Trail Maintenance

Date: Saturday May 3 at 9:30am

Run by: Bruce Trail -- Caledon Hills Club

High Park Hiking Club does not control and/or manage a set of trails. A whole bunch of other people, almost all volunteers, take care of them. Thanking them for their time and effort really is not enough. We should pitch in and help.

The Caledon Hills Club is looking for volunteers to help build a new trail on the Cedar Highlands, Shute and Hemlock Ridges properties. The location is Hockley Valley, near the intersection of Airport Road and Hockley Road. The terrain is hilly with great views, and lots of side logging needed. If you are able to help out on any or all of these three dates, please contact us.

The three dates are Wednesday April 30, Saturday May 3 and Thursday May 15. High Park Hiking Club plans to bring out a group May 3. If you want to help out on one of the other days, just contact us, and we will pass it on to the appropriate person.

Saturday May 3 - 8:00 a.m.

We will carpool from Yonge and York Mills at 8:00am. We need to reach Hockley Valley at 9:30am.

Google Maps instructions.

Meet and park at 308180 Hockley Road, south side about 1 km west of Airport Road. Drive in through a gate in the fence and park on the open field next to the road. We will walk in from there, except for a couple of vehicles needed to take tools and materials in to the site. We will be clearing trail, installing a small bridge, and starting a long series of side logged switchbacks up a steep hill.

Other Dates

We have no official plans to show up for these. I have been informed that they have lots of people for April 30, but they could use more for May 3 and May 15. If you are interested, email me, and I will forward it to the organizer.

Wed. April 30 - 9:30 a.m.

Meet at Hockleycrest, 933445 Airport Road, 4.4 km north of Hwy. 9.

We will assemble and car-pool to the work site, which is just across the road and north about 600 metres. Since we have to park on the road shoulder, I want to take only a small number of vehicles over there. Tools and materials will already be on site.

Thurs. May 15 - 9:30 a.m.

Meet and park at 308180 Hockley Road, south side about 1 km west of Airport Road. Drive in through a gate in the fence and park on the open field next to the road. We will walk in from there, except for a couple of vehicles needed to take tools and materials in to the site. We will be clearing trail, and continuing construction of side logged trail on a steep hill.

Remarks

Trail maintenance is sort of like gardening, with attitude. You will be digging, and carrying stuff, and all sorts of other physical labour. Tools, normally, are provided. You do not go anywhere near power tools unless you are trained and certified.

Come in your regular hiking kit. You need water and lunch. Leather work gloves are strongly recommended. Light gardening gloves will work in a pinch, but the heavy, leather gloves are way, way better.

Later, when we run hikes in the area, you can point out the parts you helped out on, and feel very, very smug.