December has arrived, and along with it comes snow. We all have to stay active during the cold months and snow offers many opportunities.
The Meaford Public Library loans out snowshoes so all you need is a library card. (Thank you to Meaford Rotary for donating these). https://www.meaford.ca/en/explore-play/play.aspx
There are many areas to snowshoe in Meaford:
- The Trout Hollow Trail offers you a trail that not only follows the Bighead River, but also provides a look into local history. http://www.trouthollow.ca/
- The Bruce Trail offers many trails in our municipality. It is fun to explore the Silent Valley area and snowshoe up to the escarpment rock to view various animal footprints. https://brucetrail.org/pages/land-conservation/silent-valley
- Another section of the Bruce Trail which would be interesting to explore on snowshoes is the trail in the Sydenham section where one can find the Polish Soldier tree. “ This old Beech is a rare glimpse into life at the Tadeusz Kosciuszko Polish Army training camp based in Owen Sound during the early years of the Second World War.” https://brucetrail.org/system/downloads/0000/0377/Bruce_Trail_Heritage_Tree_Fact_Sheet_13PolishSoldierTree.pdf
- Bayview Escarpment Provincial Park will offer you scenic views of Georgian Bay.
- Hibou Conservation area is fun to explore on snowshoes too. Bring along some sunflower seeds and try to hand feed chickadees. https://www.greysauble.on.ca/portfolio/hibou-conservation-area/#
For residents who would like to stay active by cross country skiing, Massie Hills offers 9.6 groomed trails at an affordable price. https://massiehills.com/.
There are small skis available at https://polarskis.com that can be attached to wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers that make it easier to navigate in snow.
Tobogganing is popular as a free activity for families. Many children can be spotted sledding at a number of area hills.
For our residents with mobility challenges, the Meaford Community Centre is offering indoor walking. If you have fears of walking and falling on ice, it is advisable to purchase ice grips for your footwear.
