Kate Procter Kate farms, hikes, canoes, and plays guitar in Huron County.
Lucky to live where we do “We are so lucky to live where we do,” is a phrase I have heard many times, and especially through the past two years. While many people are still itching to travel, especially to warmer climates to escape the Huron County winter, most people realize how good we have it here. With gatherings of all kinds shut down in all parts of the country, having the ability to be outside and enjoy many activities right out our back door is definitely something to be grateful for. Huron County is known for its beautiful trails, enjoyed by people using all forms of transportation. Sometimes living here, we can become oblivious to the natural beauty around us. Hiking and cross-country skiing have been life-long hobbies that I love, but in spite of that, there are many kilometers of trails here that I’ve never set foot, or skis, on. The Huron County website lists over 30 trails within the county that provide space for people of all ages and skill levels. The Stevenson Tract is located close to my home and has been a trail that I have enjoyed in all seasons my entire life. As anyone who enjoys nature will tell you, a trail never gets boring because it is different every time you walk it. The Stevenson Tract is classed as “moderate to difficult” and is located where County Road 16 (Morris Road) and the Clyde Line meet, a few kilometers west of Brussels. It has had improvements over the years, 8 The Rural Voice
with expanded trails through the 200 acre woods and improved parking areas with access from both Clyde Line and Morris Road. The trail is bisected by both the Maitland River and the Sunshine Creek, providing prime fish habitat. The trail is great for cross country skiing, with enough hills to provide challenge and fun, but not too many. Trails always make me wonder about the long term history of the landscape. When skiing, one of my favourite parts of the Stephenson Tract is the ridge. I’ve long suspected it could be an esker, given its shape and gravelly composition that is different from other parts of the trail. Looking up a little bit of the geology of Huron County reveals that eskers are common here, with many of the
larger ones being used for gravel extraction. It has been a long time since high school geography classes where we learned about how the glaciers shaped our landscapes – so a refresher was welcome.” An esker is a long, narrow ridge that snakes across the land. The esker is made of layers of sand and gravel. It marks the location of a tunnel that developed beneath a glacier. The esker is one of the most easily recognized landforms that formed during an ice age, while a glacier covered the land. In flat boggy areas, eskers stand as high ridges and serve
Beautiful trails found at Stevenson Tract (above) and the Wawanosh Conservation Area (top, left)) make surviving the COVID pandemic a little easier by giving us a place to go to find peace and beauty.
