Out & About #693 | Albion Hills Winter Hike

​With a plethora of restrictions in place, the vast majority of businesses, as well as all three tiers of government, have shifted towards digital resources for communication with the general public. And given the rate at which region-specific policies evolve, these updates demand timeliness along with a greater degree of clarity. The initiatives were undoubtedly expedited due to the coronavirus pandemic, but their benefits extend beyond battling social distancing measures: efficiency, regularity, and accessibility have emerged from the birth of online queues, electronic check-in processes, and flexible retail experiences.

Searching for a COVID-safe pastime is made simpler in the realm of research, yet also more challenging in the face of layered restrictions. Conservation areas that were open amidst the stay-at-home order were extremely few, with those offering washroom amenities even fewer. The centres weren't staffed, thus calls seeking confirmation weren't answered.

Through process of elimination, I was left with none other than Albion Hills to return to. Venturing further from home, beyond the TRCA jurisdictions, was another option, yet with greater distance comes greater fear - a fear of no available washrooms.

​My previous encounter with the conservation area had left me bug-bitten, drained, and disgusted; naturally, I was reluctant to return to Albion Hills for my first winter hike. Cross-country skiing and tobogganing were seemingly two other family favourite park activities, yet with rental areas closed and unstaffed, we resorted to hiking the Black Loop - the only trail open during the winter months.

​Similar to the 40-degree-plus undertaking, we commenced the day at McDonald's, where bathrooms graciously remained open. A lunch of Egg Salad-Kale Whole Wheat Sandwich was had before we drove off.

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​Our starting point remained consistent with the bug-infested hike from mid-summer, however the route diverged at some point along the way. The scenery was steeper than I recalled at some points, and sometimes even unrecognizable.

​Tree cover was minimal, as expected, though the two-hour trip was absolutely pleasant. As if in our favour, Mother Nature would delay the arrival of heavy precipitation until the evening hours. We proceeded with the trail, eventually exiting back onto the parking lot from which we came.

​Locating the bathroom facilities proved quite a feat, but after two Google Maps detours, we spotted the tiny parking lot.

Our trek terminated sooner than either of us could predict, at which point we were faced with another dilemma:
What should we do now?

"Should we hike some more?"
"But this is the only trail that's open."

"Should we go elsewhere to hike?"
"There are no other areas open in the area though, and the sun is setting soon."

"Should we eat dinner??"
"It's only 4pm."
​
"What else is there to do???"

Such first-world concerns would never have arisen in the absence of COVID closures.

Alas, I suggested a Burger King stop, owing hunger to the hike and curiosity to the franchise's All Dressed Chicken Nuggets.​

​Greasy, synthetic-tasting, and served with a duo of obscene "dipping sauces" (if I can bring myself to even refer to them as such), we gobbled down our All Dressed and Original orders, shouting through the car window to communicate our next plan of action.

​Thinking long and hard, I proposed a grocery store run, preceded by Gong Cha. The acquisition of cooking ingredients and snack strata sustenance were amongst the handful of options available in the province.

Traffic conditions were relatively light in spite of the Family Day long weekend, enabling us to proceed without delays.

​As the BTrust round concluded, nightfall descended upon us. With the darkened skies came a hair-rustling flurry of frigidity.

The snowstorm had arrived.
​We would part ways, returning to our respective homes in search of warmth, food, and shelter.