Newsletters

“All those hours exploring the great outdoors made me more resilient and confident.”

David Suzuki

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Cynthia Warn
Pine Ridge Hiking club president 2026

 

Ah, Spring. Each day we are challenged to discern whether it is spring or winter or some tempestuous offspring of the two seasons. This year, our hike leaders had to re-route their hikes or change to a completely different hike more often than I can remember in previous years. Hikes with unmaintained roads sections had to be altered due to the depth of the snow, or mud, or ice. Quite often they were rerouted due to all three conditions on the same trail, at the same time. What does one wear in this season of weather roulette? Hiking boots still slightly damp from yesterday’s rain? Icers? Bringing those almost guaranteed dry roads! Snow shoes? Snow boots? And that’s just footwear. This winter marks the first time I ever abandoned a hike because I wasn’t dressed warmly enough, yet the day before I was peeling off layers and applying sunscreen. I think many of us feel like the daffodil, pictured.

However, as hope springs eternal, the Pine Ridge Hiking Club schedule, from now through August 30, is up on our website: pineridgehikingclub.ca. Though I hope fewer weather-related changes will crop up going forward, please remember to check the schedule for before heading out. Our hike leaders all pre-hike their chosen routes – usually within a few days of the scheduled day – and advise our Web Master if updates are necessary. As well, our Communication Director usually receives an email from the hike leaders advising if there are any changes or challenges, and sends these emails out to our membership ahead of the hike.

This summer we are trying out a small change. We will have a short evening hike, between 4 and 6km, every Wednesday (formerly bi-weekly) to see if there is an appetite for more frequent jaunts that end in refreshing beverages. And we will be marching in the Cobourg Canada Day Parade.

We held our annual Hike Talks on March 31 at the Port Hope Legion. This much anticipated event features three or four of our members presenting photos and giving a talk on a recently completed hiking trip. All the presentations are interesting and inspiring – places that one may not have been considered often become part of a ‘must do’ list. This year we had Scott Harris and Melissa Holmes present on their month-long hiking trip to New Zealand; Lee Wakelin and David Didur each covered a separate trail in eastern Newfoundland; and John Oyston spoke about his refugio to refugio hike on the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites (northern Italy).

 

We also had our third annual “Where in Northumberland…” contest. Twelve photos of Northumberland County are posted and beneath each photo is an ‘a’, ‘b’, or ‘c’ choice for the location of the photo. It was very difficult this year as the winning score was 8 out of 12!

 

All social gatherings of the Pine Ridge club involve pot-lucks and this evening was no exception. We don’t have a sign-up sheet and there are no requests or rules on what to bring. Magically, a balance between main courses, salads and desserts is always achieved. This year, when the first 10 people that came through the door bearing desserts, we thought our luck had finally run out. Turns out the savoury dishes were just running a little late! It was the same generous and delightful spread that we are so grateful to enjoy on every occasion.

 

 

 

Below is a note from the last newsletter, but as the situation is ongoing (likely for years) I include the information here for anyone planning on hiking our end of the Ganaraska Trail. “Due to Hwy. 401 construction at Port Hope, there is a detour where Choate Rd. crosses under the 401 (km 2.7 of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail).

Hikers travelling north must now proceed straight at the Jocelyn St. /Cavan Rd. intersection (km 2.3) to Victoria St. N. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (north) at Victoria St. for 1.5 km to the intersection with Choate Rd. Turn right on Choate Rd. for 0.5 km to the intersection with the unmaintained section of Hawkins Rd.(km 4.3) where you will rejoin the GHT.

Hikers travelling south must turn right (west) at the Hawkins Rd./Choate Rd. intersection (km 4.3) to the Choate Rd. / Cranberry Rd. intersection (0.5 km). Turn left on Cranberry Rd. and travel south to the intersection with Jocelyn Rd. (approximately 1.5 km). Take a left on Jocelyn St. to the intersection where the GHT meets Molson St. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (south).”

 

Happy trails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself"

Amelia Earhart

Cynthia Warn, President. 2025

 

Pine Ridge has just wrapped up the year with its 125th hike. Our last hike on Sunday traversed Cornish Hollow in a gentle, magical snowstorm. Despite, or because of, the weather we had 17 hardy souls out - a lovely finish to a stellar year. Our winter 2026 schedule, 52 hikes from January 1 through April 30, is now up on our website: pineridgehikingclub.ca

 

Our autumn was fairly busy; outside of our usual Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday hike schedule there was a women’s hiking adventure trip to the Eastern Townships, October 14 to 19. I was lucky enough to find a former auberge that was listed on VRBO: ten bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, a commercial kitchen and multiple lounge areas for our various after hiking activities (Blue Jays playoff games, quiet reading, low-key conversation, or raucous card games). We stayed just outside of Sutton and had 3 days of hiking culminating with all 21 of us summiting Mount Sutton. If there is interest, I believe we will repeat this trip in autumn 2026.

 

Immediately preceding the Eastern Townships trip was the annual trip to Frontenac Provincial Park where some of our members attempted the Frontenac Challenge: 11 trails in 5 days. This year’s trip was fun and challenging, and I know members will already be marking their calendars for next year.

 

Autumn is also the time for our “Through the Hiker’s Lens” photo exhibit at the Port Hope Library. The show runs for three weeks and attracts many community members. Lee Wakelin and David Didur are ending their stewardship of this event on a high note: more photos were entered this year than in any previous year. Many thanks go to both of you for managing this eagerly anticipated show. The club appreciates this boost to our community profile. Elke Williams and Ihor Molodecky have volunteered to coordinate the exhibit going forward.

 

Our AGM and legendary pot-luck was held on December 6th. We reviewed the reports of 9 of our volunteers who are responsible for the following areas: Communications, Landowner Relations, Website and Social Media, Inquiries, Online and Interactive Hike Catalogue, Annual Photo Exhibits, Treasurer, Hike Coordinator, and Trail Maintenance. Two reports that I will reference here were produced by our Hike Coordinator, Connie Flewitt, and our Trail Maintenance Coordinator, Stan Muldoon.

 

Our Hike Coordinator has kept electronic records of all our activities and provided some interesting statistics. Our longest hike was 16 km, our least attended hike had 3 participants (sometimes the weather is just not appealing), and our most attended hike had 26 participants. One member completed 95 of our scheduled hikes for a total distance of 905 kms! It’s hard to imagine anyone beating that record.

 

The Trail Maintenance Report was noteworthy because it was Stan’s last report. Trail Maintenance duties have been handed over to Jay Sherwin, our former president. I know that Jay will do a great job (though Stan has set the bar quite high).

 

Stan is one of the most patient and thoughtful people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I speak for all of the club when I say that working with Stan, whether building a bridge over the Ganaraska River, or cleaning up the trail on our annual Earth Week endeavour, is always made enjoyable by Stan’s bonhomie and gracious nature. He takes everything in stride and makes everyone feel appreciated for their efforts. The world could use more of you, Stan Muldoon. Thank you.

 

Below is a note from the last newsletter, but as the situation is ongoing I include the information here for anyone planning on hiking our end of the Ganaraska Trail.

 

“Due to Hwy. 401 construction at Port Hope, there is a detour where Choate Rd. crosses under the 401 (km 2.7 of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail).

Hikers travelling north must now proceed straight at the Jocelyn St. /Cavan Rd. intersection (km 2.3) to Victoria St. N. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (north) at Victoria St. for 1.5 km to the intersection with Choate Rd. Turn right on Choate Rd. for 0.5 km to the intersection with the unmaintained section of Hawkins Rd.(km 4.3) where you will rejoin the GHT.

Hikers travelling south must turn right (west) at the Hawkins Rd./Choate Rd. intersection (km 4.3) to the Choate Rd. / Cranberry Rd. intersection (0.5 km). Turn left on Cranberry Rd. and travel south to the intersection with Jocelyn Rd. (approximately 1.5 km). Take a left on Jocelyn St. to the intersection where the GHT meets Molson St. (approximately 1.0 km). Turn right (south).”