GUELPH POLITICAST #285 - Take a Hike!

There's still a lot of summer left, so what are we supposed to do with some of our extra down time? How about enjoying some local paths and trails for a nice hike? It’s never not a good time to take a walk and enjoy the natural splendor of the Guelph area, but a warm day, a cool breeze, a clear trail, and a sensible pair of shoes is not a bad way to pass some time, and no one knows that better than the current head of the local hiking club.

The trails of Guelph have been the subject of a lot of discussion lately as walking and hiking, like a lot of outdoor activities, have seen an increase in interest during the pandemic. At the same time, the City of Guelph was putting the finishing touches on the Trails Master Plan, an ambitious program to make local trails more accessible, and improve their connectivity across the city. One of the community groups at the forefront of pushing the City on those improvements is the Guelph Hiking Trail Club.

In their own words, the Guelph Hiking Trail Club is a non-profit organization established in 1970 dedicated to stimulating an interest in hiking, establishing and maintaining trails, and encouraging conservation and awareness of the natural environment. They organize group hikes, promote social connections between local hikers, and advocate for a better hiking experience, like they did earlier this year when they successfully raised $50,000 for a bridge over the river along the James Street Trail.

John Fisher, current president of the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, is the guest on this week's podcast, and he will talk about how he got involved, and where the good hiking is for beginners and more advanced people. He also discusses the need to have good hiking etiquette, and whether or not the pandemic has had an impact on the number of hikers on area trails. And finally, Fisher will talk about what kind of work that the local trail network needs, and how City Hall can help make the most out of the Trails Master Plan.

So let's take a hike on this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast!

To learn more about the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, you can go to their website, or connect with them on social media through Facebook and Twitter. To find the location of different trails in the city, you can visit City of Guelph website here, and to look at the Trails Master Plan on the City's website, click here.

***The Guelph Politicast will return with new episodes on August 24.

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