HIKE LEADERS - View hike leaders biographies!

Sticky Moose (AKA Mary Barker) (Hike )
A lover of hiking, games, and adventure but with absolutely no “techie” ability, Mary Barker a.k.a Sticky Moose has managed to conquer (sort of) the GPS and has embraced the game of Geocaching. With over 30 years of Girl Guide leadership behind her, she has found a whole new outlet for her creative imagination, outdoor skills and sense of adventure. Sticky Moose and fellow “Cacher of WGS” (Wilberforce and Greater Surroundings) invite you to explore the eastern side of Haliburton County… the Geocaching Capital of Canada.

Michael Bainbridge (Hike )
Michael Bainbridge is a lifelong mineral collector, avid outdoorsman, and professional photographer. He has spent the last three years exploring the mineral collecting sites of Haliburton County and is currently working with Trails and Tours to develop a guidebook to these sites. Michael has sold self-collected specimens to the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa and is also working with them to photograph the specimens for their new mineral gallery.

Jim Blake (Hike )
Jim works as a facilitator, consultant, educator and storyteller. He is a part-time faculty member at Sir Sandford Fleming College, Haliburton for the School of the Arts. He also serves as Coordinator for the Arts Council of the Haliburton Highlands and the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. Jim is all about the highlands!

Mark & Sandra Bramham (Hike )
Mark and Sandra are retired educators with a passion for the land. The minerals located on their property, Greenmantle Farm, were discovered by chance and continue to be discovered as nature cares to reveal her secrets, with the falling of trees in storms, and with the work of rainwater after heavy rainfalls or snowmelts in the spring. The "Gems Beneath Our Boots" are truly a wonder to behold. They now operate Green Mantle Farms which offers mineral ecotours on their property.

Margaret & Peter Brogden (Hike )
Margaret grew up with a family (3 older brothers) that hiked from an early age in the U.K. and continued with friends through school and college. When she moved away from home to teach she looked for people to hike with and met Peter on her first rock climb. Most of their family holidays have included hiking and they are glad to say both sons are still enthusiastic. Haliburton's opportunities for hiking, X-C skiing and snowshoeing were among the main reasons they retired here. Peter has spent many years climbing mountains and exploring Haliburton’s backcountry on skiis, snowshoes, and ordinary boots. He is always very pleased to share his experiences with fellow hikers. Margaret and Peter have had the good fortune to be able to enjoy many hiking experiences together over nearly fifty years and are very pleased to have received the 2008 Enviro-Hero Award from the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. The basis for this award was their enthusiasm for trail creation and their encouragement of others to participate. They look forward to joining with other hikers during the Hiking Festival.

Robbie Demmans (Hike )
Robbie, originally from Leamington, Ontario, in the last year decided to make his home in the Haliburton Highlands after graduating from the Eco Tourism & Adventure Tourism Management Program at Sir Sandford Fleming College, Haliburton. He is an outdoor ed facilitator at the Haliburton Forest and enjoys sharing his passion for mountain biking and the outdoors.

John Etches (Hike )
With over 20 years of experience as geologist and educator, John brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his programs. His work experience at the Leslie Frost Centre and his love of the outdoors has prepared him well to be a hike leader. This year John is doing four hikes…yikes!!

Larry Hewitt (Hike )
Larry was born and raised in the Haliburton Highlands and is the owner/operator of Hawk River Construction. He is a life-long outdoorsman, a founding member of the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails, and past president of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association. Larry continues to volunteer at the Hatchery and is actively involved in their Lake Trout Project.

Jessie & Don Pflug (Hike )
Jessie and Don moved permanently to the Highlands from Mississauga in 1986 after six years as cottagers. They lived in a 150 year old log house in Pine Springs on Kushog Lake and then purchased “Stouffer Mill” from Elgin Stouffer in 1989. After five years, they decided that this beautiful property should be shared with others, so they opened Stouffer Mill Bed & Breakfast and have received guests from all over the world. Stouffer Mill has been operating as a B&B for 12 years and one of its popular attractions, in addition to Jessie’s breakfasts, is its unbelievable trail system.

Nevada (Roy) Truchan (Hike )
Roy’s artistic career spans forty-five years, beginning as a multi-disciplined Designer and Creative Director in Toronto at advertising production houses and agencies. It was here that his interest in artless art forms began to take shape. This transformation came full circle when he and his family moved permanently to the Haliburton Bioregion. Photo Art inspired by the spiritual beauty of nature has become his quest as well as the desire to share his experiences with other people through organised PhotoHunts in and around the Haliburton Bioregion. Roy will be showcasing some of his collection of beautiful pictures at the Family Blast Off BBQ.

Don Wright (Hike )
Don Wright has led and enjoyed the company of various groups over the past 37 years on this lovely natural environment, which he calls "home". With some background in geography and geology, Don will offer his interpretations and share his love of this unique and beautiful environment.