And what a journey it’s been…
Starting on Monday, Sept. 8 and ending on Thursday, Sept. 25, I hiked Ontario’s Bruce Trail starting in Tobermory and ending in Queenston, Niagara. In 18 days I followed a trail of rocks, roots, pine needles, pavement, dirt, gravel, and grass. I lost 15 lbs while gaining 500 points of stamina and 150 points of speed. I somehow thankfully didn’t get any ticks and surprisingly no poison ivy burns.
The Bruce Trail is very representative of what southern Ontario’s landscape has to offer – Lake Huron, farm fields, mixed-wood forests, cedar groves, suburbs, city, vineyards. Of course the most important and prominent feature of the trail is the Niagara escarpment which is what the trail follows as it cross-sects Ontario’s lip. It’s a phenomenal feature of dolostone and limestone rock, formed over 450 million years ago.
I had my sights set on hiking this trail ever since I was in my early 20’s, and now, just in time to wrap up my late 20’s, I can say I’ve completed it which has me feeling elated and grateful.
It’s so important that organizations like the Bruce Trail Conservancy exist, to conserve precious nature in an ever-growing world. Thanks to BTC for continuing the upkeep and preservation of one of Ontario’s most legendary hiking trails.
