Winter 2013-2014 THE QUARTERLY OF THE TORONTO BRUCE TRAIL CLUB Vol. XLX No. 4 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org | 416-763-9061 | [email protected] 50 SHADES OF SILENCE By Jacqueline Holmes We read about Tree Hugging and Meditation Walking, also about the fabulous practice of Forest Bathing....but I have never experienced the very simple, joyful exercise of ‘Not Talking” whilst walking. On a recent Urban Hike the group of 19 Bruce Trailers were exuberant, chatting like magpies, laughing and generally out for a good time! Was it because this was an extra added hike and they were appreciative, or simply they all had a heightened anticipation of seeing each other again and being in the fresh air? We did not have a good start. One person tripped over a bootlace, another dropped his water bottle on his foot and squealed around in pain. Any self-respecting bug, small animal, bird or butterfly would certainly have the sense to stay well clear of us. As we were approaching a particularly beautiful Photo taken by Jennifer Jiang archway of tall trees with a gurgling stream enormity of the silence. My mind began on either side, the level of talk and laughter thinking of all the tender, young men sent rose to such a height we may as well have off to war, marching for hours in silent drills. been cheering at a Blue Jays’ game – so much I hope it gave them the same feeling of safety for the appreciation of nature! I drew the and oneness. Maybe there is a reason for group to a halt under a sprawling, shady silent marching! Whatever the process, it is weeping willow tree and gently made the like a cleansing magic of the brain and the following suggestion: emotions, and for me, gave me such a feeling of gratitude. When we stopped after 10 “Let’s experiment for 10 minutes by minutes I had a lump in my throat and tears walking in silence. Nothing posh or in my eyes; the experience had moved me complicated, no need for meditation....just to such a degree. Certainly I know I could simply walking close together not talking.” never have done this by myself. I needed the Everybody agreed to do this, so off we set! group even though I walk by myself quite frequently. Within minutes, it seemed, we fell as one into a silent march – step by step, The group told me they loved this then breath by breath. The silence the experience and requested we try it again. Just group created became bigger than ourselves another aspect of being a Bruce Trailer...... and formed an imaginary dome of safety this one involving the Body, Heart and Soul. overhead. The leaves on the trees exposed themselves in hundreds of different luxurious Thanks to the Group on August 18th from shades of green. The gentle trickling of the Davisville. Photo taken by Jennifer Jiang streams became deafening – such was the www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Table of Contents Footnotes Toronto Bruce Trail Club is published quarterly by the Board of Directors President’s Pen P3 President: Toronto Bruce Trail Club Todd Bardes, 416-535-1631 Hiking Director’s Notes P3 PO Box 597 [email protected] 2938 Dundas Street West Vice-President & Hiking Director: 2014 Cross-country Ski Toronto, Ontario M6P 4E7 John Grandy, 416-704-9138 and Snowshoe program P4 [email protected] [email protected] Past President & BTC Director for the club: General Information P5 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org Peter Leeney, 905-822-1877 ISSN 0380-9354 [email protected] Activities Calendar P6 A member of the Bruce Trail Conservancy Secretary: Malcolm Sanderson, 905-294-5866 Hike Leader Training P10 Many thanks to all the volunteers who [email protected] helped in the production of this issue. Treasurer ,Bookkeeper &Acting Publications In Memory of Ambrose P19 Director: Send address changes to: Ted Iseman, 416-219-1663 Classifieds P19 The Bruce Trail Conservancy [email protected] PO Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9 Public Relations and Education: Other Hikes P19 www.brucetrail.org 1-800-665-4453 Victoria Arshad, 416-781-7339 [email protected] Eastbourne Here We Come For missing copies of Footnotes Trail Maintenance: P20 call 1-800-665-4453, David Paape, 416-445-9028 Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm [email protected] Log in to the Members Land Owner Relations section of the Club website Opinions expressed in Footnotes are not Paul Vanhanen, 905-877-1294 using your BTC membership necessarily the views of the TBTC unless [email protected] Membership and Social Program: number and your own stated as such. Advertising does not imply endorsement by the TBTC. Stan Gasner, 416-361-9088 password [email protected] Land Stewardship: Publication Deadlines Footnotes Resource Support Vladimir Bosnar, 905-273-7569 (not members of the Board) [email protected] ISSUE: ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL Fundraising: Footnotes Editor: Jennifer Jiang Patricia Peel, 416-436-2710 Winter 2013-14: Sept. 15/Sept. 24 Proofreaders: Marilyn MacKellar [email protected] Spring 2014: Dec.15/Dec.20 Kathryn Emirzian Land Management Commitee Chair; Land Summer 2014: March 15/March 24 Advertising & Mail Coordinator: Securement Secretariat BTC Fall 2014: June 15/June 24 Susan Britton Representative: Activities Editor: Victor Ramautar David Tyson, 416-966-1379 Send editorial to: Webmaster: Stephen Kamnitzer [email protected] Footnotes Editor, Jennifer Jiang E-Notes Editor: Grant Leigh Directors at Large: [email protected] Archivist: John Drew Barbara Euler, 416-695-1838 Information Line: Judy Leeney [email protected] Send advertisements to: City of Toronto Liaison: Lisa R. Lifshitz, 416-482-9378 Advertising Coordinator, Susan Britton John Hough [email protected] [email protected] Halton Hills Chapter: Ken Peters, 416-921-5391 Margaret Teasdale [email protected] Kevin B. Warburton, 905-542-0639 [email protected] The Toronto Bruce Trail Club is one of nine clubs John Drew, 416 231 3711 making up the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which [email protected] is dedicated to the conservation of the Niagara Deb Brander, 416 733 1458 Escarpment. You are invited to visit the Toronto [email protected] Club’s website at www.torontobrucetrailclub.org 2 Winter 2013-2014 Club Info Line: 416-763-9061 www.torontobrucetrailclub.org President’s Pen by Todd Bardes Not long ago, a lady fell from the as where you are stepping. We need to threatened and under pressure to survive. cliffs at Mount Nemo. I think this be extra careful on wet or icy sections of The expansion of urbanization and the unfortunate accident could have been the Trail. (I know since I have gone down presence of humans have disrupted and avoided. We in the Bruce Trail try to a couple of times and spent time in the reduced much of their habitat. protect our BT hikers by moving the hospital on one occasion.) Using hiking Trail back away from the brink of the sticks also helps with our balance. Look As we hike through the woods we Escarpment. We also have trained Hike out for and assist fellow hikers. Follow the need to accept that we are visiting the Leaders who have an obligation to keep instructions of the Hike Leader and stay home of wildlife. Under every dead log, our group of hikers away from danger. between the Hike Leader and the Sweep. on every old tree stump, in every creek Even while we, at the Bruce Trail, try to Be careful when approaching the edge there is life that needs our protection. We reduce the possibilities of harm, hiking of the Escarpment or rock formations. need to protect the Escarpment for today does have risks connected with this And above all, “Stay on the Trail”. If this and for our grandchildren and great- enjoyable activity. As a hike leader I can sounds like a sermon, please forgive me, grandchildren. The best and easiest tell you about different hikers that have but I want everyone to enjoy his or her way to help out is to “Stay on the Trail”. had slips and falls along the Trail. I can visit to the Escarpment and return home From time to time I have reviewed the also tell you about a couple of slips of my safely. “Trail User’s Code” and its twelve points own making. Things do happen! (inside the cover of the Bruce Trail Not only do we want to protect Reference), but my special point of the Each and every one of us needs to hike our members and fellow hikers but code is “Leave only your thanks and take with safety in mind. Just a few points we also want to protect the wildlife nothing but photographs”. that may help you enjoy your adventure along the Escarpment. There are on the Trail would be: Use boots with a thousands of plant & animals that live good tread and watch your feet as well on the Escarpment that are endangered, Happy Hiking Hiking Director’s Notes by John Grandy Recently, when hiking in the Beaver because they had to, and rich people the “wildest, leafiest, and least trodden Valley section I came across the generally didn’t walk at all. In the early way I could find.” His book describing memorial to John Muir at the Epping 1800s the poet William Wordsworth this mega-hike was immensely popular. lookout. Many of us know of Muir as started walking in order to appreciate From it, and from his later exploratory one of the earliest environmentalists, the spectacular beauty of the Lake walks in the western States, the love of the founder of the US National District in northern England, where he hiking in North America can be derived.