For this morning's hike around 19? adventurous folks parked where Noble Road meets Wilson Dr. and headed south. Our destination? The Bonnebaker Nature Reserve. I have wanted to visit this property ever since I heard about it. To access this reserve, permission needs to be granted by the Northumberland Land Trust folks. Because the land is a reserve for plants and animals, human connection is kept to a minimum. Check out the ecological survey of this property. Crazy amount of birds and plants there.
It is interesting how a wooded area grabs every snowflake that falls and keeps them. There was still a lot of snow on the unmaintained access road.
The Bonnebakker Reserve is a short distance east of the village of Baltimore.
Our hike leader gave us an overview of the nature reserve and showed us our hiking options for the morning. There were three options: a 3-4 km hike through the pasture and around the property, an additional 2 km into the hilly forest and a further 3-4 km on surrounding roads. I love this type of hike. Options for everyone. New hikers can get a taste of hiking and more seasoned hikers can get a good workout.
This part of the reserve is still used for pasturing cattle and growing hay. The Bonebakkers arranged that this type of farming will continue even though the land has been donated to the land trust.
There were still remnants of last week's freezing rainfall on the tall grasses.
We made sure we closed the gate behind us even though there are no cattle grazing at the moment. Good habits don't die easily.
Some of us felt like we were on top of the world as we walked across the hilly pasture.
There were glimpses of Lake Ontario here and there.
When we got near the woods our hike leader gave us a brief geological history of this part of Ontario. The Bonebakker Reserve is on the Oak Ridges Moraine. When the last ice age ended 13,000 years ago two glacial lobes met: Simcoe and Ontario, one making its way from the north and the other from the south. Each of them were pushing massive amounts of stone, sand, gravel and clay in front of them. When the ice retreated the deposits remained forming the Oak Ridges Moraine. Much more info here. The things you learn on a hike! I never knew about the southern glaciers in this area.
Doesn't it give you a new appreciation of what you are looking at when you see the rolling hills of Northumberland?
So much natural beauty.
We followed the fence line for a while. I love it when hikers wear bright clothing in the winter. It ups the interest level in photos.
We had quite a few new hikers with us this morning. Some have lived here for decades. Some are early retirees, having moved from the city, making themselves at home and getting to know Northumberland. Each one brings their own experiences and characteristics to the club. Like this somewhat newer hiker who has traveled to 63 countries, often by herself. Check out her travel blog. If you've ever needed a push to start traveling, just walk with Jodi for a km or two.
A little bit of home was spotted at the top of one hill. Wood from our farm was used by Ted to build bat houses. Two of them have been installed in this reserve. It looks like a crow is checking this one out.
More snow again, settled nicely downwind from the forest.
There is something about theses hills that draws you in. When I first moved here over 40 years ago, a client at the bank advised me to leave soon because if I didn't the hills would draw me in and keep me here. I didn't take his advice.
I am hoping these hills will use that same magic on our new hikers.
They are a lovely bunch.
I usually end a post with a quote that summarizes the words and pictures above. I'll dedicate this quote to our new hikers:
“If you can't fly then run,
if you can't run then walk,
if you can't walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
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