Trail Talk: Colourful trails this time of year in Huron County
By: Patrick Capper
At this time of year, there are many colourful leaves on the trails. Quite often I only realise a species of tree close to the trail when I see the leaf or the nut lying on the trail.
One leaf that caught my eye reminded me of the symbol used years ago for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, also known as a peace sign.
The warm weather in early November has meant that many Sulphur butterflies are still flying around. It was first time I saw a butterfly nectaring on a Common Evening Primrose.
In my last Trail talk I mentioned seeing a Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly and an Amobia at Bender House.
However, I was mistaken according to the experts at iNaturalist.
The butterfly was a California Tortoiseshell, which did not even get a mention in the book Butterflies of Ontario and Eastern Canada, even though the book included a Weidemeyer’s Admiral due to one sighting in 1960 at Rainy River. When looking at the iNaturalist map for California Tortoiseshells, which are usually seen on the west side of North America, there have been about a dozen observations of it in Ontario in the last few years. The Amobia was renamed as a typical Flesh fly.
On October 24 the annual “Wildwood Challenge” hike was held by the Avon Trail Association. About 100 hikers enjoyed a route of 22 km through the Wildwood Conservation area near St Marys. It was a nice cool sunny day on a well-marked trail, with two rest stops along the way, well supplied with home baked treats.
Every half kilometer there was an “Emergency Response Station” post, so that a hiker or cyclist could be easily located. The hikers met quite a few cyclists along the way, indicating that this was a popular trail for cyclist who all must cycle the trail in a clockwise direction.
Living in a rural spot at the edge of Clinton means that you never know what you might see inside or near the house. Recently we had a fork-tailed Katydid climbing up the kitchen wall. I don’t know if it hitched a ride on Thyra, Koda or me. I released it back into the garden.
Another visitor was a Bruce Spanworm moth that was resting on our front door.
NOTE:
The first week of Deer Gun Hunting is from Monday, November 30 to Sunday, December 6 so most of the Maitland Trail will be closed. The Millennium, Maitland Woods, Sifto and G2G trails will remain open.
The access from David Street to the Bayfield Woodland Trail is closed until spring, but the trail can still be accessed via the Sarnia Street entrance. The whole trail is closed from December 13-18.
EVENTS:
Saturday, November 14 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. - HIKE Morris Tract to Benmiller: This is a scenic, river-view section of the Maitland Trail through Falls Reserve Conservation Area, past Benmiller Falls and into the hamlet of Benmiller.
Meeting Location: Roadside pullover just north of the bridge on Benmiller Line.
Transportation: Carpool to the trailhead at 36833 Londesboro Road and Morris Tract Line.
Difficulty: Level 1-2 Pace: Moderate to brisk.
Terrain: Flat and hilly sections, stairs and uneven footing.
Annual Waiver: Complete the MTA Annual waiver Pre-register with Susan Ethelston at susan.ethelston@gmail.com
Saturday, November 21 from 9 – 11 a.m. - HIKE| Morrison Dam and MacNaughton-Morrison Trails: Enjoy scenic views along the Morrison Dam reservoir system and the MacNaughtonMorrison Trails.
Meeting Location: Morrison Dam Conservation Area, 71108 Morrison Line, Exeter.
Parking: South side of the dam.
Distance: Approximately 8 km.
Difficulty: Level 1 Pace: Moderate to brisk.
Terrain: Some uneven surfaces, no significant hills.
Annual Waiver: Please complete the MTA Annual waiver in advance.
Pre-register with Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com. arrive. Note this hike will be led by Patrick and not Susan as was in the MTA Newsletter.
Saturday, November 28 at 11 a.m. - Mindfulness Walk and Forest Therapy: Meet at the Millenium Trail in Goderich, Nelson Street entrance. Designed for those who want the benefits of meditation but prefer to move. We’ll be moving slowly and silently together for 20 minutes to the first river lookout where we’ll stop to chat about the benefits of mindfulness and forest therapy, enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Maitland River, and head back to the entrance - maybe hug a tree on the way out.
Please leave your pets at home; dogs are already very Zen.
For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Tanya at redroofrecovery@gmail.com or text 519-616-3636. This is a level 1, slow paced meditative walk.
NOTES:
The Maitland Trail between Londesboro Road and Little Lakes Road remains closed due to a landslide.
Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca
Midweek hikers meet at 9 a.m. and hike for 1.5 to 2 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com
LIFE hikers meet every Friday for a hike of about 1.5 hours, with a choice of pace, striders moving a little faster than the strollers. The hikes now start at 9 a.m. and can be joined through ONE CARE.
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