Hike Leaders

Joe Silva (Son):

Specialties: Outdoor adventure, forests and salamanders.

Joe is a nature fanatic. Whether it’s trail running, canoeing or hiking, he’s out of doors at every oppurtunity. The Niagara Escarpment is a place in Southern Ontario where Joe can connect with nature, and he beleives hiking is the best way do to so. Joe hopes to pursue a career in nature conservation/ecology so he can help protect the natural environments in Canada and tout their benefits to the public. He is an avid day hiker, having complted a wide range of hikes across 8 of the 9 Bruce Trail Clubs along the escarpment. All weather, all the time; not much can stop this enthusiatic hiker.

Joe enjoys camping in the backcountry and long runs in the forest.

Dave Silva (Dad):

Specialties: Photogrpahy, route planning and backcountry camping.

Dave is a late comer to the outdoors. It wasn’t until recently that his love-affair with nature began. Dave is now an avid hiker, and enjoys the simpler things that nature has to offer. His pace may be slower, but he always finishes what is started and has fun doing it. He aprreciates the rejuvinating qualities of nature and how it grounds him to the grander scheme of things. Dave has an apprecication for all of Ontario’s unique natural environments and realizes their importance to the health of the province and its people.

Dave enjoys paddling in Northern Ontario and trail mix.

Ron Plinte

Specialties: tree ID, forest landscape ecology, and indicators of forest sustainability.
Ron is fortunate to have had life experiences with forests from all across Ontario’s vast boreal forests, to Siberia, to Estonia. He previously developed hike programs with Friends of Red Hill Valley, and for years now has been Hike Program Leader, in the forests of Muskoka, at an adult, cultural, ”Forest University” summer camp. He finds the rocky and dry habitats of Muskoka to have similarities with those along the Giant’s Rib.
Ron very much appreciates the priceless value of the natural Niagara Escarpment corridor, as a relatively intact ecosystem, providing a conduit of natural flows through the surrounding disturbed landscapes. This backbone of our protected areas network across Southern Ontario requires protection from further threats of development, that would further fragment this precious natural legacy.
In recent years he has taken special interest in the eradication of invasive forest species, for the conservation of our native forest biodiversity. Ron also has a passion for gardening and local farms, as a means of regional self-sufficiency, cycling as sustainable transportation, and all things Estonian.

Mark Finstad

Mark has lived both below and on top of the escarpment. If he did not have to earn a living he would choose to spend all his waking hours in the great outdoors. He has a degree in Forestry from Lakehead University and has his own small tree plantation. Hiking the Dundas Valley and surrounding escarpment lands is a treasure Mark is more than willing to share with others. There is a saying that “one cannot see the forest for the trees”. Mark tends to see both the forest and the trees, and the insects, animals, birds, rocks, moss, flowers, …

Billi Krochuk

Specialties: Mammals and Birds

Billi has had a passion for wildlife her entire life. This passion has brought her across North America and also overseas to South Africa where she worked on a wildlife reserve. Understanding the interactions animals have with their environment and other species within it spikes her curiosity. Living along and exploring the Niagara Escarpment for the majority of her life has helped her become an avid birdwatcher and mammal-enthusiast, as it is one of the most biodiverse areas in Canada.
Billi enjoys being in the deepest wilderness canoeing or kayaking, hiking or camping, as well as traveling inside and outside of North America. She is very interested in Aboriginal cultures as well.

Aaron Almas

As a recently retired teacher, I have taken my students (Pleasant Valley P.S.) through the Dundas Valley Trails, doing stream studies, Cross-Country Running Team races, hiking, plant identification and looking at landforms. I enjoy hiking and I’m presently walking the Bruce Trail as part of my (so called) “bucket list”.

I cycle, hike and Cross Country-ski throughout the area. I realize the wonderful skills of the other members of the Giant’s Rib organization and I only hope to improve my skills while sharing this outdoor experience in the company of others who have similar interest