On Saturday September 20th the Great Canadian Hike was officially underway.  I decided to start off easy.  A relatively short hike on relatively easy terrain.

I invited our team to join me at Mill Pond Conservation Area.  A local conservation area, part of the RVCA with a series of interconnected trails.  It ended up being perfect weather for our first hike of the endeavour.  I made a quick stop at Top Shelf Distillers and picked up lunch prepared by our on-staff chef Julian to pack in with me.  Mill Pond has a covered picnic space near the parking lot where I could enjoy my lunch.

I hiked a 5.2km route, sticking to the perimeter of the area to make the longest path possible without retracing my steps.  It was a beautiful, quiet fall day.  The leaves are just starting to change making for a spectacular mix of green and gold with splashes of vibrant red.  There were still a few wildflowers on trail as well.  

I got great views of the ponds and stopped briefly to watch a woodpecker working away noisily for its lunch.  I only passed a few other trail users including another member of the Top Shelf team.  

The conservation area trails are well maintained and marked, making for an easy user experience.  The picnic area, heritage log buildings, and outhouses are also welcomed features.  

It was a great experience to kick off the Great Canadian Hike.  I look forward to many more.

To join or support our team please see: https://www.greatcanadianhike.ca/fundraisers/TopShelfDistillers