Caledon East Hike: Sleswick

We completed this hike on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Throughout the week leading up to the hike, I had meticulously planned our outing for that particular Saturday, eagerly anticipating the adventure that awaited us. However, as Friday night approached, a sense of uncertainty crept in. Jared, expressed his concerns about the extreme cold that was forecasted, as temperatures would plummet to an alarming -30 degrees Celsius. The thought of braving such frigid conditions made us reconsider our plans. With the biting cold looming in our minds, we ultimately decided to cancel our hiking plans.

However, Saturday morning arrived with a surprising twist. I woke up early, with Oliver and Mia, and was greeted by a glorious sight: the sun was shining brightly. The warmth of the sunlight seemed to contradict the dire weather predictions we had seen just the night before. Curious about the actual temperature outside, I stepped out onto the porch, and to my astonishment, it didn’t feel nearly as cold as we had anticipated. The crisp air was invigorating rather than biting, and I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of a day spent outdoors.

The small section of .13kms that I previously missed of the main Bruce Trail. Yes, you read that right .13 kms!

When Jared finally woke up, I shared my observations about the unexpectedly pleasant weather, highlighting how the morning felt much more inviting than we had anticipated and suggested we continue with our original plan of hiking that day. After a moment of contemplation, Jared agreed that it would indeed be a great plan to seize the day and embark on our hike after all. With our sudden change of plans, we quickly organized our gear to get a start on the day. We planned to tackle an 8-kilometer hike near Sleswick. Following that, we aimed to make our way over to Hockley Valley to complete a small section (.13kms) of the trail that I had previously missed. This particular detail was especially significant to me; completing these two hikes would mean that I would finally finish my very FIRST section of the Bruce Trail. To say that I was beyond ecstatic would be an understatement.

Our Late Morning Adventure Begins

We started this hike at 10:45 in the morning, which, in the grand scheme of our plans, was quite a late start! I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that we would have to hike quickly in order to complete both trails which meant the completion of my very first section of the Bruce Trail. Especially since we had a friend's dinner to attend later that evening. It was essential for us to return home with enough time to freshen up and drive over to the dinner, which added a subtle layer of urgency to our excursion.

As we embarked on our journey, I reassured myself that we would have enough time since the first part of the trail was relatively packed down. This made walking significantly easier, allowing us to settle into a comfortable rhythm as we navigated through the scenic path. We had originally been concerned about being cold, as the temperature hovered around -25 degrees celsius. However, true to the nature of the Bruce Trail, we soon encountered a series of steep hills that demanded such physical stamina that we found ourselves quickly on the verge of sweating. No need in worrying about being cold.

Middle of the Hike

We had a little bit of road walking, which, while necessary at times, came with its own set of

challenges and experiences. Every time we had to cut back into the trail, it meant that we were faced with the task of climbing over these massive snowbanks that had accumulated along the edges of the road. Every time we approached one, we would consider whether the packed snow would be able to hold our weight or not. Which of course, several times we sunk so far into the bank that our legs would disappear past our knees and often closer to mid-thigh, creating a comical scenario.

One particular section of our journey involved walking along the road for a short while. I checked the Bruce Trail App at this point in time and could see that we would be cutting back into a more natural setting that still followed the road closely. As we approached this area we found ourselves transitioning back onto the trail, which was accessed through a generous homeowner's property. This section had quite deep snow that wasn't well travelled and also had very steep and frequent hills. As we hiked this section we could literally look to our right and see the road which was 20 feet away. It was a cruel joke to be struggling as we could see an easier path that was taunting us to cheat and take the road instead.

In the middle of our hike, we realized we didn't have enough time to finish both sections. We had to be leaving the trail by 2pm in order to attend the birthday dinner on time. This was quite disheartening because I knew I wouldn't reach my milestone today. However, it was also a blessing, as I understood I wouldn't be able to fully enjoy the hike and the achievement of completing one section. Regardless, of completing both sections on this day I was still one step closer.

Last Stretch of the Trail

The last 3 kilometers of our journey were undoubtedly the most challenging segment of the entire trail. As we trudged along, it became painfully clear that this particular section had not been packed down, and the absence of recent travellers left the snow deep and unyielding. The snow seemed to swallow our feet with every step, making progress feel sluggish and exhausting. The previous stretches of the trail had been relatively manageable, but this final leg was a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of winter hiking. Of course, we made the conscious choice not to bring snowshoes. I know, I know! When will we ever learn from our past experiences? While snowshoes would have provided significant relief and buoyancy over this deep snow, I believe they would have been more of a hindrance over the other 5 kilometers we had already traversed.

As we pressed on, the sight of the road in the distance was both a beacon of hope and a source of frustration. We could see it tantalizingly close yet still so far away. Between us and that road lay vast fields, each one a daunting expanse of untouched snow. We could see the snowdrifts that dotted the landscape loomed ahead, each one a mini-mountain we would have to conquer before we could finally reach the road. We knew what was in store for us and the difficulties that lay ahead.

We were sinking so far into the snow that at one point the drift reached past my knee to my upper thigh. My next step became a monumental effort, as I struggled to lift my back leg high enough to clear the heavy, packed snow. The weight of the snow seemed to conspire against me, sapping my strength and making each movement feel laborious. I barely had enough mobility to bring my foot forward and place it back down in front of me.

In that moment of physical struggle and mental fatigue, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having Jared by my side during this arduous hike. The last stretch of our journey was particularly grueling; I was so exhausted and overwhelmed by the relentless snow that I could hardly muster the energy to continue. Recognizing my plight, Jared took it upon himself to break the trail ahead of me, forging a path through the deep snow that would ease my burden. With each step he took, I found a renewed sense of hope, knowing that I could follow in his footsteps, which significantly lightened my own workload.

As Jared plowed through the snow, I watched him with a mix of admiration and envy, wishing I could summon the same level of determination and strength. At one point, in a moment of exasperation and humour, I asked Jared if it would be easier for us to crawl or even roll the rest of the distance. The thought of abandoning our upright stance for a more primal method of locomotion brought a fleeting smile to my face, even amidst the exhaustion. It was a light-hearted suggestion that reflected the absurdity of our situation, yet it also underscored just how drained I felt at that moment.

Completed

We got back to the car by 1:45 PM, which gave us a mere 15 minutes of extra time to make our departure by 2 PM. Due to the size constraints of my car, the pups simply cannot fit comfortably inside, which means that Jared had to drive my car back to the starting point of our adventure, where the truck was parked. He then needed to switch vehicles and return in the truck to pick us up. Once he arrived, we would all pile into the truck together, and then we would make the journey back to the starting point once again so that I could retrieve my car. It’s quite the logistical challenge, to say the least, and it often feels like a mini expedition just to get back to where we started.

We ended up actually leaving the trail by 2:15 PM, which put us a little behind our intended schedule. This delay meant that we had to hustle if we wanted to make it to dinner on time. The entire process of switching vehicles and coordinating our return always feels like an ordeal, but it’s the only solution for us to hike through sections and cover more ground (instead of out and back).

One of the worst things about winter hiking is that when you finally reach the end of your trek, you find yourself drenched in sweat from the exertion of navigating through the cold, crisp air and challenging terrain. The moment you stop moving, your body begins to cool down rapidly, and that’s when the chilling effects of winter really set in. The sweat that clings to your skin starts to evaporate, pulling heat away from your body and making you feel even colder than you did while you were hiking. This transition from warmth to cold can be quite jarring and uncomfortable, as you realize that the very effort you put into enjoying the hike is now working against you.

Afterwards, as I made my way back to the car, I cranked the heat up to maximum in a desperate attempt to reclaim some warmth during the hour-long drive home. The heater roared to life, blasting hot air into the cabin, but even with the heat on full blast, I still felt a chill that seemed to seep into my bones. I decided to make a quick stop at a local coffee shop, hoping that a hot cup of coffee would do the trick and help me warm up from the inside out. However, despite the warm beverage in my hands, I still couldn’t shake off the cold. It was as if the winter air had wrapped around me and refused to let go. Only after I arrived home and could have a hot shower did I feel the icy grip of winter melt away.

You will be happy to know that despite the chilly aftermath of the hike, we had a full half hour to get ready before needing to leave the house again. The anticipation of a delicious meal and the warmth of the restaurant kept our spirits high as we made our way to the celebration, ensuring we would arrive on time to enjoy the festivities.

We hiked for 3 hours, covering a distance of 7.83 kilometers which all contribute to the main Bruce Trail. Unfortunately, I still have the 0.13 kilometers left to complete before I can officially say I've finished the Caledon Section. This will be the first section (out of 9) of the Bruce Trail that I complete. I'm thrilled to see this small progress and can't wait to celebrate this accomplishment.

Thanks so much for reading,

Kendal