Shannon Creek - Munn's Creek Trails, Mon 22 Dec 2025, 8:45

 Sunny conditions prevailed for the 15 hikers who showed up for this hike led by Sid. Originally scheduled for East Bank Inner Valley, the hike was changed due to stair closure and very icy conditions.

 

Halton Regional Forest Extended, Mon Dec 22 2025 @ 7:45

 
Four people joined Ann on the last Pathfinder hike before Christmas. We started at -3. The bike trails were hard-packed snow and we may have done 12 km or 35 km...depends on who you talked to! 

Exploring at Hilton Falls--there's always someone who has to test the ice!
Thankfully there were no wet feet today.

Glen Abbey Trails, Thu 18 Dec 2025, 8:45

 Hattie led her merry band of 12 on a day that provided a sunny and mild break from recent wintry weather. 

 

Plank Restobar & Coronation Park Christmas Lights Walk, Dec 17, 2025

After meeting at the Boathouse parking lot, 19 of us headed to the Plank Restobar where we shared a variety of seasonal small plates and Pizza, then we walked to JCC to meet the group who opted to join us after dinner for a walk. Unfortunately they had already left but we were lucky to catch up with them once we got to Coronation park. The City of Oakville created a wonderful christmas tree environment. We even got to see Santa before ending a great evening!

Christmas Lights Hike, Wed Dec 17 2025 @ 6:30

 

Andrea organized a tapas dinner at the Plank, followed by a walk to Coronation Park to see the fantastic display of Christmas lights. More pictures to come.

Coronation Park was even better than last year

Cootes Paradise South, Monday Dec 15 2025, 8:45

Hike Leader : John Burgers

This hike was a sheet of ice last year, Memories and flue season affected attendance. The bravest of all was Dianne who mastered the steep icy slopes!

Merging the photos was an option, but look, do you see something special in this one?

Devil's Punchbowl, Mon Dec 15 2025 @ 7:45

 It was a cold, windy day for Peter's inaugural hike as a leader. He did a great job and came back with everyone that he started with! 

At William Sinclair Memorial Cross overlooking Stoney Creek

Upper Punchbowl Falls

McCraney/Nipigon, Thu 11 Dec 2025, 8:45 am. Leader: Jane Mitchell

 Despite it being a sunny day, the announced wind chill of -16 must have put some people off as we were only 8 hikers at the trail head. But as soon as we crossed the road and descended the stairs, it became a lot balmier. Only the footing was a cause for complaint as the ice-snow mix was rough underfoot. But all had icers of various types and they helped a lot (even Ted's that came off in deep snow). Good call, Jane!

 

Forks of the Credit, Thurs Dec 11 2025 @ 8:15

Three brave people signed up for this one. -9 and icy sidewalks and driveways in Oakville after yesterday's rain. We arrived at Forks of the Credit and were pleasantly surprised. No icers needed today! This is just a small sampling of the many pictures taken today.

Ankle deep fluffy snow...some trail breaking was required

At the kettle lake

A well-earned candy cane hot chocolate at the Coywolf

Pear Tree - Speyside, Mon Dec 8 2025 @ 7:45

 Six hikers joined Andrea on this cold hike. Thank goodness there was no wind.

On the Vanderleck Side Trail

A banquet for a pileated woodpecker

DV: Heritage Trail & Main Loop, Mon 8 Dec 2025, 8:45

 Aptly described by leader Sid as a lollipop route, today's 14 hikers were afraid, at -14, their tongue would get stuck a lollipop on or any other surface they were inclined to lick.😜 With time, the hills and the sun combined with the lack of wind to make a beautiful late Fall day, perfect for a hike and almost acceptable for lollipops. 

 

Strong shadows obscure faces but attest to the bright day. 

Headed downhill on the Main Loop. Which means coming back up the other side. 

 

The recent snow and low temperatures overnight made a beautiful wintry scene. 

Sydenham Lookout to Tew Falls, Thu. Dec 4, 2025 8:15

Leader: Fiona Nesbet

11 hikers enjoyed this hike. Wind at the parking lot was strong. The trail hugging the escapment edge protected against wind very well to make it a comfortable and conversive hike.

Assembled at Tew falls the group laughed at the photographer's comment about first dates,

Tew Falls was cold indeed. Here it is seen with well formed icicles,

The return hike took the less hilly Glen Ferguson Side trail, and all returned home. Hikers accustomed to the Monday late hikes felt good about mastering this more difficult terrain to see Tew Fall in winter conditions

Hilton Falls, South, Mon. Dec 1, 2025, 8:45

Leader John Burgers

First Hike : Richard Simms

The approaching Winter like weather was welcomed by 18 hikers having no difficulty with crunchy ice cover in this scenic escarpment setting. Some took a sure footed approach to Hilton Falls, while others braved the Side Trail approach via Pothole. At the fireplace near Hilton Falls the group assembled for this photo. Richard Simms very much enjoyed his first hike, and the social engagement.

It's always good to know whom else had leader experience (Tom and Sid) as John alternated between lead and sweep. We lost noone, with only one quickly noticed wrong turn.

Short Hills - Hemlock Valley, Mon Dec 1 2025 @ 7:45

 A great day in Short Hills! It was a little below 0, so the mud was frozen. Seven hikers joined Ann today.

No mud on the hills today

A traumatic day. Thank goodness there was a park employee nearby.

Terrace Creek Falls

Found the ideal log for elevensies

Case sale at 13st Street, so we had to do a tasting first.

Wally Nisbet Walk, Thu 27 Nov 2025, 8:45

This walk was renamed a few years ago to honour Wally Nisbet, long-time Pathfinder leader and organizer of Saturday walks as well. It's a good example of  how Oakville has created trails in subdivisions that, with some wandering and a bit of back-tracking, can be turned into an accessible walk of 6km or so. 

 

Jim leads his hardy band of 15. Or was it 18? There were a few dropouts put off by the weather forecast, but it turned out to be a pretty decent Fall morning. 

Crawford Lake, Mon 24 Nov 2025, 8:45

 Perfect weather promised a pleasant hike for our group of 15 and we were not disappointed -- except that the boardwalk around the now-famous lake was off limits and under repair. But Conservation Halton made up for it with a new set of chainsaw carvings that are detailed and very impressive. 

 

                         Stopping to admire one of the new sculptures

 

The trails were smooth and easily managed ...

                      ... until they weren't. Rock-hopping called for care in placing feet and poles. 

            

Taking a break at the lookout. There were no vultures to be seen, so we must not have looked too far gone. 

Mysterious rock piles that look quite unnatural: what were they for?

Coote's Paradise N, Mon Nov 17 2025, 8:15

Sid Cebrowski confidently lead us on a fun day out on the the North trail at RBG.

Here we see the group gathered on fall Oak litter yet with green foliage in the backgound woods. Karen, an important member of the club executive is somewhat hidden.

The group was in good spirit right immediately on gathering at the JCC and this persisted right the way through. "We had a lot of laughts ...".

Thank you Tom for gathering all the group members onto the photo.

Rattlesnake - Crawford Lake, Mon Nov 17 2025 @7:45

 
Seven hikers joined Christine on today's hike. For our safety, the Rattlesnake Point ST has been moved from the edge of the escarpment onto one of the park trails.

Still a few leaves hanging on