Morrison Valley North, Thu 13 Aug 2026, 0830: ~ 7.1 km, rated E-E.

This proved to be the perfect trail for a summer hike: lots of shade and moderate temps. Fourteen hikers turned out and were very well-behaved at the main road crossings, which was a big relief for leader Tom. All went well until we passed a sign near the top end of the trail indicating that access to Trafalgar Rd was closed. Tom interpreted this as equivalent to the signs saying "Stairs Closed" that appear every December - March. Fortunately, we did not have to backtrack too much .... It looks like that section may be closed for quite a while yet as there is major construction going on. 

                The sign that everyone ignored -- a clear case of 'alert fatigue.'

 

                Is that one of our hikers thumbing his nose at the "Closed" notice?!

Our route as recorded by AllTrails. Can you

spot where the NOTICE was?

Our route as recorded by Apple Watch. Who knew there were  

so many houses around us?!

 

 

Joshua Creek South, Thu 6 Aug 2026, 8:30: 6 km, E-E

  A total of 16 hikers turned out for this pleasant hike-turned-walking-sauna bath. It was a true summer day, with humidity to spare. Judy did a nice job herding her cats down to Lk Ontario and back. We encountered a group of 18 Probus members out for a stroll, but were not successful in recruiting any. Nor did we lose any.😉

 

East Bank/Shannon Creek, Thu 30 Jul 2026, 8:30

 It was a perfect summer day for winding up July's hikes: 20C to start and not a cloud to be seen. (f there had been the more normal cloud cover, there would be fewer shadows on the faces below, but maybe also fewer smiles.)  

Seventeen hikers turned out to join Richard on a double-barrelled hike: (1) Shannon Creek to start, with Richard doing an admirable job hiking the usual route clockwise and thus "backwards;" (2) nearing the end of this loop, about half the group took up his offer to descend the East Bank to 16-Mile Creek. The catch: they had to come back up.😁And so they did, making for a fine morning for all. How nice to have the choice!

 

The Painted Ladies, Sat July 11 2026 @ 9:00

 On Saturday, six Pathfinders signed up for a Bruce Trail Conservancy hike with Ruth in Grimsby Beach to see the 'Painted Ladies' and learn a bit about the area, it's start as a Methodist camp in the 1850's to amusement park in the early 1900's to quiet cottage neighbourhood from local historian, John. 

Can you spot the Pathfinders?

Just one of the many brightly painted gingerbread cottages

There were lots of quirky decorations and beautiful gardens