Sat, Oct 13 2007 - Ganaraska Trail - Minesing Swamp (View Original Event Details)
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This hike got off to a great start - the road we had to drive on according to the directions was closed! Oh no! Luckly Pia and Justin found their way, and Alison helped Mark and I out w/directions. Go team!
We started off from Fort Willow, which is a historic fort (duh) and the site of one end of the 9 mile portage from Lake Simcoe to Willow Creek. This was a major communications and trade route, so it was an interesting place to start from. There weren't any actual buildings at the fort, but there were some wooden walls, giving the grounds a historic view as we walked through.
After a great lookout over the 6,000 hectare Minesing Swamp (and a wetland of international importance! cool!), we quickly left rail trail and turned into the forest. It was only a matter of time until we got to somewhat muddy ground (Susan's picture of Mark, Alison, and Anna-Maria sprinting across a boggy area is absolutely priceless), but we weaved in and out of the forest until the hike predominantly moved into the swamp grasses. Thanks to a dry year, the water levels were low and we were pretty dry (despite the drizzle) however the grasses were taller than us and we found our way from marker post to marker post on deer trails (the long grasses were a bit of a hazard, I kept on getting caught in them).
We made good time on our way back, meeting Simon, who was out scouting hunting locations. We tried to help him back to his car, but led him to the wrong parking lot (okay, maybe that was me, not the whole group....oops!). He came with us to our cars and we got him back to where he parked after the hike. It was great to meet him!
The whole hike was a great time, and it was fantastic for me to meet so many new people, and so many wonderful people. Thank you to our carpool drivers - Alison, Justin and Mark - and to everyone for helping Luc get over the weirdest stiles I've ever seen, in particular Justin and Bertha.
Pictures will be posted soon!
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.