My Dad grew up in Montreal but attended university in Tennessee where he joined his school’s Outdoor Club in 1981. Forty years later I've become a part of my school’s outdoor club, UTOC, and during winter reading I led my first trip up to the cabin.
It was a joint trip between UTOC and the Wilderness Medicine Society, and that Friday we left Toronto with five cars and lots of excitement. Upon arriving at the cabin, I lit the wood stove as people helped bring in food coolers and boil water from the stream. A large bag of perogies was cooking on the stove, and a nice smell filled the cabin.
Folks were shy at first when we went in a circle introducing ourselves, but in no time the room filled with chatter. Before bed I baked a dessert recipe from my dad with apples and pancake mix, and it reminded me that in all that time not much had changed.
As I stoked the fire the next morning people started in on breakfast. A kitchen crew formed and promptly started grilling sausages and cracking eggs. Later we hit the hiking trail behind the cabin and enjoyed a lookout point on top of Metcalfe Rock.
Lunch passed quietly, and around 2pm we tidied up the kitchen and drove into Thornbury towards the lakeshore. Everybody wanted to see the spectacle when a few of us stripped down and waded into the icy water. Surprisingly, several other people stepped up and clambered into the shallow water to join us. All told, 8 people had joined in the lake swim, and for that I judged it a big success.
That night everyone was content to hang around and trade stories. We made an Indian curry for dinner, and some selfless volunteers attacked the dishes under lamplight. The grand finale of the night was a crackling bonfire under the stars with a few toasted marshmallows to boot.
The Wilderness Medicine Society made a big Sunday breakfast with French Toast, and there was much celebrating at the return of two UTOCers who had spent the night in a snow Quinzhee outside. Some folks planned to drive to Blue Mountain for skiing and sledding, and about 8 UTOCers decided to tag along.
At the mountain we found a skating path along the Niagara Escarpment curved through the trees for 1 kilometer. It had a nice view of the ski resort, and once the clouds parted, we could see down to Lake Huron.
In the afternoon our group unlaced and drove back to the cabin, arriving to see that kind UTOCers had already cleaned up the cabin and done every last dish. On the ride home we felt triumphant about having enjoyed the trip to its fullest, and my experience as a trip leader couldn’t have been better.
UTOC cabin trips are highlights of my time at U of T, and it’s something I can share with my dad who ran his own trips back in the olden days. Before too long I’ll be back at the cabin, playing Kroinole and tending to the fire.