February 2024
Hello, Bruce Trail supporters and friends. We're back with a terrific slate of stories. Here's what you'll find this month:
- 40 days and 40 hikes on the Bruce Trail: There's a new book about hikes on our Trail, written by Nicola Ross. Read David Rowney's review.
- Canada's East Coast Trail: This article is bound to get you planning a trip to Newfoundland in the near future
- TBTC's Urban Hiking Program: Our urban hiking program is flourishing and becoming ever more varied, thanks to a core group of hike leaders.
- Coyotes: Do you know what to do when you encounter coyotes on the trails?
- Get to Know your Hike Leaders: We've run this feature, and we're bringing it back. This month you'll meet Lisa Lifshitz
- Will Power: Here's a thought as you consider what kind of legacy you'll leave: have you considered leaving a gift to The Bruce Trail Conservancy?
- April 21st - Our Club's AGM: We can't say it often enough - we really want to see you at our AGM. April 21st. Got it?
- Volunteer Award Nominations: A Club this great wouldn't exist without volunteers. Here's your chance to honour someone who has made a real difference
- Weekend Trips, Anyone?: We tell you about a couple of getaways with friends, built around a hiking theme. What could be better?
- Mark your Calendars: We've selected a few highlights to show you the variety of hikes in our program, even in the middle of winter.
Happy February, everyone.
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Nicola's 40 Days Takes you Back into the Bruce Trail
By David Rowney
 When I hear that there’s a new hiking book on the market, it’s impossible for me not to buy it and to consume it cover to cover. If the book has a catchy title and is about the Bruce Trail, it gets put to the top of my reading list. Nicola Ross, veteran author of the Loops & Lattes series of six Ontario hiking guides, has a great new paperback. It’s called ‘40 Days & 40 Hikes – Loving the Bruce Trail One Loop at a Time.’
Nicola is uniquely suited to write this book, which tells us of her adventures while traversing the trail via a combination of the Main Trail and Side Trails, from Queenston Heights to Tobermory. She has hiked extensively all her life and has explored and written about the Bruce Trail for decades. An award-winning writer, she is also a biologist and environmental consultant. She writes with passion and depth about the trail, its cultural history, the flora and fauna and the people she meets along on the way.
I’ve always found the Bruce Trail Reference Guide great for its maps, but I could never get much out of the written trail descriptions. In contrast, Nicola brings the Bruce Trail to life, taking us on her journey, sharing her interesting observations so you feel you are walking with her. There is a spiritual /philosophical side to her nature writing that reminds me of the John Muir quote: “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
The author hiked each of the nine sections of the trail, pointing out in detail landmarks, historical sites, and places she stayed (such as the ex-hippie’s trailer, in Singhampton, called Farmer Doug). Her daily hikes averaged over 25k and include a selection of the best side trails along with many of the main trail sections connected to these loops.
I liked reading about her research on areas of the trail that I had already travelled. Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees when we are hiking. Nicola slows the pace down so we can re-live the best parts of the trail. Each hiker has their own stories about their experiences. I enjoyed reading her personal connections to nature, to her childhood memories growing up in Caledon, other hikers she met, and her experience with Lyme Disease.
If you want to expand your knowledge of the trail, this is a very interesting and enjoyable read.
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Hike Canada’s East Coast Trail and Expect To be Wowed
 Some hiking trails will spoil you. Newfoundland’s 336k-long East Coast Trail is just one of those places. Whether you plan just a few hours on the trail, a 2-day hike or a thru hike from its start at Topsail Beach (near St. John’s) to Cappahayden in the south, the scenery will wow you.
You only have to ask the many Ontario visitors and Bruce Trail members who frequent the trail each summer, says Isabella Whalen of Tors Cove, NF. She and her husband Bill are the owners of Brown Rabbit Cabins. They host over 100 hikers per year, giving them tips on the best parts of the trail, and shuttling small groups to their daily hikes.
Brown Rabbit hiking groups are limited to 14 persons each so it is an intimate group that includes many early retired couples and also singles. “Single women feel more secure hiking with others, and with our pickup and drop-offs, we know where they are,” says Isabella. Visitors particularly appreciate the scenery, whale-watching, puffins, lighthouses and archeological dig sites, and a new bridge that overlooks the ruins of La Manche Village, she says.
Toronto Bruce Trail Club member Sue Voigtlander (shown below) spent a week exploring the trail and can’t wait to go back again. “The trail is wonderfully rugged. It’s just you in nature and the fresh air – you can hear the whales exhale, they are so close to shore."
 Along the trail you'll see towering cliffs, sea stacks, deep fjords, and a natural wave-driven geyser called the Spout. “The views are the highlights, says the Mississauga resident. Seeing the mist burn off over the water in the morning, and walking through the different ecosystems. With the ocean on one side, it’s easy to keep your bearings, and the trail is decently marked,” Sue says.
There are small villages and harbours you can stop at, and many Bed and Breakfast hosts will shuttle you to the trailhead which is never far away. Whether you are used to short hikes or a 4-5 hour trek, the trail has something for everyone, Sue says. Sue stayed at Brown Rabbit and appreciated Bill’s advice on the best trails for her to try. Back at the cabins, she loved the genuine Newfoundlander dishes provided by Isabella, such as pancakes, cod, capelin, and moose sausage.
The Whalen’s started their cabin resort in 1992. The East Coast Trail was established in 1994 with only 25 kilometres of trail. Eventually, as more trail lands were developed, more hikers were attracted to the area. By 2003 Bill and Isabella decided to expand their offerings to the hiking community. With their local knowledge of the trail and sites, they provide great advice on where to best spend your time.
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Lots to Explore with Toronto Club’s Urban Hikes
There is no lack of variety when you take to the streets, ravines and waterfront to explore the GTA’s urban geography.
TBTC Hiking Director Tom Swales says he is encouraged by the upswing in urban hikes over the past four years. COVID restrictions introduced more people to urban walks and exploring different parts of the city. The new urban hike badge has also contributed to more people hiking some of Toronto’s network of trails, says Tom. The urban hike badge concept and route was created by hike leaders Alina Lin, Brian Rideout, and Tom along with the TBTC badge committee. Alina Lin and Smadar Junkin led their series of hikes to complete the circuit and earn the badge hiking longer distances each day, while Brian Rideout led his series of hikes twice (once on Saturdays, once on Sundays) at a more moderate pace to help people earn the badge.
Popular local trails in Toronto include the Kay Gardiner Beltline Trail and the York Beltline extension which intersect with Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Moore Park Ravine, David Balfour Park, and Cedarvale Park making loops of varying lengths possible. These areas are a favorite of hike leader Danny Pivnick who takes hikers for morning hikes on those trails. The Rouge National Urban Park is another popular hiking area within the city boundaries which feels further away. Celia Ho led hikes last year exploring the southern parts of the Rouge as well as the Bob Hunter Memorial Park section in Markham. Celia is planning a future hike to the far north part of the park towards Stouffville. The Rouge National Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, Tom says.
There are many urban walks that you can take in the city. But Tom, Ginny Giraudi, and Brian Rideout also take their hikers further afield on hikes, utilizing Go Transit, to out-of-town spots such as Whitby, Port Credit, Hamilton and Newmarket.
"Hiking nearby is affordable, requiring only a transit fare, and it’s a great way to get to know Toronto and our surrounding communities,” says Tom. "Urban walking is a perfect introduction for beginners, for those looking for an easier walk or something close to home, and there is usually a social component afterwards, with an optional stop at a local eatery, pub, or coffee shop."
Our urban hikes also include themed hikes, such as Toronto cultural and graffiti hikes (with Sajedeh Zahraei), theatre hikes (with Miriam Stevens) and historical hikes. Andrew Proczek leads a number of hikes in the Mississauga and Etobicoke areas, including a hike featuring Meadowvale Village partnered with local resident and historian Terry Wilson touring the village and Terry’s miniature village.
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Recent Coyote pack sighting reminds us to be vigilant
By Charles Whitlock
 Whether out on the Bruce Trail or on an Urban Walk, we hikers are sharing the area with local wildlife, sometimes potentially dangerous. Coyote sightings have become increasingly common in urban areas. Generally, they are not naturally aggressive toward humans but when they are fed by people, they begin to lose their fear of humans and change their natural behaviour. Attacks on humans are uncommon but have been known to happen. We should not be alarmed but we should increase our awareness, apply risk mitigation, and be prepared for a potential encounter with either a lone coyote or a pack.
A hiking group on a recent evening hike encountered a pack of coyotes. Usually, the noise a group of hikers makes will scare them off but for some reason the pack wasn’t bothered. Whether encountering a lone animal or a pack, make noise, make yourselves look big, do not approach the animal, and do not block their exit. Usually, a coyote will head away from you but if they have come to associate people with a food source they may try to approach. Note that a rabid animal may also exhibit unprovoked aggression or unnatural tameness.
Some points to review:
- Coyotes’ mating season is February- March or very early spring.
- Read up on how to recognize the signs of rabies in wild animals.
- Never feed wildlife or leave scraps of human food.
- Dogs can provoke aggression in wild animals; ensure they always remain on a leash.
- Pack an appropriate first aid kit
- If the animal doesn’t move off the path, make noise, blow whistles, or air horn. Wave your arms and poles/walking sticks.
- If possible, move back and away and find another path around the animal, leaving enough distance for everyone to stay safe. Stay calm.
- If it is impossible to scare off or go around the animal, turn back.
- Inform your local wildlife authorities of any encounters. Municipalities do take account of the number of unprovoked incidences.
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Getting to Know Your Hike Leaders: Profiling Lisa Lifshitz
 The Club is re-starting a hike leader profile series so you will get to know more about our team. Today we asked Lisa Lifshitz to tell us more about herself.
When and why did you decide to become a Hike Leader?
The Bruce Trail has played a significant part in my life for over 30 years since I moved to Toronto from Montreal in 1995. I had planned to become a hike leader many years ago and even completed my training under Wayne Crockett but meeting that final car hike requirement eluded me. I started hike leader training again in the Fall of 2020 and the Toronto Club generously allowed me to complete my apprentice hikes and first aid training over two years. I became official on Dec. 30, 2022.
I became a hike leader to give back to the Club and make sure that we continue the traditions while continuing to innovate. Going hiking every weekend saved me during the COVID years so I want to pass it forward. I also want to ensure that we continue to offer a variety of hikes so that people of all ages and fitness levels feel welcome to use our trails and enjoy the benefits of being in the woods together.
What's your favourite part of the Bruce Trail, and why?
I love any part of the trail that has deep forest and tree coverage and particularly enjoy looking and listening to water- ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, you name it. I would have to say Short Hills, the areas around Murphy’s Pinnacle and parts of Hockley Valley. I prefer earthy hills rather than walking on pure rock.
What's your favourite hiking area?
While I feel as though I personally know every rock at Terra Cotta/ Palgrave Conservation Areas and Glen Haffy, I enjoy the hills of Copeland Forest and the provincial parks further north, especially Awenda, Hardy Lake, Killbear, Arrowhead, and the crown jewel, Algonquin Park.
What types of hikes do you lead?
When I was younger it was all about distance but now I just want to be relaxed and have a good time on the Trail and want others to feel the same way as I do. While I am still working on pace, I prefer 3.5-4.0 per hour and hikes between 10-13 km, depending on terrain. Lately I also discovered how much I enjoy taking pictures. I also think a social component is important, so there will always be a pub/ice-cream stop or ‘retail therapy’ component.
What is an upcoming hike that you're leading that you'd like to promote?
While not strictly speaking the Bruce Trail, I plan to go back with Nijole to do a snowshoe hike at Awenda Provincial Park in February and likely again in May for trilliums and a beach walk. I also plan to do a hike at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this Fall -it’s wonderful, has an old lighthouse and stunning views of Lake Ontario plus a marsh walk to see birds.
For the longer version of this interview, click here.
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Will Power: "I'm Remembering Both"
 The Bruce Trail has introduced millions of people to the beauty and fragility of the Niagara Escarpment. This is where precious habitat is saved and for many, where memories are made.
Yet, many people don’t realize that the Bruce Trail is not permanently secure. Roughly one third of the Bruce Trail corridor is still vulnerable to development and access is not assured.
Gifts in wills directly support our mission to preserve a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever, through the securement of land and the creation of a permanently protected natural corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
By considering a gift in your will, you can give future generations the joy of discovery on the Bruce Trail. Learn more about the power of leaving a gift in your will to the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
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Save that Date! The Toronto Club’s AGM Sunday, April 21, 2024
 The Toronto Club will be welcoming members back to another live event at the Kortright Centre on Sunday April 21, 2024. We know you won’t want to miss it! The theme for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is ‘A Sense of Belonging’.
You will have an opportunity to hike before the meeting; you'll learn about Club activities, hear from our guest speaker (see below) see old friends and make new ones, ask questions, explore volunteer opportunities, and wander the grounds of the lovely Kortright Centre.
After the morning hikes, a full lunch is offered. Check-in is at 11:00 a.m. with lunch at 11:45 a.m. Then you’ll proceed to the auditorium at 1 p.m. for the Annual Meeting.
Guest Speaker Shimeem Al-Ayash - A Sense of Belonging
 Shimeem Al-Ayash is the Volunteer and Outreach Assistant at the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC). As part of the Community Engagement team at the BTC, Shimeem works with all nine Bruce Trail Clubs to raise awareness about the Bruce Trail, encourage support for and participation in the BTC, and develop new initiatives to reach new audiences. Shimeem chairs the BTC’s inter-Club committee for Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). At our AGM, Shimeem will explore what it means to foster a sense of belonging as it relates to the Bruce Trail, drawing from her personal experiences as a newcomer to Canada and her professional roles both at the Bruce Trail Conservancy and throughout her career.
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Feb. 23 Deadline to Nominate Volunteer of the Year – 2 categories
 Thanks to some technology gremlins, our volunteer awards on-line form may not have worked properly when you sent your nominations to us from Dec. 3- January 9. Please go to our website to re-send any previous nominations. You can also check with our program coordinator: tbtc.volunteers@gmail.com.
Toronto Club Volunteer of the year nominations are due Feb. 23, 2024 and winners will be presented at our AGM in April. Access the form here.
Please think of someone you can nominate, because we know there are great people who keep our Club running so smoothly! There are two categories for volunteer of the year nominations. The Todd Bardes award is for long-standing members of the Club who have been volunteers over 5 years. The Nina Carlisle award is for volunteers who have been active within the past two years.
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Weekend Trips Coming your Way
 Easter Weekend Hiking at Susquehannock Lodge
Join TBTC Hike Leader Jeanette Vincent during the March 28 – April 1 (Easter Weekend) at Susquehannock Lodge, Pennsylvania (2.5 hours south of Buffalo). It's a great time to get some “Spring Training” on the trails! On this getaway you'll enjoy a traditional Polish Easter dinner.
Jeanette will organize daily hikes of 12-17 km a day, through hardwood forest, many beside mountain streams. This trip continues Greg Vincent’s legacy of “weekends away.” The price in US dollars is $90 (shared bath), $95 (private bath, double), $120 (private bath, single) per person per day with breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and lodging. You are responsible for your own transportation to the Lodge and booking your accommodations. Jeanette has been a hike leader for over 20 years, for the Grand Valley Trails and for the Bruce Trail Conservancy, TBTC. In the year 2000 Jeanette participated in Greg Vincent's End-to-End of the Bruce Trail along with 200 other hikers. You can contact her for more information vincentjeanette1604@gmail.com | 519-588-5916 or visit our website.
 Victoria Day weekend in the lower Bruce Peninsula (3 nights)
Join Jeanette Vincent, Brenda Menezes and David Royle from May 17-20, 2024 to explore the Lower Bruce Peninsula and enjoy the early spring flowers This is a car hike and participants will be staying and having their meals at the comfortable Evergreen Resort in Red Bay, Wiarton.
Each day we will hike the Bruce Trail and its side trails to form loops with great views of Georgian Bay and its islands. The carpet of trilliums is the best along the length of the Bruce Trail, and you will also see many other spring ephemerals. Hikes average15km/day and the trail has variable terrain including hilly and rocky sections. This outing is restricted to those staying with us at Evergreen Resort for the weekend. You are responsible for your own transportation and booking at Evergreen. Before registering at Evergreen please contact Jeanette vincentjeanette1604@gmail.com | 519-588-5916. For prices and more details, click here.
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Mark your calendars
Selected car hikes
Feb 9: Forest ecology with Adam Brylowski
Feb 11: Mono Cliffs
Selected Urban Walks
Feb 17: Graffiti art, culture and nature in Toronto
Feb 17: Cootes Paradise via GO transit
Winter Coach Program:
Feb 3: Kawartha-Nordic
Feb 10: Awenda Provincial Park
Feb 17: Horseshoe Resort
Feb 24: Mansfield Outdoor Centre
Also:
Feb 16-19: Family Day weekend in Tobermory
April 21: AGM at Kortright
For the latest in all our hikes (bus hikes, car hikes, urban hikes and coach hikes), check the Hiking Calendar.
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