Author: Rob Smith

On a sunny but cool afternoon on October 28 members of the Wasaga Beach Hiking Club gathered at Schoonertown Parkette to dedicate a bench and memorial plaque to Lois Kowal who passed away suddenly on April 7 2020. 

Lois’ family , her brother Mort and wife Donna and many other organizations were present to pay tribute to the commitment Lois had to her community and to her love of nature.

John Fisher ,Superintendent of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park and some of his staff represented the love that Lois had for the Piping Plover Program, Friends of Nancy Island Historical Society and Ontario Nature.

Marilyn Beecroft who with her husband Jim built and installed the bench,  spoke of how Lois always went over and above the call of duty to get any task that she undertook done to the best of her ability. 

Lois’ interests also extended to the local chapter of Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi and Wasaga Beach Garden Club.  

Lois was a long time member of the board of Ganaraska Hiking Club and served as the membership secretary , kept records of end to end badges and inventory of Ganaraska Hiking Trail Guide Book.  She also held these positions in the Wasaga Beach club as well as being a hike leader who had an enormous knowledge of the trails and flora and fauna found in this area.

. Many people have stepped up to replace Lois at these tasks but for the members of Wasaga Beach club Lois is irreplaceable. We will miss her tremendously. 

Irene Bell, President Wasaga Beach Hiking Club.  

Due to Covid 19, we previously had been informed by New Lowell Conservation camp managers, that hikers were not allowed to hike through the New Lowell CA.

According to the latest information from park management:

1) Hikers are allowed again through the park but must wear a mask.

2) Washrooms are available for use but are limited to 2 people at a time and everyone must wash their hands prior to entering the toilets and after they leave.

Also, note that parking available once you enter the gates to the left. This area alone will hold 20 cars and the parking space on the right will hold up to 10 cars. Weekends might be tighter for parking as overnight campers take up those spaces.

CHANGES TO HIKING ON RAILLINE: Due to the fact that the Mad River section of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail between New Lowell and Utopia follows an abandoned railline, which is very overgrown in late summer and fall, we are officially closing this 11 km section from August till end of fall. End-to-end hikers have the option of skipping this section, or resume in the winter or spring when the plant growth is next to nil and the rail line is easier to navigate. If end-to-enders insist on hiking through, they do so at their own risk.

Frieda Baldwin
705-245-1005

1. Bears are around all year, so it is important to be bear wise any time of the year.
   BearWise helps people live responsibly with black bearsHelping people live responsibly with black bears, using the BearWise Basics (at home and outdoors), Bear Safety …
   

2. Be Seen Be Safe information is useful. https://www.nvca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Be%20Seen%20Be%20Safe%20Pamphlet.pdf#search=be%20seen%20be%20safe

Hike leader Dale Elley-Bristow took us down into a slot cave and out through the featured keyhole then through mature cedar, reforested pine, mature deciduous forest and an open meadow, by a wonderful rock face, a babbling brook and through a marsh and by a lake.

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Cycle group on Monday 03 August led by Ron Elliott on his reclining 3 wheeler on ride along Tay trail from Coldwater..

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Very heavy rain on Monday, Aug 3 combined with an apparent beaver dam failure caused extensive damage resulting in a wash-out of a 400 metre section of Deep Bay Road (County Road 2) just south of the intersection with Devil’s Lake Road. A road closure is in effect which means that it is not possible to drive directly from Moore Falls along Deep Bay Road to get to Devil’s Lake. However, you can still access Devil’s Lake by driving to Minden on Hwy 35, then turning on to the northeast end of Deep Bay Road. Google Maps shows the road closure. Latest advice is that the road closure will remain in effect until Aug 10.

Rob Halupka <rh.wilderness.ghta@gmail.com>

Instagram: ganaraskatrail

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GanaraskaA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GanaraskaHikingTrailAssociation

Club Links
https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Hiking-Trail-Association-Orillia-Club-2011856195778486

https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Hiking-Trail-Wasaga-Beach-103981801339846

https://www.facebook.com/Ganaraska-Trail-Hiking-Association-Midland-Ontario-114604180259680

https://www.facebook.com/GHTAwilderness/

https://www.facebook.com/pineridgehikingclub

https://www.facebook.com/mrht18

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GanaraskaHikingTrailAssociationBarrieClub

• There are unfortunately no public camp sites along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, other than in the Wilderness section. 
• Here are some more details about that: “While there are camping sites within Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park (which encompasses most of the Wilderness Section of the Ganaraska Trail), please be advised that QEIIWPP is a “non-operating” park, which means park users have free access but there is no reservation system and demand far exceeds supply, especially during the summer and weekends. Through hikers will need to spend a night at Loon Lake in the centre of the park, but at least that location should be okay for capacity. Anyone requiring further information should contact the Ontario Parks office at Balsam Lake.”
• Also note that the provincial parks along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail are day-use only, and the campground at New Lowell Conservation Area is for seasonal campers only, and is actually closed for walk through hiking during Covid-19 restrictions. Hikers will have to detour to Hoggback Road.

Frieda Baldwin
705-245-1005

I think our members may want to take a run with Chantal Demers along the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, in what is called the Fastest Known Time (FKT). She did the east west route of 387 kms in 5 days, 10 hours and 30 minutes, and was fully self-supported.

Ganaraska Self-Supported FKT


Chantal also did the Oro-Medonte and Midland sections (back and forth) on a different very windy day.

Oro-Midland Ganaraska Side Trail FKT (out & back)

What an unbelievable achievement!
Frieda Baldwin President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.

Due to COVID-19, the Mad River Ganaraska Hiking Trail section through the New Lowell Conservation Area/campground is closed until further notice, at the request of the campground manager. Hikers will have to make their way south on Hogback Road and reconnect with the trail at the county forest.

Hi all, this is a temporary situation, and we will be allowed back on the campground as soon as social distancing and Covid 19 regulations are eased.
Frieda Baldwin
705-245-1005