THE TORONTO HIKING AND CONSERVATION CLUB

has its roots in the Don Valley Conservation Association, formed in the early 1950s to protect the Don Valley.  After an active decade, a group of Association members met to create the Toronto Hiking and Conservation Club on August 25, 1961.  Every year since, the Club has organized programmes of Sunday hiking in the countryside surrounding Toronto, and has financially supported a variety of conservation   endeavours.  Currently membership is approximately 150, and, as in the past, voluntary participation continues, with energetic hiking programmes, hike leading, car pools, social events and Executive Committee work.

GENERAL INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE

    Arrangements:

Hikers leave at 10:00 a.m. (unless stated otherwise in the programme) from the parking lot on the northwest corner of Yonge and York Mills.  For information about a particular hike, phone the hike leader the day before.  Hike routes may be changed at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

    Clothing and Equipment:

Dress suitably for the weather.  Sturdy, waterproof boots are advised.  Bring lunch and a beverage.  Do not litter.

 

    Transportation and Incidental Costs:

Passengers may donate towards transportation costs, using the following scale: 

Under 100 km

$ 8.00

100-200 km

$10.00

Over 200 km

$12.00

Within Toronto

$   5.00

Hikers will pay gate fees to Conservation Areas where required.  Members of the Bruce Trail go free in the Kelso area.   Please carry your membership card!

 

   President:

Peter Sproule  .  .  . . 416-283-4516

 

   Vice-President:

Susan Graham  .  .  . 416-462-9055

 

   Treasurer:

Tony Asrilen .   .  .  . 416-693-8639

 

   Recording Secretary:

Agnes Heringer .  .  . 905-763-2079

 

   Membership Secretary:

Elke Ganguli.  .  .  . . .416-532-2883

 

   Programme Secretary:

 

Marta Esmailji. .   . . 416-445-1902

 

 

Regulations:

1.   Members and guests should stay with the group and observe the leader’s instructions.  They should not hike ahead of the leader, nor behind the backup person.

2.   Hikers come at their own risk and neither the club nor the leader can be held responsible in the event of a mishap or accident on a hike or during any other club activity.  Hikers are advised to carry identification and a telephone contact on their pack.  Luggage tags are ideal for this.

3.   Visitors are welcome to attend one hike as guests of the club, after which they should apply for membership.

4.   All are reminded that it is illegal to smoke in the woods unless sitting down, and that dogs are not allowed on our hikes.

5.   Drivers should ensure that other drivers are not in difficulty before returning to Toronto.  They should provide rides for as many people as possible, returning them to the parking lot, unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

 

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                                            MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL

Our membership year extends from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.  Annual membership fees are:  New Membership: $20 Single, $25 Family; Renewal: $15 Single, $20 Family.  To apply for or renew your membership in the Club, please complete the form below, and either hand to our membership secretary when hiking, or mail with your cheque to: Toronto Hiking Club, Box 121, Station F, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2L4.

Name

 

Phone

 

Address

 

E-mail

 

Enclosed is (please circle):  New/$ 20/$25Renewal/$15/$20.   Any surplus at year end is donated to conservation projects.     Check if you require a receipt: 


TORONTO HIKING & CONSERVATION CLUB

PO BOX 121, STATION F

TORONTO ONTARIO  M4Y 2L4

 

Visit us on the web at http://www.sproulephoto.ca/thcc

 

Hikers meet before 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot on the northwest corner of Yonge and York Mills.  Any exceptions to this meeting place are noted below.  Call the hike leader if you need more details.  Please do not bring dogs.

CHECK YOUR E-MAIL BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS.

Could be slippery in winter months – wear your icers!

 

September 6, 2009  to February 7, 2009

 

DATE

LOCATION

LEADER

TELEPHONE

September 6

Smokey Hollow  (hilly)

Steven Wang

416-638-1465

September 13

Hockley Crest (moderate)

Esther Keltz

416-782-3764

September 20

Silver Creek (rocky)

Bertrand Leduigou

416-481-3072

Septemberr 27

Dundas Valley (moderate)

Steven Wang

416-638-1465

October 4

Humber Valley Heritage Trail

Elke Ganguli

416-532-2883

October 11

Hockley Valley (hilly)

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

October 18

Rouge Valley (moderate)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT PEARSE HOUSE

Peter Sproule

416-283-4516

October 25

Crawford Lake (moderate)

Bertrand Leduigou

416-481-3072

November 1

Glen Haffy (moderate)

Arnold Landis

416-222-3551

November 8

Speyside (rocky)

Steven Wang

416-638-1465

November 15

Webster Falls (moderate)

Tony Asrilen

416-693-8639

November 22

Long Sault (moderate)

Elke Ganguli

416-532-2883

November 29

Mary Lake (Oakridges Trail, Seneca College)

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

December 6

Hilton Falls (moderate)

Naomi Davis

416-636-7767

December 13

Palgrave (moderate)

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

December 20

Forks of the Credit (hilly)

Tony Asrilen

416-693-8639

December 27

Glen Major (moderate)

Elke Ganguli

416-532-2883

January 1

(New Years Day)

Toronto Islands (flat)

Meet at Ferry Docks at 10:15a.m.

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

January 3

Terra Cotta (moderate)

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

January 10

York Regional Forest (moderate)

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

January 17

Kelso (moderate)

Naomi Davis

416-636-7767

January 24

Walkers Woods

Elke Ganguli

416-532-2883

January 31

Highland Creek (easy)

Peter Sproule

416-283-4516

February 7

Palgrave

Bob McCrindell

416-596-7771

 

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY – December 11th 2009

See Norman Day for details - 416-922-4880

SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR HIKE LEADERS & PARTICIPANTS

1)   Introduce yourself and say a few things about the hike (distance, terrain, etc.)

2)   Assign a backup person.

3)   Ask hikers to remain between the leader and the backup.  Explain that if anybody goes ahead of the leader and gets lost, s/he is on his/her own!

4)   Ask hikers that, if they have a need to go to the bushes, they should leave their pack at the side of the trail, so that the backup person knows that someone is there and waits.

5)   Take a count (re-count after lunch!).

6)   If there are no facilities at the beginning of the hike, stop for a modesty break within 15 minutes after the hike, where possible.

7)  Take a break every 1/2 hour to give people a chance to catch up, water break, etc.

8)  Do not assume everyone will know which path to take when given a choice; either wait at a fork in the trail or assign someone to guide any trailing hikers.

9)  Know your limitations. If you know you have difficulty with a particular terrain, please consider skipping that particular week as it is not fair for the group if they have to continually wait for one or two people.

Each hiker should, to the best of their ability, strive to maintain the pace set by the leader. Conversely, it is the leader’s responsibility to notice any difficulty by the majority of hikers and to adjust his/her pace accordingly.

10)LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

 If you intend to use the facilities of a restaurant without making purchases, or use the premises as a parking site, ask permission in advance from the management.