MONDAY EVENING HIKES - 2013 Cost: $42/person for the package of 10 hikes, or $7 per/person/hike *Please remember that all hikes begin at 6:00 p.m. sharp, & pre-registration is mandatory * Maximum Registration: 30 Total Registered To Date: 30 HOW TO REGISTER: Click on the following link: I WANT TO REGISTER
WE'RE SORRY, BUT THE MONDAY EVENING HIKE SERIES IS NOW FULL ! THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
 The Monday Evening Hike program repeatedly has been the most successful series of hikes, since it was introduced in 1996. It has become a novel way to get Quinte area residents out to some of the fascinating natural areas that we are so fortunate to have in eastern Ontario. On these casual hikes, we offer historical background on each area we visit, and interpret the flora and fauna that we see, and explain how it all fits in with the natural scheme of things.
Originally created to promote natural areas within the 6,200-square kilometre Quinte Conservation watershed, these hikes are now being offered through NatureStuff Tours. This means we can now wander out of the defined Quinte Conservation watershed and include a few new areas of interest. These are high quality hikes in key locations that are sure to peak your interest. This is your opportunity to join others on these guided tours while at the same time, learning about some of the features which make these locations so special. These information filled interpretive hikes are led by Quinte area naturalist, Terry Sprague, a professional naturalist with more than 45 years experience leading interpretive hikes. Joining us on these hikes as co-leader is Cheryl Chapman of Demorestville who always brings along some interesting items. Also helping us most evenings on our hikes is Louisa Ielo from Pleasant Bay. Once you register, your name will be placed on a group e-mail list, specific to each hike you register for, and you will be reminded by e-mail or phone as each hike comes up and will be provided with details and directions. All hikes are between two and four kilometres in length. To register for the Monday Evening Hike Series, click on the link above "How to Register".
 Monday, April 22, 2013
Kiwanis Bayshore Trail (Hike "A") We’re going to commence our 2013 schedule of Monday Evening Hikes by walking on pavement! In early spring, the weather can be questionable, and likewise, the walking surface. This hike will get us loosened up as we walk the 1.8 km paved section and check for wildlife as we go as this stretch can host some interesting species in spring. However, once we reach Herchimer Avenue, we are going to continue our trek for almost another kilometre along an unpaved section that will take us to the boundary of the old Bakelite site. There is a marsh at this end and we may try to lure out a Swamp Sparrow or an early Virginia Rail before we head back to Pinnacle Street where we will have cars waiting to transport us back to the main parking lot. On this walk we will stop at a retention pond as there is often wildlife in here, and talk about the Marsh Monitoring Program where volunteers monitor wetlands like this. There is history here too as the path we will be walking on at this end is the old Grand Trunk Railway route. Length of hike: 2.6 km
 Monday, April 29, 2013 Hanna Park, Trenton (Hike "B") We drive to Trenton for this evening hike, to a beautiful 42-acre public park, featuring deep woods and mixed habitat – right in the heart of Trenton! There are lots of trails in here and we will explore a few of them. As well as a playground, a basketball court and picnic area, this Park has devoted two acres to the Kinsmen Community Dog Park, a fenced off-leash park where dog owners can let their dogs exercise. But, the real "raison d'etre" of Hanna Park though, is the wonderful trails that criss-cross each other, and this is where we will be spending our time as we check out the abundant wildlife and variety of trees and plants that grow here. Be sure to join us on this hike and experience a good example of the urban parks that some cities, like Trenton, have set aside for its residents. Total Hiking Distance: 1.9 km
 Monday, May 06, 2013 Hepatica Hill, Tweed (Hike "C") Just south of Tweed, on Hunt Road, is a working farm that is named after its hepaticas that bloom in the bushy fence rows and in the wooded areas. Hosts George Thomson and Elizabeth Churcher will greet us at the front door of their farm home, and take us on a stroll along hay fields and into a wooded area. Along the way, we will climb an interesting ridge of rock and trees that we will discuss as to its composition and how we think it came to be, and the geological processes that took place to make it this way. The timing will be right for spring wildflowers and migrating birds, so this should be a very enjoyable spring walk. If you like farmland and fields in crop, as well as interesting spring wildflowers, then this hike is for you! Total hiking distance: 2.0 km
 Monday, May 13, 2013 Prince Edward Point (Hike "D") This hike is held every year at this time by popular request. During the week of May 11th to the 20th, several of us lead hikes every morning as we introduce visitors from across Ontario, Quebec and parts of the U.S. to the extraordinary birding as part of the annual Prince Edward County Birding Festival. This land mass attracts phenomenal numbers of song birds every spring. While the best viewing is in the morning, there will be enough birds in the evening to keep us occupied for a couple of hours. Join me as I lead you through the network of groomed trails at Point Traverse. We will explore the woods, check out the waterfowl in Prince Edward Bay and learn more about “the Point Pelee of eastern Lake Ontario”. If there is interest, we will then drive another ½ kilometre to the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory and learn about the spring banding of birds and see the mist nets where the birds are caught before being banded. Total hiking distance: 2.8 km
 Monday, May 20, 2013
Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area (Hike "E") Nestled in the scenic, rolling hills of Northumberland County, Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area offers some of the most scenic natural beauty found in the Quinte area. This 441-acre parcel of land supports a wide variety of ecological communities, one of eastern Ontario's finest trout streams, remnant prairie, oak savann, a portion of a provincially significant wetland, and mature mixed forest. There is also an established bluebird population. Historically the Rice Lake Plains on which Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area sits was covered with tall prairie grasses. We will have a look at one of these remnant prairies as we walk the North View Trail, across the road from the parking lot, and work our way to the summit and then through a diverse forest. Total hiking distance: 2.2 km
 Monday, May 27, 2013
Lower Trent Trail, Frankford (Hike "F") The Lower Trent Trail is a non-motorized trail that follows the rail bed of the former CNR property running north and south from Glen Ross to Glen Miller. The now completed 15 kms. of trail runs parallel to the Trent Severn Waterway and passes through Frankford, Batawa and Glen Miller. The Lower Trent Trail has been operated by the Friends of the Trail since 2004. On this hike we will walk a section of this trail from Frankford to Batawa and learn of the problems that the Friends have experienced in trying to maintain this as a non-motorized trail in view of the arrogance of local ATV owners. However, we will soon see that the positive outweighs the negative when we witness the improvements accomplished by the Friends and the popularity of the trail with local hikers. Total Hiking Distance: 3.3 km
 Monday, June 03, 2013
Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves (Hike "G") This is an experience more than it is an actual hike, although some walking will be involved. Come as we explore Ontario’s oldest natural cavern and descend into a place where time stands still. Owners Charles Koch and his wife, Elizabeth, will tell us about how they have opened nearly 300 feet of natural passages, 35 feet below the surface, to the public, and hear them explain about the cave’s natural geological features such as stalactites and fossils. Step back in time 100,000 years on this walk. Finally, a cave in which we can enter comfortably with high ceilings, electric lighting, steps and hand rails! Total hiking distance: 2.6 km
 Monday, June 10, 2013
Willow Lee Farms (Hike "H") We will meet for this hike in Ameliasburgh and begin our story here at the mill pond below the escarpment. We already know about Roblin Mill and maybe even the saw mill that was located at the other end of the pond where the water makes its exit and trickles into a creek. But, where does the water go from there? We will get back into our cars and drive to nearby Willow Lea Farms and the home of Lyle and Sharon Vanclief and pick up the rest of the story there. We will see the site of another former holding pond, even larger than the Ameliasburgh millpond, that has since grown in, and a berm, that suggests earlier activity. We will part the bushes farther downstream and find the remains of another mill and learn where the waters from this meandering creek ultimately drain. It will be a fascinating story, and along the way we will learn about miscanthus, a crop that is now being grown on the property, as well as a bit about switchgrass and sod farming. Host, Lyle Vanclief is former MP for the riding of Prince Edward/Hastings, and was Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food for Canada for six years Total hiking distance: 1.5 + km
 Monday, June 17, 2013
Bata Island, Frankford (Hike "I") Located just 1.2 km north of Frankford, along North Trent Street, the entrance to Bata Island, also known as Sills Island, can be found opposite Huffman Road. A walkway leads into the largely forested park, with side trails branching off from the main loop around the perimeter of the island. Bata Island Trail offers peaceful trails with lots of birds and small animals to watch. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Island hikes are special – isolated, quiet and replete with nature, and you will really enjoy this one. At the north end, there are abutments to an old bridge, where ducks, geese and other birds gather. The south trail leads to the section of the river that splits Bata/Sill Island from the little island to the south. You can get a good view of the dams to the south from here and the Sills Island Generating Station, which is the second oldest generating station in the province. It was originally used as a paper mill. The G.E. Sills Paper Mill or the above-mentioned grist mill were presumably the origin of the island's name. Total hiking distance: 2 km
 Monday, June 24, 2013
Hophouse Acres, Big Island (Hike "J") A bit superfluous for a location title; however, we can pluralize it as there are two acres, and it does contain a hophouse, one of the only remaining hophouses in Prince Edward County. This will be our annual potluck supper and guided hike to mark the end of another successful series of evening hikes. On this hike at our home on Big Island, north of Picton, we will follow a mowed trail around the perimeter of two neighbouring hay fields and return to the house for a walk around our two acre property. There are some interesting stories here and I will show you what we have done in the last 38 years to make our property more conducive to wildlife. Not a big hike, but just a chance to sit around, eat, chat and celebrate our Monday Evening Hike series. Total Hiking Distance: 1.5 km
Thank you for your interest !
|
