Hillsdale hike

I have been hiking for so long, that I often go back to trails I have not used in many years, only to find the trails significantly changed. I admit, I rarely like the changes, as it often means my narrow and little-known hiking trail has become heavily populated or even developed into a subdivision. Today I headed out to the Copper Tract of Simcoe County Forest west of Elmvale. For several years this was my favorite spot to head to, as it is an extensive forest that used to have multiple side trails. Now, this is a wide path through the forest, cleared for the ATV’s. This is not to say hikers cannot use the trail, you just need to use caution and ensure any riders can clearly see you. As with all Simcoe County forests, any trails are multi-purpose, it just means different users need to respect each other. That being said, I would avoid any motocross trails, as they are too narrow and twisting for riders to see you, and in a collision with a motorbike and a hiker, the bike will win every time.

I still had an enjoyable hike through this large forest. The day was humid and overcast, and the recent rains had left the trail deep in puddles. This wet weather had also brought out the mosquitos in swarms, all desperate to deprive me of my blood! The little demons were not even deterred by the thick layer of repellant, and instead seemed to relish the chemical appetizer. Fun fact, those bites itch because those little blood suckers inject their saliva in the bite, causing an allergic reaction. For relief you can use products such as allergy medications such as Claritin, Benadryl or calamine. Some people prefer a more natural solution, and supposedly honey, basil, cold tea or oatmeal can help. Hmm, sounds more like a recipe than a cure. Somewhere there is a snickering bear begging us to slather this on and take a rest in his forest. As for me, I take a weird satisfaction in swatting the little beasties, and I seem to have developed a tolerance for the bites as I rarely swell or itch.

I followed the trail east through a forest of hardwoods, with a very thick layer of underbrush. The greenery was several feet above my head, giving me little visibility into the dense undergrowth. I noted the little red jewels of wild raspberries along the trail, making me more cautious as I would not see a foraging bear until I was next to one. While I heard frequent rustling in the underbrush, I didn’t see or smell a bear. Yes, bear’s smell, like a rank monkey cage. This is why I use all my senses while hiking, including looking, listening and yep, sniffing as I travel through the forest.

At the east end of the trail, the forest becomes the typical Simcoe County Forest of straight rows of tall pines and continues until highway 93 into Hillsdale. This area has recently been logged, and the underbrush here is minimal. This section is also much more popular with the ATV’s and motor bikes. There is constant rumbles and snarls of small engines, and I rarely heard any bird song. However, I only met one group of ATVer’s and two bikers throughout the entire hike. I returned the way I had come in, hiking for about two hours. Still a lovely forest, though it is unlikely I will return to this area, as I head deeper into less traveled areas.