Summer Legs Gone

Meeting up Parent #3 at Whitevale

Good fun last weekend with my Meetup crew  (http://www.meetup.com/Pickering-Parents-Hiking-Group/), including my hiker buddy T'ana.  We really like to pump up the jam for a good few hours when we get out, so we decided on a 15km-Seaton Trail stint last Sunday morning.  The plan was to go northbound for 4.5 km whereupon we'd meet up with another parent, continue northward for 3 km, rest, then return south to drop off the parent and stop at our parking spot -- 15 km in total.


It was really good to be out on the trail with her familiar face, especially as we had not hiked together for over 2 months; a far cry from the almost daily walks while we were on mat leave together.  I think that the last time we hiked together was on the Bruce Trail in August.  With lots to catch up on, we chatted for a good long while about Halloween, family, day care, work, housing prices (ugh!) and life in general



Stop pulling my hair on the steps :-)  Too cute.

After a good hour or so, we met up with another Meetup parent and continued on to Green River where we rested, stretched and ate.  High spirits kept up even on our way back ... until we were at about the 12-km mark -- the mostly up-hill part... ZOIX!  Trying to keep up our old summertime pace was a challenge as our legs were feeling the burn and tightness.  Was it the increased weight on our backs... heavier babies?  Was it the thinning air as we walked up-slope?  Nah, it wasn't like it was Mount Kilamanjaro.  The one comment that rang true was:  "My summer legs are gone."  I won't tell you which one of us said it.  But, suffice it to say that we both thought it.

Looking forward to our next leg-burn.

16 for 15 km

This bit here is a celebration of sorts. Many of you know that I organize a Meetup group for parents who like to hike with their infants. Usually, the woodland hikes have an attendance of 3 or 4 parents; a good sized group considering most of us do not own hiking carriers for babies. But, last week, 8 parents came out with their babes.  I was really impressed with the turn-out and thought it would be great to highlight it.  Most of the babes were young toddlers, but we had a new 20month old come along to join the fun.  There were 8 parents, 7 babies, and one dog in all. 



Downhill after the Mast ridge

We hiked the Vista, Mast, Orchard and Cedar Trails.  Usually things get tough around the 3 km mark when we hike up to the Mast Trail ridge.  We all passed with flying colours.

The trip north toward the lunch spot was filled with the usual chatter and catching up.  One of the best things about the Meetup group is that many of us have formed friendships along the trails having walked together so many times and shared our parenting ups and downs.

Along the way we met a few walkers, including the regular Wednesday group of Rouge Park Walkers – the Rouge Park Volunteers lead members of the public on interpretative hikes.  We like meeting up with them, as they are a cheery bunch.  That day, Terry, one of the regulars has us listening very quietly for a catbird amongst the trees –the squawk sounds just like a cat.  Not a meow, but more like a cat trying to escape a hungry dog.  Neat-oh!

Bumping into the Rouge Park Volunteers on the Trail Wednesday group
There are Kathy and Bruce in their volunteer shirts.

 

Lunch at the 10-km mark is always welcome on this walk as it comes right after a steep uphill on the Orchard Trail and offers a view of the Beare Wetlands.

 

 

 

The walk continued after lunch with a 5-km return walk on the Cedar Trail past the wetlands and toward the north end of Meadowvale (a bit anti-climactic but a nice challenge with the 2 staircases). 

Chatting up a storm while catching our breaths

I will surely miss this walk and all that the excellent company has to offer come September when so many of us return to work.  Meeting up on weekends will be tough for most of us, what with life being as busy as it is.  But, it will also be a welcome respite and happy reunion for many of us who can make it out.

Meetup for a 10-15 km Walk

When we get together with my Meetup group for long hikes, we always have a good time.  Hiking with friends means chatting, catching up, and finding out something or the other about baby care.  it also means lots of laughs.  Last week we got together for a 15 km walk in Rouge Park.  It seemed like a lot at the start, but by the end, we realized that time just flew by.

The first leg was southbound for 2 km from the Pearse House along the Vista Trail.  This was a good way to rev up the engines as it was mostly flat and downhill.  Hah!  Easy peasy!



Heading back on the 3rd leg of the hike

Lots of ups and downs on the Mast Trail

The second leg was on the connecting Mast Trail just across Twyn Rivers Drive.  This was where we pumped up the jam a bit as there was a relatively steep climb up to the ridge.  With our legs burning and with the loads of children in carriers, it was a super workout.  But, what goes up must come down.  It felt good to head down the hill towards the river.  Once we were at our southern-most point at the Glen Rouge Camping area, we turned back and headed north along the Mast for a return trip of almost 6 km.  Again, what goes down must go up.  We retraced our steps back up the ridge.

For the third leg we continued north along the connecting Orchard Trail for just over 2 km.  Once we had made our last steep climb (pros by this point), we ended up at the Beare Wetlands where we had a refresher, fed the 3 youths, and chilled for a bit.  After a half-hr or so, we were recharged enough to press on.  Woo hah!  5 more kilometres to go!  And, to think we had the option to end the hike by returning to Pearse House where the cars were parked.

Rest Stop after 10 km and Recharging for the Final 5 km

For the fourth leg, we went past the wetlands and continued north on the Cedar Trail.  As we approached the northern trail head at Meadowvale Rd, there was quite a drama near the river.  Some sort of raptor squawking at the top of its lungs.  As hard as we tried, we could not spot it.  Oh well... time to turn back.

We finally headed south for a total of 5 km+ on the Cedar Trail.  What a great workout!  The fresh air, thighs-a-burning, happy babies (well... almost) and happy hikers!

If you want to know more about the Meetup group, check it out at http://www.meetup.com/Pickering-Parents-Hiking-Group/

A Week of Frenetic Hiking

2.5 Weeks Before Mat Leave Ends

Wednesday, May 9^th – Mast plus– 7k hilly 

On the Mast Trail hills

Pausing for a Photo on the Mast Trail

Spotting a Snapping Turtle (a baby, it seems) on the Mast near the Little Rouge Creek

I met up with fellow hiker moms Katy and Tizziana.  The goal was to feel it in the thighs, and did we ever!  There are a few steep hills on the Mast Trail for a really good fitness hike (we also completed a bit of the Vista trail just to be able to attack another hill).   We also bumped into some naturalist friends who were looking for any signs of the dangerous Giant Hogweed (it is phototoxic and can literally burn into your skin).  They found, instead, cow parsnip, also phototoxic.  Check here for the difference between Cow Parsnip and Giant Hogweed:  http://www.gavan.ca/nature/giant-hogweed-vs-cow-parsnip-vs-water-hemlock-vs-wild-carrot/

Note to Self: I need to carry my field guide book to differentiate , esp. for when my daughter is older and more able to physically  explore her curiosity for plants.

Friday, May 11^th – Colonel Danforth Trail – 7k flat

Trumpeter Swan on Lake Ontario

Today, I met up with my usual Friday crew for a stroller walk along the Highland Creek and Lake Ontario.  This walk always offers refreshing landscape and refreshing conversation.  We even caught glimpses of swans on the lake.

                                      

     Saturday, May 12^th – Altona – 3.5k flat

Two Happy Girlies in the Altona Forest

After an early-morning jog, daily chores, and afternoon gardening, the family headed out for a quick walk in the neighbourhood forest.  Lots of Jack in the Pulpit in bloom, but quite a few of them diseased with a rust-coloured fungus called Uromyces aritriphylli.  Yuck!  It actually prevents the female plant from producing seeds:o(

Sunday, May 13^th – Durham about 10k in all

It was an awesome Mother’s Day hike in Durham Forest -- about 2 hours on the Main Tract.  Hard to tell but I think we hiked 10 km in all.  There were a lot of cyclists on the trail –more than there were walkers.  I really like that it is quite pristine and only a half-hour drive from home, but I can see it getting even busier as the summer approaches.  With the so many cyclists going fast on the trails and with the summer heat approaching, I think it best to head out to Durham Forest very early in the morning. 

 Monday, May 14^th – Mast, Vista, Orchard – about 10k in all

Rest Spot near the Beare Wetlands

Killdeer on the Front Log in theWetlands

Today I was pooped but determined to complete a difficult hike in Rouge Park, my stomping ground.  I got together with my Meetup crew of parents; 6 of us hiked 3 trails with tots in tow.  There were 4 steep hills and many rugged spots.  We got out early enough to beat the heat; and, with all the tree cover, we stayed cool enough.  Our mid-way stop was at the Beare Wetlands, an awesome site for spotting turtles, swans, geese and even a killdeer (a bird) that we do not often chance upon.  At this point, I think I need a few days off just to rest my muscles.  My hamstrings and calves are tingling as I write; a likely indicator of sore muscles tomorrow.

Oh, I also jogged a total of 16 km this week.

What a week of frenetic hiking!  Can you tell I am almost headed back to work and not looking forward to it?