A chevron may be aquired by hikers once they have completed the appropriate segment of the trail.
The design of this series of chevrons is meant to emphasize the unity of our Grand Valley Trail system. The initial ideas for the colour scheme came from two existing badges: 1) the oval Grand Valley Trail 's "overall" badge and 2) the oval Grand Loop badge (not shown here). The Towpath chevron appeared first and two years later the GVTA Board, under Bill McDonald, asked Cathy Johnstone to manage the project of completing four chevrons for the present trail system. Cathy asked Bill Haartman to design the series and with much help from her and Jan Hember this has now been accomplished.
Special thanks to these people who suggested the names of the four trail segments:
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Section Summary - For a complete summary of the four trail divisions (where they begin and end, distances and so on) ► click here
TOWPATH - "A chevron is a heraldic device" says the Webster's dictionary. Therefore the colours and patterns used here have a meaning. The anchor refers to the Grand River navigation canal that was created here in the 1830's. It rapidly became the early " highway 401" of transportation for the settlers. Subsistence farming changed to cash crops. A gold rim reflects the wealth created. The block lettering hints at the canalized river. Blue and white are the colours of the GVTA which you will also find in others chevrons of this series. [For a history of the trail and the Grand River watershed see Take-A-Hike along the Grand Valley Trail.]
CAROLINIAN CREST - The most northern Carolinian trees can be found in Brant County. The Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is one of those and known as the "mitten" tree for one of its mitten-like leaves. The Sassafrass, a very valuable tree, is a source for the production of root beer using its roots, tea and fragrances from its leaves and twigs, good lumber from its trunk and medicine from its bark. The green rim on the chevron represents the forest association known as Carolinian and the gold edge represents the great value of the Carolinian forest to this region. The rounded blue letters on white, points at a natural river.
BLACK WALNUT - The pioneers followed the "Trail of the Black Walnut", a tree clearly standing out in the fall when leaves have been dropped and its fruit is clearly exposed . It indicated a deep, rich, moisture-holding soil, light enough to be easily penetrated by its taproot and hence easily tilled by the would-be farmer. The trunks of such trees have good lumber. It became the source of the well-known furniture industry of the region. A complex, rich conurbation arose here in this Waterloo region. A silhouette of the black walnut tree, gold rim and the standard blue and white grace this chevron.
PINNACLE - Headwaters area of the Grand River basin [watershed map]. Here water gathers in basins and through small, sometimes intermittent flowing streams gathers eventually in remarkable Lake Belwood. Remarkable because it was the first dam built in Canada solely for the purpose of conservation and it was built during World War II when most money was needed for the military [dam photo 1 | dam photo 2]. The connected letters simulate drainage . Some letters are "filled" to suggest ponding. All leads to the lake. The dam is in gold with a central spillway. Environmental green for the badge edging is used on this chevron.
... chevron design and description by Bill Haartman
End-to-End BadgeThis oval badge may be acquired after hiking the whole Grand Valley Trail. > |
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Log Required
Keep a log (record) for each hike. State the date and where you hiked from (location or km) and hiked to (location or km) for each hike. For your convenience you may download one of four Logs and an order form - see below.
Logs and Order Form for Download (PDF)
Cost
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Payment(s) Cheque(s) only (no cash) payable to Grand Valley Trails Association.
Send Orders To Grand Valley Trails Association |
Group Orders
If a group of people is hiking the GVT and several members of that group wish to order chevrons and/or the badge, GVTA would appreciate one person (hike leader) ordering for everyone in the group. GVTA would process the order and send all chevrons/badges to the person placing the order.
GVTA Crest (New) |
GVTA Hike Leader Chevron |
The new GVTA crest is stitched and measures 3" as shown here. Crests cost $5.00 each (new price). You may use one of two forms to order a crest(s).Use the Membership and Crest Order Form (PDF).  |
The new (2007) chevron is issued to those members who successfully complete the GVTA hike leader training. This is regulated through the GVTA Hike Coordinator. See the Hiking Program, Hike Rating System and Hike Leader Training web page for details.  |
Updated 2007 OCTOBER 04
