I Hate Winter:

  Sample Chapter

• snowshoe
• hike
• cross-country ski
• see a sulphur spring that never freezes
• feed fish and birds
• roam through a wildlife sanctuary

• Christmas in the Country: 2nd weekend of December

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE
No matter how cold it gets, the sulphur spring at Headquarters Conservation Area never freezes. Rather, the colder the temperature, the more it steams with vapor on its course through frosted white forest.

Don showshoes--available on-site--and follow the blue blazed trees to its source: a three-metre-deep, pungent smelling hole. The crystal clear, upwelling flow, which remains 9 degrees Celcius year-round, supplies water to the park's three ponds, that too never freeze.

The 20-minute-long trail first runs past a Wildlife Sanctuary with a viewing barn of pheasants and fowl, and a fenced field of deer and swans. Onwards, it leads alongside the stream, among snow-laden cedars, dogwoods and other lowland trees where several bridges let you gaze into the water. Blue and purple mineral formations protrude like stalagmites from the creek bed. Green plant life waves along the banks.
 
 

A total of 4 km of trails loop through the park. For cross-country skiers, a trackset trail leads to hilly forest in the furthest reaches. A large pond at the entrance is home to hundreds of waterfowl. Adjacent to it, two smaller ponds are stocked with rainbow trout, many an arm's length in size. Used to being fed by visitors, the fish will gather expectantly at your feet.

GUIDE NOTES
Location: From Hwy 9 at Clifford, turn north on County Rd 10 and continue 6 km north of Neustadt and follow signs.
Open: Daily
Cost: $2 per person, payable in an Honor Box.
Facilities: The Wilderness Shop, on-site, run by the Friends of the Saugeen, open wknds 1 to 4:30pm, rents snowshoes and sells food for the fish and bird feeding. Heated outhouses, gift shop.
Rentals: Snowshoes $4 adults, $2 children.
Events: Christmas in the Country is an activity-filled family event that draws thousands of visitors.
Tips: Bring your toboggan and ride the thrilling hills of Allan Park Conservation Area, 10 km away. Allen also offers extensive, trackset cross-country ski trails. From Headquarters, turn left and proceed to the first stop sign. Turn left, drive two concessions and turn right on Concession 2, a gravel road, and continue 2 km.
Tourism Info: Grey-Bruce Tourism,
tel: (800)265-3127 or (519)371-2071, 
email: gbta@osicom.net  
web: www.visitontario.com
More Info: Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, 
tel: (519)364-1255, 
fax: (519)364-6990, 
email: svca@bmts.com  
web: www.svca.on.ca