Todays Apr 3rd morning and afternoon hikes cancelled 2025 04 03

 Due to weather conditions

Tues TBA 2025 04 01

 What a glorious day! Seven hikers collaborated on a TBA hike plan without knowing what trail conditions to expect ... and it couldn't have worked out any better! We headed out from the snow dump area behind Washington Cres. towards Esten Lake thinking that at least there is a snowmachine trail to take advantage of and snowshoes wouldn't be needed.  Conditions were pretty good under beautiful blue skies, although the loud crunching ensured wildlife sightings would be unlikely.  We hadn't made it very far when an alternate route presented itself - the Bear Bait Trail!  A unanimous group decision to get into the bush sent us in a new direction.  Onward and upward!  On our way to the infamous erratic, Mark began wandering off trail and seemingly floated over the crusty landscape, inspiring all of us to do the same.  What a wonderful feeling - not only were no snowshoes needed, but neither was a trail!  Unlimited exploration was now possible and, after consulting his Gaia,  Keith gave us a few options to consider.  Hector Lake became our new destination and we happily found our way there with Keith's expert guidance.  The only tough part of the hike was at the perimeter of the lake where we began to break through the crust.  Our theory on that was that not enough freezing rain had made it to the ground to create the needed thick layer on top of the snow.  After a particularly creative group photo and a wonderful snack in full sun, we wandered, in scatter formation, back to the beginning of the Bear Bait Trail, totally enthralled with this unique experience.  Wish you all could have been there! 

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Red Pine trails 2025 03 27

 Today's hike was a magical mystery tour through the Red Pine Trail. Music was supplied by pine siskins, chickadees, nuthatches, and Canada geese. They are baaaaack!

A volunteer trail keeper told us that some Trumpeter swans and Snow  geese had been on the river last week.

We did not use snowshoes , but the ski poles helped us with our balance and grip as we navigated the steep uphill climbs. 

We cut through the red pine trail past the first set of bird feeders at the boulders. Then we were off across the main trail to the Rapids

 and then up the hill to the erratic. Another trail led us back down to the main trail again to another trail through more red pines.

 A fox had been listening for mice under the snow cover and must have found its  quarry!  Moose may have been wandering the trails a while ago.  Large depressions in the trail were seen here and there which  led us to that conclusion.

The water at the upper rapids was

 running fast but, we decided it was too breezy to have lunch there.

We returned to the lower Rapids and enjoyed a relaxed  lunch with chickadees and pine siskins refusing to pose for photos or take seeds from outstretched hands.

A relaxed hike for a Thursday morning but, sometimes we need that. It was the  calm before the predicted storm this weekend. 

Ten hikers finished a distance of 

5.5 km .  Enough time was left in the day  for shopping, or visiting, or appointments, and then napping in the afternoon. 

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Sheriff creek trails 2025 03 25

A mild early spring day brought out 12 hikers who were ready to tackle an unknown ( to some) part of the Sherrif Creek trails system.

We started at the parking lot across from the entrance gate to Milliken Mine.  

We did not use snowshoes but, hiking poles were helpful as we navigated the uneven hard packed trails. Three or 4 cm of fresh snow hid the icy patches, too! Just one  slight mishap when "someone" stepped through  some ice  near a puddle. No harm done!

Not many fresh tracks in the snow. A few squirrel tracks were visible. A few of us heard chickadees but, no other bird calls.  

The soft  quiet of the yellow birch and hemlock forested areas was soothing to ears and hearts weary of the news of the day.

Thanks to Nicky for being Sweep. 

Our hike distance was 5.5 km.

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Angel & Chrystal lakes 2025 03 22

 I led 9 from the Wash. snow dump up Bear Burl hill to the woodpecker system.. along to the Esten trail to follow that to Crystal lake.. Tom led through the woods from there down to Snot Rocks alongside the lake, past the erratic with the mature tree growing on top.

Keith and I went over to the rocks for a gander..

We bush whacked along Angel to near the end with the crust letting go underfoot ever so often.. more often for some than for others..

Nicki and Keith tried various new wrestling holds to extricate each other from holes.

Back to the Esten trail to the woodpecker cut off and hence back down the hill to the cars and coffee.. none too soon for some.

Thanks to Tom for trailfinding and Janie for Sweep..

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Esten boat launch 2025 03 18

 ...Sunshine greeted nine hikers before they even left the circle - way ahead of predictions - and it simply got better from there! Clear blue skies accompanied us all the way from the end of Esten N to the shore of Esten Lake and back along well-packed snowmachine trails - thank you Keith, for keeping us on track! Except for a few icy sections along the main trail,  solid footing, unencumered by snowshoes, was a treat despite the heavy weekend rain.  Like birds perched along a telephone wire, we enjoyed our break in full sun, a view of the lake, and the company of friends perched on a very large log, which Keith also steered us to.  With a nod to "Fred", who is still monitoring passersby - a mere shell of his former self -  we made our way back to the beginning.  It truly was a perfect day combining elements of winter hiking and the warmth of spring-like temperatures beautifully!

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Attn: all hike leaders 2025 03 18

 HIKE LEADERS ARE REMINDED TO BRING THEIR WAIVER FORMS TO THE MEETING.

If you cannot come, please send them with someone..

Stoneridge for two 2025 03 17

 A day to make you smile whether you’re Irish or not.  

Deep blue skies, brilliant sunshine and a light dusting of fresh sparking snow.   After the miserable rainy weather over the weekend, it was a joy to be out and about in the woods.

Although there were only 2 of us, we managed a lovely hike on Stoneridge, hiking up the back, across the ridge and down the backside of the ridge.  Snowshoes kept us sure-footed on the narrow trail and kept any breakthroughs from going very deep into the softened snow off the trail.  Water was running down the hill, and we noted buds on the trees. The views from the top of the ridge were spectacular.  Rabbit, fox and deer tracks criss-crossed our path, and we spotted a fox den on our descent. The wind had sculpted the snow into interesting bowls and drifts and scoured the open areas into a firm, crispy crust.

As I said, a day to make you smile. 

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Stoneridge snowshoe 2025 03 13

 A sunny gorgeous late winters day greeted the 10 hikers who made it out this morning. A hike up the back of Stoneridge got our hearts a pumping but once we got to the top we were treated to a beautiful panoramic view, down the backside we went through a huge hill of virgin snow and ended up back at the vehicles, a short hike over to Ryan lake for lunch then we called it a day, Thanks to Jean Guy for leading and Emily for sweeping.

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Frozen Lakes & Ropes

 Hike Ontario  does not approve of hiking on frozen lakes. We just had an enquiry from a x country ski club that wanted to join Hike Ontario and get our insurance, and their request was declined because we knew they ski or snowshoe on frozen lakes. 

As to your rope question, my response would be that your organization may be held responsible if you knew that the ropes were unsafe and did not do anything about it, and someone then filed a claim if they suffered an injury.  

My suggestion would be to either 

1. re-route, if the ascents/descends are not safe without ropes

2. replace the ropes and devices with proper equipment and inspect them regularly

(but I would have to check with the broker on whether they would cover that)

3. remove the ropes if deemed unsafe

Heber