“It’s going to be cold, Alison. Dress warmly.” My daughter, who skis with her school, knows all about cold weather. Despite the low temperature and -20˚C wind chill, she’s still game for a cold weather hike.

“It’s going to be cold, Alison. Dress warmly.”
My daughter, who skis with her school, knows all about cold weather. Despite the low temperature and -20ËšC wind chill, she’s still game for a cold weather hike.
“What is wind chill, Mom?” Her science unit had introduced many weather terms; wind chill wasn’t among them.
“Lick your finger and hold it out. Now, blow on it,” I instruct. “When you add wind to cold weather, it feels colder, just like your finger.”
We decide to try a new trail, the Beaver River Wetland. It runs diagonally from Blackwater to Cannington, a seventeen-kilometre stretch along a former rail bed.
We face a long drive up Hwy. 12. Just 300 m north of Durham Road 13, I point to the south end of the trail: an abandoned rail bed angles north-east on our right; on our left, the trail traverses a wooden bridge and continues on to the southwest.
We intend to explore the north end of the trail. Cannington lies about five kilometres east of Hwy. 12 on Durham Road 12. We turn right onto Peace Street, and left onto Elliot St., which leads right into the MacLeod Park parking lot. The trailhead isn’t far from Cannington’s Historical Museum.
We hike across the playing field to view the museum’s log cabins and antique railway station. The Grand Trunk Railway had once passed through here, transporting grain to Gooderham and Wort’s, in the present-day Distillery District. The tracks are long-gone, but as we hike south, we spot the rail bed, raised and straight as an arrow, following the line of the playing field.
The only “iron horses” to pass this way now are snowmobiles; their tracks chew up the snow in twin lines. We’d originally hoped to cross-country ski today but I’m glad we left the skis at home. The snowmobiles would have made it hard slogging. Snowshoes would have been the better choice. Even afoot, the track is difficult to tread in places.
Unlike many trails, its linear nature means we travel through backyards and farmers’ fields, not a tract of conservation area lands. I find myself picturing the same trail in warmer seasons. Cycling along the flat, straight terrain would be like following a tree-lined lane, perfect for a summer trek and a picnic. We don’t see any wildlife, not even a bird, as we traverse the largely undeveloped wetland, but we imagine the flora and fauna that will awake when winter looses its grip. That thought keeps us warm and planning future visits until, retracing our tracks, we’ve returned.
“Hot chocolate, Mom?” Alison begs, rosy-cheeked.
I nod. Jingles, a shop on Cannington’s main street lies just a couple of blocks north. We head for a well-deserved hot chocolate and home.

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!
Ask your children to identify the most important body parts to keep warm and dry. If they say the head and feet, they’re right.
Layering for warmth is a crucial part of winter hiking. It’s no fun to overheat and sweat; it’s no fun – and downright unsafe – to freeze and shiver. Teach your children to prepare by layering lightweight socks under a warm wool pair, to wear a t-shirt under a fleece hoody, to put lightweight gloves under waterproof mittens. Then tell them to peel or add layers for comfort.
Trail Tales is a series to introduce you to Durham Region Trails, an inexpensive way to experience nature and an active lifestyle. Walk, run, hike, bike, ride, ski … ENJOY! To learn more, visit www.durhamtrails.ca.

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