Elgin Hiking Trail Club

Category: End-to-end

  • Elevated Park

    End2end Day 3 – 4 km

    Elevated Park

    Due to the skies looking threatening, it was decided to venture onto the next leg of the journey. Construction is taking place on Sunset and the usual parking lot under the bridge is closed. Parking at the new lot on Centre St at the east side of the Elevated Park we ventured onto the Park which is over 30 metres above Kettle Creek. The bridge was built in 1929 during the times when rail was the best way to move large quantities of goods long distances.

    Art on bridge
    Bench Art

    The St Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre has installed some creative art on the approach to the bridge and further down the trail at Deer Ridge Farm and at Lyle Rd.

    View of below
    New England Aster

    The New England Aster was in bloom and their seeds are a good source of food for the birds in winter.

    At the west end of the bridge we venture north and follow a fence around the top of the trail near the Osage Orange tree, their are several in the area. This connects to the trail and we venture down the hill under the bridge to Fingal Line. Fifty metres up the road we venture into the woods and follow the top of the ravine. There are several up and downs until we come out on Sunset Drive. This
    is the end of the wooded journey. Right on Sunset Drive takes us to a left turn onto Chester Street, turning right onto Henry’s St and walked the roadway on the north side of St Thomas Cemetery and exiting at the entrance onto West Ave. Turning right onto Ada St to Wilson Ave, following it a short distance to Elm St, turning right again take Elm St to traffic light and cross Sunset Dr. Two hundred metres south we are at our destination for today, Sunset Cafe.

    Weather held off and had a great hike getting to see the Elevated Park.

    Thanks to Jim for leading this hike.

    Al Sharpe

  • End-2-end Day 2

    Parsons Rd to Lyle Rd – 6.25 km

    Start of hike as fog lifts.

    It was a foggy morning when 12 intrepid hikers gathered. First 3.6 km was all
    road work. At the Red Barn on Hwy 3 we headed into the woods owned by Province of Ontario. The woods wind along the south side of Dodd Creek. When we get to a evergreen forest the roots of the trees make sure you keep looking down.

    Root tripping hazard
    Azure Asters


    There are a few steep hills and would be quite slippery if recently rained.
    We were very fortunate as everything was dry. Along the way we saw Azure Asters and Jewelweed also known as Spotted Touch-me-not, this plant likes damp soil and shade to really bloom. Ruby Throated Hummingbirds really
    enjoy the Jewelweed.

    Dan, this is not a steep hill.
    Jewelweed or Spotted Touch-me-not.

    The hike ended at Lyle Rd and on the way back to get car five American Kestrel were sitting on the wire, gathering for the fall migration.

    Thanks Jim for another great hike;

    Al Sharpe

  • Start of End-to-end – 7.5 km

    14 started the end-to-end

    Today we tried our first car pool since the beginning of Covid.
    We began at the north end of our trail which links up with the Thames Valley Trail which goes to St. Mary’s, known as the stone town. The journey begins with a southward hike through McCaig’ bush. This part of the trail in the spring can be best described as a swamp. In this late summer morning it was quite enjoyable. Our intrepid hike leader Jim was leading and acting as a shield against all the cobwebs. Charlie suggested we tag him #spiderweb. Time will tell if the name sticks.


    Upon leaving the bush we head along a farmers field of soybeans. We walk on the east end of the field account the other side of fence row is so overgrown. Exiting the field at the entrance for the tractor on Third Line heading west. Half way along this road we stop for a sugar fix supplied by Roseann.


    Turning left onto Mill Rd allows us to safely pass over Hwy 401. Along this road are several seemingly healthy apple trees.

    Apple Tree
    Apple Tree


    Turning left again onto Fourth Line for 3.6 km. This road really shows off the agricultural roots of Elgin. The hedgerow on this road is largely as it should be.

    Agricultural Elgin
    Choke Cherry


    There are Choke Cherry trees, Gray and Stiff-leaved Goldenrod and Sweet Pea. There are an abundant supply of Monarch Butterflies and even Monarch Caterpillar visible.

    Monarch caterpillar
    Monarch

    This generation of caterpillar will be tasked with making the journey all the way to the mountains in Central Mexico. The Monarch population is down 26% last winter. The problems are illegal logging, drought, pine beetle infestation, lack of milkweed population in all three countries. They inhabited only 2.1 hectares in Mexico. Six hectares is the amount recommended to avoid extinction.

    All in all another great hike.

    Al Sharpe

  • Fall end-to-end

    Wendy, Phyllis and Tom at Santa's way station in Union.
    Wendy, Phyllis and Tom at Santa’s way station in Union.

    We had a total of 15 people out for the fall end-to-end. Four people completed the whole trail with new member Joan being one of them. Congratulations Joan. We had three regular hikers miss the first hike which was cut short due to rain. The rain make up hike was also poorly attended due to slippery conditions. The trail was in pretty good condition and everyone enjoyed themselves. We saw a buck on second hike. Nine new people jointed us on at least one of the hikes and we hope to see them out on our winter hikes. Thank you to all who came out and made the hikes so enjoyable.

  • First day of fall end-to-end in Port Stanley

    Testing out the accommodations in 1870's era jail.
    Testing out the accommodations in 1870’s era jail.

    Six of us ventured out on the first leg of Elgin end-to-end on a overcast day in October. Wild turkeys were seen while hiking through the woods and cormorants have taken up home in the harbour. We were given a tour of the Lake Erie Trout club facilities by Kit Brown and got to see fingerlings in the holding tanks.
    The hike was cut short due to muddy conditions and will be continued on November 26th. Our newest member Joan was out as well as two ladies from London Doris and Jennifer. They all hope to continue with the end-to-end. Welcome. Fellowship followed at Harbour Merchant Coffee Company in Port Stanley.

  • Pat Turow remembered

    Pat Turow and fellow hikers at end of 900 km hike on Bruce Trail in front of Northern Cairn in Tobermory showing special badges made for the unique hike.
    Pat Turow and fellow hikers at end of 900 km hike from Port Stanley to the Northern Cairn of Bruce Trail at Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory. Each showing special badges made to commemorate the unique hike. Fall 2001.

    Picture above shows Anne Faubert of London, Ann Hoover of Aylmer, Loretta Vaughan of Port Stanley and Pat (seventy at the time) after they hiked 900 km from Port Stanley to Tobermory over five years. Pat’s favourite memories of the trip were using ladders and ropes to traverse the escarpment at Devil’s Pulpit near Orangeville.
    Pat and her husband Joe volunteered many years fundraising and other duties for the Elgin Hiking Trail Club, especially at the Spirit Walk. Her funeral is today. Loretta talks of this hike regularly and how much they all enjoyed the challenge, well maybe not the waist deep snow and wicked thunder storms.

    Sincerest condolences from the Elgin Hiking Trail Club.