Milestones

Our trusty detailed hiker Valerie calculated that we have hiked a grand total of 416.1 km to date.  At our average speed of about 3.43 km per hour that is 121.31 hours of walking or over 5 straight days (and nights) of walking.  Though our ancestors and early settlers of Canada had to travel long distances like this by foot, it is rare these days that people walk long distances for much. 

When I look at a map I can't quite believe that our legs and our own steam have taken us from Queenston, Niagara to the Blue Mountains.  We have completed 5 sections of the trail and almost half the total trail of 885 km. 

I think we forget sometimes that we should be pretty damn proud of ourselves!

Hike # 23 Muddy Devil

Hike # 23 - 15.5 kms (kms 20.4 to kms 35.9 in the Blue Mountains)

 

After a long hiatus from hiking our quartet took up the trail again today.  The weather was in stark contrast to our last hike along this section where in June it was 30 C and bug infested. Today was a chilly 4C, but thankfully bug less.  We have all decided that we prefer spring and fall hiking.

We did have plans to do many hikes in the past months, but life throws many a curve ball and best laid plans often go awry. There have been both family emergencies and celebrations (since our last hike Valerie became a Grandmother  to a beautiful granddaughter) that have delayed our hiking progress, but we remain determined and excited to continue on and to finish the trail from end to end no matter how long it takes us.

Our hike started out at the Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation area over a smooth, but evidently slippery trail.  I somehow ended up on my backside while taking standing still!  After a brush off and quick check for injuries we were back on our way.  We walked along the high part of the escarpment for a a couple of kilometres leading us to the top of the ski hills at Devil's Glen.  After that point the trail became quite tricky and extremely muddy taking us down the hills and alongside the Mad River.  Each step had to be carefully placed to avoid a boot full of mud and to avoid slipping and falling.  We were happy as we ascended the other side of the ravine that the trail got drier and easier to manoeuvre through.

Coming out at the trail near the last couple km's of our hike we walked along the hilly Concession 10 before reaching our end destination at the Duntroon view side trail.  We reached the parking lot muddy and both tired and invigorated at the same time.

Hopefully we can squeeze in one more hike before the snow flies.  If not, we will be back at it in the spring of 2018.

Just before my graceful fall

Birch lined path

Birches along the ravine

Bits of colour

Looking back toward the ski hills where we had hiked from

View from the top

Mud and clay that covered a good portion of the trail

A deep crevace

Last few km's along the hilly road

   

Hike # 22 - Mosquito Trail

Hike # 22 - 20.7 kms (kms 56.0 to 56.3in Dufferin Hi-lands; kms 0.0 to 20.4 in Blue Mountains)

A warm day for a hike to be sure- hitting close to 30 C.  We set out early, but due to traffic going east on a Monday morning we got a late start on our hike hitting the trail a bit past 10:00 am.  Though it was a hot day, thankfully there was a nice breeze along the higher points of the trail.   

Once again the trail took us through several different types of terrain.  There was a lot of walking through very narrow paths of high grass that went well above our waists.  I walked with my arms in the air through concerned about the possibility of ticks (luckily, no ticks were found hitch hiking on us).  We also traversed through dense (and cooling) deciduous forests where tall maple and beech towered over us.   As the day progressed and it got hotter and hotter we were all dreaming about coming upon a stream of cool running water to dip in to.  Unfortunately we passed by one early in the hike that we did not take advantage of.

We ate our lunch by a body of water, but it looked a bit too murky and weedy to temp us to jump in.  The frogs along the bank seemed happy with it though :).  Other woodland creatures observed on the trail were a deer, raccoon, garter snake, toad(s), wild turkeys, turkey vultures, many butterflies and dragonflies along with the birds of the forest.

Our last 3 km of hiking, when we were tired and ready for the finish, was our fastest pace of the day as we were hastened along the path by swarms by mosquitoes in the dense and swampy areas of Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation area.  Bursting through to the parking lot at the end - away from the incessant buzzing  and into an air conditioned car was a very welcome relief.

Our next adventure on the trail will not take place until July where we will do our first overnight hike.  Stay tuned!

Starting out for the day

Deep crevasse

By the pond in my very fashionable hat.. :)

Open meadows

Nancy heading down to check out the water

Observing the frogs

Ribbet

Nice looking fungi

Happy Hikers

Majestic Oak

Should have jumped in while we had the opportunity

Trail through the trees

Looking over the high-lands

Beautiful green vista

Another view

and another..

Hike # 21: The Running of the Bulls (or should that be The Running of the Hikers?)

Hike # 21 - May 16, 2017 -Dufferin Hi-Lands Map 20 & 21- 18.3 km (kms 37.7to 56.0)

Bad weather kept us from completing this hike on the intended date of May 7th so we were happy to have a good weather day to get back on the trail and put some more km on our hiking boots.  Once again Nancy was able to join us making us a quartet.

The day was rather overcast, but we only had a few spatters of rain here and there.  Thankfully the bugs were not out in great numbers as yet although there were a few black flies to annoy us now and again.  Valerie tested out her bug hat (it works!).  I am sure we will be needing the nets and bug spray even more by our next planned hike on May 28th.

This part of the trail took us down some "unassumed roads" that had very deep ruts and washed out areas which we assumed were caused by the heavy rains in early May.  For the most part, however, the trail was dry with only a few muddy sections to get through.

The Trillums are now in bloom and are beautiful sight in the forest bed.   The trees are starting to leaf out, and in the next few weeks the forest will look very different as the canopy fills in completely.

Always aware (but not overly concerned) that there are creatures inhabiting the forest which we do not see, but find traces of (i.e. coyote poop), we were not worried about a few cattle grazing in the hills on part of a field we had to cross though.  The cows, calves and one huge bull were very "interested" in our little group, coming toward us quickly making quite a bit of noise bleating, mooing and snorting.  We hastened our pace to get up and over the stile and away from the bull that did not seem too happy about us being there. We all breathed a sigh of relief to be on the other side of the fence.  I still maintain that it was Karen's orange shirt that attracted the bulls attention :).

Karen, Valerie and Nancy

The requisite "selifie"

Our route for the day

Climbing up the hill, cows in the distance

Relieved to be on the other side of the fence

View from the hill

Trilliums on the forest bed

Beautiful perfect Trillium

We saw fewer of these wine coloured Trilliums

Hiking along the river bank

Looking way up at the tall maples leafing out

Along the trail

Unfurling ferns 

Waterfall at the site of an old mill

Field of yellow flowers
 (we thought they were dandelions, but I think they must be something else)

Hike # 20 - On the Trail Again

Hike # 20 - April 23, 2017 -Dufferin Hi-Lands Map 20 - 13.7 km (kms 24 to 37.7)

What a perfect day to begin our hiking for 2017.  Absolutely glorious weather to accompany our happy hiker smiles as we once again hit the trail towards our goal of finishing the 885 km Bruce Trail from Niagara to Tobermory.

We were accompanied this time by Valerie's friend Nancy who is a fellow clarinet player in the Oakville Wind Orchestra.  (If you haven't been to one of their concerts you should !).  She was a great addition to our hiking trio.

Our hike took us through quite a range of landscapes from the leaf covered ground of dense old hardwood forests, through open meadows, alongside the Pine River, and over some rocky outcrops and caves which are the spine of the escarpment. 

Being back on our hikes is a wonderful feeling, grounding and connecting us mother nature and the planet earth we live on.  I am so glad that we are on this physically challenging, mentally soothing and spiritually uplifting adventure together!

Back on the trail !

Sun through the trees

Gorgeous views

Karen with a background of hardwood forest

Valerie and Nancy - happy hikers

Blue Eyed Grass

Blue skies 

As usual I am the last in line !

Rocky outcrops

Exploring the (bear) caves

Coyote poop?  Looks like deer fur in there.

The old Christ Church and Pioneer Cemetery

Mourning Cloak

Pine River

A sea of trees

Up up we go

Pine River

Pine river fishing pond

Four Happy Hikers

Your Rocky Spine

I was lost in the lakes

And the shapes that your body makes

That your body makes

That your body makes, that your body makes

And the mountains said I will find you here

They whispered the snow and the leaves in my ear

I traced my finger along your trails

And your body was the map, I was lost in it

Falling over your rocky spine

The glaciers made you and now you're mine

Falling over your rocky spine

The glaciers made you and now you're mine

I was moving across your frozen veneer

The sky was dark but you were clear

Could you feel my footsteps?

And would you shatter, would you shatter? Would you?

With your soft fingers between my claws

Like purity against resolve

I could tell then there we were formed from the clay

And came from the rocks for the earth to display

They told me to be careful up there

Where the wind rose up there, in this rage through your hair

They told me to be careful up there

Where the wind rages through your hair

~ Great Lake Swimmers