Training Log Archive: Funderstormin

Got more than I bargained for today trying to finish up the requirements of the Toronto side trails badge. There were three trails that I wanted to do around Silver Creek Conservation Area. It never occurred to me that there was enough snow there to need snowshoes! There were only one set of tracks on the first of the side trails (Irwin Quarry) and with a steep descent and steep climb in deep snow, this 1.2km trail took me over half an hour! The next one (an out and back on the Roberts side trail) was a bit better at the start, but then the worn path turned left and I was back to breaking trail. I was pretty beat after these two so only did part of the third one I'd had planned (Bennett Heritage Trail) so there will need to be one more trip up that way to get the last 7-8 km needed for the badge requirements.

Took my nephew "winter" camping at Valens CA on Sunday evening, and we went for a hike on the trails while we waited for the stove to cool down after breakfast before we could pack up.

Valens is the only place to camp within about an hour of me, and it's amazing how popular it is. I thought we'd have tons of sites to choose from, but there's a significant winter seasonal camping program there, and the place was very busy! We had a nice newer site with a gravel base, which was a treat because it meant everything was pretty dry coming home.

C • Winter camping 4