Niagara #5 -Ball's Falls 55.0 km to Mountainview Conservation Area 70.6 km, Jan. 19, 2017

 We started the hike at the Ball's Falls Conservation Area 

and hiked to the parking lot on Mountainview Road

The weather was overcast and about 4C.

 Today's hikers; John N; Fran; Mike; Annette; Eric; John G;

 Christine; Steve our leader; Ron; Stefan and Case the photog.

  Ball's Falls, two thirds the height of Niagara Falls, was spectacular

a lot of water due to rain and mild weather causing the snow to melt.

Of course this mild weather caused very muddy conditions on the trail

 View from Victoria Avenue north towards Lake Ontario 

unfortunately the misty weather did not enhance the outlook.

 Our resident Botanist had declared these Oyster Mushrooms.
The botanist has since backtracked. It was not an example of a rare pink 
Pleurotus ostreatus ( the Oyster mushroom), but simply a pink-spored look alike -  
Phyllotopsis nidulans (the Mock Oyster mushroom). 

 We looked down at several vineyards throughout the hike.

 We start a long hike up the escarpment.

 We are still climbing ......

 It reminded me of 'The Little Engine That Could'

all that huffing and puffing ....

 Finally, the crest is in sight !

 A well deserved water break.

 The Trail was generally very muddy as you can see as John skids
 around the tree in high gear.

 He then wisely shifts into low gear to maneuver the tricky terrain.

 Stefan inspects a natural hole in the escarpment crest.

 A blown down tree causes a natural hazard on the trail.

We pass a Winery and walk out to Mountainveiw Road

 and the cars.

Niagara #4 -Swayze Falls 40.5 km to Ball's Falls 55.0 km. Jan. 12, 2017

 We parked at the lot on Roland Road and hiked in to the bridge at Swayze Falls, 
40.5 km on the Bruce Trail, and hiked to the Ball's Falls Conservation Area.

 Today's hikers: Steve our leader; Eric; Christine; Fran, our new hiker; 

Annette; Mike; Ron; Stefan and Case the blogger.

  The Trail ran along along the brow of the escarpment where 

we encountered  a stile.

  The Trail crosses a creek, the first of many.

 The Bruce Trail volunteers have been by lately, 

no doubt anticipating the 'seniors' from Oakville.

 Due to the melting snow the creeks were higher than normal 

resulting in some tricky crossings.

The Trail follows the Sixteen Mile Creek up stream. The creek is
 running quite deep and our prayer for a bridge is eventually answered.

The colour of the creek is made quite interesting by the thick layer
 of ice beneath the water.

 An other creek .....

  an other uphill ......

  which inevitably leads to another downhill .....

 which inevitably leads to another creek crossing.

 The Trail passes by an unharvested field of turnips?

  A Trail-side Shrine to the Guardian Angel of End-to-Enders.

 It started to rain early afternoon and created an eerie atmosphere in the forest.

 Twenty Mile Creek below Ball's.

The Trail rises steeply via several sets of stairs to the 

Ball's Falls conservation Area and our cars.