About Hiking, the Hikes and Other Activities
 Introduction
The primary focus of this page is hiking and the information
the Club feels you need to know to enjoy all aspects of hiking and be
safe when you do so. We would like you to join us and
become a member of a dynamic team of volunteers.
The
Peninsula Bruce Trail
Club
We are one of the nine
Bruce Trail Clubs that support the
Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC). For more information about the BTC visit
the BTA website. In addition to
organizing hikes and other activies, we plan and build new trail and
we maintain existing trails. From Wiarton to Tobermory the footpaths toal
over 240 km [includes the main trail (white blazes) + the side
trails/access trails (blue blazes)] The PBTC trail is divided into 78 sections
for maintenance. Each section is overseen by a Trail Captain and his/her
volunteer workers.
Join
and Volunteer - You do not have to be an avid hiker!
To join please visit the Join PBTC web page for
details. If you have read the information above, then you may realize that
there are many volunteer opportunities
available for you to apply your skills in the Club. That is, you can be
a very valuable member and not be a serious hiker. For example, you
may have certain construction skills and like to work outdoors, so help
us with trail building and maintenace.
Hikers
Have Responsibilities - Some Guidelines
 In
additon to the information listed below, check the General
Information for Hikers web page where
you will find more useful tips including a print friendly PDF file.
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Here are a few simple guidelines to help make your hike more pleasurable.
- don't hike alone; it is best to have at least three or four in the
group so there are extra people to assist in case an emergencies
- please call the hike leader/coordinator to "register" for a hike in
advance of the hike date
- ask the hike leader/coordinator if you are in doubt of the difficulty
of the hike with your abilities
- for all hikes bring plenty of water, snacks, lunch and your own
first aid needs in your daypack
- wear
sturdy hiking footwear; quality hiking boots are the best footwear
for the rugged Peninsula
- dress in layers suitable for the weather
- stay with the group when on an organized hike
- please observe and obey all signs
- be courteous when parking and do not block roadways or an entrance
to a park or road allowance. Remember that road alowances may be used
by specialized emergency vehicles. The Bruce Trail only exists because
of the generosity of local landowners.
- don't leave vaulables (example: credit cards) in a parked car
- carry ID with you and especially medical information
- do you have bug and UV protection?
- no smoking
- unless stated otherwise, dogs are not permitted
- this list is a work in progress and more may be added :)
In additon
to the information listed above, check the General
Information for Hikers web page where you will find more useful
tips including a print friendly PDF file. |
The
Right Stuff for Hiking
Numerous articles have been written by other Bruce Trail members. One
of them is Greg Vincent. He has several good articles you may wish to read.
They are available at the Greg
Vincent Hiking Site as well as the Grand
Valley Trails Association website. Examples:
Footwear
- Boots & Socks,
Winter
Walking, Snowshoeing, and more.
Start
Off Slowly
The best advice for new members is to start off your hiking experiences
slowly. That is, start with shorter, less strenuous ones. Our experienced
hike leaders will help you if you ask. Then, if you get "hikers fever,"
you can try the harder, longer hikes.
Scheduled
Guided
Hikes - by Hike Leaders
- PBTC Hikes - Most of our hikes are day hikes. The number of people will
vary depending on who shows up that day. For a complete listing of our
scheduled hikes see the Hikes web page. Remember
that our hike leaders are unpaid volunteers. You are welcome
to come along and you do so at your own risk.
- STTC Hikes - Our neighbour club, the Sydenham
Bruce Trail Club (SBTC), has hikes listed on its website and sometimes
there are hikes on the Bruce Peninsula. Have a look.
- Other Hikes - Check the other Bruce
Trail Club websites for more hikes.
Self-Guided
Hikes - Peninsula Bruce Trail Day Hike Map
The
Bruce Penininsula Day Hike Guide is updated annually and the new edition is available in May. This excellent
map set (8 maps) is for sale. GO TO > The
Bruce Penininsula Day Hike Guide web page for a look at a sample
and information about where you may buy a set or order one by Canada Post.
Volunteer
Like hiking? Become a hike leader. Training is available. Check our Volunteer web
page for more information. Or, contact a PBTC
executive member.
Want
to Earn a Badge?
GO TO > Badge web page for information
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