Reflecting on 40 Days on the Bruce Trail

Bruce Trail Hiking Reflections

It has taken us 40 days of hiking to trek from Fort Erie to Fort George and from Queenston Heights in the Niagara region to Tobmerory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula.  Our adventure along the full length of the Bruce Trail is the result of afternoon walks, weekend treks, End-to-End events, and family thru-hikes.   While the end result only took 40 days on the trail, the fact is that these took place over the course of almost 10 years.   At times we have only been able to complete small sections, while on other occasions we have had to push ourselves further than we thought possible. 

Walking into Tobermory yesterday, we arrived with a mixture of sadness that our great adventure had come to its conclusion, a sense of excitement at our achievement, and a sense of relief that it was done.   Apparently, neither hiking nor how we feel about it, are as straightforward as we had hoped when originally setting out.  In the end however, everything works out if you just take it one step at a time. 

In the process of hiking from Queenston Heights to Tobermory, we estimate that we covered some 885 kilometers of the Bruce Trail, with us each taking approximately 1.4-1.5 million steps in the process. En route, we have hiked with a number of people from land stewards to trail captains to End-to-End participants.  In addition, while only sparingly mentioned (for privacy sake) we hiked over two thirds of the BTC with Lenora – a good friend and terrific school teacher.  We also completed the Sydenham and Peninsula sections on a thru-hike with a younger family member.  This young man also joined us on a number of day hikes and several of the End-to-End treks over the years. And as a result, by the time we had finished the Bruce Trail, we estimate that this intrepid individual eventually hiked more than half of the entire BTC system!  This is not bad for someone striving to move their life in a new direction from digital screens to the outdoors. 

Perhaps what stands out the most at the end is that, all in all, the Bruce Trail is not to be taken lightly.  Its sheer size highlights not only the length of the Niagara Escarpment, but also the scope of both Ontario and Canada.  On a map, the Bruce Trail may not look like it goes very far. Yet the fact remains that to hike it end to end means that one treks further than the width of Spain on the Camino Frances, or the length of Portugal from Faro on its southern shores to the border with Northern Spain.   Put another way, Ontario is larger than most European countries, and far larger than most people realize.  Hence, any trail that traverses large swaths of this province is by necessity quite long and varied as well.  The Bruce Trail is therefore a giant of a pathway in a vast and beautiful country. 

Thank you

It is of course impossible to have undertaken the hike along the Bruce Trail without the work of so many others.  Thank you to those that helped out with car rides, both to and from the pathway.  Thank you to those who were kind enough to give us a bottle of water or a friendly wave of encouragement en route. Thank you to the landowners who have allowed the BTC and trail users to traverse their properties, allowing for more trail, less road, and the possibility for people to better connect with nature.  Your participation and support is essential to the success of the Bruce Trail. 

Finally, we like to say a huge thank you to the Bruce Trail Conservancy, those that build and maintain the trail, and those who volunteer in countless ways to keep the whole thing going.  We have made memories for a lifetime on the Bruce Trail, all because of your amazing work.  Our thanks!

Thank you to Bruce Trail Volunteers and Trail Builders.