Author: JayeK

OSSCC Hike: Huron Natural Area, Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Contact: Email Bett Fitzpatrick, bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com, or text 519-208-3408 if you plan to join us. Please add cell # to your phone contacts in case of delays or last-minute cancellations.

 Time: 10:00 am

Hike Location: Huron Natural Area,  801 Trillium Drive, Kitchener; free parking; accessible washrooms.

Duration:  1½ — 2 hours.
You may turn back at any time. Come join us!

Huron Natural Area is one of the City’s largest natural space. It is home to more than 250 acres of protected forest and wetland with more than 7km of trails to explore. Huron Natural Area has evidence of Indigenous settlement dating back hundreds of years.

Come prepared: 
Dress for cold mornings: wear sturdy footwear with good grip; bring drinks (maybe a hot cider or hot chocolate) and snacks for elevenses!
A backpack is useful to stash extra mittens and such. As with any winter hiking, icers are recommended!

 

Bett Fitzpatrick

Please advise by email if you plan to hike: bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com  

 

OSSCC Hike: Bob McMullen Linear Trail (Cambridge) Tuesday, December 13

Contact: Email Bett Fitzpatrick, bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com, or text 519-208-3408 if you plan to join us. Please add cell # to your phone contacts in case of delays or last-minute cancellations.

 Time: 10:00 am

Hike Location: Bob McMullen Linear Trail (Cambridge); Parking: Preston Memorial Arena, 1458 Hamilton Street, Cambridge (intersection of Hamilton St. and Bishop St; N43.38766, W80.34844)

Duration: 6 km out-and-back, 1½ — 2 hours.

You may turn back at any time. Come join us!

This fairly flat trail runs along the Speed River and Grand River. We’ll view limestone cliffs, 450 million years old, (dating back to when the area was part of a tropical sea), and we’ll see the confluence of the Speed and Grand rivers, also known as Settler’s Fork.

The Speed River, a major tributary of the Grand, flows through Wellington County and the Region of Waterloo in southwestern Ontario. It flows south from its source near Orton, through Guelph, where it is joined by the Eramosa River, then through the towns of Hespeler and Preston, finally uniting with the Grand River in north-west Cambridge. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed River

The Grand River (a Canadian Heritage River) is the largest river that is entirely within southern Ontario’s boundaries. From its source near Wareham, Ontario, it flows south 280 kms through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland. wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand River

Come prepared: 
Dress for cold mornings: wear sturdy footwear with good grip; bring drinks for hydration and, of course, snacks for elevenses!
A backpack is useful to stash articles of clothing once you and the temperature heat up! 

Bett Fitzpatrick

Please advise by email if you plan to hike: bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com  

 

Tuesday, November 8th, plan to join Bett and the crew
for an enjoyable fall hike.

Contact: Bett Fitzpatrick bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com if you plan to join us.
Time: 10:00am 
Hike Location: Marguerite Ormston Trailway Parking Lot 
2200 Homer Watson Blvd, Kitchener  (intersection of Homer Watson Blvd and Doon South Drive)
Duration: 7-8 kms and 2  1/2 hours

Come join us for this scenic loop hike on the Grand River Trail (marked with white blazes) winding through century-old maple and beech forest and along the river on trails used by indigenous people since the 1500s. There are some moderate hills, but nothing more demanding than pulling the canoes and loading them into the trailers! 
There’s also the choice of taking the road once we near Wilson Ave where we turn back and loop past the water treatment plant and Doon Mills ruins on our return to the parking lot. 

We had 13 people out November 1! We’d love to have you join us!

Come prepared!
Dress for cold mornings; wear sturdy footwear with good grip; bring drinks for hydration and, of course, snacks for elevenses!
A backpack is useful to stash articles of clothing once you and the temperature heat up!

 Bett Fitzpatrick 

Please advise by email if you plan to hike: bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com 

 

The first Tuesday of every month, plan to join “Hike Leader” Bett

Contact: Bett Fitzpatrick bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com if you plan to join us
Date: Tuesday, November 1st
Hike Location: Rim Park 
Time: 9:00 am

 Hi everyone,
 I would like to lead hikes the first Tuesday of each month from November to April. Each time, we’ll meet at the hike location; I’ll provide directions to those who register.

At our first hike, November 1st, we can decide as a group whether you would like to start at 9:00, 9:30, or 10:00am. 

This first hike at Rim Park, November 1, is a level 1 linear hike with an accessible wide trail, lots of benches, and no hills (paved if I remember correctly) which will already be familiar to some.  The complete hike, should you choose to do it, is approximately 9 km and takes about 2 ½ hours including stops along the way.
However, you may turn back at any point. 

***If there is interest, I could also lead a level 2-3 hike—longer, faster, with hills steep enough to provide a cardio workout—on the second Tuesday of each month. Advise by email if you’re a keener!***

Come prepared!
The recipe for a great hike: dressing for our Canadian weather, having footwear with good grip, and toting snacks and a drink!

 

Bett Fitzpatrick
Email your reply: bettfitzpatrick@gmail.com