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.