May 12, 2023, Hike #58: km 126.6 to km 140.7 Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)
May 13, 2023 Hike #59: km 140.7 to km 146.5 Peninsula Section (Ed. 28)
We had heard that we were in for a challenge with our first hike of the weekend, so after much
consideration and some advice from other hikers, we made the decision to hike the
section of trail from Crane Lake to Halfway Log Dump in “reverse”. We started at Halfway Log Dump and ended at Crane Lake.
The road in to Crane Lake parking was more flooded than it was last autumn,
and we were thankful we didn’t have to wade through it this time around.
Along the trail we found evidence of bears in the area including a tree that had
some bear fur stuck to it. Sadly, for
Karen, (but not the rest of us) we did not see a bear. We did get a good look at a rattlesnake not
far off the trail. It gave a warning
rattle but otherwise (thankfully) did not move from its spot as we passed by on
the trail.
The trail took us along the edge of the escarpment for much of the way with many scenic lookouts
and rocky beaches. We passed through one
of the most popular areas of the trail – The Grotto. Through early in the season, it was fairly with
many people out enjoying the beautiful weather.
The water looked very tempting for a dip, but Georgian Bay is cold even
in August.
The views
of the bay are so spectacular that there are no words to describe it. The water is turquoise and from high up the
white stone beaches look like white sand.
When you get down to those rocky beaches it is hard to walk along them –
you must take every step carefully otherwise there is a fair risk of turning an
ankle. This is when good boots and
hiking poles demonstrate their worth. The Bruce Trail Reference describes this section of the trail as one of the most challenging of the entire Bruce Trail. Although the trail was challenging, we all agreed that we had hiked much more difficult sections. Or perhaps we are just more able hikers than we give ourselves credit for?
Our days were spent hiking and our evenings spent catching up on each others lives, sipping wine and playing cards and laughing. Bliss. We ended the weekend happily worn out, relaxed and already looking forward to our next planned hiking weekend.
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| Friday May 12, 2023 Starting out from Halfway Log Dump towards Crane Lake |
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| Valerie and Karen enjoying the view |
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| Nancy enjoying the view |
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| Looking out at an outcrop and turquoise water |
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| Another spectacular view |
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| Karen checking out the marshy water |
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| Massasauga Rattlesnake |
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| a trail of logs |
Happy to see the Trilliums were in bloom
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| Saturday May 13, 2023 at the start of day 2 |
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| Just spectacular |
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| rocky beach "trail" |
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| Karen is never afraid to look right over the edge |
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| Sublime |
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| me and Valerie |
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| picking our way across the rocky beach trail |
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| top of the world |
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| Cyprus Lake |
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