Exciting Ontario Adventures & Tours...yet not to far from Toronto!

"Looking to try something unique this winter? Why not try Ice Climbing? Ice Climbing near Ancaster Ontario or in Elora Ontario is a great way to spend a day exploring the beautiful sights of these regions, not to mention testing your skills. If you decide you want to get more into the sport, we offer ice anchor and mountaineering courses to get you the skills to one day do it on your own."

North of Superior Climbing Company - Rock and Ice climbing routes north of Sault Ste. Marie on Lake Superior in Algoma Country, Guided rock climbs, ice climbs with Shaun Parent

"We are offering a 4 day ice climbing expedition to ascend several unclimbed ice faces near Nipigon Ontario. This trip is limited to 2 participants and is for intermediate climbers. We will be attempting 3 new routes with heights up to 100 meters. Access to the site is by snowmachine along a unplowed gravel road."

For this and a fuller list of ice climbing places in Ontario see: http://www.ontariotrailsmap.com/ontariotrails.html?cat=13&icon=iceclimbing.png

Pinehurst offers winter fun activities - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

"Snowshoeing and ice fishing now are on offer at Pinehurst Conservation Area in Paris.

The park opened Saturday morning for winter activities and, except for Dec. 24, 25, 26 and Jan. 1, will remain open every day for the next few months.

Later in the season, there'll be a skating rink on Pinehurst Lake and families, hikers, anglers and snowshoers are welcome."

For a fuller list of cross country places in Ontario see: http://www.ontariotrailsmap.com/ontariotrails.html?cat=4&icon=xcountry.png

Clubs scramble to open trails - Owen Sound Sun Times - Ontario, CA

"Snowmobile clubs are scrambling to open trails to make the most of the heavy snowfalls that have hit the area, Randy Walker, the president of the Stoney Keppel Riders, said Saturday.

'We got a pile of snow and a lot of clubs got caught. They didn't get everything done,' he said. 'What has to happen for trails to open is we have to start grooming and packing, but the big thing is we have to ensure all our signs are in place.'"

Two snow machine crashes - 570News

"Regional Police are investigating a snowmobile crash off Ira Needles near Highway 7/8 last night.

Police say a 59-year old Kitchener man was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries after his machine went out of control and struck a pole and a stump.

Police say the man was riding on a homemade track with a friend at the time of the crash and was not wearing a helmet.

In a seperate incident, an Arthur Township man died in a weekend snowmobile crash."

Both OPP and OFSC spent a full month or more reminding folks to be careful out there, our most sincere condolences to the families - for a full range of safety tips see: http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/snowmobile-smart/

Adopt canoe, help out museum - Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA

"The Canadian Canoe Museum has launched an adopt-a-canoe fundraising program for the museum.

'No, you don't get to take it home,' general manager John Summers said on Wednesday.

For $180 a year, or $15-a-month payments, a donor gets to put a name on a button that's displayed with the canoe in the museum in Peterborough."

iB::Topic::Bruce Trail, Ontario, Canada

"During the spring, summer, and fall, I'm always looking for hiking partners who would like to day-hike various 40-km sections of the Bruce Trail in Southwestern Ontario, Canada."

Ready, set, go — on a dog-sled tour through forest - One Tank Trips - The Buffalo News

"HALIBURTON FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESERVE, Ont.—“The first rule of dogsledding is to hang on, and the second is not to let go,” quips Emily Kurvell, our guide. She makes it sound easy, but looking at the 18 huskies yelping wildly and straining at their leashes, I’m more than a little nervous.

The younger drivers in our group don’t seem to have the same apprehension. Two young girls from Florida in shiny new snowsuits are jumping up and down and seem as eager to go as the dogs are.

“The dogs love it!” says Kurvell. “It’s what they’re bred to do.”"

For a fuller list of dog sled trails see: http://www.ontariotrailsmap.com/ontariotrails.html?cat=3&icon=canoeing.png

Twitter / Ontario Trails: The snow has arrived and t ...

"The snow has arrived and the parkas have been taken out of the closet. But, there is no reason to stop walking!..."

Trail Blazers-Explorers of Southern Ontario, Canada | Facebook

"Hi this is Johnny Welsh and the reason for this group is to get friends together and enjoy the wonders of Southern Ontario which includes historical landmarks, hiking trails and anything else we can enjoy as a group of friends."

Conservation Authority looking at levy increase - Community Press - Ontario, CA

"Marmora - The Crowe Valley Conservation Authority is set to circulate a draft 2011 budget to its member municipalities that would, if passed, increase its general levy by 4.9 per cent.

The proposed budget would increase the overall levy from $337,456 in 2010 to $354,007 in 2011. The levy on member municipalities pays for nearly half of the $757,882 budget. Other sources of revenue include an Ministry of Natural Resources operating grant of $116,741 and $109,200 in source protection planning funds."

LankaWeb – The Travels of a Journalist—48- CAMPING AROUND ONTARIO-MINNESOTA BORDER, WE EXPLORE NATIONAL PARK ACCESSIBLE BY WATER

"WHEREAS the main access to most national parks is by automobile or by foot, the primary access to the 218,054-acre Voyageurs National Park is via water.  Because Voyageurs NP lies to the west of the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Minnesota, “the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” this peculiar feature should come as no surprise. Many people visited the park by canoe and kayak.

These canoeists, kayakers, other boaters and fishermen found the park an aquatic haven. The (Sinhala-sounding) Kabetogama Peninsula, which lies entirely within the park and makes up most of its land area, is accessible only by boat. Others rented houseboats. Established as a national park in 1975, the Voyageurs (named after the French-Canadian fur traders) attracted an estimated 220,650 people in 2007."

For a fuller list of canoe routes in Ontario see;

Trail to be safe, more accessible - Trenton Trentonian - Ontario, CA

"Over the next year, the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will be used to apply the final limestone surface to more than three kilometers of the northern section of the trail, which connects the trail from Glen Ross to Batawa.

Wooden decking on the Cold Creek bridge will be replaced by tread-safe metal decking, increasing safety for pedestrian use and reducing the need for costly annual maintenance requirements.

'The trail provides a healthy lifestyle opportunity for people of all ages and abilities, while protecting the environment and ecosystem of the communities along the trail,' said Gray. 'We are thankful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation's support of our community's health and well being.'"

For a complete list of rails in the Quinte region see:

Skate Across Toronto: Samuel Smith Park — Toronto’s wonderful new skating trail | Posted Toronto | National Post

"“We haven’t skated in a couple of years,” confesses Mr. Heinz, lacing up. “My skates are so uncomfortable I have to have a good reason to put them on.”

The new Colonel Sam Smith Ice Trail, my friends, is a good reason. The City of Toronto, thanks in part to the work of Councillor Mark Grimes, has given a $2-million early Christmas gift to its residents, and it is glorious."

For a full list of Toronto Trails see:

ATV crash leaves man in hospital - The Cornwall Standard Freeholder - Ontario, CA

"At 2 a.m. on Dec. 17, OPP officers responded to a report about a collision on the ATV trail in South Glengarry. The police found that Scott Waldrif, 25, was operating a 2008 Honda ATV heading westbound when he went off the trail and hit a tree. The reason is still under investigation. Waldrif was brought to the Cornwall hospital with serious injuries."

Be careful out there, especially in winter weather! see:

Shows and Events

"The 53rd annual Toronto International Boat Show, Canada's largest marine marketplace, runs Jan. 8-16 at the Direct Energy Centre's Exhibition Place.

Special attractions of the show include an indoor lake that takes more than six days to create. More than 1 million gallons of Lake Ontario water will flood Ricoh Coliseum.

Shows with wakeboarders and wakeskaters will take place on the lake and attendees can get out on the water free and ride an inflatable boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboat. Other activities at the lake include Duma the waterskiing and boat-driving dog; personal watercraft, boat-handling and stand-up paddle boarding demonstrations; and canoe and kayak seminars."

For more events like this see: http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail-news-events-2/ and select trade shows

MyKawartha Article: OPP snowmobile safety tips

"With winter weather in full force, Peterborough County OPP is now responding to snowmobile-related incidents.

Here are some snowmobile safety tips from the OPP to ensure everyone's snowmobile experience is safer and more enjoyable."

Read more to see tips!

Ski trails are open at Circle R Ranch - Londoner - Ontario, CA

"While many Londoners may be tired of shoveling from the record snowfall of last week, there are others who are jumping for joy as the fluffy stuff blankets the ground.

The Circle R Ranch Touring Centre, for instance, has opened some of its cross-country ski trails much earlier than anticipated.

'This is the earliest ski season that we can ever remember,' said Joan Russell, of the family-owned business. As of last weekend, some of the beginner trails were open and Russell was hoping for colder weather to provide a perfect base for the other runs."

For a fuller list of Ontario Cross Country Ski Trails see: http://www.ontariotrailsmap.com/ontariotrails.html?cat=4&icon=xcountry.png

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Snowmobile trails not open yet (OPP Report) - Goderich Signal-Star - Ontario, CA

"The Huron OPP has been advised by members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs that people have been observed trespassing on the trails. In an effort to ensure safety for all, the OPP is helping to ensure that the message goes out that none of the trails are open yet for public use. Entering the trails at this time is considered to be trespassing, and charges will be laid. There is a serious safety issue for those travelling on the trails prior to them being opened. In addition, private property can be damaged by premature use."