The Village Squire, 1981-05, Page 10Stratford
4116 41111 w ea
Avon is really a trail for all seasons and
many interests. Those who love the sights
and sounds of spring will choose to hike
the AT in April or May, though a
defrosting winter could leave the terrain
a littly soggy in places.
The trail will be firm for those who wish
to walk it in June, July or August, and the
air will be full of the aroma one normally
associates with life in the country. It
might also be full of the bugs and bees
which enjoy the summer months as much
as we do. But the days are long enough
that one can travel in the cool, sunrise
hours of the early morning, or wait until
late in the day when old sol is on his way
to bed.
Many people select the autumn, in
particular October and November, to do
the AT. Unless it is unusually rainy the
trail is still hard -packed. The mosquitos
have died off, and it's comfortably cool
for walking. And the fall colours provide
the finest of backdrops.
Hiking the Avon in winter presents
problems that accompany snow and cold
almost everywhere. Going through or
over the deep white stuff is made easier
with crosscountry skiis or snowshoes, but
they in turn make fences a little more
difficult. Taking off and re -fitting skiis
and snowshoes will cut into your
progress, as will the extra clothes which
might be required to combat the
February frost. Yet some people prefer
winter, with its crisp, blue skies and
bright sunshine. Underbrush is at a
minimum and the blazes are easy to see.
Those fences, it should be mentioned,
are equipped with stiles, at least many of
them are, and crossing them is fairly
simple. Some too are equipped with
electricity. They can jolt you back to
reality in a hurry, and provide a dash of
entertainment for curious cows.
Few people will complete the trail in
one or two days. Nor should they want to.
Therefore,_ stationing or arranging tran-
sportation at the end of - your chosen
distance is important. The trail guide and
a road map facilitate such planning. Your
speed along the trail will fluctuate but
you should be able to knock off two miles
an hour. That's fast enough that you
won't grow old doing it, yet not so fast
that you won't remember it. It's always
best to allow yourself extra time on each
outing.
PG. 8 VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1981
The association's agreements with
property owners do not provide for
overnight camping anywhere along the
trail, so a heavy pack is not necessary. In
fact, travelling light will keep you
fresher. and make it easier to squeeze
through tight spots.
Still, if you are going to be out there for
several hours, take along some trail grub
and water, and make sure your itinerary
allows for a picnic rest. But don't litter.
An extra sweater and gloves might be
worth their weight. depending on what
time of year you walk the trail. A peaked
cap and/or sunglasses will certainly be
helpful, as will a walking stick (a broken
Lackey stick does fine). Lugging a heavy,
expensive camera is no fun but you
should plan on taking some picutres.
There's no and to subject material.
You're likely to get wet feet at some
point, from misjudging some swampy
grass, from tramping through some
undergrowth loaded with morning dew,
or from plain of rain.It's bound tohappen
and when it does the hiker wearing wool
socks is going to suffer least. Those
woollies should be pulled over a pair of
thinner socks, which will help prevent
blisters over the long haul, especially if
you're breaking in, or re -acquainting
yourself with, your hiking boots.
As with crosscountry skiing, dress in
light layers, so that you can peel off if you
start overheating. The body is always
warmer when it gets moving.
The fancily dog is sure to enjoy the trail
as much as you, but take it s leash and be
quick to use it in the presence of farm
animals and other hikers. Be prepared,
too, to pull some burrs and give your pet
a bath when you get home.
The foregoing are trail tips that you can
adopt in part or modify through exper-
ience. The important thing is to get out
there and start hiking.
Regardless of when you do it, or what
direction you take, the first step to