August 2023
Welcome to our mid-summer edition of E-Notes. Here's what we are covering this month:
- All kinds of Hikes: You'll want to read Tom Swales' update on our hiking program, which is off to a great beginning this year.
- Bruce Trail Day 2023: A heads-up about our annual Bruce Trail Day on Sunday October 1st.
- Trail Captains needed: Is this volunteer opportunity a good fit for you and your family? We tell you what's involved.
- Humans of the Bruce Trail: In another installment in this series, we invite you to meet a fascinating family - Connie Soros and Mark Potruff and their offspring, Caroline Potruff and Matt Potruff
- Another new badge: This one, the Biodiversity Steward badge, is awarded for participating in the activities of our Biodiversity Team.
- Ask us Anything: Our columnist introduces you to Trail Angels - and who doesn't need an angel from time to time?
- Mark your Calendars: Just a few of our upcoming events, to help you keep track.
Happy August, everyone.
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TBTC's Hiking Program is thriving, says Hike Director Tom Swales
by Tom Swales
 The numbers tell the story: on just one weekend alone (Jun 17/18) there were 10 separate activities listed on the calendar - possibly an all-time record! Up to the end of June this year, 88 Car Hikes have been scheduled, as well as 72 Urban Walks, 9 Bus Hikes, and 9 Winter Coach Trips (5 of which were run). That's all in addition to the Magog, Quebec weekend. Clearly, the dedication and creativity of our Hike Leaders has resulted in an outstanding calendar of events in the first 6 months of 2023.
Car Hikes
For many, Car Hikes continue to be a preferred way of reaching the trail. Thanks to new Hike Leaders, the Club now offers greater variety of destinations and types of hikes. The destinations include more places on the Bruce Trail, something that has been requested by our members. Themed hikes include the well-received Indigenous People’s hike hosted by the Biodiversity Team, family-friendly hikes led by new Hike Leader Monica Pasquali, and nature-themed hikes. The family-friendly hikes are also ideal for people looking for a shorter, more leisurely hike.
 Over the coming months, look for multiple series of Car Hikes in which hikers can earn the new Limehouse Stone Bridge Fundraiser Badge and raise funds to support the work of the TBTC. Each Hike Leader chooses how many separate hikes it will take to complete the section, so there will be choices for hikers of different levels of ability.
In September, one of our Hike Leaders, Mohammad Aghamiri, will reach an impressive milestone: he will have led TBTC Car Hikes on 100 straight Saturdays (to be precise, he did substitute a Sunday for a Saturday once so he could attend his son's wedding). Some car hikes have involved weekend trips to the Bruce Peninsula in the Winter for snowshoeing and in Spring for orchids led by Jeanette, David, and Brenda (trips previously led by Greg Vincent). With new Hike Leaders such as Amir, Ross, and Monica joining regular Car Hike Leaders Jacquie, Al, Smadar, and Mohammad, Car Hikers are seeing a wide variety of choices.
Bus Hikes/Coach Trips
In contrast to the previous year, most of the Bus Hikes this Spring were well attended. Our newest Hike Leaders have also been stepping up in this category.
In response to requests from members for hikes of a more moderate pace and shorter distance than the regular End-to-End hikes, George & Michael will be leading a Fall series to allow hikers to complete the Blue Mountain section of the trail in this manner. I myself will be leading a similar series of hikes covering the Toronto Section, in which Bus Hike participants will also have the option to earn the new Limehouse Stone Bridge badge.
In the Fall members can look forward to two coach trips - the Saugeen Evergreen Weekend and the Algonquin Centennial Ridges trip.
Urban Walks
 Urban walks are a great way to introduce new people to hiking with the lower commitment to gear, time, and hiking in various conditions, plus for many it's closer to home. We're finding many members stay with just this category. Brian Rideout and his hikers defied the usual thinking about walking along the waterfront in the Winter and completed his series of hikes on the Waterfront Trail from Clarkson in Mississauga to Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering.
The new Urban Hike badge has been well received with the first group of ten hikers finishing the circuit with Alina on June 17th. Brian Rideout has begun his series of seven hikes to earn the badge alternating between Saturdays and Sundays. Urban Day Hike trips by GO Transit continue to be popular. Danny is leading morning walks in the Toronto ravines for those who prefer those hikes.
Hike Leader Training
14 Toronto Club members attended the Hike Ontario program in March and April. Most of this group has been active in apprenticing with current Hike Leaders or have apprentice hikes scheduled. They are eager to start posting and leading hikes. A webinar on entering hikes on the BTC Hike Calendar was held (and was open to current Hike Leaders) and will be repeated soon. To allow some flexibility the requirement to apprentice on all three categories of hikes (bus, car, urban) has been updated to two of the three categories. This allows the potential Hike Leaders to focus on the type of hike(s) they intend to lead. Other refinements to the apprenticeship process will be considered to help potential Hike Leaders complete the program at a pace that is reasonable to them.
Toronto End-2-End
The annual Toronto Section 1 Day and 2 Day End-2-End is scheduled for September 9th and 10th and is open for registration to members and non-members.
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We all Belong in this Space - Bruce Trail Day, 2023
Sunday, October 1st is Bruce Trail Day. It's an annual event to highlight the Escarpment, the Trail and our hiking programs, and the conservation work of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. It's a day where members invite friends and co-workers and family, a day where we share our love of being in nature.
This year our theme will highlight the fact that everyone of us belongs in this space, no matter our age, our ability, our race or ethnicity, our gender identity or sexual orientation, or our economic or social circumstances. We will hold events not only at Limehouse, but also, for the first time, in High Park. As Tom Swales reported in the above story, many members rely exclusively on our Urban Walks program. It's one of the ways the local Club is evolving, and something we want to celebrate.
You'll read more in next month's issue of E-Notes, as well as details of specific events that will take place. For now, we invite you to circle the date on your calendar.
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- advertisement -
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Volunteers Needed - Trail Captains:
 The Club has 115 kilometers of main trail and side trails, all of which require ongoing maintenance.
Each of our dedicated Trail Captains is responsible for the basic maintenance of an approximately 2-kilometer long sector of trail. As a Trail Captain, your work will involve:
- Clearing branches and weeds encroaching onto the trail at least twice a year.
- Ensuring the blazes are visible, repainting when required.
- Removing litter to keep the trail clean.
- Reporting any significant issues such as fallen trees or structures in need of repairs.
- Conducting formal inspections of trail conditions three times a year and submitting reports.
Training, tools, and equipment will be provided to Trail Captains. However, it is essential for Trail Captains to have their own transportation to and from their assigned trail sector.
We currently have a few trail sectors that require new volunteer Trail Captains. If you are interested in maintaining a trail section and have the necessary ability to perform this work, please contact us via email at volunteer@torontobrucetrailclub.org.
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Humans of the Bruce Trail, featuring Pottruff/Soros family
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 Connie Soros, Mark Pottruff, Caroline Pottruff and Matt Pottruff.
 Meet Connie Soros and Mark Pottruff: Members of the TBTC LMC and Biodiversity team. They have quite a resume: Land Stewards for the Springle property in the Toronto section (39-037); Trail Captains for the Sinclair property (section #9) and the Todd Bardes side trail; participants in many work parties in the Toronto section. Connie has a PhD in Botany from the University of Toronto, and Mark graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Waterloo. "As a pair of biologists, this is where our love of nature evolved and was passed on to our children," say the couple. Indeed, the children have impressive resumes of their own.
Caroline Pottruff (daughter): Bruce Trail Youth Council member; designed the Youth badge and the the brochures; graduate of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Guelph; enrolled in the Masters of Forest Conservation program at the University of Toronto.
Matthew (Matt) Pottruff (son): Trail Ambassador Lead Hand in 2022 (Caledon Hills, Dufferin Highlands and Blue Mountain sections); currently studying at University of Waterloo in the Co-op Environment and Business program
"We all thoroughly enjoy hiking in general, being outdoors, photography and supporting the environment however we can. Connie and I have a goal to hike the entire Bruce Trail and have done about 1/2 of the entire trail to date," says Mark.
To answer the questions:
1. We live in Georgetown
2. We joined because we wanted to give back/do our part to preserve/support the environment for our children and future generations. We wanted to support a cause near and dear to our hearts since we love hiking and are all naturalists and enjoy the outdoors.
3. Our most memorable experience isn't just one experience but rather any time we are together hiking or maintaining the trail sections we support.
4. Our favourite words to live by are "Take care of the earth and she will take care of you".
5. Our hobbies and interests include hiking, gardening, photography, sports, music and the arts.
6. Our most admired person(s) are Sir David Attenborough and Dr. Jane Goodall.
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- advertisement -
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New Badge for Supporting Biodiversity Team Activities
 Here's a new badge you can earn by volunteering and supporting the Toronto Club’s biodiversity team’s activities. All you need to do is participate in organized activities which help restore the natural habitat and manage invasive species. Please contact our biodiversity team at TBTCbiodiversity@gamil.com to find out more about times and locations of events. This badge is available at no cost. You can learn more about the badge and activity requirements by going to this link to our website: https://bit.ly/46Lin2v
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Questions about hiking? Our E-Notes columnist, Peter Leeney, has the answers.
Q: What is a “Trail Angel”?
A: Well, you will not see them floating around in the trees on an early morning hike.
Trail angels are Club volunteers who provide transportation to individuals or small groups of hikers. Usually this is for people who would like to cover longer distances but only have one car available. The service of a Trail Angel would also allow someone to start their hike at a location where there is no parking available.
All you need to do is send an email to the Club in the area where you wish to complete a hike. Indicate exactly where and when you wish to be picked up and/or where on the Trail you wish to be dropped off. BT Map number and km is the best reference method. The Club will confirm the arrangement with you. After being dropped off you hike back to where you left your car. It is expected that hikers who use the trail angel program will make a small voluntary donation to the Club which will then be passed on to the BTC.
Here is the link to the BTC website: https://brucetrail.org/explore-the-trail/#parking-and-transportation
Six of the nine Bruce Trail clubs offer a trail angel program. At present, Toronto Club does not but the taxi and uber service around Georgetown is quite good as it is near Milton so it would be easier for hikers to make their own arrangements. The two northern clubs, Peninsula and Sydenham, do not have trail angels either.
Do you have a question about hiking? Submit it to info@torontobrucetrailclub.com.
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Mark your calendars
Upcoming Bus Hikes
Aug 5: Kempenfest Oro-Medonte
Aug 12: Oro-Medonte to Orillia
Sept 30: Fall Colours, Dufferin-Highlands
Fri September 22 to Sun September 24 – Saugeen Peninsula Hiking Weekend
Other Club events
Sept 9-10: Annual Toronto Section E2E
Oct 1: Bruce Trail Day in Limehouse and High Park
For the latest in all our hikes (bus hikes, car hikes, urban hikes and coach hikes), check the Hiking Calendar.
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