I now often go hiking with a stick. This is not a walking pole, but a small long stick that I carry in front of my face. I have had too many encounters with spiders and their webs across the trail and ended up with spider and web on my face! Of course, another method, if hiking with a group, is to make sure someone at least as tall as me is in front.
In spring, many people eagerly await the first spring flowers, and note the date that they are first seen. At this time of year, there are fewer flowers just coming into bloom. Recently, Butter–and-Eggs, (Toadflax) Early Golden Rod, Spotted Knapweed (an invasive) Pale Touch-me-not Yellow Jewelweed, and Spotted Touch-me-not (Orange Jewelweed) are in blossom. Jewelweed is reported to help reduce irritation from a rash from poison ivy and stinging nettle, the Touch-me-not comes from the way the seeds spring out when the seed pod is touched.
I am looking for the first signs of two fungi, the Hemlock Varnish Shelf and the Northern Tooth fungus. In the longer term I am watching several trees that are partly broken and wonder how many months or years they will last, before falling over (both are leaning away from the trail).
Recently, there was a windfall across the trail which was wrongly assumed to be close to the 33 km mark. However, it was in fact just past the 37 km mark. It is very helpful when reporting windfalls to mention between which km marks they are found or what boardwalk they are close to.
I have found that Hullett, just South of 40589 Conservation Road, is a good place to see Monarch butterflies. I saw six in the area on Monday July 22nd. The bad part was that the dog I was hiking with picked up over 50 little burs. They were not in that area but on other parts of the green and blue trails.
I have now seen at least one butterfly in the last 40 days, averaging 11 per day and have now seen 36 different species. In our garden, there was a Hummingbird Clearingwing moth. The only other place I have seen one is at the Wawanosh Nature Centre trail where there is a great wildflower patch, which is where I would expect to see quite a few butterflies on a sunny day.
Notes:
MAITLAND TRAIL CLOSURE from Cherrydale Road (20km marker) to Nature Conservancy property (25km marker) due to a coyote problem. The G2G trail is closed between Sandhill Line and Lime Kiln Road.
Saturday August 10th 9 a.m-11.30 a.m. Hike from River Line to Sharpes Creek Line on the Maitland Trail.
Meet at 80918 Sharpes Creek Line and carpool to River Line – some large hills. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Jonah Melville at Jonah.melville@gmail.com or George Cantin at streamsideinc@gmail.com. This is a Level 3, moderate pace, 2.5 hours.
Maitland Trail Association El Camino Fundraiser on Saturday September 21st and 22nd is sold out.
All participants taking part in the Maitland Trail Association events should sign the waiver for 2024, preferably the online version.
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
Midweek 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.
Comments