The January weather continues to surprise me with the mild weather and lack of snow.  This is the first January that I have been able to hike the section of the Maitland Trail that I look after between River Line and Sharpes Creek Line.  On our Jan 5th hike the creek at about the half way point, was fairly easy to get across.  When I first saw the creek in 2006 I thought there should be a bridge across it. However, in the years since I have only once seen it so high it was impossible to cross without rubber boots.  The trail had only small branches and a few smallish windfalls that I had to clear.   In the last couple of years when I had Chewy, who by then was a quite blind Shih Tzu,  I was very conscience of windfalls across the trail as he would walk into them.  Therefore I was very grateful to the few hikers that would clear the small windfalls from the trail and disappointed in the other hikers that would pick their way through the debris rather than remove them from the trail.

In the last year’s blizzard I was amazed so many tree trunks had large knife edges of snow stuck to them pointing to the direction where the wind came from.

I have not seen many birds during my hikes, other than Canada geese and some chickadees. However on the Lobb hike on January 11th , a large bird was flying over the river- probably an eagle.  Although I have not seen a pileated woodpecker for some time, there was evidence of a very active one on a rotten stump near the Maitland trail. One of the biggest excavations I have seen.

Notes:

Hikers taking part in Maitland Trail events should now sign the 2023 Waiver on the MTA website.

Saturdays January 21st  through February 25th BRVTA hikes at 10 a.m on the Varna trails with Ralph Blasting.

Sunday Jan 22nd 12.30 pm Hike at the John Goldie Reseve.  Level 2 Moderate pace 1.5 hours The trails wind through reforested areas, along a high bank with spectacular views over the Maitland River, and through open woods. Carpooling is recommended due to limited parking. Please call Con by Sat evening 519-524-8730 to advise you are attending.

Friday February 3rd 7.30-8.30 p.m. Candlelit walk in the Maitland Woods on a 1.5 km section of the trail. Trail closes at 9 p.m. The trail will be transformed by the flickering beauty of candlelight. Anyone who has their own candle lanterns (home-made or bought) is welcome to bring them and set them out somewhere

along the trail to add to the magic of the experience.  Participants can set out from the trail entrance at

the east end of the Columbus Centre parking lot (Parson’s Court).

Sunday February 12th 10 a.m.  1.5 hours leisurely pace. Hike or snowshoe at Naftel’s Creek with Gena Lowe and Paula Deering.

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 All hikers must sign the waiver, preferably the Online waiver at www.maitland trail.ca

Uneven Hikers hike for 1 ½ to 2 hours on Wednesdays or Thursdays, contact Patrick Capper. Both groups meet at 9 a.m.  and are open to non-members provided they sign the MTA on-line waiver.

If you have questions or something of interest for Trail Talk email me Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com.