Hike # 9: Up Up We Go

Hike 9: August 23, 2015 -  20.7 km from Waterdown to Mount Nemo

Since we began our hikes in Queenston, we have been steadily climbing. According to the diagram posted at the Mount Nemo lookout we have climbed 295 m in total and 85 m of that was done today with our ascent to the top of Mount Nemo. I know it is not Everest, but it was still a good stretch of the legs and a beautiful view!

The trail was a relatively easy one for much of this route. We had long distances of wide, mostly flat terrain -sometimes wide enough for two - punctuated by the narrow rock studded trails we have become used to.  We walked through areas of tall grasses which had me thinking about ticks, and there were also patches of poison ivy along the way (maybe shorts are not the most brilliant idea for hiking?). 

We also walked a good distance along the road with some beautiful residential properties to view (No 1. Side road and Walkers Line). As we walked along we could see Mount Nemo looming large and impressive ahead of us. The climb up and around it was the last few kilometres of our 20 k walk so we had to summon up a little extra energy to push on. Only Valerie seemed energetic which we concluded was because she had coconut water and pineapple juice to drink at lunch.

At the top of Mount Nemo there were plenty of people enjoying the trails and the scenic views. It is a beautiful spot and especially lovely in the autumn. We are lucky to be able to enjoy this area of protected natural beauty. Not too many years ago the life of this area was hanging in the balance as a quarry expansion had been proposed which would have forever changed the face of the land here and made homeless many animals and birds*.

One of my favourite artists, Sarah Harmer, wrote a song about the saving the escarpment, and she was actively involved in the fight against the quarry development in this area. I am happy to say they won this particular fight, but I am sure it won't be the last.

Escarpment Blues

If they blow a hole in my backyard
Everyone is gonna run away
The creeks won't flow to the Great Lake below
Will the water in the wells still be ok?

We'll need to build some new apartments
And I know we're gonna have to fix the roads
But if we blow a hole in the escarpment
The wild ones won't have anywhere to go

If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs cross the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand

We'll keep driving on the Blind Line
If we don't know where we want to go
Even knowledge that's sound can get watered down
Truth can get sucked out the car window

We're two-thirds water
What do we really need?
But sun, showers, soil and seed
We're two-thirds water
The aquifers provide
Deep down in the rock
There's a pearl inside

If they blow a hole in the backbone
The one that runs across the muscles of the land
We might get a load of stone for the road
But I don't know how much longer we can stand

~ Sarah Harmer

* The escarpment is home to 300 bird species, 53 mammals, 36 reptiles and amphibians.

Note: pic's taken with my iPhone.  I think I will try to carry my camera from now on1

Cool orange fungus on the tree

Cheeky hiker

Cool spooky tree

Looking out from the top of Mount Nemo

Valerie at the final climb to the top

Gorgeous vista

Turkey vultures

View of the farms

Hike # 8: Hooray for a Friday Hike

Hike 8:  July 24, 2015 -16 km from Woodleys Lane to Smokey Hollow 

(Great Falls), Waterdown

Hooray to being off on Fridays as with Karen's flexible schedule and Valerie's recent retirement we are free to hike on Fridays where possible.  Sometimes it won't be, but this week it worked out. 

Selfie time

Another gorgeous summer morning with blue skies and no humidity, and without a whisper of a breeze.  We started our hike where we left off on Woodleys Lane next to the Dundas Valley Golf and Country Club.

Sadly a re-route of the trail to keep people away from Spencer Creek Gorge and Webster's Falls (why why why?) led us instead through part of Dundas.  Pretty as it was we were sad to miss out on the opportunity to see and perhaps walk behind the falls.  Along the way through Dundas we scoped our possible retirement cottages (every time we are in a pretty place I say "I could live  here") and we came upon a lovely old church  St. Augustines erected in 1863.

St. Augustine's

Once out of the town the trail quickly took us up up up the escarpment with stunning views from the top of Hamilton and Dundas.

Every time we walk we are in awe of the natural beauty and tranquillity that surrounds us.  Lush deciduous forests that canopy the trail we feel like we are in the land of hobbits and elves, or perhaps Robinhood will pop out from behind a tree. 

Old farmhouse ruin

The rail

Red soil banks

At the top of Borer's Falls

The home of hobbits

Grindstone Creek

Great Falls (Waterdown)

The walks are meditative and relaxing.  The stresses of the week melt away with each step.  We have a relaxed rhythm now after quite a few hikes together.  There are periods of chatter and catching up with long periods of comfortable silence.  At the end of each hike we excitedly plan when we can do the next one. 

We are addicted.

It is good.

Hike #7: On The Trail Again

Hike 7:  July 19, 2015 - 15 km from Scenic Drive to Woodley Lane, Dundas

Forgive us for it has been weeks since our last hike.  We had forced hiatus due to conflicting schedules.  Anxious to be hitting the trail again after so long we went out today despite the heat and threat of thunderstorms (the latter of which has just arrived as I write this).  The heat did arrive  early in the day, but was not quite as humid as yesterday ,and there was a welcome breeze now and again.  Still, we were glistening with perspiration before we even started and my face was the colour of a tomato the entire hike.  Lots of water and a more moderate hiking pace were required to manage the heat.

Two brave souls joined us for the hike - Denise (Karen's sister) and Wendy (a neighbour).  Thankfully with the heat to endure, the terrain was not as difficult as previous hikes with some long stretches of wide smooth paths which enabled the 5 of us to walk side by side at some points.   The trail was a mixture of shaded forest and open meadow and was moderately hilly. Babbling streams and some waterfalls (Sherman's Falls - sorry no picture) were a welcome sight for cooling off.  

At the 10 km mark we reached the Dundas Valley Trail Centre where we stopped for lunch (and a civilized pee).  It was nice to sit down and cool off for a bit, but we still had another 5 km to go!

It was a great hike but we were happy to reach the end and into the air conditioned car.  A quick dip in Karen's pool after we arrived back was wonderful.

I did not take many pictures as I did not have my own camera because it is heavy and I did not want it around my neck in the heat.  I am not too familiar with the camera I was using and some pictures I thought I took (the falls for instance) were obviously taken with the power off - oops!

Another hike is planned for this Friday. We will try for 20 km weather permitting.

Hike # 6: Devil's Punch Bowl

Hike 6:  June 13, 2015 - 21 km from Devil's Punch Bowl to Scenic Drive, Hamilton

From the lookout at Devil's Punchbowl as we start out at 7:50 am

This was our last hike before a 3 week hiatus due to schedule conflicts.  The day started out overcast and very humid, clearing around noon.  This was not our greatest distance covered, but it seemed long and arduous.  The terrain was rocky - much of it like walking on a creek bed - and slippery from the weeks rain.   I am not sure if it was the humidity, lack of sleep, the stressful week leading up to the hike, or not enough fuel but,  my legs felt leaden the entire hike, and for the first time since we started I was very happy when we reached our end point.  In spite of the hike being hard, I am sad that it will be a month before we are out again.

During this hike we went up and down the escarpment many times.  One trip up the escarpment was up the Wentworth Stairs.  Wonderful views of the City of Hamilton could be seen along the way.  The hike was a little more urban than our last few, often by busy roadsides and always with the sound of the highway in the distance.  Hamilton is known for it's many waterfalls and we passed several on our hike.  I was very impressed by the network of bike / walking paths the city has to offer that we connected with along the way.

At the bottom of the Wentworth Steps.

View of Hamilton

Another view point

Red Berries (unidentified)

Common Yarrow

Hike 5: Start of the Iroquoia

Hike 5: Iroquoia Section: June 6, 2015 - 19.4 km from Grimsby to Devil's Punch Bowl, Stoney Creek.

Happy to be out on the trail again this time on a pristine clear and sunny day with perfect temperatures for hiking.

On the trail again June 6, 2015

As we set out on the trail again we were ear to ear smiles.  The entrance where we started went past some beautiful homes at the bottom of the escarpment (can I live there?).  The trail quickly turned up a steep incline warming us up thoroughly within the first 10 minutes of hiking.  We walked along the edge of the escarpment for a while and there were many spectacular views to take in along the way.

up up we go

Out of the woods for a while we walked for a couple of km along the road flanked both sides with some lovely farm houses.  Here we were fortunate enough to see a deer bounding quickly away from us over the fields, and we also visited with three lovely horses.   A walk along the road allows for a quick pace and we are able to take in the scenery around us in sharp contrast to the narrow trails where we need to look down almost all the time so that we don't trip over rock or root.

Deer in the field

Karen the horse whisperer

The trail meandered through a carpet of green and Karen said she felt like she was in Sherwood Forest.  While we never did meet up with Robin Hood we did meet plenty of other hikers along the way.   I love every minute we spend on the trail.  All worries and stresses of the week melt away one step at a time.  I can hardly wait till hiking day arrives again.

Dame's Rocket

"Sherwood Forest"

Meandering through a carpet of green

Purple Petal Wild Raspberry