The WoodsGlen Major Forest/Walker Woods Stewardship Committee’s newsletter

Fall/Winter 2008VoluMe 1 – iSSue 3

InsideTrail use in the autumn

Toronto and Region Conservation: Archaeology – unlocking the keys of the past

Spoke’n Words from Wheels

Hoofing with Hooves

Destinations

Fall hiking with the Oak Ridges Trail Association

Welcome to our third edition of The Woods, intended to cover the past events of the summer, the events coming up in the fall and

provide general news about the east Duffins headwaters properties, comprised of Walker Woods/Glen Major Forest lands.

Some of you may have forgotten that you are getting this newsletter because you provided your email address when we did our user survey in the last two weeks of august. the general feedback gathered from the survey was extremely positive about what we are trying to do on these lands, so we feel encouraged.

thank you to those who stopped and gave us feedback, but even if you didn’t, we noted and appreciated your presence and what you were doing.

the fall is a great time to get out and enjoy the colours and have a few last hikes or rides before the snow arrives. the threat of snow adds a sense of urgency to these last ventures, but we remind you that these properties are open all year round. there is a whole audience that considers winter the best of the seasons for this area.

More on that in the next edition.

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Above photo: Students map the fieldstone foundation of the Graham family’s mid-19th-century home.

Trail use in the autumnthis summer was wet and although, in general, the trails held up, there were a few spots that seemed permanently muddy and were widened by users avoiding the wet middle. We repeat the advice we gave you earlier when we note that we fully appreciate that it is hard to deny yourself of the opportunity to use the forest but truly there are times when it is simply selfish to be damaging the trails for others, and a delay or canceling of your plans is the best option. there are trails that absorb water better and are quicker to dry up, so we urge you to select routes that have this style of trail.

trails do not dry as quickly in the fall and the rain from a couple of days ago may still be evident on the trails today. the other thing that happens is that the leaves fall (hence the name of the season) and, when wet, can make for slippery conditions under your feet, treads or the hooves of horses. We urge extra care and awareness, and remember it is impossible for us to do anything to avoid this danger, so use the trails at your own risk.

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the history of the Glen Major complex is a rich, cultural tapestry of people and land uses, influenced by the varied surroundings and natural qualities of the land of the Duffins Creek and, in particular, the oak ridges Moraine. through the tools of archaeology, the rich history of this area has been unlocked, revealing fascinating tales of past lives. over the past 100 years archaeologists have unearthed a variety of stone tools, the remains of smoking pipes, ceramic vessels, bottles, glassware and other household articles within the Duffins Creek watershed.

this area was settled from as early as 10,000 BC. Human activity along rivers was not accidental but, rather, it evolved out of necessity for a stable fresh-water supply and also to be used as a means of transportation.

as the climate and nature of the environment changed, these early aboriginal settlers adapted to their new surroundings, reshaping their technology to meet the demands of their lifestyle. this, in turn, resulted in the adoption of new tools for hunting, cultivation and, by about 1,300 years ago, the construction of permanent structures in villages.

of the spade or the harrow rather than the plough, and large stumps in the fields posed problems. the outbreak of the 1812 war with the united States further compounded the progress within the area as young men were drafted, disrupting the influx of settlers and supplies of materials and food.

after the cessation of the war, there was a steady influx of settlers to the area, as many were attracted by the rich fertile soils and the expanding markets around the town of York. in the rural areas, mixed farming and milling prevailed as the mainstays of the economy, whilst the larger centres, such as Pickering Village, Stouffville and uxbridge, supported additional industries of lumbering, carpentry, carriage-making, harness-making, cooperages, brewing and inns.

With an increasing population, social services and infrastructure inevitably improved. in brief, this included the formalization and upgrades to roads, the introduction of postal services in Pickering in 1829, schools and commercial buildings but, most importantly, the ever-increasing number of mills which resulted in great prosperity for many of the villages here.

advances in technology, steam power and the emergence of the railway during the latter half of the 19th century altered the landscape again, as the area experienced some degree of depopulation as many ventured to toronto in search of jobs. the adoption of intensive agricultural practices and the use of machinery meant that fewer acres of land were required for cultivation. in this circumstance the number of farms declined significantly. though none of the villages within the Duffins watershed were ever completely abandoned, the number of families living there declined considerably.

the history and development of the Duffins Creek watershed forms an important chapter in the cultural landscape of southern ontario. Known heritage sites within the Glen Major Complex reflect a combination of aboriginal and euro-Canadian archaeological sites and historic structures. one such example is the ruins of the Beverley House. the demise of William Beverley, the owner of the property, who was found dead in the burnt ruins of his house, provides for an interesting tale of intrigue and myth. reports indicated that the fire may have been accidental but an aura of mystery still exists as many wondered what really happened that evening.

With its rich history the settlements within the Duffins Creek watershed exist as an important chapter in the development of southern ontario. the evidence unearthed here and through-out the region through archaeological excavations will no doubt reveal more about past peoples and their interaction with the natural environment throughout the passage of time.

With the number of daylight hours reducing in the fall, there is less time available for trail use. it is therefore appropriate to remind trail users that night use is not permitted within the east Duffins headwaters property. toronto and region Conservation (trCa) supports that there are multiple reasons for this prohibition including the stress on night-active species and trails, but even if you don’t agree with these explanations, the one unarguable reason is that our insurance company is unconditional as far as refusing to insure any night activity. Please respect all rules of the trails. We are running out of our supply of trail maps but there are sectional maps available online at www.trca.on.ca

Toronto and Region Conservation: Archaeology – unlocking the keys of the past

Student archaeologists hold a fragment of a large ceramic cooking and food storage pot. Circa AD 1850.

over time the area was explored and later settled by euro Canadians. Contact between the two groups was inevitable, commencing through a relationship of trade-and-barter. in 1660 the French began to explore the area and were soon engaged in a trade for furs. like the indigenous peoples, the first european settlers also lived off the land.

Permanent settlement in this part of the province began at York (toronto) and expanded to other surrounding locations. Progress was modest, but during the next decade the townships were surveyed and mapped in great detail, with grants of land being awarded by lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe.

life for these first settlers during the 19th century was filled with many challenges. they resided in log cabins, driving their wagons along poorly defined roads that needed to be kept clear of the forest’s grasp. to survive in these conditions they cleared portions of the lands to cultivate simple crops. the use

Spoke’n Words from Wheelsit has been a busy cycling summer in the forest this year. toronto and region Conservation (trCa) has begun to survey the uses and users of these properties to gage the level of activity and interests in the area to facilitate future planning. results for august show that cyclists are by far the largest group of visitors to Glen Major Forest/Walker Woods, cover the greatest distance on each visit to the forest and come from all over Durham, the Greater toronto area and beyond. this is a sign of our enthusiasm for the great trails and riding experience we can enjoy here. Cyclists coming from far and wide also indicate that good riding areas like these are few and far between—so it is important for us to appreciate the privileges we have here and to respect the rules of the trails while we are enjoying them.

Privilegesour privileges in this area include riding or walking 75 kilometres of beautiful single- and double-track trails through 1,500 hectares of pristine forest on the sensitive oak ridge Moraine, allowing us to enjoy the flora, fauna and breath-taking vistas of these conservation lands. the trails are well-planned, mapped, managed and maintained by a team of volunteers and trCa staff.

Responsibilitiesthere have been a few accidents and a few issues this year that prompt me to remind my fellow cyclists and all users of the responsibilities that come with these privileges. if we do not all ride responsibly, we put our future enjoyment of these privileges at risk. i ask all cyclists to be aware of our responsibilities and remind others of them as we enjoy our forest rides.

Share the trailsPlease share the trails safely and courteously with other users (bikers, hikers and equestrians). Several serious crashes and a head-on collision this summer between two cyclists traveling at speeds resulting in serious injuries to both serve as reminds for us to ride in control and expect the unexpected around every corner. Hikers and horses can be easily spooked by a silent cyclist’s speedy approach, so please slow down and politely alert others as you approach them. Cyclists, please yield to hikers and horseback riders.

Hoofing with Hooves While it is sad to see summer wind down, the beautiful colours of fall’s turning leaves, combined with the lack of humidity and bugs, provide the ideal conditions for some fantastic rides. if you were lucky enough to make it out and enjoy the Glen Major Forest/Walker Woods trails, you have to agree how fortunate we are to have such resources at our doorstep.

in an effort to make the trails even more enjoyable for equestrians, several of us got together one very sticky morning in late august to do some maintenance on the trails in timbers Pit. While cyclists and hikers require less of a ceiling, eye level from the back of a horse can be close to 10 feet in the air (more if your horse is upset!). this gives the rider a new perspective of the trail including, in many instances, extreme and unexpected close-ups of tree branches. after three hours of trimming, we hope that those of you riding the trails will notice the difference. our increased vantage point from horseback also affords us a better view of the trail and other users. in most cases, we can see you before you see us. When this happens, we will generally call out to those approaching and let them know we are there. We realize that horses, based on their sheer size alone, can be very intimidating to those people unaccustomed to being around them. However, most people don’t realize that some horses can be more scared of you than you are of them. While horses have existed and evolved with us since the beginning of time, their nature is still that of a prey animal, as opposed to a predator (which we are), and dictates how they behave in certain situations. Despite centuries of domestication, their strong survival instinct remains intact and they are hard-wired by Mother nature to avoid becoming someone’s dinner.

as a cyclist, you see a horse in the forest and you simply ride around it. From a horse’s point of view, you seem to come out of nowhere, extremely quickly and quietly—which is typical predator behaviour—so you must be a two-wheeled horse-eater. their impending reaction could have nasty consequences for all parties involved. now, not all horses will react badly, but you don’t know if the one you’re approaching is an ‘overachiever’ in the survival department until it’s too late. once they realize they are safe, things change. Which is why we appreciate it when you slow down, or even stop, and say something, so our horses do not perceive a threat.

a hiker, in particular one who may be slightly off-trail or approaching from around a corner—therefore not completely visible—is out enjoying a walk in the forest. a horse will hear the rustling noises and he is instantly alert, looking for a potential hungry enemy, stalking him. once you speak and/or the horse sees you clearly, he quickly realizes there is no danger and he relaxes. Horses, in general, are very intelligent animals but they think completely differently than we do. understanding our differences helps make it possible for all of us to use the trails safely.

Stay on the trailsthere are 75 kilometres of official trails—plenty for even our most enthusiastic riders. Please remain on marked trails, off private lands and do not make short-cuts or new trails. there are many sensitive species in the forest and by staying on designated trails, we will be sure not to endanger them.

Repsect closed trailsin your travels, you may notice some trails that have been closed. toronto and region Conservation and our local trails committee, which includes representatives from all user groups, have declared these trails ‘surplus’ and have closed them to minimize the impact on the natural environment. Please respect all trail closures—in every case, good and sustainable alternatives have been provided. any efforts to re-open a closed trail are disrespectful to those managing and maintaining the trails and will require volunteer and trCa time and resources to be spent re-closing them, rather than improving or building new trails.

Daytime-use onlythese lands are primarily conservation lands—for the preservation of the natural flora and fauna of the area, and secondarily for passive recreation use, to allow us to appreciate them. night use is not permitted, to reduce the risk to users and in order to allow a quiet time in the forest for its natural inhabitants to hunt, feed, mate, sleep and enjoy their habitat undisturbed by human intrusion of light, sound and traffic. Please respect this sensitive period between dusk and dawn to allow the forest a chance to rest.

thanks for your cooperation and your support spreading the message of responsible use to all users so that we may all continue to be allowed the privilege of enjoying our rides and walks through these forests. Your input and questions are always welcome.

Tom Hawkstomhawks1@bellnet.ca

View from the top of the world. Taken from one of the lookouts at Timbers Pit, you can see the various revitalization efforts taking place in the area.

5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, ontario M3n 1S4Phone: 416-661-6600 Fax: 416-661-6898 www.trca.on.ca

Cert no. XXX-XXX-000

Published and printed by toronto and region Conservation. Photography © 2008 toronto and region Conservation unless otherwise noted.

Fall hiking with the Oak Ridges Trail Associationi hope many of those interested in outdoor pursuits had an opportunity to read the interesting and informative article take a Hike in uxbridge, in the September 4 edition of the times Journal. reporter Jeff Hayward and a videographer decided to get the ‘inside scoop’ by showing up on an advertised oak ridges trail association (orta) hike. the hike was led by long-time uxbridge resident and Scout leader russ Burton, a certified orta hike leader.

the hike was held in the Glen Major/Brock tract section of the Walker Woods Forest and lived up to its name as a moderate-to-fast-speed-hike over a 10 kilometre-route. it proved to be a good workout in this scenic region, while giving both experienced and novice hikers a chance to experience the beauty of our late-summer wildflowers and views of secluded valleys from numerous lookouts. During rest-stops, hikers expressed their various reasons for joining these hikes, such as regaining and maintaining fitness levels, making new friends with similar interests and getting to know a new area without fear of getting lost.

russ Burton is typical of the spirit of volunteerism that leads local residents to share their expertise and love of the outdoors. russ, Chris Johnston, Brian and Wilma Millage, Joan taylor and Harold Sellers are among the many orta hike leaders who assess the abilities of their group and are responsive to their needs, interests and safety while guiding them along scenic forest and valley trails. last year, 22 hike leaders led 242 hikes, attended by 3,443 people of all ages. the hikes were as varied as sunrise hikes, full-moon winter hikes, fall-colour treks and snowshoe rambles—some as gentle as a two-hour social outing followed by lunch, while others were more rigorous four- to five-hour hikes with lunch on trail.

of special note regarding local volunteers who help maintain and blaze the routes along the oak ridges trail are uxbridge residents Dennis and Jean trowse, who received ontario Volunteer Service awards from the Hon. Michael Chan, Minister of Citizenship and immigration, last april.

Watch the video of this hike at www.newsdurhamregion.com to get a better look at the fun and check the coming events in your local newspapers to join in upcoming hikes. For a list of orta hikes, be part of the over 5,000 visits per month to our website at www.oakridgestrail.org

i hope i can share the beautiful trails of Walker Woods and uxbridge with you in the near future.

Keep on hiking! Brian Millage, ORTA chapter chair, Uxbridge

Chances are you’re reading this newsletter because you are familiar with the Glen Major Forest or Walker Woods. You might walk your dog on the oak ridges trail, ride your bike on tJ’s Way, ski the trans Canada trail, ride your horse at timber’s Pit, or spot warblers on the Bluebird trail.

Whatever your pleasure, chances are that you have a favourite place in the forest or a memory of a special visit. We’d like to hear those stories.

Send us your story about what Glen Major Forest and Walker Woods mean to you (in 500 words or less), and we’ll publish* it! the next issue of the Woods will have a section dedicated to your stories.

Please send your stories to aweppler@trca.on.ca by January 31, 2009.

* “toronto and region Conservation reserves the right to edit content.”