2015
Christine Bell
August 15, 2015
Mick Canbery
August 15, 2015
Noushin Biglakbeigy
August 15, 2015
Alex Lai
August 16, 2015
Debbie Lee
August 16, 2015
Linh Ngo
August 16, 2015
William Cheung
August 16, 2015
Eric Cheung
August 16, 2015
30
Ted Wakabayashi
Glynn Richardson
Grace Panich
Lynn Mackenzie
Cathy Burke
Liz Feren
Patrick & Audrey Gleeson
Allison Elliott
Wayne de Jong
Marie Maissan
Allen Holloway
David Sykes
Paul Dixon
Verna Adams
Helen Billings
Walter Boyd
Cathy Hamel
Nick Doralp
Susan Simons
Susan Bate
Kathy Rymal
Isabel Bravo
Dave Pomeroy
Jeff Hubert
Mary Jackson
Smadar Junkin
Neil McFadgen
Pauline Alderson
Pat VandenBerg
Jeff Mackenzie
Guy Hillmer
Ruth Atkinson
Margaret Bermingham
Frances Malloy
Del Cook
Morgan James Scott & Sandra Stone
Christine Elliott
Kathryn Sutter
Julia Van Ostaalien
Doug Yungblut
Adele MacGillivray
Katherine Halsall
Justin Ross Stacie-Lynne Graham
Roxane Morrison
Anthony Riggs
Ginnie Venslovaitas
Rodger Klarer
Linda Scott
Jason Gordon
Salim M
Estelle Wieler
Carlo Aiello
Doug Cody
Judy Halpern
Rosemary Bowden (+5 Others)
Tim Al
Jon Chen
Marianne Wigle
Martina Belter
Spring 2016
August 16, 2015
August 21, 2015
August 29, 2015
August 29, 2015
August 29, 2015
August 29, 2015
September 4, 2015
September 4, 2015
September 4, 2015
September 4, 2015
September 12, 2015
September 12, 2015
September 12, 2015
September 25, 2015
October 2, 2015
October 2, 2015
October 2, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 18, 2015
October 23, 2015
October 23, 2015
October 23, 2015
October 23, 2015
October 30, 2015
October 30, 2015
November 6, 2015
November 10, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
November 17, 2015
November 20, 2015
November 27, 2015
November 27, 2015 December 5, 2015
December 5, 2015
December 5, 2015
December 5, 2015
December 5, 2015
December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
December 15, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 18, 2015
December 24, 2015
December 31, 2015
December 31, 2015
2015 Side Trail Badge Recipients
Name Date of Issue
Fred Berktin
May 25, 2015
Gilles Gagnon June 13, 2015
Fiona NisbetJuly 8, 2015
Molle DorstJuly 11, 2015
Lori VallieJuly 11, 2015
Carol FoleyJuly 24, 2015
Anthony RiggsJuly 24, 2015
Herb HastingsAugust 7, 2015
Sergey SavchenkoAugust 7, 2015
Joan RichardAugust 8, 2015
Pat FerrisAugust 29, 2015
Wendy MakSeptember 4, 2015
Amanda MikulaSeptember 4, 2015
Smadar JunkinSeptember 12, 2015
Diane CroppSeptember 12, 2015
Glenda CollingsSeptember 25, 2015
Brenda WestSeptember 25, 2015
Cathy KitchenSeptember 25, 2015
Janny WallbankSeptember 25, 2015
Marty VertSeptember 25, 2015
David RoystonSeptember 25, 2015
Cathie CrukleySeptember 25, 2015
Arthur LastSeptember 25, 2015
Dave FranklinSeptember 25, 2015
Holly SluiterOctober 23, 2015
Bree RadickOctober 23, 2015
Daryl KeaysOctober 30, 2015
Sara MaedelNovember 6, 2015
Adam McCormack
November 20, 2015
Jacquie Van DykeNovember 27, 2015
Carlo AielloDecember 18, 2015
Lists compiled by Jude Keast. Congratuliations to everyone and keep hiking!!
Red Trillium. Photograph taken by Brent Michaluk.
Spring 2016
31
2016 Annual General Meeting
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Kortright Centre, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, ON 905-832-2289
This year the Toronto Bruce Trail Club Annual General Meeting will be held once again at the Kortright Centre. Parking is free and the gate
will open at 9:15 am.
Last year we asked you whether you were willing to help pay for the cost of the event; most of you said yes – thank you! As a result, we will
be asking each attendee to contribute $10 toward the cost of lunch. The money we save will be used to support the BTC’s important work
towards land conservation. Members will be asked to make online reservations for lunch. Further information will be provided in E-notes
posts.
HIKING
Two guided hikes will be featured on the Kortright Centre property. Wayne Crockett will lead a leisurely walk suitable for beginners while
Lucy Leung will lead a fast-paced, invigorating hike for those who desire a workout. The Kortright trails are well marked and are also available for exploring on your own. A free bus will be leaving from York Mills at 9:00 am to transport members to the AGM. Online registration is required to secure a seat on the bus. See details in the hiking section of this Footnotes.
THE AGENDA FOR THE DAY
9:00 am Bus departs York Mills for Kortright Centre
9:45 am and 10:00 am Guided hikes on the Kortright property
11:30 am to 12:30 pm Meet and Mingle; Silent auction display
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Lunch – cost to members $10.00
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Business Meeting
3:00 pm to 4:15 pm Keynote Speaker & Questions
Bus returns to Toronto after meeting concludes
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Our keynote speaker this year will be Randal Heide, Executive Director of Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC).
WPC saves Canadian animals that are on the brink of extinction. Over two hundred of Canada’s native terrestrial animal species are now
considered at risk, and the number is growing every year. Since its founding in 1985, WPC has supported Canadian biologists to help save
these species; notable work includes the prairie Swift Fox, the Piping Plover, the Burrowing Owl, the Loggerhead Shrike, and Canada’s
many threatened turtles. WPC rescues these animals by breeding them in captivity and returning them to the wild. WPC is affiliated with
the global Gerald Durrell Foundation.
Having nurtured a lifelong passion for nature, Randal describes himself as “a lapsed fisherman, terminally-intermediate birder (I learn the
calls but can’t remember them!), and avid native plant gardener.” His desire to help make a difference for the environment grew with the
realization that more than just habitat protection is required to save Canada’s natural ecosystems. Randal holds an MBA from the University
of Tennessee, is a past president of Toronto’s Strategic Leadership Forum, and serves on the Board of Directors of Alterna Savings, one of
Ontario’s largest credit unions.
DIRECTIONS TO THE KORTRIGHT CENTRE
By car, the Kortright Centre is located 3km west of Highway 400, north of Rutherford Road and south of Major Mackenzie Drive on Pine
Valley Drive.
Personalized directions online at: http://www.kortright.org/visitorinformation/directions
By transit: take the Yonge Subway to Finch. Walk to the York Region-Go Transit Transfer Station and take the VIVA Blue line bus to Yonge
St. and 16th Avenue, remember to get a transfer. At 16th Avenue, take the Rutherford/16th Avenue #85 Bus westbound to Pine Valley
Drive. Hike North on Pine Valley Drive 1.5 km to the entrance Kortright Centre. Alternate Route is #13 Islington TTC Bus to 16th Avenue. Pine Valley Drive is approximately 1 km east of Islington. You will have about a 20-minute hilly walk up Pine Valley Drive and into
the site.
Please support your club with your attendance and keep checking E-Notes and our website www.torontobrucetrailclub.org for additional
information.
32
Spring 2016

Magical Manitoulin Island

Transcription

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