Author: Campbell Britton

2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards

Posted on by Campbell Britton

2025 was a unique year for volunteer activity due to the ice storm. The Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. executive, therefore decided to recognize three people for their contribution to the re-opening of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail in 2025.

While there are many people to thank for our remarkable recovery from the devastation of the storm in March of 2025, we want to extend a special thank you and present our Volunteer of the Year Award to the following:

George Boyd from the Kawartha Club – George spent considerable time providing information to make our maps of the Kawartha section more accurate while also taking a leadership role with the club’s hiking calendar.

Dale Hannah of the Barrie Club – Dale also led the activity to build three new water crossings on the Barrie section between Old Second South and Gill Road.

Bob Wilson of the Orillia Club – Bob made each trail maintenance outing enjoyable, safe and productive and there were many! He even brought snacks and refreshments along each time.

The above three sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail were especially hit hard by the ice storm. Dale, George and Bob’s leadership, their energy and the many long hours they spent on the trail were critical in getting our trails back in great shape.

The contribution of these three individuals shows how a volunteer-based organization such as the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. can remain sustainable and keep on thriving.

Thank You!

Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
April 2026

Call for a new Vice President and a new Newsletter Editor

Posted on by Campbell Britton

With the April 18 Annual General Meeting of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. (GHTA) approaching fast, we are putting out a call for a new Vice President and a new Newsletter Editor.

Isaac Strang, our current Vice President, who also developed our new GHTA Hike Registration form, will be shifting his skills and time to an advisory position with respect to our website “refresh” project. Isaac has been a very valued contributor to our Executive Team, which handles the day to day operations of the GHTA. I’d like to thank him for his past and ongoing commitment to the organization.

Lana Johnson has been our Newsletter Editor for 3 years and has done an excellent job at compiling our news stories, schedules, photos and announcements into an informative document. Lana felt it was time to pass on this role to someone else but agreed to still compile the upcoming Spring/Summer Newsletter. Many thanks, Lana, for your contributions to the GHTA in the past, and all the best to you and your family.

Attached please find the job descriptions for the 2 vacancies. We’d love to hear from anyone who feels that they may have the skills, enthusiasm and time availability to contribute to the continued success and sustainability of the GHTA and would like to join our current team of Executive members and officers.

Vice President Role Description Role

Newsletter Editor Role Description

If you have any questions or are interested in either of the 2 positions, contact me at president@ghta.ca, or feel free to call me at 705-245-1005.

Thank you for your consideration
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.

Hiker’s Code & Trail Etiquette – A Reminder

Posted on by Campbell Britton

The Ganaraska Hiking Trail exists thanks to the generosity of landowners. We therefore consider access to private land a privilege, not a right, and trail users are expected to adhere to the Hiker’s Code. This includes not trespassing onto private property (other than on the blazed trail) and keeping dogs on a leash. The recent loss of a private property trail section on the Mad River trail near Glen Huron is an example of the consequences of abusing the privilege on having permission to hike on private property.

A reminder about the Hiker’s Code:

  • Respect private property
  • Stay on the trail
  • Cross fences using stiles
  • Carry out all garbage
  • Walk around the edge of fields
  • Protect wildlife, trees and shrubs
  • Never strip bark from trees
  • Keep dogs on a leash near farms and where required by law 
  • Dogs are not allowed on group hikes

Please familiarize yourself with the widely used blazing system used by many long distance hiking trails in North America, so you don’t stray off the Ganaraska Hiking Trail. About the Trail

Thanks
Frieda Baldwin
President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.
Email: president@ghta.ca

Annual Hiking Badges

Posted on by Campbell Britton

50/100/200 and 250 Hikes in 1 Year Badges

The GHTA’s Annual Hike Challenge began in 2022 to encourage physical and mental well-being through time spent outdoors. Hikers can earn badges for completing 50, 100, 200, or 250 hikes in a calendar year. The rules are simple and best of all you get to enjoy the Ganaraska hiking trails.

Rules

  • Each hike must be at least 1 hour.
  • Longer hikes may count as multiple hikes:
    • 4+ hours = 2 hikes
    • 6+ hours = 3 hikes
  • No hike log required, but participants are encouraged to share some hikes (location and photos) in the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Facebook group.

Participation

  • Open to everyone.
  • Membership is not required, but a $30 annual family membership is encouraged.

Ordering

Badges can be ordered using the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Merchandise Order Form.

Detour on Pine Ridge Section in Port Hope

Posted on by Campbell Britton

Due to Hwy. 401 construction at Port Hope there is a detour where Choate Rd. crosses under the 401 (km 2.7 of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail (Map 1)).

Hikers travelling north must now proceed straight at the Jocelyn St. /Cavan Rd. intersection (km 2.3) to Victoria St. N. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (north) at Victoria St. for 1.5 km to the intersection with Choate Rd. Turn right on Choate Rd. for 0.5 km to the intersection with the unmaintained section of Hawkins Rd.(km 4.3) where you will rejoin the GHT.

Hikers travelling south must turn right (west) at the Hawkins Rd./Choate Rd. intersection (km 4.3) to the Choate Rd. / Cranberry Rd. intersection (0.5 km). Turn left on Cranberry Rd. and travel south to the intersection with Jocelyn Rd. (approximately 1.5 km). Take a left on Jocelyn St. to the intersection where the GHT meets Molson St. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (south).

Ice Storm Restoration Update

Posted on by Campbell Britton

 As per our announcement of April 3, 2025, following the ice storm of March 29/30, the entire 500 km long Ganaraska Hiking Trail was officially closed. Meanwhile, our club volunteers have been busy assessing and restoring their sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail and as a result of their hard work, we hope to be able to “open” up some sections very soon. Stay tuned for further announcements, hopefully by this coming  weekend. 

Our volunteers have already cleared a lot of the fallen debris, put caution tape around some dangerous hazards and/or created a small reroute, all this in an effort to make the trail “passable”. Trail Closed signs are being installed on those sections of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail, which are still considered impassable, or where we have not been able to even start or complete any restoration.  In the most affected areas, such as many of the Simcoe County Forests in Oro Medonte, salvage efforts are scheduled by the landowner. These logging operations may last well into the summer, but will open up the forest access roads, and make it easier for our volunteers to access the trail for restoration efforts.  

As we cannot enforce physical closure of trail access, we ask that persons traversing the trail be guided by the following principles:

  • As is always the case, even under normal circumstances, HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK. It remains the individual’s own responsibility to decide what their own risk tolerance is. 
  • There are still a lot of overhead hazards such as tree branches hanging above the trail, or leaning trees near the trail, which we plan to deal with in due time. Several of our volunteers  have taken chainsaw training to help tackle the situation.
  • Consider the wind. Higher wind speeds and gusts can dislodge the overhead hazards or topple leaning trees.
  • Leave a hike plan with someone (i.e. where you plan to hike, when expected back, etc.)
  • Hike with a buddy

Enjoy the hiking season, but stay safe out there!

Frieda Baldwin

President, Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc.

2025 Volunteer of the Year – Bill Zeran

Posted on by Campbell Britton

Over the years Bill Zeran has held various leadership positions within the GHTA and the Pine Ridge Hiking Club including:

  • Member of the GHTA Executive (2014-2018) as Recording Secretary and later on as Secretary-Treasurer
  • Member of the GHTA Risk Assessment Committee;
  • President of the Pine Ridge Club (2018-2012);
  • Hike Leader at Pine Ridge since 2014; and
  • Member of the Pine Ridge Maintenance Committee (2017-the present).

Through all of these commitments Bill has demonstrated a positive and friendly demeanour which endears him to those around him. Bill’s smile and sense of humour are contagious. The Vice-President at Pine Ridge during Bill’s time as President stated how much he valued Bill’s mentorship. With the ongoing support of his spouse Rita, Bill is also involved with a number of other volunteer programs especially within their local church community. Bill’s family roots are steeped in service to others.

Pine Ridge Club representatives Cynthia Warn and Stan Muldoon receiving Bill’s plaque in his absence. 

Congratulations and thank you Bill! We couldn’t have done it without you.

2025 Volunteer of the Year – Simone Latham

Posted on by Campbell Britton

We are highly appreciative of the contributions Simone Latham has made to the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. as our Treasurer since 2018, a valued member of our GHTA Executive, as a Certified Hike Leader for the Midland club, and as a great friend. 

Simone joined the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc. in 2011, and in 2012 soon after encouraged a team of 4 GHTA members to walk the 100 km Oxfam event in 48 hours. It was a very hot weekend, but we all made it in 42 hours, and only lost several toe nails in the process. However, she really enjoyed hiking and became a great hike leader.

As a member of the GHTA Executive, her skills and past experience with other not for profit and charitable boards, as well as with procedures and policies, helped us streamline & automate our GHTA processing for payments, bookkeeping, expense reimbursements, etransfers and many other administrative changes. We also thank her for the amount of time she gave us to find a suitable replacement, and get our processes documented and streamlined to pass on to our new Treasurer. 

Simone Latham receiving 2025 Volunteer of the Year

We wish her all the best in her retirement as treasurer from the Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association Inc, and will miss her as a great team player and friend. 

Safe Hiker Course April 26 at Tiffin Centre for Conservation

Posted on by Campbell Britton

On Saturday April 26, 2025 Ganaraska Hiking Trail Association will be offering a Safe Hiker course for members and non-members. The course is built on the Hike Ontario Safe Hiker course, but will include other topics such as information about safe hiking after the ice storm, protecting from ticks, carpool etiquette, planning for a hike, navigation tools, What3Words, what if you get lost/injured, weather, etc.

Following the course, there will be a 1 to 1.5 hour hike on the beautiful Tiffin CA property. Both the course and parking are free on April 26.

Address: Tiffin Centre, 8195 8th Line of Essa, Utopia, Ontario on Saturday April 26 at 12:30.
Park in the large parking lot by the green Administration building and proceed past that building via the covered boardwalk to the Learning Centre.

To sign up for the free course, enter your name and email on the following link. Your email will only be visible to the instructors and will be used in case of a change or cancellation.
Safe Hiker Course Registration

A New Ganaraska Hiking Trail Badge!!!

Posted on by Campbell Britton

In addition to our 50, 100 and 200 Hikes In 1 Year badges we are now also offering a “250 Hikes In 1 Year” badge, for those hiking aficionados, who have the time and determination to record at least 250 hikes (of a minimum of 1 hour) in a year.

The new badge (see prototype) has been designed by our very own Trail Director, Tracy Parsons, and will be embroidered by her capable and creative hands. A real collector’s item! This unique badge is available for $7 and can be ordered on our Merchandise Order Form.