Past Trip Haliburton Page 18. FALL INFO FAIR Page 6. Extended Trip Report Page 19 Links and Laughs Page 20. Future Trip Silver Star Page 9

Transcription

1 Let Me Be Frank Page 2 Welcome Page 3 Marketplace Page 3 Executive s Page 4 Meeting Schedule Page 4 Ski Director Page 5 Dryland Training Page 5 FALL INFO FAIR Page 6 Future Trip Haliburton Page 7 Future Trip Val David Page 8 Future Trip Silver Star Page 9 Future Trip Argentina & Chile Page 10 Past Trip Scotland Page 14 Past Trip Limberlost Page 16 Past Trip Monteregie Region Page 17 Past Trip Haliburton Page 18 Extended Trip Report Page 19 Links and Laughs Page 20 Membership Advantages Page 21 Supporting Retailers Page Palmer Drive, Burlington ON L7M 1X

2 President s Message Let's be Frank: Oct 2017 It is hard to believe that at the end of October, we are still experiencing summer conditions. Our Directors of hiking, cycling and paddling have extended their seasons to take advantage of the beautiful weather. Enjoy it while we can because any day now, we will move into the fall and winter seasons. Do you ever wonder if you have made the right choices in your life?? For many of us, we joined the Halton Outdoor Club to take advantage of the many outdoor activities that the club provides 12 months of the year. A great choice in life long decisions! Never hesitate because the days will pass you by and you will regret not having joined the club, taken a day or extended trip or joined in on the social activities. I want to personally thank all those members who have jumped from being a participant to volunteering and becoming trip leaders.. Again, I know that you made the right decision because more members benefitted from your knowledge and experience. It's important that people know what they do does make a difference. The Executive is very busy addressing club business and reviewing our policies and activity schedules. As we move into the fall and winter semesters, look forward to the winter schedule coming out for xc skiing and snowshoeing as well as winter hikes. Our new ski director, Jim Blair, has spent a considerable period of time preparing the new ski schedule. We still have openings for the Haliburton xc ski trip from Feb. 16th to the 18th. Remember don't hesitate, sign up on line and enjoy 3 days with your peers under the leadership of Patti and Jim Blair. 11/2017 In preparation for the up-coming ski and snowshoe season, Barry Carrique is directing the dryland training clinic at Olympic Park. Check the last Up-dater for the details. I would be remiss if I didn't continue to thank our Executive members who put in endless hours so that you the member can be proud of joining such an illustrious organization. We are currently meeting with our insurance company to review our policies and address some members questions. A report will be brought to the Executive for their perusal and highlighted in an up-coming newsletter. The Executive has also approved an increase in bus costs to $25.00 per person on early registration and $30.00 per person on late registration. This increase will give more flexibility to the ski director and manager of the status of day trips. Check out the Ski Director s instructions in the newsletter. Best Wishes to all members and look forward to seeing you at an activity or social event. Now, move to your computer, check the activity schedules and register for a program of your choice. I know that you will not regret that decision. The Halton Outdoor Club assumes no responsibility for any advertising set out in the Newsletter or any other written material provided by other parties. Send articles and pictures for the newsletter to the HOC News Editor at editor@haltonoutdoorclub.ca One hiking group just returned from a beautiful trip to Limberlost. Thanks to Freda and Clive Wright for leading a great trip. We will look forward to reading your article in subsequent newsletters. Club Items for Sale Club Badges- $5 each. These badges contain the Club name and logo and can be sewn onto any cloth surface. Great for promotion of the Club. You may purchase these badges on the ski busses. Our Executive members are busy preparing for the Fall Information Fair to be held on Friday, Nov. 3rd at Mainway Arena between 7:00 and 9:00pm. I would ask our current members to bring a family member or friend with them and highlight the benefits of joining the HOC. Club I.D. tags- one for $3.00 or two for $5.00. These tags are great to attach to your back pack or your fanny bag, ski bag, pannier, etc. They contain on one side places for your name and identification. The other side contains information with regard to your health. They are meant to identify your gear and to let a trip leader know important health information in the event of an injury to you. You may purchase these tags on the ski buses. 2

3 Welcome New Members Nov Bonnie Quinn I would like to extend a welcome to both returning members and new members. For those new to the Club, you are now enrolled in an organization that will provide you with many wonderful opportunities for years to come. As a new member, we hope you will take advantage of the various outings and trips that Club leaders have planned. Make certain to visit our website at where you can begin to find important information that you need to know. Click on About HOC to learn about Information Nights and lessons, including information on all available sports. Click on Events Calendar to learn about all sport events offered. You can also register for these events by clicking on the appropriate date and event. Click on Schedules to find current schedules for all sports plus extended trips, how to register and a listing of changes and updates. Click on News and Updates to find newsletters, schedule changes and updates. Click on Members to find trip registration forms, extended trip information and Member to Member forum. Members Marketplace Nov 2017 By Nancy Hubbard Members Marketplace is a new forum on our website. Forums provide an online place for our members to connect, collaborate, share common interests, express opinions and discuss ideas. You could think of it as a virtual clubhouse. We already have a general forum called Member to Member Forum. You will find links to both forums on the Members page on our website. This new forum called Members Marketplace, is a place where members can offer to buy, sell, or trade items with each other. Think sporting gear, equipment or any other personal or household items. We don t have a bricks and mortar clubhouse and certainly will not be providing a warehouse or drop off / pick-up services of any sort. Any arrangements should be made member to member. To get started: Go to our Members Page and click on the link to Members Marketplace. Click on Create Topic. Write what you have in mind and maybe even how the exchange will be made. See what happens! Don t forget to click Subscribe to forum to get alerts of new postings. You can Unsubscribe here as well. Otherwise you can open this page anytime to see what s new. Questions? Contact me at communications@haltonoutdoorclub.ca This Club is mainly run by volunteers and our planned events can only be successful if you as a member participate. We offer you day trips, weekend trips and extended trips in skiing, snowshoeing, paddling, hiking and cycling. You will receive an electronic newsletter four times a year in the months of November, March, June and September. Also, every few weeks you receive, via , our Updater which as the name implies, keeps you up-to-date with what is currently happening. The answer to all of your questions can be found on the website, in the newsletter or in the Updater. That being said you are always welcome to either me or give me a call with questions or concerns that you may have. I can be reached at info@haltonoutdoorclub.ca or or

4 Future Board Meetings Bonnie Quinn Addresses of Board Members Bonnie Quinn- Manager Frank Cooney- President Teri Kramer- Vice President Madeleine Davidson- Treasurer Cheryl McCarney- Social Director Peggy Humber- Newsletter Editor The next Executive meetings are scheduled to occur on the following dates: Monday, November 13, 2017 Monday, December 11, 2017 Monday, January 8, 2018 Monday, February 12, 2018 All meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and are held at the home of Bonnie Quinn, 3310 Palmer Drive, Burlington. The location for the meeting on Monday, December 11, 2017 is at the home of Frank Cooney. Phillip Armstrong- Hiking Director Jim Blair- Skiing Director Paul Gautreau- Cycling Director Dorothy Rideough- Paddling Director Nora Fulcher- Promotion and Publicity Director Freda Wright- Recording Secretary Cherie Jackson- Membership Secretary Nancy Hubbard- Communications Director place/3310+palmer+dr,+burlin data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4! 1s0x882b61a1d848de51:0x24e5 96a0b !8m2! 4

5 From the Ski Headquarters Oct 2017 Ski Director, Jim Blair 11/2017 By the time you are reading this article, our ski schedule for the 2017/ 2018 season will be finalized, our lessons schedule will be in place and everything will appear on the website. All in all we re ready to roll. If you are a snowshoer, the information you need appears on the Ski Schedule and all the information about day trips and destinations applies to snowshoeing as well as skiing. Make sure to read the various documents that give you all the useful information that you need to know about day trips, lessons and clinics, destinations and more. These documents can be found on the Schedules page of our website. Most importantly the Ski Schedule itself will also be on this page. We recommend that you print a copy of the Ski Schedule so that you can refer to it easily when registering for trips. We always try to stick with the schedule but weather and snow conditions may interfere and cause us to relocate or possibly cancel trips at the last minute. You know the drill, be sure to check last minute updates on our website. The registration process is the same as last year. You will register on-line for trips and for lessons but you can only cancel by calling or ing our manager. All the rules and deadlines around registration are explained further in the documents. This year, if a trip is cancelled by the club or if you cancel a trip prior to the cancellation deadline, you will receive a full refund (credits will not be issued this year). Our lessons format is staying much the same as last year. Skill-based half-day clinics for Level 2 and 3 proved to be quite successful and will be repeated this season. We encourage everyone to try at least one clinic every season as it promotes more efficient and more enjoyable skiing. There are three ski trips lined up for this season: Silver Star from January 20 28; Val David from February 4-9; Haliburton from February The Silver Star and Val David trips are full but you can join a wait list. There is still room on the Haliburton trip but the registration deadline is coming up soon on November 15. We need more registrants for the Haliburton trip so don t delay. Trips are fantastic way to meet club members and to enjoy skiing in a new location. The best part about HOC trips, apart from offering great value, is that all you do is register, pay, show up and then have a great time. All the planning is done for you! If you would like to get your skis in shape for the ski season, consider attending our Ski Waxing Clinic on November 18, being offered by our master waxers, Clive Wright and Jim Blair. If you would like to get your body in shape you might like to join Barry Carrique for his Dryland training sessions at Olympic park. You can read more about these options on the website (see the Events Calendar). We are looking forward to yet another great skiing and snowshoeing season. Let s hope that Mother Nature pulls through on her end! Dry-land Preseason Training for Winter Sports Dry-land training clinics, led by Barry Carrique, a former club instructor, begin on Tuesday, October 17 and Saturday, October 21 and will continue weekly on both days until mid-december. Tuesday sessions start at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday sessions at 10:00 a.m. All clinics will be held at Olympic Park near the corner of Mohawk Rd. and Scenic Drive in Hamilton. It is close to the Hwy 403 and Mohawk Rd. interchange. Meet in the upper parking lot at Olympic Park. CLINICS ARE FREE!! Attend some or all sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays These clinics are designed for Cross Country skiers. However, they are equally beneficial for snowshoers or any club member seeking a fun, full-body fitness workout. Activities will include walking, striding and hill bounding but you can choose which is most appropriate for you. In other words you can train at your own level and at your own pace. Please bring a set of hiking poles or ski poles (most x -c poles are too long for this activity so if you have a shorter pair brings these along). Running shoes will work well and bring a pair of gloves for hand protection. Dry-land training will be cancelled if it is raining. You can register online. Registration for each session opens one week prior. 5

6 6 11/2017

7 Haliburton Highlands X-C Ski Trip February 16-18, 2018 Jim and Patti Blair The last time we offered this trip it began with great promise. However, the weather gods had their own agenda and washed us out of our last two days of skiing. Well, we d like to re-visit Haliburton with the intention of skiing at least some of the trails we missed. Because Haliburton is just a few hours north east of Burlington we can maximize skiing and minimize driving time. Skiing Destinations: The Haliburton Highlands Nordic Trail Association maintains a series of trail systems, providing enjoyment for skiers of all levels. We plan to revisit the trails we loved such as Glebe Park and Moosewoods. We will also take advantage of the ski and snowshoe trails right outside our door at Pinestone Lodge. The Leslie Frost Centre, about a 45 minute drive from Pinestone, offers some excellent classic only skiing and snowshoeing in a more remote setting. With 42 km of ski trails and 10 km of snowshoe trails, we will easily fill a day at the Kawartha Nordic Centre north of Peterborough. Time will not allow everyone to ski everything but there are great options. 11/2017 Snowshoeing: This trip offers excellent snowshoeing but it may be limited in some places. There are trails right on the Pinestone property and there is a short snowshoe trail located very close to the Glebe Ski Trails. There are ample snowshoe trails at the Leslie Frost Centre and Kawartha Nordic Centre. Accommodation: The Pinestone Resort is located on Highway #21, just outside of the town of Haliburton. It is in a scenic rural setting that backs onto a golf course, trails, and a pond (ice rink). The groomed trails mean that there is a ski in/ out option right at the resort! Pinestone has an indoor saltwater pool, a fitness centre, a spa (massages not included in the trip cost), the Highlanders Bar, as well as a full dining room. Rooms are equipped with free wireless internet, a coffee maker and a mini fridge allowing you to purchase lunch food to take with you on daily outings. Cost: The cost of the trip is $420 for double occupancy and $540 for single. The trip cost includes return transportation by coach, transportation to ski areas, accommodation for two nights, two breakfasts and two dinners at the resort, ski passes for three days of skiing/snowshoeing and most taxes and gratuities. Excluded from the cost are lunches, snacks, room gratuities, and items of a personal nature. Itinerary: This mid-winter getaway departs on the morning of Friday February 16. We will ski on Friday afternoon (at a location to be determined) and travel to the Pinestone Resort just outside of the town of Haliburton. On Saturday we will work out an action packed day, taking advantage of the fact that several trails are in close proximity to each other. It is possible that we will offer activities in more than one location on this day. For example one group might be dropped off at the Glebe trails while another travels to the Leslie frost Centre to ski and/or snowshoe. On Sunday morning we will pack up and head to the Kawartha Nordic Centre to ski for the day before driving back to Burlington. More details will follow but as we have learned, the itinerary may change due to weather and snow conditions. To book: Please register and pay for the trip on-line: We can take a maximum of 50 people and so do not delay registration. Registration opens on Sept. 10, Cancellation Policy: If you cancel prior to November 15, 2017, you will receive a full refund, minus a $25 per person processing fee. After that date, you will be responsible for the processing fee as well as any costs the club incurs on your behalf. This could include costs for meals, accommodation, transportation, driver tip, etc. If you cancel out of a double rooming arrangement it may result in you having to pay the difference to a single rate if no substitute can be found. Please contact Jim and Patti Blair if you require further information: skiing@haltonoutdoorclub.ca 7

8 Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Trip to Val David, Quebec Feb. 4-9, 2018 Bonnie Quinn In 2013, Club members enjoyed a wonderful trip to Val David, Quebec situated in the Laurentians north of Montreal. There are over a dozen beautiful ski areas within easy reach of Val David. At that time we enjoyed superb skiing and snowshoeing, excellent cuisine and excellent French culture. We would love to return again this winter. The Hotel: We plan to depart 777 Walkers Line, Burlington on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 to journey to our destination: Auberge du Vieux Foyer in Val David ( The resort will offer us five nights accommodation, five hot breakfasts, three dinners, plus a hot lunch on the day of departure. The hotel offers free access to the cross-country trails (ski in/ski out at Parc Dufresne) situated right outside the hotel door. The Far Hills Chalet is situated a five-minute bus ride from the hotel. We plan to dine out for two evenings, one at a restaurant in Val David and one in St. Agathe. These two dinners are not included in your package price. The hotel rooms come equipped with hair dryers, but neither fridges nor coffee makers. The hotel offers close access to sleigh rides, skating rink, outdoor sauna and spa, and access to the hotel indoor games room with pool and ping pong tables. You can purchase a box lunch at the hotel or take advantage of the chalet lunches offered at some of the ski resorts. You will have the opportunity to purchase lunch daily at a local grocery store. The Skiing: Right from our lodge we have direct access to 130 km of cross country skiing in Far Hills and Parc Dufresne. We also plan to ski at Esterel where we will also have the option to skate on a beautiful outdoor 11/2017 Important Facts: The package includes all transportation by luxury coach, accommodation for five nights, five breakfasts, three dinners, hot lunch on the day of departure, use of resort facilities, cross country skiing or snowshoeing trail fees for five days, all taxes and gratuities. Exclusions: two dinners, five lunches, any alcoholic beverages. Price per person is $ double occupancy or $ single occupancy. To book, please register for this trip online on our website The trip will be advertised on the Club s website and in the Updater in September. Registration opens on September 10, 2017 and closes on January 28, 2018 or earlier if the trip fills up. We can take a maximum of 50 people and so do not delay registration. Cancellation Policy: You may cancel and expect a full refund minus a $25 processing fee per application up until Dec. 1, After that date, you will be responsible for any costs that the Club incurs on your behalf. This could include costs for transportation, accommodation, meals, leader subsidy, driver tip, etc. In addition, you will be responsible if you cancel out of a double for the cost difference to a single. If required, I will find a room-mate for any single wishing to share a room. Further questions or concerns Bonnie at info@haltonoutdoorclub.ca This ski trip is now full. If interested in participating, you may register for the wait list. Once you have joined the wait list, you will be informed of your status with regard to the trip if you go from wait list to the active list. Just prior to the trip everyone on the waitlist will be informed of their trip status. lake. On two days our bus will take us to Mt. Tremblant to ski in Parc Tremblant, the national park where the trails are surrounded by mountains. On another day the bus will take us to Le Domain de St. Bernard, formerly known as the monks property but now modernized into an extensive system of beautiful trails. All areas offer trails for crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing. All trails are clearly marked and offer a variety of length and difficulty the beautiful scenery is free.. 8

9 SILVERSTAR SKI TRIP: January 20-28, 2018 We return again to our much-loved Silverstar, in the Monashee Mountains above Vernon, BC. On this nine-day trip we ski at both Silverstar Mountain Resort and Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. Silverstar is one of the best x-c training sites in North America. We often see international and Olympic teams there. Sovereign Lake is a private x-c club, which has hosted a world cup. Together they boast over 100 kms of well-groomed, track-set scenic trails. Three exceptionally beautiful and exciting trails around and over the mountain connect Silverstar with Sovereign Lake. Trail passes allow us to ride ski lifts to the mountaintop. From there we ski the upper trails and can ski downhill to either the day lodge at Sovereign Lake or back to Silverstar village. Options are to go down one trail and back up another, or to do various combinations of scenic mountaintop trails then ski back to the village for a well-deserved hot chocolate at Bugaboos café. Village trails conveniently begin and end in the heart of the village and provide many kilometers of scenic skiing as they wander around the mountainside. This trip is suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers. Silverstar mountain hosts give free, guided orientations to all the trails for both skiers and snowshoers. Other activities include downhill skiing (additional pass required), snowshoeing at both venues (separate pass may be required), guided night snowshoe hikes, a lit trail for night skiing, tubing, skating, sleigh rides, galleries, shopping etc. We will stay at the Vance Creek Hotel on the Silverstar village common. Most units will include a kitchen and will be assigned on a first come first served basis. The village is a colourful combination of Victorian and western architecture, centered around a busy pedestrian-only common. There are a number of shops, including one specializing in x-c gear, as well as a variety of restaurants across the price range. There is a very small general store, which carries a limited supply of groceries and wines. En route to Silverstar from the airport we stop for groceries and at a liquor store. The cost per person sharing a double is $2, (3% surcharge if paid by credit card). The price includes: return air fare and taxes on group flights between Toronto and Kelowna January 20 and 28, 2018; round trip coach transfer (for guests booked on group flights); eight nights accommodation at the Vance Creek Hotel, including buffet breakfast (continental breakfast on departure day) and taxes and gratuities incluced, welcome reception with wine and a trail orientation by a speaker from the Nordic department at Silverstar; four three- course dinners set menu, (taxes and gratuities included); cross-country trail passes to Silverstar and Sovereign Lake for seven days. Not included: Halton Outdoor Club Administration fee ($25), transport to/from Toronto airport, lunches, 4 dinners, airline checked bags and ski bag charges ($25 per checked bag each way at present cost), hotel gratuity (optional), beverages with dinner, alcoholic beverages, phone calls, laundry, items of a personal nature, and unforeseen costs such as might arise from delays or other circumstances beyond the club s control. 11/2017 Important: The trip price is based on current airfare. In the event that flight costs are higher there will be a surcharge to cover the difference. Though unlikely, other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control such as additional airline surcharges or other eventualities could result in a supplemental payment. Air Canada requires either a hard shell ski bag or (at present) accepts a signed waiver in lieu. Registration opens on February 20, To reserve your spot, there are two steps. First, register for the trip online --before April 15, to reserve your spot: Go to the HOC website calendar, find Jan 20, 2018, then click on the Silverstar event, choose "Register" and make your $25 non-refundable payment. Step two: pay a non-refundable deposit of $164 per person to Teacher s Travel. This covers non-refundable commitments already paid by the club on your behalf. You may either send a cheque payable to Teacher s Travel or pay by phone using your credit card. There is a surcharge for using a credit card. Jill Sanderson at Teacher s Travel can be reached at The final balance is due November 10, 2017 and is nonrefundable. Unused group airline seats must be released by April 15, To get the group rate and to be sure of being on the group flight you must book before April 15. After that date there is no guarantee of being able to be on the group flight and you would no longer be eligible for the group rate. Once the deposit has been paid, the following cancellation penalties apply: up to November 10, 2017 the deposits are non-refundable; from November 10 to departure the full trip cost is non-refundable. If you cancel out of shared accommodation you are responsible for the cost differences for your roommate(s). If you as an individual have to cancel the trip, please let Bonnie at the Club office know as soon as possible. We recommend cancellation and medical insurance. Coverage can be purchased from Teachers Travel. If you have any questions about the trip please contact Toni at skiing@haltonoutdoorclub.ca. Any questions about payment should be directed to Teacher s Travel. A minimum number of 22 participants is required to run this trip. Maximum group size is 40. The trip is full; however, you may register to join the wait list. You will be notified immediately if your status changes from wait list to active list. Alternatively, as the departure date approaches, you will also be notified if you are unsuccessful in gaining access to the trip. 9

10 . Future Trip South America Trekking Trip November 13 - December 1, 2018 Trip Leader: Isabel Bravo Come with us to explore South America covering the metropolitan capitals and some of the world s most beautiful and pristine natural reserves of Central and Southern Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. You will have a memorable, active vacation and learn about the region. You will remember it for life! Time flies so before we know it we will be heading south. Highlights of your trip include 8 full days of trekking in Central and South Patagonia (Argentina and Chile). Seven of the 19 days will involve travel (including international travel) and 4 days will focus on sightseeing. HIKE LEVELS Level A: Hikes are high*** difficulty and physically demanding. Level B: Hikes are medium** to low* level of difficulty. Both A and B hikes will be offered on five of the hiking days. On three of the hiking days, the whole group will explore the region together. These will be Level B hikes. (Level B will be the only choice on those days). *Low : Many activities are optional and involve fairly easy hikes/ travel. Trips may include short hikes of 2-3 hours generally at low elevations. **Medium: More active trips involving hiking over moderate terrain with vehicle support and at elevations below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). Trips are long hiking days with lots of wilderness and invigorating activities. ***High: Hikes are demanding or strenuous. We will be hiking and trekking over steeper and more rugged terrain or higher elevations. Long hours of hiking with no drop outs. For example, base of Las Torres (day 14) is around 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) and that altitude is around the highest you would ever get in the park (unless you are a climber). Argentina (Day 1 to 9) Day 1, 2: We will fly direct Toronto to Buenos Aires to discover the city of tango and Carlos Gardel, with a tango show/dinner and a full day tour. Stay at Hotel InterSur or similar (4 Star) Day 3, 4, 5: we will fly to Ushuaia, the most southern point of South America which is the gateway to Antarctica. We will spend two days here; visit Tierra del Fuego National Park with a boat adventure. Next day hiking to the Ushuaia Summit or Emeralda Lagoon. Stay at Los Acebos (4 Star) Day 6: we will fly to El Calafate and drive to El Chalten to hike. Day 7: we will visit Mirador Capri with impressive views of Mount Fitz Roy and glaciers. You will hike the full day through the Lengas forest and along river de las Vueltas. Accommodation will be at Hosteria Senderos or Hotel El Pillar. Day 8: we will travel to El Calafate for ice trekking and a boat tour. This particular day trip, given its effort level is only suitable for people between years of age. People over 65 years of age will have an alternative hike and boat tour, but no less impressive to see the Glaciar Perito Moreno. Crampons are provided and you will receive ice trekking instructions. Day 9: we will travel to Tores del Paine (5 hour drive). We will pass through Customs. Lunch at the Argentina-Chile border (on your own). Accommodation will be at the Hosteria Las Torres (or similar accommodation). 10

11 South America Trekking Trip continued Chile (Day 10 to 18) Torres Del Paine Day 10: We will cross the Argentina border to Chile to start hiking the National Park of Paine. Accommodation will be at the Hosteria Torres which is in the middle of the park. Patagonia is considered one of the most spectacular places for hiking, mountain climbing, bird watching and photography. Days 11-14: We will hike the various trails and mountains in the Park. Be prepared for spectacular views, lakes, mountains, forest and wildlife. Day 11 for your hiking dreams you will experience your first full day touring/hiking at the National Park of Paine, with trekking and boat tour at Grey Lake and Glacier. Day 12 includes Laguna Amarga and Patagon (Hike B) to see the painting of Aónikenk people and the animal species like guanacos, rheas, foxes, condors, etc. Day 13 you will hike the Huella del Puma or Path of the Puma (Hike A) which includes a horseback ride and hike to the summit of Cerro Paine at 5000 feet). After passing the tree line, you will see breathtaking views of many natural landmarks such as the three towers of Paine, the Paine river valley and a few lakes that you may recognize from the day before. Lunch at the summit. Sendero de los Lagos or Lakes Trail (Hike B) is also very impressive with different views of the mountains and lakes. One way trip to pick up point with no drop out. Day 14 Hike A is a treat as you head to Ascencio Valley or Base of the Torres Lookout, which is the most characteristic hike in Torres del Paine but one of the most difficult trails too. On Hike B see Salto Grande, the park s most spectacular waterfall and hike the Mirador Cuernos (The Horns) trail. Day 15 is a long travelling day; we go by private ride from Torres del Paine to Punta Arenas airport. From there, we fly to Santiago, Chile. Ground transportation takes us to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco 4 Star (or similar). The balance of the day is leisure time for you. Day 16-18: Discover Santiago with its colonial architecture, tour of the city, wine tasting and lunch at Santa Rita winery. Day 18: The morning is leisure time. Checkout at the hotel is noon. Travel to the airport in the late afternoon for your return flight to Toronto arriving in Toronto at 0600 hours. Please note that destinations may change depending on weather conditions and availability. ACCOMMODATION We are staying in first/tourist class hotels and inns in the heart of national parks and central locations. Amenities will depend on the different hotels but by and large may include WIFI, TVs, safe deposit box, meeting areas, and great views. Hotels will be confirmed at the time of the booking. TRIP COST Double Occupancy - $8635 CAD plus the cost of the international* and domestic flights Single Occupancy - $11,340 CAD plus the cost of the international* and domestic flights *International Flights from Toronto to Buenos Aires and from Santiago to Toronto: Price to be determined. Airfares available mid December 2017 Domestic Flights within Argentina and Chile: Price estimate is a total of $1363 CAD per person ($ $ taxes) which includes all 3 flights. There will be 2 flights within Argentina and 1 flight within Chile. Airfares available mid December

12 Date Flight Number From / To Departure Time Arrival Time 16 NOV 2018 AR NOV 4 Buenos Aires, TBA TBA 19 Nov 2018 AR NOV 7 Ushuaia, AR / 09:00 10:20 28 Nov 2018 LA NOV 2 Punta Arenas, 19:30 22:50 WHAT IS INCLUDED 17 nights accommodation at first/tourist class hotel with buffet breakfast 13 lunches and 13 dinners (meals as per the itinerary-fixed menu without drinks) including gratuities Access to 3 courtesy rooms to use on our final day in Santiago after you checkout of your room at Hotel San Francisco, Santiago, Chile. (We depart for the airport at 5 pm) Private ground transportation in Argentina and Chile, including all transfers and tours as per the itinerary Tours with English speaking guides Entrance fees to all sites Hotel porterage (1 piece of luggage per person) Gratuities to drivers, guides, hotel and service charges WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED Ground Transportation to and from Toronto Pearson Airport International Airfare: Toronto to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile to Toronto Domestic Airfare: There will be 2 flights within Argentina and 1 flight within Chile Early check-in or late check-out at the hotels All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages purchased at the hotels or restaurants Gratuities to waiters for those meals not included in the package Gratuities to the housekeeping staff Additional excursions and extra meals not included in the package Telephone calls, laundry and other items of a personal nature Travel and Medical insurance. Cancellation and medical insurance should be purchased at time of booking. Travel by Coco TPI will be able to provide each person with the cost based on their age and medical condition. Entry visa for Argentina: Consult with Travel agent about how to purchase. Canadians must purchase a visa before arriving in Argentina. As of Sept 20, 2017 the cost quoted is $ 92.USD. At this time there is no visa requirement to enter Chile. Items not mentioned above 12

13 Registration opens October 15, 2017 HOW TO REGISTER Go to haltonoutdoorclub.ca ; Choose Schedules from the horizontal menu; click on Overnight / Extended Trips to find this trip. There are 20 spots available. To register, make payment to HOC and to the travel agent as described in #1 below. PAYMENT SCHEDULE 1. Starting Oct 15, 2017: register online and also contact the travel agent. Pay the $25 fee online to HOC when you register and contact the travel agent to make Deposit #1 of $ Dec 14, 2017: Final day to pay Deposit #1 of $500 per person to the travel agent. 3. Mar 14, 2018: Deposit #2 of $500 per person is due. This amount is refundable up to 90 days prior to trip departure. 5. Aug 10, 2018: Full balance is due. Nonrefundable. After this date all payments are nonrefundable. Cancellation Notes: Full Refund: If the trip is cancelled due to a lack of participants, you will receive a full refund. Full Refund minus $25 HOC fee: if you cancel by Dec , Deposit #1 of $500 will be refunded. (After Dec 15, 2017, Deposit #1 is non-refundable.) $500 Refund: The $500 deposit you make on March (Deposit #2) is refundable if you cancel between Mar and early Aug (You can cancel up to 90 days before departure to qualify for this refund) No Refunds: are issued after the Aug 10, 2018 full balance is paid. TRAVEL AGENT Travel By Coco: Coco Toth Office direct line: Cell: coco@travelbycoco.ca Nottinghill Gate Oakville, ON L6M 1K5 Oakville office regional address and phone number: TICO# We are always looking for great pictures to feature in our newsletter. Just Point, Click, Send! Peggy Humber- Newsletter Editor editor@haltonoutdoorclub.ca 13

14 Our Trip to Scotland 11/2017 A Time of Mountain Vistas, Sea-Side Splendour, Lots a Food and Boggy Bits I think I can safely say that we all very much enjoyed our trip to Scotland. We did have a somewhat inauspicious start, however. Our flight was cancelled after the plane was hit by a truck, in either Toronto or New York (we never found out for sure). We departed the next evening, and arrived safely at Glasgow Airport. cannot forget to mention our adventure that week...the attack of the cows! Toward the end of one of the walks, several hikers were charged by a number of cows. In defence, they clicked poles, blew whistles and dove into ditches, which finally repelled the attack of the probably confused cows! For our first week, we stayed at Alltshellach in Glen Coe. It is a lovely historic house that is owned by HF Holidays. The staff was friendly, and the food was plentiful and delicious. Each day, we had a choice of an easier, medium and harder hike, led by Lester, Simon, Andrew or Ahmid, our friendly and helpful guides. Regardless of the hike we chose, we were treated to views of mountain top vistas, waterfalls, rolling moors, myriad wildflowers, and lots and lots of sheep! An interesting feature of some hikes was the lack of marked trails and signage. Our guides used compasses, verbal descriptions and maps to track our route, always successfully. Other interesting, but less enjoyable aspects of some hikes were the boggy bits. These stretches of puddles and mud sometimes contained mystery holes that could unexpectedly swallow up a hole or a boot. Thank goodness for the drying room at Alltschellach! And I For our second week, we stayed at The Old Manor Hotel, in Lundin Links, and we hiked sections of the Fife Coast with our guides, David and Linda. All hikes were varied and beautiful. We travelled along the Firth of Forth for the most part (translation...the estuary of the river Forth). At times, we were able to hike right on the beach, and at other times we were on well-marked trails that followed the coast-line. Around every corner, it seemed that we came upon something different and interesting. We saw moss-covered remains of old stone cottages, castle ruins, quaint historic fishing villages and many golf courses! Again, the wild-flowers were lovely, and on one of our hikes we were able to enjoy walking through carpets of heather, which had just started to bloom. 14

15 Support our Retailers Are you looking to purchase some new equipment for the up coming winter season? On our free day that week, many of us visited St. Andrews to golf, visit the castle and cathedral, shop and/or enjoy a cup of tea or a drink in one of the many venues. Last but not least, I must mention the Elvis Encounter! At the end of one of our hikes, we entered a pub, only to be met by a Scottish Elvis! He was delighted to serenade, and receive kisses from, so many Canadians. One of our members gave him quite a thrill. Let s just leave it at that...what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland! Don t forget to support our many retailers that are listed on the back pages of this newsletter. Click here and save 15

16 Algonquin Provincial Park: From our base camp sounds exotic but was in fact a very nice Huntsville Holiday Inn- we headed for Ontario s oldest and deservedly best known park. Many in our group decided to tackle the renowned Track and Tower trail which, at the very least, gives more meaning to the term hiking trip. I think Patti Blair said it best renaming it the Rock and Root trail. It is listed as 7.5k but several GPS owners reported more like 10 ish. What little breath I had left was quickly taken away by the view at the top. Algonquin s fall colours were perhaps just a little beyond their peak but far beyond our expectations. Then, in splendid defiance of Environment Canada, the sun appeared and bathed the panorama of russets in a glorious light that made the trek more than worthwhile. Fall Colours Hiking Trip Nov 2017 Mike Wain Seen on a Jeeps spare tire cover JUST BECAUSE I WANDER DOESN T MEAN I M LOST With leaders like Freda and Clive Wright and Patti and Jim Blair we were never in danger of getting lost and always in danger of having an absolutely fabulous time. A huge thank-you from the rest of us! Oh yes---special thanks to my wife Johanna for making sure I would be the last one on the bus. Did you get the beer? She knew darn well I didn t and knew I wouldn t leave two tall boys in the fridge and so here I am writing! I m on the second of those beers. In mid October forty optimistic(delusional) hikers ignored the dire forecasts from Environment Canada, trusted Mother Nature and the hiking gods and boarded the bus to explore the colours of northern Ontario. Our itinerary took us to the Frost Center near Dorset, Algonquin Park, and a privately owned and run area called Limberlost. Intrepid leaders had scouted out the usual three levels of hikes to accommodate all of our diverse group. Our wilderness experience would not have been complete without some wildlife sightings (aside from the hike leaders party).some folks spotted a moose, thankfully at a safe distance and the ever present chipmunks and chickadees joined us for lunch. Gray jays, otherwise known as whiskey jacks, delighted some of our hikers by taking food from outstretched hands. Some members of the Happy Wanderers, Jim Blair s group, had enough wind left to burst into song scaring most of the animal life except for a very exuberant bull-dog pup who was most eager to join in the fun. Limberlost: Despite the forecasters outdoing themselves with even more dire warnings of torrential downpours and fierce winds we arrived Sunday morning at this private wilderness preserve ready to finish our hikes in style. The trails here are more like well maintained walking paths and were a pleasant change from the rocks and roots. On top of that, we dodged a bullet or more like a bucket---and the rain held off until Clive stepped onto the bus to do his final people count before departure. When it did hit, it was as if the bus was in a carwash. Talk about good timing! Our very capable bus driver Bill skilfully weaved his way through the traffic and rainstorms to the mandatory pit stop at Webers burger place where we lined up in the rain to buy burgers that were long on reputation but quite short on quality. This was the second time our Club has made this weekend trip and, if number three comes along, count me in. I may even be conned into doing the trip write up. Happy hiking Frost Centre: Named after a former Ontario Premier(who also established the LCBO,also known as the Frost Pharmacy), this place is at once beautiful and sad as what was once a thriving naturalist s centre has fallen into disuse and most of the buildings have been left unattended for several years. Fortunately, many of the lovely hiking trails have been kept up and provided us with a good warm-up hike to start our weekend. This is a treasure waiting to be rediscovered. 16

17 Trail Riding Trip to the Monteregie Region of Quebec Oct 2017 By Marg and Allan DeCourcy Lachine Canal, to the Lachine Rapids where we were treated to a great performance by surfers riding the 'stationary' waves. On our final day, we left our hotel on our bikes, cycled south to St. Jean and then north to the charming town of Chambly and its National Historic Fort dating back to The ride along the Richelieu provided a variety of beautiful sites including peaceful pastoral views, quaint country cottages, and the highlight, the National Chambly Historic Canal, boasting a series of eight manually operated locks, in operation since Thank you to Susan Zeesman and Rick Brady, our outstanding trip leaders. Their planning, organization, maps, meetings, daily updates and attention to detail was remarkable, and our rides were both fun and informative. Thank you for providing us with such a great cycling experience! Un grand merci! Celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary with a cycling ride in La Belle Province Quebec was the perfect opportunity to experience our country's French history and culture. Long, interesting and picturesque rides along the St Lawrence and Richelieu Rivers and the Lachine Canal, in the company of fun and enthusiastic cyclists, made for a most enjoyable biking experience. In the early evening of our arrival in Valleyfield, we rode along the waterfront and through the pretty town, enjoying the views. It was a warm up for the next day's first long ride of the trip, when Mother Nature tested our true mettle with kph winds and gusts to 50 kph, making the ride a challenging work out. The following day's beautiful scenic ride along the Soulanges, an abandoned shipping canal, reminded us of the the important contribution of the water ways, canals and shipping to the history of Canada. Our stay in St. Jean Sur Richelieu provided access to our Montreal and Richelieu rides. Although there were many highlights on this cycling trip, our rides on Ile des Soeurs, Ile Ste. Helene, Ile Notre Dame, and along the shoreline of Montreal were particularly memorable. Crossing the St Lawrence River on the new bike path on the Champlain ice bridge, riding on the Grand Prix race track, viewing the Biosphere from the 1967 World's Fair and the site of 1976 Olympics, visiting old Montreal and eating lunch at the Atwater Market, were a cycling tourist's delight. On our return ride we rode beside the 17 A number of things combined to make this an enriching trip. It was very well organized in a province that treats cyclists like first class citizens. A great group of people travelling through a part of Canada that is steeped in history; many of the aspects were new to me - Joe Pearce What I enjoyed most was the people, the support from each other and the great leaders Mollie Holloway Avoiding too many tedious superlatives, it really was a wonderful trip! The weather was excitingly unstable (brilliant sun; dull clouds; pouring rain; gentle showers; soft breezes; howling winds; crisp and cool, or pleasantly warm temperatures - but we didn't get snow, hail, or anything approaching tornados or hurricane-like weather). Our sedate ride around the Formula One race-track at the Expo '67 site was somewhat comical given the other cyclists who were tearing around it as fast as they could possibly go. The Champlain Bridge was thrillingly exciting, and did not fall down whilst we were traversing it (as I said, only the good die young). The size, power and beauty of the St. Lawrence was enthralling, as was the history of the canals along it. Laura Johnson

18 With the gusts of wind in our faces and the sun warming our backs, we rode along the many historic St Lawrence Seaway canals. You can just imagine those before us who carved out of limestone multiple canals to connect ships to create the passage between the mighty Great Lakes and the Ocean. What a feat. What a privilege to ride and explore the multiple canals and massive hydro dams with a great group of riders. There were many firsts but being able to ride into the Port of Montreal from the Olympic Parc and stop to walk Old Montreal was indeed a highlight. We arrêted often to enjoy the scenery and make new friends. Sandy Nay What memories, what fun, what great people!! I think after the wind gusts of the second day and watching the stationary rapid surfers along trail beside the Lachine Rapids, I believe we have invented another sport, Stationary Cycle Surfing, that is when the wind is so strong and you are pedalling at maximum and going nowhere. Carol Taylor The Dog Days of Summer 2017 Peggy Humber Oct /2017 I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the Haliburton area as Paul and I lived just outside Minden from 1990 to 1995 when Paul was employed by Ontario Hydro. I always treasured what a beautiful area of Canada we lived in at that time and appreciated the slower pace of life. The Haliburton Highlands have an abundance of water and around every corner there is a river, stream or beautiful lake to swim in or paddle on. The area is also fortunate to have The Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve, which is privately owned and over 80,000 acres of rolling hardwood forest. The HF does not have many transient campsites, so Paul and I had to book the 2 sites for this trip back in December of That said, this years Haliburton 2017 get away proved to be THE BEST weekend weather of the entire 2017 summer. I guess the weather network really must have listened to Paul when he placed his order for sunny skies and warm temperatures for this little trip. Folklore states that any un seasonable warm temperatures that occurs after Labor Day weekend, is called Indian Summer, but with all things being politically correct now a days, I think it is better to call it the Dog Days of Summer. (ha ha) Molly and Shay were both invited on this trip and got the honour of riding on the front of Karen Mitchells and my kayak. They are both very accomplished doggie paddlers and have both been Officially called Halton Outdoor Club Paddle Puppies or unofficially HOC Bow-wow sprits The Haliburton area lived up to my expectations, as usual and on Day 1 of the paddle weekend we enjoyed the Pelaw area and had the pleasure of eating our lunch next to the falls between Pelaw lake and Marsden lake. Warm temperatures and sunny skies were enjoyed by everyone. Day 2 we enjoyed Kennessis Lake going up and over the Dam and into Kennessis River and Red Pine Lake. This days was picture perfect with no cottage traffic and dead calm water conditions. 18

19 Extended Trip Report November 2017 Bonnie Quinn To check out the trips that the Club is offering currently, please go to our website: and then click on Members found on the home page menu towards the top. Then click on Extended Trip. You may click on the name of the trip which will then link you to an article that provides you with all of the trip details. Then, with most of our paddle time behind us, we all cleaned up and headed to the main lodge to enjoy a lovely dinner on Sunday night at the Haliburton Wildlife restaurant. Our Honorary Paddle Puppies enjoyed their puppy chow at the campsite and said is was a really RUFF weekend! To register for any trip, follow the registration instructions in the trip article. If members need to cancel out of these extended trips on or before the cancellation date, we will refund you your trip cost minus a $25 processing fee through PayPal. You would get your refund directly onto your credit card. If a trip is full and you wish to have your name added to a wait list, register for the trip but do not pay. You will be asked to pay, once you have been placed on an active list. Future Trips- Hiking * Chili and Argentina Hiking Trip- November 13 to Dec. 1, room available for more participants Future Trips Skiing *Silverstar- Jan , trip is full but have established a wait list * Val David Ski and Snowshoe Trip- Feb. 4-9, trip is full but have established a wait list * Haliburton Ski and Snowshoe Trip- Feb , room available for more participants The Halton Outdoor Club assumes no responsibility for any advertising set out in the Newsletter or any other written material provided by other parties. Send articles and pictures for the newsletter to the HOC News Editor at editor@haltonoutdoorclub.ca 19

20 Remember to sign up for the Facebook Paddle Page Laughs & Links Remember to sign up for the Facebook Road Riders Page 11/2017 No kayak schedule this issue the reason.. Its Freezen 2017 Road Ride Schedule Remember to sign up for the Facebook Trail Riders Page 2017 Trail Ride Schedule CX Ski Schedule

21 Membership advantages 11/

22 Membership Discounts Ancaster Cycle 365 Wilson Street East Ancaster % off regular priced parts, accessories and clothing. Does not include bikes or labour. Central Cycle 965 King Street East Hamilton % off regular priced items. Brant Cycle 892 Brant Street Burlington % off all regular priced products. Does not include bikes, trailers or labour Pieriks Cycle 840 King Street West - Westdale % off regular priced items. Does not include bikes or labour. Adventure Attic 28 King Street West Hamilton % off regular priced items Grand River Kayak 2 Port Maitland Road % off regular priced items, lessons & tours 182 Concession 10 S, Clearview Township, P.O. Box 110 Duntroon, / % off on full priced items Highlands Nordic, Rock and Road Cycle 2501 Guelph Line Burlington, Ontario (905)

23 Hikers Haven Europe Bound 166 South Service Road East % off all equipment rentals, & regular-priced clothing, footwear and camping gear over $100. Rack Attack Mississauga 3145 Dundas Street West, Unit % off racks Oakville Cycle and Sports Ltd 105 Cross Ave - Trafalgar Village % off all regular priced items. The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. 199 Lakeshore Road East, Unit A % off of all "Woolpower" products All The Right Gears 442 Millen Road % off regular priced items. Does not include bikes and labour. Have you gone to the H.O.C Marketplace Yet? Bicycle Works 316 Dundas Street East Waterdown % off all in-store items. 15% off tune ups before April 15th. Does not include bikes or labour. 23