We got great news – June 2 the Bruce Trail was reopening almost everywhere! Only a few areas (mostly on the Bruce Peninsula) are still closed. For those who don’t know, the Bruce Trail is Canada’s Oldest and Longest marked footpath, stretching ~900km from Niagara to Tobermory.
It was time to dust off Plan D. Guidance is still to hike close to home, but there are hundreds of kms of Bruce Trail within about an hour drive of our current house. It couldn’t be a Terminus to Terminus through hike like I’d dreamed, but it would be possible to start knocking off sections. I’ve discovered I really need to have a goal or project to feel good in life. This certainly fits the bill (as hiking is also my favorite hobby). Brent’s project is being a trail angel doing drop offs and pickups – no small feat! I tell him everyday, he is soooo wonderful and I’m super lucky he is so supportive.
For Covid safety I’m doing the following: Staying within an hour of home, carrying a cloth mask in case something should happen where I can’t stay 2m (or 6′) from others, having directions in triplicate to avoid needing help (map and compass, trail app, GPS watch), along with an InReach tracker so I can contact Brent without cell coverage and let him know where I am, avoiding the most popular sections on weekends, and paying attention so I can step off the trail to let others pass.
Jun 2 – Day 1. As the trail only opened today and I didn’t have a plan, it wasn’t going to be a bright and early start. More like an ‘afternoon and muggy’ one. Brent (amazing trail driver that he is) agreed to drop me off and then collect me some ways down the trail. We agreed upon a spot and meeting time. I chose the section closest to home, straddling Hogg’s Falls. It started off gorgeous – through a working sugar maple bush. I was excited to be doing something towards a greater goal finally! Most of the hike was a repeat as Hogg’s Falls had opened earlier and we’d hiked it a couple times. The main challenge was the timeline I’d agreed to with Brent. Between the heat and hills I was rushing to make the meeting time. 11.75km in 3 hours. 290m elevation gain, 240m loss. Sweaty.
Jun 4 – Day 2. Instead of a fixed meeting spot, we agreed only on a time with several options of where depending on how fast I was going. I felt great joy striding off into a field to start the day. Weather was nice and I was feeling energetic! The trail was in good shape – many thanks to the wonderful volunteers (I even met a few during the day). There were exciting flowers and wildlife (a deer, a snake, infinite black, grey and red squirrels and chipmunks). The trail runs up Beaver Valley ski hill which was a bit of a slog – but I appreciate the exercise. At one point a long wooden ladder leading down a cliff, fun, but awkward with hiking poles.
Brent would not be happy 
Lunch spot 
Finally out of the mosquitoes! 
Midway through the hike the trail descended into a more boggy forest with rough trail and the mosquitoes were wicked. That was the only point I wasn’t enjoying things. Soon enough it returned to drier forest and I trundled on happily. By about 20km I was getting pretty tired, but I still had time until my pickup, so what’s there to do except keep going?! I drank 4L of water – I thought I’d brought way too much but apparently not. The day ended at 22.7km in 6 hours 20 minutes. 555m elevation gain, 520m loss.
Jun 5 – Uh oh! I definitely went too far yesterday. Standing up and getting moving was a challenge. No Bruce Trail for me today. Very little moving in general.
Jun 6 – Day 3. A perfect weather day – cool and breezy. I couldn’t have ordered better conditions. The day started with a short road section and then ran along old lane-way for a bit. The second half followed along the top of the escarpment in the forest – gorgeous! Even though it was a weekend, I only saw a total of about 6 other people in 2 groups. All was great until the last 3km. My feet and legs started screaming. I was in the woods and knew there was no option except to get out to the road and my trail angel husband, so I put my head down and powered through. Oww! Total for the day 23.1km in 5 hours 43 minutes. 335m elevation gain, 385m loss.
This is the trail… 
Jun 7 – Yup, definitely not doing a long hike today. It felt like a waste because it was another perfect, cool weather day. To avoid stiffening up (and because I struggle to say no to a hike), Brent and I did go for a little walk at Flesherton Hills (not the Bruce Trail).
Jun 8 – Day 4. Back in go mode! I was feeling totally recovered. My favourite moment of the day was seeing 6 racoon kits playing on the trail. (No parents were around, and with a typical litter size of 2-5 I think we understand why. Must be having a little break.) I kept my distance, and really enjoyed the encounter. Around Walter’s Falls I had a bit of confusion as the trail didn’t match the Bruce Trail app. I know that blazes always take priority so I went with that. There was one section which showed ‘closed’ on the app. I was planning to just go around it on the road and complete it sometime in the future when it opened, but handily, the white blazes didn’t match the app and led on the route I was planning as a detour – so I stayed on trail and completed all the Main Trail route. The afternoon started with a longish road section. It was fine. The upside of road sections is I can go 5km/hr instead of 3-4km/hr in the woods. The last part of the day threatened to be buggy (wet and boggy) but it wasn’t too bad. I was just loving being on the trail, working towards a goal. My fantastic husband arrived in perfect timing, again, just as I popped out onto the road. Perhaps I’m already getting fitter, as today felt easier and I could have kept going! Total for the day 20.3km in 5 hours 28 minutes. 355m elevation gain, 420m loss.
And that concludes week 1. 4 hiking days covering 78km. It went by so fast and I’m excited to keep going!
Brent And Bron Abroad 