Sun, Sep 23 2007 - Petroglyphs National Park - Erik's Group (View Original Event Details)
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On a sunny and beautiful Sunday morning on October 23, 2007, twelve TOC members gathered at Downsview Station to embark on a Level D2 hike at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. That’s an easy to moderate hike, between 8-10 kms long, with gentle terrain and some rolling hills and rough terrain. As they divided into their carpool groups and received direction to the hiking destination, they left to begin our adventure. Luckily, all of them reached the Provincial Park without any major mishaps or problems. They began the hike with a visit to the Visitors Centre and the Petroglyph Site where they were able to see the largest know concentration of Aboriginal rock carvings in Canada. There were over 900 petroglphys of turtles, rabbits, snakes, birds, humans, and other images. This site is still of great spiritual significance to the Aboriginal peoples and the images were meant to help them communicate with the spirits.
Amidst their excitement as they left the Visitors Centre and Petroplyph Site and began their hike, they were informed by the park ranger about the bear and loose bridges that await us along the trail. The level of danger and difficulty on this hike was beginning to grow. But the group did not hike in fear. Erik’s loud conversation about running clinics and Vanessa’s frustrated lamentations on the destruction of the earth through global warming was loud enough to scare away the bear, and other small animals. Erik was also courageous enough to risk personal injury to ensure that the bridges were safe enough for them to walk across by marching across the bridges first. Even Rob was willing to break new ground and hike across a bog near a particularly questionable bridge to find a safer alternative route for the group. To top it all off, Erik even warned them about poison ivy spores spread in the early autumn air. Oh what would they do if this valiant leader were not with them? Oh what would they do?
As the afternoon passed and as the group of TOC hikers came to the midway point on the hike around Minnow Lake, they stopped for a late snack to replenish their energy. Most people were eating a variety of very appetizing sandwiches, but the fearless leader Erik opted for peperettes, fruit, and a kashi energy bar. There was also some interesting and lively conversation about two very fascinating topics - money and politics. Specifically banking, lines of credit, and accounting practices and the upcoming election at the TOC. Just to let everyone know, nominations are still open and there are quite a few positions open for people who want to make a contribution to the club. Plus if you win, you get a really cool title and gain power and prestige! …Well not so much power and prestige, but possibly a cool TOC t-shirt! I know they are available. I saw a particularly bold and courageous man wearing one. Some minnows, a frog, and possibly a sighting of Ontario’s only poisonous snake were also seen during this very eventful stop.
After this time of rest, they began hiking again. However, there was an important decision to be made. Does the group decide to continue hiking on a longer trail or finish the present trail we were on and then go to Kawartha Diary for some yummy ice cream. Would they risk the additional 150-200 calories (per scoop) that would be gained from the trip to the Dairy or continue hiking and lose those extra calories? This was a very difficult decision and the consequences of each weighed heavily on the minds of all the keen hikers. But a sacrifice had to be made. The stop to Kawartha Dairy was too tempting. They needed to go. So after a very long and tiring 4.5 kms hike, the group continued to the dairy and ended the day with a much deserved ice cream from one of Southern Ontario’s best loved dairy companies!
A wonderful day was had by all. Thank you so much to Erik for organizing this trip.
Erik's pictures can be viewed by hitting the album link above. If you have photos you'd like to share, please forward them to Erik.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.