Caledon Comment. Caledon Hills 'Historical Hike Series' Badge. Celebrating Canada's 150 th Birthday. Vol 53, No 2 Summer -2017

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1 Caledon Comment Vol 53, No 2 Summer Caledon Hills 'Historical Hike Series' Badge Celebrating Canada's 150 th Birthday To earn this special 150 th birthday badge you must complete all the hikes listed below either on your own or with an organized hike. Each hike has a required photo location/ item to be included when you send in your log. Kilometre references are taken from the Bruce Trail Reference Edition #28. Full details are on our website, along with a write-up about the historical significance of each location. Be among the first to earn our club s Canada 150 badge! 1. McLaren Road Side Trail Loop Hike: Maps 14 &15 Distance: Approx. 11 km loop 2. Hockley Valley Hike: Map 18 Distance: Approx. 10 km loop 3. Glen Haffy Hike: Map 17 Distance: Approx. 11 km car shuttle hike; you must park a car at each end of the hike. 4. Belfountain & Cataract Falls Hike: Map 14 Distance: Approx. 12 km loop 5. Gosling Volunteer Forest Hike: Map 18 Distance: Approx. 9 km car shuttle hike. You must park a car at each end of the hike. We want you to get social with us! For a chance for your photos to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages, tag us, or use the #caledonbrucetrail hashtag when posting photos from your hikes.

2 EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT Bob Ferguson VICE PRESIDENT Fred Somerville ext 110 SECRETARY Vacant TREASURER Andree Zeritsch BTC CLUB DIRECTOR David Lamb HIKE COORDINATOR Marilyn Ross TRAIL COORDINATOR Joan Richard MEMBERSHIP Sally Ker LANDOWNER RELATIONS Carol Sheppard FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR Janice McClelland LAND STEWARDSHIP DIRECTORS Gary Hall Ted Stephenson (H) (C) PUBLICITY Louise Carberry VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Colleen Darrell SOCIAL CONVENER Jackie Clark PAST PRESIDENT Jean Kerins DIRECTORS AT LARGE Peter Leeney Diane McKenzie Marisa Jokelainen Follow us on Instagram & for the latest updates, news and photos from the trail. Cal E-News is our club newsletter that keeps members up to date on major club activities between editions of the Caledon Comment. Subscribe at: Visit our website, for lots more information about us, including the most up to date hike listings. Our second in the wildflower series of badges is now available. Earn the new Chicory Badge this year! DEADLINE FOR THE FALL EDITION: JULY 5, 2017 Send copy by to: Support Volunteers ADVERTISING WEBMASTER Heidi Bischof EDITOR, CAL E-NEWS Kristina Zeromskiene SIZE RATE ARCHIVIST Helen Billing ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Louise Porter TUESDAY HIKE COORDINATOR Rob Martin EDITOR, CALEDON COMMENT Jean Kerins SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Christine Elliott TRAIL DEVELOPMENT Dave Moule (H) (C) Business Card (3.5 x 2.0) $30 Quarter Page (3.75 x 5.0) $60 Column (3.0 x 10.0) $70 Half Page (7.5 x 5.0) $85 Opinions expressed in the Caledon Comment are not necessarily the views of the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club unless stated as such. Advertisements do not necessarily imply endorsement by the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club or The Bruce Trail Conservancy. Send address changes to: The Bruce Trail Conservancy 2 PO Box 857 Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9 Full Page (7.5 x 10) $145 HST must be added Terms: Cheque with order Cheque should be made payable to: The Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club

3 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING by Louise Carberry Imagine waking up on a Friday morning to blizzard and white out conditions. Then, two days later it feels like summer, with sun and warm breezes melting the snow and freeing the spring flowers from winter s clutch. Welcome to the Caledon Hills Annual General Meeting. From the excellent hike led by Albert McMaster with 17 faithful followers, to the robust pot luck set out by Jackie Clark, 55 Bruce Trail Members enjoyed another gathering filled with conversation, laughter and plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. The books are balanced, the hikes are booked and people are busy making plans to attend the final BTC 50th anniversary celebration in June or the Spring B & B hike in Beaver Valley. Trail maintenance workers have been out removing fallen trees, and trail captains are planning their inspection hikes. We were entertained by Peter Leeney s droll sense of humour as he led us on a trip to the Canadian Rockies with his descriptions, props and slides of the hiking adventure he enjoyed last year with the Skyline Hikers. Two board members have stepped down from their positions. Hamish Duthie has retired as Land Stewardship Director after 5 years on the job. Ted Stephenson and Gary Hall are jointly taking over this position which has grown from being responsible for 10 parcels of land to 19 parcels during Hamish s time in the position. Marg Bonk has also retired, leaving the position of Secretary open. Someone reading this report might be just the right person to join us. If so, call Colleen Darrell or Bob Ferguson as soon as you can. Thank you to all who made our day a success. Some of the CHBTC Board Members Photo by Christine Elliott 3 Photo by Gary Hall Earth Day

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5 DAVID LLOYD - Why Help With Trail Maintenance About eight years ago, the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club reorganized the trail maintenance team, revising the role of Trail Coordinator and creating four supporting Quadrant Leaders. Each Quadrant Leader would be responsible for 25% of the Trail and for leading a group of Trail Captains. The most recent volunteer to become a Quadrant Leader is David Lloyd. How did David become involved? One day in the spring of 2014 when just a few months away from retiring after 31 years of teaching at Humber College, he was driving along Coolihans Side Road when he saw a group of hikers. He stopped and talked briefly with them. David had always enjoyed the outdoors and working with his hands so hiking the Bruce Trail and Trail Maintenance work was a natural fit. He decided to approach the club and copied down the contact information from the nearby Trail Access sign. David soon talked with Joan Richard, the Trail Coordinator, and offered to help with trail work. Joan told him of an upcoming work party in the Hockley Valley. Dave Moule was in charge of that group which involved moving the Trail onto the Cedar Highlands property. A lot of that day s work involved carrying cedar logs and steel angle stakes up and down the hills. As Dave Moule remembers, He was a willing worker but at noon he came to me and said he had to go home. He was exhausted and hadn t brought a lunch with him. I thought I would never see him again. I was wrong. A couple of years later he volunteered for the job of Quadrant Leader and he took it on with gusto. David Lloyd remembers the learning curve: helping Joan with issues reported in a trail audit; volunteering as a Trail Captain; working with Dave Sarginson on a bridge building project and taking the chain saw certification course. Each of these experiences was satisfying. With the bridge it was great to see the beautiful bridge come together. Even though David had worked with chain saws for many years, he found the course very helpful in better understanding safety concerns and cutting techniques. David enjoyed the camaraderie on the work parties on which he participated: they were a great bunch of people who were always joking and poking fun at each other. If you are a part of a group that shares friendly banter, it means that you are a welcome member and this is a great experience. More than any other person, John Maxwell has done the most to help me by being a willing mentor and friend. David recounts meeting hikers while on a work party: without fail they would always be grateful for our efforts and thank us a great reward for being in the field helping out. Continued on Page 6 5

6 DAVID LLOYD CONTINUED In 2015 Joan Richard inquired about his interest in becoming a Quadrant Leader. David agreed and reflects that accepting more responsibility for the trail has been a great opportunity to do some meaningful work and broadens my knowledge of club members. Joan Richard explains how good a job David has done: He reviewed every kilometre on his quadrant, making notes and plans for fixes. He has organized work parties and is keen that the new people be encouraged. He is thorough and has a lot of initiative. I don t have to worry about his Quadrant at all! When looking to the future, David sees many challenges for the Bruce Trail and the club in specific. The success of the Bruce Trail with hikers is creating its own challenges, and the more and more challenging approval and regulatory issues associated with trail development and maintenance will require dedicated work by our club and the BTC s team. Land acquisition and landowner relations will continue to be important. The involvement of more volunteers is essential. All members of the Caledon Club and indeed, all hikers of the Bruce Trail are fortunate to have people like David as enthusiastic volunteers to work on the Trail. He enjoys immensely his involvement; why not consider joining the team? The Best of Colombia January 15 26, 2018 Enjoy Colombian Nature, Culture, Photography and Hiking with a small group of fellow Bruce Trail friends on this 12-day trip US$ Air Contact Hamish Duthie: hduthie@uwaterloo.ca

7 A HIKE DOWN MEMORY LANE - THE BRUCE TRAIL 1967 By Sid Pearce (with Introduction by Ross McLean) Sid Pearce was one of the founders of The Sydenham Bruce Trail Club. He was a devoted trail builder and hike leader. The bridge over the Pottawatomi River just above Jones Falls is named after him. His loyalty to the Trail was so great that even in his last days while in a nursing home, he did not want to give up his role as trail captain. Ron Savage as Trail Director reduced the length of Sid s section to just the bridge. Ron, of course, did any necessary work. But Sid could pass on, knowing that he was still a Sydenham Trail Captain. The following is Sid s account, much condensed, of what he called one of the greatest highlights of his life. In 1966 Jack Johnstone of Tobermory and I were asked to serve on the subcommittee of the Duke of Edinburgh s Gold Medal Awards in Canada. The reason was that for Canada s Centennial Year, 1967, it was decided to bring 27 gold medal winners from all over the world to take part in a ten day hiking expedition from Tobermory to Owen Sound, providing it was enough of a challenge for these young people. Jack and I were the official guides. Ron Gatis of Colpoy s Bay was in charge of moving the camp equipment from one site to the next. We also had a doctor and a member of the Lands and Forest, carrying a walkie-talkie set throughout the entire expedition. We had ten campsites that we had to make, one each day. It was my responsibility as pacemaker to see that we reached each before dark. Each campsite was approximately 17 miles apart. On August 8, 1967, we all assembled at Tobermory for the unveiling of the cairn, marking the northern terminus of the Bruce Trail. This was done by Lord Hunt. A large crowd was on hand for this special occasion. What an honour it was to have Lord and Lady Hunt walking with me the first three days from Tobermory to Cabot Head. They were two of the finest people one would wish to meet. Lord Hunt was best known as the leader of the successful British expedition to Mount Everest in 1953, for which he received a knighthood. On Wednesday August 9 we had a fairly tough hike for our first day and all of it rocky and close to the shoreline. We arrived that afternoon at our first campsite at Driftwood Cove. Our second day to Emmett Lake Road was quite rough but our hikers seemed to enjoy the challenges of the terrain and the beautiful scenery. Friday August 11 th was another gorgeous morning. The walking again was really rough but exciting and challenging. As previously planned we had a shore dinner in a little cove near the Cabot Head lighthouse. The lightkeeper made a specialty of preparing shore dinners of whitefish and potatoes for guests. Day four took us to Cape Chin South and Day Five on to Lion s Head. We stopped at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Fowler. Mr. Fowler had built the Trail in his area and now was the trail captain for 40 miles. Although 80 years of age, he accompanied us through his entire section. Further south we camped at Cape Croker, and were welcomed by Chief Joseph Akiwenzie who appeared in full ceremonial dress for the occasion. A feature of the evening was a series of dances performed by a group of teenage Indians. At the next camp at Colpoy s Bay, the Community Hall had been made available and a piano and record-player. Despite some sore feet and aching muscles, most of the party joined in the impromptu dance. The next campsites were at Skinner s Bluff and then at Lindenwood. Before reaching Harrison Park in Owen Sound, on that last night there was an undercurrent of excitement in the group. We were met at Harrison Park by members of the press, radio and television. Members of the group were interviewed and pictures taken. Everyone in the group had regarded the hike as a real challenge and considered it a real accomplishment when they completed it. That evening the two guides (Sid and Jack) together with Ron Gatis (all directors of the Bruce Trail Association) presented each member of the expedition with a copy of the Bruce Trail Guidebook, a special edition for the Duke of Edinburgh s Commonwealth Gold Medal Expedition, a Bruce Trail crest and a Bruce Trail metal marker. Toward the end of our fun-filled evening at the park, a member of the group gave speeches of thanks. Their kind remarks coming from the heart made tears come to our eyes and will never be forgotten. In my opinion, being asked to serve along with Jack Johnstone on the planning committee in for this major event and carrying it out as guide was the highlight of my 30 years on the Bruce Trail from its very beginning. 7

8 A TRIBUTE TO A VETERAN HIKER AND TRAIL VOLUNTEER DAVE HULL Dave Hull joined the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club in Some 45 years later he is still an active hiker and trail volunteer, a record of active service to the hiking community reached by only a few. Dave first became interested in hiking in 1965 when on holiday in England he discovered Youth Hostels, the beautiful English countryside and the tradition of maintaining rights-of-way by volunteers. As he says, he became enamoured of the open road. For example, in 1966 he completed the Tanners Marathon along the by-ways and laneways of the county of Surrey, a 30 mile hike in 10 hours. At that time, his interest in hiking was exercise-oriented. For the next five years Dave hiked widely in the United Kingdom, cycled (and hitchhiked) through Europe, worked sporadically, and got married. He and Margaret returned to Canada in 1970, finally settling in Guelph in 1973 when he joined the Guelph Hiking Trail Club which links to the Bruce Trail at Limehouse. With that club he has served a wide variety of roles: Secretary, President, Radial Line Coordinator, Hike Leader, Newsletter Co-Editor (for 15 years), Archivist, and Guidebook Editor. For 39 years he has been a section leader of their Radial Line Trail. And in 2016 he was awarded a richly deserved Honourary Life Membership. In the 1970s, Dave discovered the Niagara Escarpment, and saw this geological feature as a natural for a long-distance walking trail. His interests were evolving beyond physical fitness to botany, zoology, history and geology. Because of his activity with the Guelph Club, he did not become really active in the Caledon Hills Club until about He started by joining Chris Walker s and Ross McLean s Flying Squad, a group of trail maintenance enthusiasts from all clubs who would band together to help out wherever they are needed on the trail. He also joined Laurence Christie s Trail Blazers, a like-minded group of trail maintenance enthusiasts in the Caledon club. In September 2006, he became a Trail Captain in the southeast section of the Hockley Valley, and with Laurence Christie teaching him, Dave says he could not have had a better mentor. He was obviously well-taught; his Quadrant Leader Dave Moule says that this section is always in excellent shape and his trail reports are always in on time. What more could any Quadrant Leader wish for? Dave has spent many joyous hours helping with trail building or maintenance in the Peninsula, Sydenham, Beaver Valley, Dufferin Hi-Lands and Caledon Hills sections. Other volunteer Club activities included painting fences for municipalities, pruning and selling Christmas trees, planting conifer and deciduous trees, and leading the odd hike or two for the Tuesday Hikers. As well, he co-edited the Caledon Hills history collec- 8

9 tion for its th anniversary. In 2012, Dave was very proud to receive the Club s Barry Westhouse Award for long-term dedication and commitment to Trail Maintenance and Development. During this time Dave also completed a Bruce Trail end-to-end with good friend Phil Kidston. They started with a group of eight, but only Dave and Phil finished. It had taken them 13 years! When asked about favourite memories Dave first mentions watching Dave Moule paint blazes freehand - a real artist. Then he mentions Dave Sarginson (another Quadrant Leader) building bridges in the Hockley Valley a true craftsman. Next he tells of swapping stories of long-distance hiking in England with Trevor Stock at potluck suppers. Finally he mentions helping to build the Ross McLean Side Trail in the Sydenham section. Dave says that he likes to work with a rake at the rear of any work party. He remembers that it was such a pleasure to go back over that side trail at the end of the day and admire our work. Dave says what many trail workers feel. It is exhilarating to think that one is adding to such a major hiking trail. When asked about his hopes and vision for the Bruce Trail in the next decade, Dave shares ideas with which many of our active volunteers will sympathize. First is that the volunteer base for trail maintenance will have significantly increased. Next is that the meaning of Conservancy will be fully understood by members, and the BTC will have a higher profile among the citizens of Ontario. The third wish is that the government and the BTC will cooperate more fully...to get our children out into Nature. Finally he hopes that in ten years the Trail will be 75% secure. At the conclusion of our interview, Dave summarizes: Volunteering for the BTC continues to be a fulfilling activity as I get close to my 77 th birthday. It has been a long journey since Dave joined some 45 years ago, but along the way he has contributed significantly to the hiking trails of Ontario. We are grateful. Jim Graham, Dennis Gallant, Dave Hull, Fred Nix, Paul Robinson, Norm Randle, Dave Sarginson, David Weicker and Peter Leeney Trailblazers 9

10 Earth Day 2017 at the Gosling Volunteer Forest & Nature Reserve and Passing of the BTC s 50th Anniversary Baton Thank you to Christine Elliott, Gary Hall, David Lamb & Egis Zeromskis for providing our Earth Day photos. 10

11 Earth Day 2017 at the Gosling Volunteer Forest & Nature Reserve and Passing of the BTC s 50th Anniversary Baton Did You Know? This edition of the Caledon Comment has a lot of pictures. If you received the paper edition most pictures are in black and white. If you switch to the electronic method of delivery, we will send you this edition and all future editions electronically and you will be able to enjoy all the pictures in full colour. Just contact the editor to make the change and receive this issue in full colour too. 11

12 Join Members of the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club & Friends for a Film Screening Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees Sunday Oct 15 th 2:30 pm Gorge Cinema, 43 Mill St W., Elora Beth Gilhespy, Bruce Trail Conservancy CEO, opens the program with stunning visuals highlighting the over 11,000 acres of Niagara Escarpment land that the BTC has preserved for future generations. And then in this Canadian film, narrated by Gordon Pinsent - We follow visionary scientist, conservationist and author, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, on her journey to the most beautiful forests of the northern hemisphere. From the sacred sugi and cedar wood forests of Japan, the ancient Raheen Wood of Ireland, the walnut and redwood trees of America, to the great boreal forest of Canada, Beresford-Kroeger tells us the amazing stories behind the history and legacy of these ancient forests while also explaining the science of trees and the irreplaceable roles they play in protecting and feeding the planet. This film sold out in Winnipeg for 8 weeks!! To guarantee your seat in the Gorge Cinema, please register with Janice at janicedon86@gmail.com. Seating is limited. Admission by donation. Donations to the Bruce Trail Conservancy Escarpment Legacy Campaign gratefully accepted in advance or at the door.* 40% of the Bruce Trail corridor is still vulnerable to development. Your donation will help the BTC secure a conservation corridor along the Niagara Escarpment containing the Bruce Trail. *After you receive your registration confirmation for the film showing, you may wish to make your donation in advance via cheque payable to the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club and mailed to Jean Kerins, 244 Queens Drive, Toronto, M9N 2H7 or bring your donation to the theatre in an envelope. In either case, please include a note with your name, complete mailing address, phone number and e mail address. Donations of $10 or more will receive a charitable gift income tax receipt. (If we don t have your correct address, we cannot send you an income tax receipt!) Additional Brunch Option CHBTC member Sallie Smyth has generously opened her Elora riverside home for a delightful brunch at 11:30 am. Numbers are limited - to attend the brunch, please advise Janice janicedon86@gmail.com. (Brunch tickets: $25 each - includes a $10 donation to the BTC with a $10 charitable gift income tax receipt.) Note: There is some public parking in Elora, on Metcalfe St., just steps across the bridge from the Gorge Cinema. Otherwise, street parking. We encourage car-pooling to this event. Note: Please be at the Gorge Cinema at 2:10 pm so that all can be seated for a 2:30 pm sharp start time! (Event completes at 4:30 pm.) Climate change is happening. What can we do about it? It will start with a shovel and an acorn, but we might just change the world. Diana Beresford-Kroeger 12

13 Fred Somerville, our club vice-president and owner of Somerville Nurseries in Everett, demonstrates how to prune one of our Christmas trees at Hockleycrest Farm. Also pictured is John Maxwell, long time tree pruner extraordinaire. And a very special thank you to Fred and Somerville Nurseries for donating trees to plant at our Earth Day celebrations. SOMERVILLE NURSERIES A GREAT CORPORATE CITIZEN CHRISTMAS TREE PRUNING HELP NEEDED Each June and July we need to prune our Christmas trees so they are the perfect shape when we sell them each December. Our Christmas tree sales are one of the club s biggest fundraisers, and have raised over $30,000 to date. We will be pruning at the end of June and in mid July this year and we could use your help. So when you see the request, hop in your car and come on out! Full details will be available on our website, caledonbrucetrail.org, in cale-news and on social media. 13

14 HIKING INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES The hike listings in the Caledon Comment have been condensed. To get the full description of each hike, you must go to the club website at Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before departure time. Bruce Trail map and kilometre references are from the 28th edition of the Bruce Trail Reference. Always carry your Ontario Health Card. Carry an adequate amount of water and food. If you have to carry an auto-injector or other medical device, make sure someone on the hike knows about it. Unless stated otherwise hiking boots are required and no dogs are allowed. Unless stated otherwise all hikes will depart at 9:30 am. Check the website regularly for updates to the hiking schedule. While there are a few portions of the Bruce Trail within conservation areas that are wheelchair accessible, use of the majority of the Trail is suitable for foot traffic only. To participate in an organized hike you need to be able to complete the specified length of the hike on your own or with your own support person within the time allowed. Please refer to the hiking schedule for details. Hike ratings have been standardized across most of the Bruce Trail Clubs. Pace - Leisurely - 3km/hour or less Medium - 3 to 4 km/hour Brisk - 4 to 5 km/hour Fast - 5+ km/hour Terrain - Easy - Mostly flat and usually good footing. Moderate - Some hills and/or some poor footing. Strenuous - Hilly with steep climbs and some poor footing Thank you for following the Trail Users Code all year. Please stay on the Trail. Summer Hikes 2017 Sunday June 4, Caledon Hills Section, Hockley Valley, Map 18, 11 km loop hike at a medium pace over easy terrain. Saturday June 24: Caledon Section: Hockley Valley, Map 18, Hike #5 in the Canada 150 th Series. 12 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 10:00 am start. Sunday June 25, Caledon Hills Section, Palgrave Forest North, Map 17, 10 km loop hike at a leisurely pace over easy terrain. 10:00 am start. Saturday July 1, Caledon Hills Section, Glen Haffy, Map 17, 8 km loop hike at a leisurely pace over moderate terrain. 10:00 am start. Monday July 3, Caledon Hills Section, Hockley Valley, Map 18, 10 km "there and back" hike at a leisurely pace over moderate terrain. 10:30 am start. Saturday July 8, Dufferin Hi-Land Section, Boyne Valley, Murphy's Pinnacle & Mulmur Hills, Map 20, 15 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over strenuous terrain. 9:00 am start. (Continued on page 15) 14

15 Hiking Schedule (Continued from page 14) Saturday July 15, Dufferin Hi-Land Section, Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, Map 19, 13 km loop hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Saturday July 15, Toronto Section, Speyside, & Limehouse, Map 12, 15 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 9:00 am start. Saturday July 22, Caledon Hills Section, Glen Haffy, Map 17, Hike #3 in the Canada 150 th Series, 11 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 10:00 am start. Monday August 7, Caledon Hills Section, Hockley Valley & Glen Haffy, Map 17 & 18, 10 km "there and back" hike at a leisurely pace over moderate terrain am start. TRAIL CLOSED - NOT by Joan Richard Since last fall, I've received a few complaints about a Trail Closed sign on the trail south of Coolihans. Actually it's not on the trail. People have missed a right turn about 10 metres back. The Bruce Trail is not closed, you've missed it. The sign is just past the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail junction with our trail. We have removed an unnecessary stile, since the fence is only a few metres long, and have re-routed around the fence. The trail closed area was never our trail, but is the road allowance going into the valley. The sign belongs to Toronto Regional Conservation Authority which is the landowner and which manages the property since the stream at the bottom flows into the Humber River. Saturday August 12, Iroquoia Section, Iroquoia, Waterdown, Map 9, 12 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 9:00 am start. No refreshment stop afterwards. We Love Hikers! Daily fresh produce Excellent selection of meats Fresh baked buns and breads Store-made deli sandwiches and hot table Only a 4-minute walk south of the Caledon Trailway on Airport Road in Caledon East (Continued on page 18) 15

16 SUMMER TUESDAY HIKES 2017 FULL HIKE DESCRIPTIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CLUB WEBSITE AT Tuesday June 6: Niagara Section, St. Catharines, Maps 2/3. One of the 50 in the Fiftieth series. A 15 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday August 15: Grand Valley Trail Association, Brantford area, GVT map 7/8. A 13 km loop hike at a medium pace over easy terrain. Tuesday June 13: Dufferin Hi-Land Section, Boyne Valley, Map 20. A 12 km loop hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday June 20: Urban Guelph. An 8 km loop hike at a medium pace over easy terrain. Tuesday June 27: Toronto Section, Terra Cotta to Scotsdale Farm, Maps 13/14. A 14 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday July 4: Iroquoia Section, Crawford Lake, Map 11. A 13 km loop hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday July 11: Iroquoia Section, Crawford Lake & Nassagaweya Canyon, Map 11. A 10 km loop hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 10:00 am start. Tuesday August 22: Caledon Hills Section, Hockley Valley, Map 18. One of the 50 in the Fiftieth series. A 16 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday August 29: Rockwood Conservation Area. A 10 km loop hike at a leisurely pace over easy terrain. Sawyers Run Amok! The conservationist in us is aghast to see the amount of trees cut along the trail, and any hiker would assume that Bruce Trail sawyers have been running amok. It's not us, it's Toronto Regional Conservation Authority who are cutting ash trees because of the infestation of emerald ash borer. This location is our beloved Dingle, south of Coolihans. Tuesday July 18: Caledon Hills Section, Forks of the Credit, Maps 14/15. Hike # 1 of Canada s 150 th Series. An 11 km loop hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday July 25: Iroquoia Section: Smokey Hollow to Royal Botanical Gardens, Map 9. A 10 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday August 1: Caledon Hills Section, Glen Haffy, Map 17. Hike #3 of Canada s 150 th Series. An 11 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. Tuesday August 8: Caledon Hills Section, Palgrave Side Trail, Map 17. An 11 km shuttle hike at a medium pace over moderate terrain. 10:00 am start. 16

17 Comfortable Hiking Holidays 1 (866) info@letshike.com MACHU PICCHU September 15 to 27, 2017 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.) INTRODUCING THE C.H.H. ADVENTURE COLLECTION The perfect answer for those who love hiking holidays but wouldn t mind a few other activities as well. Our C.H.H. Adventure Collection caters to your love of adventure and the outdoors, but we've expanded the focus to also include other active pursuits. You will likely try an activity you ve never tried before! NORTHERN LIGHTS NORWAY Capture some of the most fascinating and fun adventures Norway is known for like cross-country skiing, dog-sledding and snowmobiling plus Mother Nature's lightshow - the Aurora Borealis (a.k.a. the Northern Lights). Home base is Tromso - one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. Also visit the capital, Oslo, for a little cultural exploration. Part of the Adventure Collection. MARITIMES ROAD TRIP Experience the world's highest tides at the Hopewell Rocks in NB; meet Anne of Green Gables and build sandcastles in PEI; celebrate Canada Day in Halifax, NS. Plus lots more activities from cycling to hiking, and you could conceivably eat lobster every day of this trip if you tried! Part of the Adventure Collection. TICO # Norm and Jon Randle Create Something That Will Still Be Enjoyed on the BTC s 150th Anniversary Norm Randle and his son Jon spent some together time over the winter creating this beautiful new bench for the club. Norm writes: The mission for this project was to implement environmentally responsible practices, functionality and natural aesthetics. To begin, the same fallen white cedar from Hockley Valley was used for both the donor post and the new bench. For the bench we adopted a preservation technique known as Yakisugi, more commonly referred to in the west as Shou Sugi Ban or charred cedar. This is a centuries old method used in Japan to preserve and protect wood from rot, bugs, fire and the elements. The log was first planked and the bench components were charred and then that layer of burnt wood was brushed. After washing the wood we sealed the bench with natural tree oil which hardens the surface. With the use of Shou Sugi Ban you and the next generations of hikers can sit and take in the view for 80 to 100 years or more! 17 Taylor-Made Bed & Breakfast Come and enjoy some of the best nature has to offer Doug and Diana would like to welcome you 31 Bryon St. Lion s Head, On

18 Spring 2017 Bed & Breakfast Hikes Monday, June 19: Beaver Valley Section, Kolopore Uplands and Duncan Crevice Caves, Map 25, This 10.5 km hike will take about 5 hours to allow for time to explore the caves and a lunch stop. The hike will be at a leisurely pace over moderate terrain. There is no drop-out and no dogs please. Depart: a.m. from km Please arrive at least 15 minutes before departure to sign the waiver sheet. Directions: From Shelburne, take Dufferin Road 124 North to Regional Road 4, approximately 30 km. Turn west (left) onto Grey Road 4 for approx. 10 km and then north (right) onto Grey Road 2. Continue north for 12 km. to Sideroad 9 and turn west (left). The road curves left (south) at the 10 th line. Continue on this road for approximately 1 km to the parking area at km 27.9 on the east side of the road. Please have a copy of Map 25 for reference. Hike Description: We will begin our hike exploring the Metcalfe Crevice Side Trail and then join the Chuck Grant Side Trail to connect at the main Trail at km to Pinnacle Rock and then loop back to our parking area. Tuesday June 20: Beaver Valley/ Blue Mountain Sections, Gertler Memorial Loree Forset, Map 24, This 9km hike will take approximately 3 hours and will be at a leisurely pace over easy terrain. No dropout and no dogs please. Depart: a.m. from the parking lot on 21 st Sideroad, east of the 6 th line. This leads to a dirt road which gives access to the forest. Directions: From Grey Road 2, go to Victoria Corners and turn right (east) onto the 21 st Sideroad. Continue for 5 km. to the parking area on the north side of the road. The parking area is located between km 4.2 and km 8.4. Hike Description: We will hike part of the Forest and along the top of Blue Mountains and return to the parking lot. Dinner arrangements for Monday evening in the Thornbury area are pending. Hike Leaders: Louise Carberry louise.carberry@rogers.com and Marilyn Ross marilyn76@rogers.com Please register with Louise Carberry no later than June 1 st. 18

19 MEMORIES OF JUNE 10, 1967 THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BRUCE TRAIL by Ross McLean So much had happened in such a short time. The idea of a hiking trail along the Niagara Escarpment had only been broached in Philip Gosling painted the first blaze in 1962, and within five years the completed Trail was ready to be opened. In the spring of 1967 Caledon Hills Club volunteers scrambled to complete the trail construction. The Caledon Comment from that spring told of work parties at both ends of its section. (Remember that the club had been founded only in 1964, and later had to adopt the section north of highway 9 when a proposed club in Orangeville never materialized.) The official opening of the Bruce Trail was ready for June 10, 1967 in Tobermory. Invitations to all members were mailed out and included a list of accommodations in the area. Of the 18 cottages and motels, the cheapest was $3.00 for the night, and the most expensive was a four bedroom cottage, fully equipped, for $ The ceremonies began at 2:00 pm overlooking Little Tub Harbour. The Trail was officially opened by the Hon. Rene Brunelle, Minister of Lands and Forests for the provincial government. In his speech, he promised government support for the Trail and thanked all the volunteers for their contribution. Then Tom East, president of the Caledon Hills Club and later president of the BTA, presented Mr. Brunelle with a leather-bound copy of the Guidebook for the completed Trail. The ceremony ended with the cutting of a ribbon by Mr. Brunelle to mark the official opening. The September 1967 report in the Caledon Comment mentioned that Philip Gosling, our pastpresident and former full-time Trail Director was among the platform party, and many members of our club, including almost the entire executive were present. Hundreds of people watched the ceremony. Following, as described in the day s program, was a short hike at the northern end of the Trail. At least 265 people participated. The hike, which followed an extremely rugged piece of the Trail along the shoreline, occurred in conditions complicated by rain, and took most people at least three hours to complete. Then at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Hall there was a showing of slides and a film about the Trail. Following that at 9:00 p.m. was a Celebration Dance. The invitations, by the way, had stated that the dress for the day was to be informal: hiking clothes for all occasions except dancing. Admission for the dance was 50 cents each! On the Sunday, hikes were scheduled for each of the three Peninsula Clubs: the Peninsula, Lion s Head and the Lower Bruce. (Approximately fifteen years later those three clubs were consolidated into one.) The Caledon Comment article concluded with thanks to the generosity of landowners who had given permission for the Trail to cross their property, and to the many volunteers who had given their time to build the Trail. This newsletter report is unnamed but was probably written by Tom East. The article finishes with a plea for continuing support: This is no time to rest on our laurels To keep the Trail in good shape will require regular maintenance work. It was mentioned that in several parts of the Caledon Hills section a better route can be found (today called the optimum route) and there was a need for campsites at 8 to 10 mile intervals. These needs, of course, still exist today. In 1967 the Trail was opened to great enthusiasm. Today, exactly fifty years later, public support continues and it is with equally great enthusiasm we will all meet again at Tobermory to celebrate 50 years of the Bruce Trail. *JOIN IN THE BTC 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT TOBERMORY ON JUNE 10, 2017* 19

20 Happy Members at the Northern Cairn in Tobermory over the Years 20

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22 STORIES OF THE CAIRN AT TOBERMORY By Ross McLean One of the most iconic symbols of the Bruce Trail is the cairn at Little Tub Harbor in Tobermory. For the end-to-end hiker it represents the achievement of the goal of completing the Trail. Details of its creation are becoming lost in the mists of time, and this account hopefully will make this story from 1967 an ongoing part of the Bruce Trail s history. Much of the credit for the creation of the cairn must go to Ron Gatis of Colpoy s Bay, one of the pioneers of the Trail. Indeed, Ron attended the very first organizational club meeting in Toronto and shortly afterwards arranged a gathering in Wiarton at the old Arlington Hotel. It was Ron who made the key arrangements with Ruth Arnsberger to design the cairn, and with Ivan Lemcke of Barrow Bay to build it. As well, Grif Ebel of Ebel Quarries just north of Wiarton, agreed to donate the symbolic free-standing arrow which graces the cairn. Ruth Arnsberger was an artist who lived on the escarpment overlooking Colpoy s Bay. She had come from Norway in the 1950s and had discovered the Bruce Peninsula. As she said, the attraction was so intense that she never left! She was paid the grand sum of $50 for her design work and she considered it one of her greatest achievements. A full-scale design of the cairn graced her living room until her death. Ivan Lemcke and his wife lived in Barrow Bay. He was one of the pioneer trail builders in the area, and owned the property which now hosts the cottages of Rush Cove. He was a stonemason and with Ron Gatis went searching for the rocks with which to build the cairn. The stones came from the Oliphant area and were trucked to the building site at Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory. Ivan had planned to begin the building on a Monday, and they brought the rocks north the preceding week and covered them with a tarpaulin. But much to their surprise, when they arrived after the weekend, all the rocks were gone. A little searching found them 30 feet deep in the harbour. Speculation suggested that the teenagers of Tobermory had enjoyed a weekend party! It had been hoped to have the cairn completed for the June 10, 1967 opening. But Ron and Ivan had to return to the west side of the Peninsula for more materials and the unveiling was delayed until August to coincide with the start of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal winners hike. On the day of the opening, Lord and Lady Hunt were present to participate in the hike. What happened has become part of the Bruce Trail s lore. (See Page 7 for more about the Duke of Edinburgh hike.) For a stage, a hay wagon was used. It was a flat rack with its end projecting far over the axles. Too many people climbed on for the opening ceremonies and it suddenly tilted, nearly throwing guests to the ground. They all scrambled to the high side and, after a good laugh, the proceedings were ready to begin. Lord Hunt, who had managed the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest confessed that I always was afraid of heights and now I am terrified. From here, he and his wife were joining the hike for the first three days. When you visit Tobermory, look at the cairn with the names of the Commonwealth participants on that demanding hike. Also, look at its back, and at the bottom see the small plaque that acknowledges the role of Ruth Arnsberger and Ivan Lemcke in the creation of the cairn. Their contributions should remain vivid in our memory. Did You Know? Ross McLean, a long-time member of the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club contributed the volunteer profiles and historical articles that appear in this issue of the Caledon Comment. Thank you Ross, for striving so diligently to keep the history of the Bruce Trail alive and vibrant. Future generations will be forever grateful for the work that you do. Ross cutting the ribbon to officially open the Side Trail named in his honour in the Sydenham Section. 22

23 Save the Date Sunday, June 4th Saturday, June 10th June 19 & 20 September 22,23,24 Sunday, October 1st October 7,8,9 Sunday, October 15th Sunday, December 3rd Volunteer Appreciation Picnic at the St Francis Centre BTC 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Tobermory Bed and Breakfast Hikes BTC 50th AGM hosted by the Toronto Club in Milton Bruce Trail Day Caledon Thanksgiving End-2-End Hikes Lunch and a Movie Fundraiser at the Gorge Cinema, Elora Winter Hike and Pot Luck 23

24 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic ** New Location ** St. Francis Centre Highway 9 (About 1km east of Airport Road & Highway 9 intersection) Sunday June 4, :00 am Enjoy a local hike 12:00 noon Social Time 12:30 pm Pot Luck Lunch 1:30 pm - Presentation of Club Awards Isabel East Award Barry Westhouse Award Ross McLean Award Junior Achievement Award Friends and family are welcome. And remember to bring your own cutlery, dishes and lawn chairs. RSVP to Colleen Darrell colleen.darrell@gmail.com or Bruce Trail Conservancy Mission Statement The Bruce Trail Conservancy is a charitable organization committed to establishing a conservation corridor containing a public footpath along the Niagara Escarpment, in order to protect its natural ecosystems and to promote environmentally responsible public access to this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Thank You for Receiving Your Caledon Comment Electronically. Return undeliverable copies to: The Bruce Trail Conservancy P.O. Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9