Come join us on a new round of hikes this winter! Jeanette will continue to be vigilant with Covid guidelines. Rapid testing is recommended before coming on a hike, and wearing a mask is a safe discretionary measure. If you fell ill on the day of the hike, please stay home.
Victoria Park Christmas Fantasy, Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener Victoria Park Area Hike and Christmas Caroling (6.5 km):
Depart: Meet for a 6:00 p.m. departure for the loop walk and at 7:00 p.m. for the Christmas caroling from the Victoria Park Pavilion parking lot at 80 Schneider Ave. Kitchener. Be prepared for winter weather conditions and if you are caroling bring a flashlight and dress warmly, you will be walking and stopping. Christmas music booklets will be provided and if you have bells bring them along.
Description: At 6 p.m. we will walk in the Kitchener Victoria Park area on trails and local streets and loop back to our meeting spot. At 7:00 p.m. we will meet at the meeting spot with Anne Lowe for 1 hour of Christmas caroling in the park. You are welcome to only come for the caroling if you don’t want to do the walk.
Sorry, no dogs on GVTA hikes.
ALL ARE WELCOME ON OUR HIKES! Membership is encouraged as it helps to support our trails. $30 per household. To become a member please go to: https://www.gvta.on.ca/Membership_App.htm
Jeanette wishes to inform the hiking community of the death of her husband, Gregory Paul Vincent, the experienced, well-loved, and respected hike leader and co-partner of the hikevincent site. Please visit the link to Greg’s Obituary page here, to learn more about his remarkable life:
February 14 – 17, 2020 – Family Day Snowshoe Weekend in Tobermory
Celebrate with a weekend trip snowshoeing the trails of the National Park at the “Tip o’ the Bruce” Tobermory. We arrive Friday, February 14th at our comfortable hotel overlooking Little Tub Harbour where we stay and have our meals for three nights at the Princess Hotel in Tobermory.
Please call the Princess for rates and a reservation 1-877-901-8282 and mention Greg Vincent’s snowshoe weekend when booking. This outing is restricted to those staying with us at the Princess.
Sunday, January 5, 2020 – St. Jacobs Mill Race Track & Health Valley Trail
Level 1-2 (easy/moderate) – 7/8 km there and back – 3 hours
Depart:Meet for a 10 a.m. departure from Health Valley Trailhead located at east end of Municipal Parking lot off Albert St., St. Jacobs.
We will walk some of the Health Valley Trail a lovely flat trail heading east along the Conestoga River out of the town of St. Jacobs then back and continue west on the Millrace Footpath to the dam and back. The footpath follows an 1860’s vintage millrace that was constructed alongside the Conestoga River to serve the power needs of a gristmill in the Village of St. Jacobs. Be prepared for winter weather conditions, icers are recommended.
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Dec. 28 – Jan. 1, 2020 – New Years at the Susquehannock Lodge
Hiking in the Highlands of North Central Pennsylvania
Relax after the hectic Holiday Season. Ed cooks and we hike if suitable or cross-country ski/snow shoe if conditions warrant. A little longer at the fireplace as we get ready for the Annual New Years’ Eve Trivial Pursuit game.Ed will have a turkey dinner for us New Years Eve. TheLodge 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. Yoga/pilates/stretching in the morning for the early risers.
For reservations call Carol Szymanik at 1-814-435-2163 or email susquelgcarol@penn.com
For more information including price and driving directions, please see title bar at the top of this website SUSQUEHANNOCK LODGE and TRAIL CENTRE or contact Greg vincent.greg@gmail.com 519-579-8210.
The Right Stuff – SNOWSHOEING Trail Safety & Hiking Tips – by Greg Vincent revised Dec. 2019.
If you can walk you can snowshoe – no ifs, and’s, or buts. As hikers, we enjoy walking and snowshoeing can add a new dimension to winter. It allows us access to places in winter that deep snow would normally keep us from. Cross-country skiing is an excellent way to enjoy winter activity but it requires special equipment and a level of expertise that snowshoeing does not. Snowshoeing only requires a pair of snowshoes (assuming you have other hiking stuff, like boots). After a morning on your new snowshoes, you will qualify as an expert.
Snowshoes have evolved from the wood frame and gut to hard “plastic” and aluminum. There is a wide choice available in outdoor stores and some outfitters will rent them as well. The simplest ones work best and when trying them on you want a binding that is easy for you to use. Remember you will not always be in a store but rather bending over with fingers that may be a little cool.
I use a pair of MSR Evo ™ Trail snowshoes [Mountain Safety Research found at www.msrgear.com] that are fairly narrow and therefore my walk in snow is quite natural. They have a “claw” under the toe that digs into the snow when going uphill – an advantage over the older types that would slide back on hills. Mine have a 4-inch tail extension that can be added or removed depending on snow conditions. MSR also has 8-inch tails. The best snowshoe for you is the least size suitable for your weight and what you will carry. The larger the snowshoe the more it can support but the larger snowshoes are more awkward to walk in.
The clothing that we would use for a winter hike works just fine for snowshoeing.
Start with a synthetic layer such as polypropylene next to your skin, top and bottom; this provides a dry layer.
A fleece provides warmth and a Gore-Tex, or similar material, the coat provides wind protection.
No cotton in any of these layers as it holds the moisture and the cooling effect will be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst (hypothermia).
A hat is a must and I like one that I can pull over my ears, wool or synthetic.
Gloves separate the fingers and are therefore cold, one or two layers of mitts work well.
A neck gaiter, again synthetic, works well and it can be put on or taken off easily.
Winter tights work quite well for both men and women. In most cases, you will not need long underwear under them.
The traditional “snowshoer” would wear mukluks. However, our sturdy hiking boots work just fine. The Right Stuff article on “Boots and Socks” applies here. Boots are not tight, with your sock-and-half system, polypropylene liner, and Smart Wool sock are good. A pair of gaiters will help keep snow out of your boots and help keep the legs warm.
Winter walking is always treading a fairly fine line. You want to walk fast enough to keep warm; however, you do not want to sweat too much. As soon as you sweat too much you become uncomfortable pretty quickly and potentially unsafe. If you start to sweat, adjust your clothing or your level of exertion.
Whether to use poles or not is a tricky question. I like two poles when I hike and of course, two when I cross-country ski. Poles add more stability when you snowshoe. Poles have made my hands cold. It is a personal choice.
To warm up those cold hands make a windmill with your arms, one at a time.
Or air-activated hand warmers such as HotHands inside your winter mitts will help make your hands more comfortable on cold days.
Food for the trail will be as for your winter hikes. Most of us have to drive to a place to snowshoe and therefore have eaten breakfast a few hours before we start.
Take a few minutes and have something to eat like a muffin with peanut butter before you start out.
On the trail, you will need to eat. Complex carbohydrates work better than sweets.
The advent of the stainless steel thermos was good news for winter activity enthusiasts.
A “sit upon” of closed cell foam works well for rest stops. Our rest stops are usually shorter as we cool off when we stop.
The areas where cross-country skiers have developed a trail are not the place to snowshoe. Snowshoes mess up the cross-country ski tracks.
Winter days are usually shorter and care must be taken to be out well before dusk. Night snowshoeing can be fun but pick an open area that you know well. Your winter pack should contain a few extras such as an extra layer, a flashlight, matches or a windproof lighter, a first aid kit, a change of socks, and extra food. A map of the area and a compass (and the skills to use both) adds to your safety. New GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers are now easier to use and if you choose to be more adventurous are worth the cost and time to learn them. They will track your route and more importantly give you direction back.
You will generally find that your snowshoe outings are quite different from your normal hikes. Snowshoeing can be highly aerobic and a great workout but most likely your outings will be shorter and more to explore the winter landscape than to walk a specific number of kilometers.
Snowshoeing allows us the chance to “walk through winter”, an opportunity not to miss. Take your camera and enjoy!
Winter walking has many advantages, e.g., no bugs, no crowds, better views (none of those darned leaves ;-)), even your companions don’t smell so bad. A little more thought is required to keep us safe and comfortable in the colder weather though.
Let’s start with comfort. Most of your clothes will be suitable for winter walking.
Your regular boots and the “sock and a half” system (polypropylene liner and wool outer sock) remains the same.
Synthetic hiking pants (tights work well) are helped along by gaiters that keep the snow out of your boots.
Tops come in three layers: polypropylene underwear – keeping you dry; fleece pullover – keeping you warm; and a wind/waterproof jacket.
A fleece hat and mitts are light and can be taken on and off to regulate your temperature.
A fleece neck warmer can be cozy. You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned cotton in any layer.
Cotton has its place, but it isn’t in winter activities. Cotton’s problem is that it retains moisture, both yours and the elements’. This moisture quickly cools leaving you with a cold or frozen layer which is the primary cause of hypothermia. Dry is both comfortable and safe.
Safety should be a consideration summer and winter but mistakes made in winter are less forgiving.
Plan for shorter days. Know your route. Know when sunset is and plan to be off the trail well before then. Carry a map and a flashlight.
Ice can be present.
Consider a trekking pole (it looks like a ski pole) with a carbide tip that chunks into the ice. You will probably use your pole year round; it is a great knee saver when going down hills.
If you once use “Icers” you know that they are like magic to take the danger out of walking on ice. STABILicers Max 2 Traction Device are Vibram soles with stainless steel studs that velcro on to your boots. These studs over time need to be replaced when the gripping surfaces are worn down and no longer effective. Replacement studs can be purchased. Icers are effective on icy surfaces and need not be removed when ice is no longer present. Icers should be removed on indoor surfaces. They can be purchased at Lee Valley and other retail outlets.
Our normal sense of thirst lets us down in the winter but we must keep drinking water. The consequences of dehydration, i.e., confusion, fatigue, headaches, bladder infections and kidney stones are best avoided. A Thermos of hot tea makes a cold weather break a little more comforting.
Sun protection is still required. The cool weather will try to fool you but use that sun screen and a hat.
Hike with a group or at least a friend. Your mother told you that there was safety in numbers. At the time you probably did not think she was talking about hiking, but the advice fits. Problems can arise and the presence of others helps.
Let’s put in our pack a few additional items that will add more comfort and safety to our hike:
A first aid kit (a St. John Ambulance first aid course wouldn’t hurt).
An extra layer such as a small down jacket for when we stop.
A spare pair of socks and mitts, rain pants and some lip protection.
A piece of closed cell foam sit-upon to keep our seat warm and dry when we take a break. (It can double as a splint in emergencies.)
Air activated hand warmers such as HotHands inside your winter mitts will help make your hands more comfortable on cold days.
A “space blanket.”
More water than we think we will need.
A good lunch and some high energy snacks.
A smart phone has become an important safety item.
Walking speedily in winter can be likened to treading a fine line. We want to walk quickly enough to keep warm but not so hard or fast that we perspire which will make us uncomfortable, cool and potentially unsafe. Hike leaders should be especially aware of this, watching the pace of the hike and providing stops for “clothing adjustments” and rests.
Where to walk? In the southern parts of Ontario there are areas of little or no snow such as the Niagara and Iroquoia sections of the Bruce Trail and the area south of Cambridge on the Grand Valley Trail. Increasingly we have more rail trails becoming available to us. In the Toronto area the Islands, Leslie Street Spit and the ravine system of trails are worth considering. In the central and northern part of the province many a fine winter walk has been had on quiet country roads. A little snow should not deter you anyway; just keep in mind that cross country skiers do not appreciate you walking on their trails.
I do not need to tell you that Canada’s winters are long and cold. However that should not keep us from enjoying nature and getting a little exercise. Wellness experts advise that one of the best ways to beat S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder, a distinctive type of winter depression) is to exercise outdoors. The stress management benefits of hiking should not be missed in the winter months. This is probably the time we need these benefits the most. The bottom line then is to continue to enjoy hiking and reap the benefits – all year round.
Saturday, December 7, 2019 – Iron Horse & Spurline Trail Loop followed by a visit to Christkindl Market
Level 1 (easy) 9km Loop Hike – 3 hours
Depart:Meet for a 10 a.m. departure from Victoria Park Pavilion parking lot at 80 Schneider Ave. Kitchener.
We will walk from Victoria Park to Waterloo using the Iron Horse & Spurline trails followed by a visit to Christkindl Market at Kitchener City Hall.There will be some citystreets to complete the loop and a short detour on the Iron Horse trail. Be prepared for possible winter weather conditions, icers are recommended.
Sunday, December 1, 2019 – Victorian Christmas at Woodside National Historic Site, the grounds and Springwood Park.
Level 1 (easy) 3km – stroll through Springwood Park and the grounds of Woodside andsite tour –3 hours.
Depart:Meet for a 10:30 a.m. start at Woodside National Historic Site. 528 Wellington St N, Kitchener, ON N2H 5L5
We will enjoy a walk at Springwood Park and the beautiful grounds of Woodside, the childhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s 10th and longest serving prime minister.Followed by a visit inside for a self-guided tour of the charming Victorian home filled with heirlooms from the King family and period reproduction pieces that capture the ambiance of the era and savour the seasonal delights of aVictorian Christmas. Fee adults:$3.90, seniors $3.40, 17 & under – free.
At the lookout on the Rail Trail from Glen Morris to Paris. Perfect day for walking!
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – Rail Trail – Glen Morris toward Paris and back
Level 1-2 (easy/moderate) – 15km – there will be an option to turn around and shorten this hike and return to the Glen Morris parking lot.
Depart: Meet for a 10:00 a.m. departure from the rail trail parking at Glen Morris on Forbes St. across from the public library.It is approx. 10km just south of Cambridge on Hwy 24 (Water Street) then via E River Rd/Regional Rd 14 to Glen Morris.If unsure of location consult Google Maps.
A great rail trail along the Grand River in Carolinian Canada, Glen Morris toward Paris and lunch by the river and retrace our steps to Glen Morris.
Along the trail are areas of clear running water.
Small patches of natural prairie dot the Brant County landscape. Since little remains, establishing new tallgrass helps sustain the rare plants and animals.
Saturday, November 9, 2019 – Lions Lake Trail & lunch available at Bonnie Lou’s Cafe (a late 1800’s General Store)
Level 1 (easy) 7km Loop Hike – 2.5 hours
Depart: Meet for a 10:30 a.m. departure at Floradale Public School parking lot. 35 Florapine Rd, Elmira, ON N3B 2Z1
Maybe some fall colours left to see on the Lions Lake trail at Floradale!This is a 7 km loop around the Woolwich reservoir. We go through planted pine trees, a maple sugar bush and across the Woolwich dam heading towards the centre of Floradale and the park to finish our loop. The trail is easy, well maintained with some earthen sections that can be wet, we recommend hiking boots.Anyone who wants to join us after the hike we will treat ourselves to lunch at Bonny Lou’s Cafe at 12:30/1 p.m.
Greetings fellow hikers! 