Dufferin Hi-Land section of Bruce Trail opens
Volunteers have been attempting to clear sections of the Bruce Trail hit hard by the ice storm. Following the storm, the Bruce Trail app showed 240 kilometres of continuous trail was closed. Some sections have gradually reopened as downed trees and branches are cleared from the main trail.
Many portions remain unsafe and often impassable.
“The safety of the Bruce Trail community is our highest priority. Dedicated volunteers from across our nine Bruce Trail Clubs (BTC) are giving their time, energy and skills to remove hazards, such as fallen trees and branches. While this is taking place, we kindly ask the public to put their safety and the safety of our volunteers first by respecting this temporary closure,” said Adam Brylowski, manager of conservation and trail at the BTC.
Four weeks after the storm the entire Blue Mountains section from Lavender to Craigleith remains closed.
Club secretary Jim Lewis said crews have been out everyday clearing trails. They have cleared about 50 per cent of the main trail but have yet to touch the many side trails, which are a lower priority.
The Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club has been making progress and there is a plan to have the main trail open by the weekend, although several side trails remain closed.
Last Saturday Lynda Bloom went out with Margery Cruise and Bob Collin. She said it took them three hours to clear 1.5 km of trail, and they had to walk a total of three kilometres to access the damaged section where they were working.
“There are places that were just crazy,” said Bloom.
She said the storm debris ranges from small branches strewn on the trail to large branches hung up in trees.
Bloom said there is a huge amount of work to be done and much of the work is being done by retirees.
“It has been almost a month of constant work,” said Tom Thayer, who is helping to coordinate the clean-up effort in the Dufferin Hi-Land section. “We started the day after the ice storm. It is hard to say how many people in total have been working on it but it would definitely be north of 100 volunteers.” He estimates 4,000 to 5,000 hours have been put in so far by volunteers who help out when they are available.
“We have had a lot of community support, and some people took it upon themselves to clear areas they walk,” said Thayer, adding that the club also welcomed reinforcements from the Toronto Club.
There is more work ahead. Thayer said it will likely be a couple of months before the trail is in top shape once more. In addition to clearing trails, blazes need to be replaced and professional arborists will be called in to remove limbs in inaccessible areas.
“While it’s a lot of work, we are all very grateful for the support the community has shown. From random people, to volunteers, to other communities assisting, to Super Burger letting us use their establishment as meeting place to organize our clean-up events. Everyone has been absolutely fantastic,” said Thayer.
Donations in support of the reconstruction are welcome at brucetrail.org/donate/icestormrecovery or by calling 1-800-665-4453. General inquiries about the closures, volunteer opportunities and other Bruce Trail information can also be made by emailing info@brucetrail.org.
Ganaraska Mad River Hiking Club
Ganaraska Mad River Hiking Club president Sharon Striegl said volunteers have been working hard for the past couple of weeks to re-open the 50 km section.
“To date, we are three quarters of the way through,” she said. “We will continue with our clean-up next week, hopefully finishing the Glen Huron section.”
