June 2023
This edition of E-Notes delivers sunshine to all! Here are the stories we lined up for you this month:
- Walking together on the Land: Read Lynn McFerran's report about a recent indigenous-led hike she helped organize.
- New badges: Not just one, not just two, but three new badges to be earned. Find out how you can add to your stash.
- Soggy start for newly initiated hikers: Hiker Initiation Program participants learned lots, including the lesson that we hike in all kinds of weather!
- We Appreciate our Volunteers: June 4 is the date for our Volunteer Appreciation Event. If you have volunteered for the club, we want to see you!
- Spring Work Parties: Speaking of volunteers, here's a chance to help with mustard garlic pulls and more
- Humans of the Bruce Trail - Judy Chan: We introduce you to Judy Chan, who volunteers on our social media team
- Ask Us Anything: Our columnist, Peter Leeney, gives suggestions for introducing children to hiking
- Hiking in Quebec: Have you ever considered hiking in our next-door province? Gayle Laws gives you lots of reasons to do so.
- Relaxed Hiking Holiday Weekends; Jeanette Vincent continues her late husband's legacy with two weekend outings in Pennsylvania
- Biodiversity Bus Hike: We're highlighting this hike for the benefit of those who are new to hiking and to learning about the escarpment, including non-members
- Mark Your Calendars: Bus and coach hikes coming up in the next weeks and months
Happy June, everyone.
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Walking Together on the Land – an Indigenous-Led Hike
By Lynn McFerran
 On Saturday May 6th Alan Colley of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours led a keen group of 25 hikers along the Roberts Side trail at Silver Creek Conservation Authority, teaching them how the Indigenous People cared for nature, plants and wildlife, and what we can learn from working together.
We came for all sorts of reasons. In my case, as chair of the Biodiversity Team, I wanted to know more about how Indigenous people relate to the land. We had a student who had taken an indigenous literature course, and an artist looking for inspiration for her next paintings. Some used the hike to collect requirements for the new Naturalist Badge.
Before the hike began, Alan, who is also known as Whooping Crane and is a member of the Wolf Clan, encouraged the group to share a few words about our cultural backgrounds. Learning about the others in attendance started us on an insightful and reflective note. A takeaway was that though we come from different backgrounds, we are all connected to the land in our own ways.
Alan went on to discuss traditional Indigenous teachings about land, air, fire and water using the 4 colours of the medicine wheel: black, white, yellow and red. We then carried this through our walk as we learned about the first peoples of this area (the Mississaugas of the Credit) and the local flora and fauna. Alan was full of surprising bits of knowledge about the land - I hadn't anticipated that we could be sampling a few native plants as part of our education. I did not know that garlic mustard was a bitter green we could eat or that young Solomon Seal stems taste like asparagus!
All along our walk, Alan shared insights on Indigenous beliefs around the many plants and animals that live here and have supported communities for generations. He also shared details of his work as an educator with Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours, and as an Indigenous activist in his community. He was absolutely full of knowledge, and very encouraging towards members of the group who wanted to learn more about Indigenous practices and ways to connect with nature.
I left with a bigger appreciation for what the earth provides for us and a newly strengthened desire to protect our natural surroundings. It seems there was no end to the wisdom that Alan was willing to share with us, and I cannot wait to participate in another hike with him.
Notes: The Biodiversity Team is planning a second hike, much like this one, for the fall season. Keep an eye on the Hike Schedule in several months time. For more information about Alan Colley and Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours, click here. To learn more about Indigenous values as they relate to the Niagara escarpment, watch this BTC webinar: “Gchi Bimadinaadinaa, The Great Cliff that Runs Along“ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cnnEpHCNc.
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Announcing: Three NEW Club badges!
Looking for a new challenge? Want to do something fun with the kids or grandchildren? Check out our updated badge page! The TBTC is excited to announce the launch of three new badges.
 At the AGM we launched our iNaturalist badge. This badge is a fun way to help kids learn about nature, and fun for adults too. Don’t forget – all observations submitted must be from the Toronto Section of the trail.
Not a fan of mud, roots, rocks and long drives? Our new Urban Badge lets you earn a badge by exploring fantastic trails right in the City of Toronto.  We’ve drawn up a 74 km urban circuit that takes you through some of Toronto’s best trails, including the Humber River Trail, the Don River Trail, the Waterfront Trail as well as the Finch Corridor. Check out our website for the route. We plan to help you earn this badge through hikes posted on the hiking calendar, but you can also earn it independently.
 The last badge in this set, the Fund-raiser End-to-End badge, is a true collector’s item. Designed by Joe Borges, it features stunning artwork that portrays the stone bridge over Black Creek at Limehouse. This one costs more than other badges – it is intended as a fund-raiser, after all – it’s $30 for members ($40 for non-members). A unique requirement is that you cannot earn this badge on your own – you can only earn it by participating in designated group hike series in which you complete the entire Toronto Section (an example is this series beginning Sun May 28th). Note: If you are a hike leader willing to lead such a series, Tom Swales would love to hear from you.
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New Hikers Take Their First Steps at Soggy Scotsdale
 Hikers taking part in the Club’s Hiker Initiation Program (HIP) learned many valuable lessons. One they won’t soon forget is that as hikers we journey through all types of weather, including the wet and soggy kind. That’s exactly what they encountered on their introductory hikes on May 20 at Scotsdale Farm (and also in Toronto’s High Park).
Earlier the same week, via webinar, veteran hike leader Martina Furrer had in fact encouraged everyone to hike the trails in all seasons and all types of weather. Having the right type of equipment and clothing is key, she said. Use lightweight layers (not cotton). Long sleeves and long pants will help protect you from the sun, bugs and poison ivy. Poles can help with stability and ease the wear on your hips and knees. For safety, plan ahead, check trail closures and parking registrations, and most importantly, check the weather, she added.
Your backpack should contain a first aid kit, sunscreen, whistle, bug repellent/bug mesh, duct tape, food and water tablets, raingear, flashlight and moleskin for blisters. She suggested downloading the Bruce Trail app and carrying a paper copy of the map as well. Take lots of water with you: for most group hikes, two litres of water is recommended.
George Lennon, from the Club’s Biodiversity Team, talked about biodiversity on the trail, reminding his class that the founders wanted to protect and enhance the trail for others. The Niagara Escarpment represents the largest forest tract of land in the Province (14,000 acres). It includes micro-climates and ecological niches, he said. For example, the Bruce Trail contains 1,500 species of plants, 350 types of bird species and 53 different mammals. The Toronto Club’s biodiversity team restores habitats, removes invasive species and educates hikers on the ecology of the trail.
Hike Director Tom Swales described the different types of hikes, such as bus hikes, urban walks, car hikes and winter coach hikes. The hike schedule, posted on the BTC website, lets everyone see what hikes offered by our own Club as well as the other 8 Clubs with the Bruce Trail Conservancy, he said. The urban and car hikes are free, and there is a charge for the bus and coach hikes to cover transportation costs.
Those with more questions can always contact the Club at info@torontobrucetrailclub.org.
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Volunteer Appreciation Event June 4
 Next Sunday, June 4th, the Club will host a special appreciation event for our 200-plus members who give their time as volunteers. It will be held at Terra Cotta Conservation Area with a picnic lunch at noon, followed by a social time and optional hikes at the park.
Our volunteers handle so many different duties, as hike leaders, trail captains, and land stewards. They sit on boards and committees, plan events, conduct public relations campaigns, create badge programs, remove invasive species and plant trees (and much more!).
If you are currently a volunteer and haven’t yet RSVP’d, or want more information, you can contact jhikes@outlook.com
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Volunteer Opportunity: Spring Work Parties
 The Biodiversity team tells us they would love to see new volunteers join the dedicated crew of regulars at spring work parties. The team is conducting garlic mustard pulls on the Ridge Side Trail and along the Duff Pit Side Trail. They will also weed wildflower plots on the Springle property north of Limehouse, remove fencing, cut grass, and check the new American Chestnut trees planted last year. Work parties are active from May 17 to June 7. The remaining scheduled dates (some weekend, some weekdays) are listed below. If you want to take part, contact
Rose-Mary Mitter, Biodiversity Team, tbtcbiodiversity@gmail.com.
Work Party Schedule (Work parties meet at 10 AM and finish at 2 PM):
May 31 (Wed) Springle, American Chestnuts, 5-10 Volunteers
We will check on the American Chestnut trees planted last fall. We'll inventory how many survived, make sure the grass is cut back to give them some space to grow and ensure the tree guards are properly placed to prevent the deer from eating the tips.
Jun 3 (Sat) Speyside Woods property, 5-15 Volunteers
A colony of Scots Pine was found here last year and we will start work to remove smaller to medium size (less than 10') trees we find. The larger trees will be left for a chainsaw crew. You'll be using loppers and bow saws as these trees will for the most part be too large to just pull out. Bring gloves. We will bring loppers, bow saws, and any other equipment needed
Jun 7 (Wed) Speyside Woods property, 5-15 Volunteers
We will continue with clearing Scots Pine from this location.
Rain Days - June 11 (Sun) June 14 (Wed) and June 17 (Sat)
If a work party is cancelled due to heavy rain or other circumstance, we will try to reschedule the work to be done on these dates.
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Humans of the Bruce Trail, profiling Judy Chan
On a regular basis, we will introduce you to members of the Club. We are, after all, humans of the Bruce Trail, joined by our love of the outdoors, and hiking. This month we are featuring Judy Chan.
 Where do you live?
Toronto!
Why did you become a member of the Club?
Hiking on the Bruce Trail has created so many incredible memories for me and has had such a positive impact on my mental and physical well-being. It's made me believe that I'm capable of things that I never thought I could be. It was important to me to help protect these outdoor spaces, and to give back to the community that takes care of the trail, so I started volunteering with the TBTC (I help manage our social media). I have met such a warm and inspiring group of people, and it motivated me to become a member.
Most memorable outdoor experience?
Camping in Monument Valley and watching the sun rise over the brilliant red rocks. Something shifted inside me that day, and I knew that the pursuit of adventure was something that I would carry with me for my whole life.
Favourite words to live by?
"The world is big, and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark." - John Muir
Hobbies and interests?
Anything that gets me outside, so I love hiking and camping of course. My other loves - running, reading, music, cooking, and crocheting.
Most admired person and why?
My parents. They grew up in rural China with absolutely nothing, not even running water. My dad arrived in Vancouver with $20 in his pocket and a single suitcase, and they built a life for themselves. I recall stories of my mom walking to work because they couldn't afford the TTC fare. They taught me values like resilience, the value of hard work, and self-sufficiency, and these are things that I carry with me every day. I'm incredibly privileged to have grown up the way that I did, and I'm grateful to them for all of the sacrifices they made along the way to ensure we would lead rich and fulfilling lives.
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Questions about hiking? Our E-Notes columnist, Peter Leeney, has the answers.
Q: How do I get my children engaged in hiking? Do you have suggestions for trails that children will enjoy?
A: Adults hiking have come to accept that there will be long stretches of trees, rocks, and mud. Children often need a bit more variety. Here are some interesting locations in the Toronto section of the Bruce Trail, along with one in the Caledon section, that lend themselves to shorter hikes.
Crawford Lake has a small (but very deep) lake with a boardwalk that goes around it. The trails near the lake have some large and interesting wooden carvings. The Conservation Area has three reconstructed 15th Century Longhouses and an Indigenous Garden.
Limehouse – Follow a loop of about four kilometers on the main Bruce Trail and the Black Creek Side Trail. The Trail passes old lime kilns and other structures from the late 19th Century. And of course, you can carefully climb up (or down) through “Hole in the Wall”.
Silver Creek / Scotsdale Farm – Several side trails allow loops of four to ten km with long sections of board walk.
The Cheltenham Badlands are an interesting and unique geographical feature. There is a viewing platform and about 1.5 km of the Bruce Trail.
Forks of the Credit (Caledon Section) – A scenic walk to a long staircase down to the falls.
 Children sometimes are interested in plants and birds along the trail. The “iNaturalist” app can provide independent expertise. If more persuasion is needed, there is a badge to be earned – in fact, several badges. Toronto Club has a “Youth Badge” that requires a hike of at least 3 km or one hour.
 Iroquoia Club offers a “Jr Hiker " program that also requires hikes of 3 km. Kids who complete hikes in each of the 4 seasons qualify for the title of Junior Hiker. Detailed requirements can be found on the Club websites.
Do you have a question about hiking? Submit it to info@torontobrucetrailclub.com.
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La Belle Province offers unique hiking adventures
 The Gaspé area in Quebec, a peninsula along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, offers an abundance of terrific hiking trails with amazing views, unique birding and whale watching, plus the charm of small villages. Gayle Laws, Burlington resident and hike leader for the Iroquoia Club as well as tour planner and tour director with Deluxe Hiking, led a group of 15 hikers on 9 days of hiking in this area in 2022. (She is pictured here with her husband, who is imitating the gannets at Perce Rock.)
“As a hike leader, I love being in nature, and my favourite hikes are those by the water and those that climb manageable elevations to oversee beautiful rolling hills,” says Gayle. “The town of Gaspé and surrounding area is so beautiful and pristine. We actually saw a baby bear on one of our hikes in a provincial park—scurrying away thank goodness! And a porcupine on the trail, sunning itself.” (A park ranger was present when sighting the bear, so completely safe for all participants.) Gayle also speaks glowingly about local restaurants that provide French cuisine. “It is like going to Europe without getting on a plane” Gayle says, noting some basic French helps with reading the menus.
Parks in Quebec are all beautifully maintained, according to Gayle. Gaspé National Park has a wide range of trails to explore – some easy and others challenging – and it is worth the climb to see the breathtaking views. The park includes the Gite du Mont-Albert Lodge, as well as the Mi’kmaq Interpretative Centre where visitors can rediscover this important part of our nation’s past. The centre includes a recreation of a traditional village, circa 17th century.
Another highlight of the hiking trip was a boat ride to Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock Migratory Bird Sanctuary. From the boat, participants were able to observe thousands of gannets, an incredible sea bird that is protected and unique to the area, as well as Atlantic puffins, seals and whales.
This September, Deluxe Hiking is offering a small group hiking trip to Saguenay, beginning and ending in the cultural and political heart of the province, Québec City. In between, the tour explores the historic region of Lac St. Jean, the fjords of the Saguenay River, the whale watching capital, Tadoussac, and the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Gayle will also be leading a small group of hikers in the Eastern Townships this September; dates will be chosen to take in the peak fall colours.
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Greg's Legacy continues...Jeanette Vincent’s Relaxed Hiking Holiday Weekends - 2023
 These hiking weekends are part of the legacy of Greg Vincent, long-time hike leader and hiking enthusiast. The Susquehannock Lodge & Trail Centre is located in Potter County, Pennsylvania, 2.5 hours south of Buffalo. There is no agriculture or industry in the area, just great trails. Daily hikes of 10 to 15 km are led through hardwood forest, many beside mountain streams. The lodge provides comfortable accommodation & excellent meals. Stay as many days as you wish.
CANADA DAY—Friday June 30 to Wednesday July 5 - Celebrate Canada Day and 4th of July at the Lodge. Close by at the Lumber Museum – The Bark Peelers’ Festival, a must see! Arrive June 30 or July 1 and stay as many days as you wish.
THANKSGIVING—Thursday Oct 5 to Monday Oct 9: The colors are at their peak and the walking is great. Ed outdoes himself with a full turkey dinner. Arrive Oct 5 or 6.
USD Price $86 (shared bath), $90 (private bath, double), $116 (private bath, single) per person per day with breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, and lodging. For information and driving directions—Jeanette Vincent vincentjeanette1604@gmail.com or 519-588-5916. For reservation call Carol 814-435-2163, susquelgcarol@penn.com. www.susquehannock-lodge.com
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Nature is the best teacher - Bus Hike
 E-Notes is drawing special attention to this June 10 bus hike, included on the schedule of upcoming bus hike below, because of its unique character. The hike is offered by the Biodiversity Team at a special rate of $10 per person, and is open to members and non-members. Hikers will explore the Bruce Trail and learn about the Niagara Escarpment and its unique ecosystems. This is a great hike for people who are new (or new-ish) to hiking, as it involves a variety of shorter hikes of 3-5 km each. Register now. Spots are filling up quickly.
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Mark your calendars
 Upcoming Bus Hikes
Sat June 3: Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (waitlist)
Sat June 10: Nature is the best teacher
Sat June 17: Mount Nemo
Sat June 24: Great Esker Side Trail
July 8: Pathways to Port Dover
July 15: Nassagaweya Canyon
July 29: Palgrave Forest and Wildlife Area
Upcoming Coach Trips
Sat July 22 – Silent Lake Provincial Park
Fri September 22 to Sun September 24 – Saugeen Peninsula Hiking Weekend
For the latest in all our hikes (bus hikes, car hikes, urban hikes and coach hikes), check the Hiking Calendar.
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