Iroquoia - Crawford Lake (111.9 km) to Appleby Line/Hwy #401 (122 km) - May 5, 2022.

 Our Hiking with Friends group was back on the trails this past week and excited to explore the newly reopened section around the Kelso Conservation Area...a hike that would also mean another completed section (Iroquoia) for three of our members! The actual main trail distance clocked in around 10 km but parking logistics utilizing Hilton Falls and Crawford Lake, and the subsequently required access trail portion, resulted in a total hike distance of 13 km on a beautiful spring day.

Overlooking the route from the air, with our starting point on the left at Crawford Lake, and the finish at the top centre at Hilton Falls. The hike lasted 3 hours and 50 minutes and we climbed 260 metres so not terribly challenging in that respect. We had our cameras working overtime and there are a lot of great pictures to recap our journey, so sit back and relax and enjoy the ride!

Some of the group has arrived at Crawford Lake and morning pleasantries are exchanged in the traditional "hiker circle"...

A special welcome to our guest hiker, Alex from Michigan, who joined us for this outing...

And here we are finally all assembled...our largest turn out in a while with 15 hikers in total including Frances, Catherine, Sandra (Sweep), Ron J, Arpi, Ron B (contributing photographer), Doug (contributing photographer), Steve (Leader), Brian, Muris (contributing photographer), Alex (guest AND contributing photographer), Marleen (poser), Annette, Alex K, and myself...pretty proud of my "selfie" skills here...captured them all smiling and looking at the camera!

A nice, easy paved pathway starts us off as we pass by the reconstructed longhouses (2 of what were originally 5 on the site) where an estimated 250 people lived back in the 1400's. A reminder of the sacred land that we are so privileged to enjoy.

The pavement eventually gives way to the earthen footing we are more accustomed to...we are using a couple of side trails from here to access the main trail further on...this one is the Crawford Lake Side Trail.

Our little "train" of hikers moves along, the weather is perfect and the conversation down the line is lively...we have a great morning ahead of us...

We slide onto the "Canyon Bypass" where traffic is moving well...we will be crossing Nassagaweya Canyon and re-connecting with the main trail.

Firstly, there is the descent of course...our steepest of the day...

A quick water break (it's getting quite warm actually) and then we enter a beautiful cedar forest...you can see a white blaze here as we just touch a short portion of the main trail before branching off onto the Leech Porter Side Trail...

Our leader holds court over his faithful followers...perhaps he is discussing our pending trip up to the peninsula next week...

Our resident botanist, Ron J, makes a discovery...when I told my wife later that we saw "wild Ginger" on the trail, she questioned what type of hiker she was...

We cross over Limestone Creek at the bottom of the canyon and our (first- spoiler alert) bridge picture of the day!..

We begin the inevitable ascent out of the canyon...one of those "tree root" staircases...

Back on level ground...

...and everyone is finding their stride...

              I "noticed" something missing on this damaged sign...

You may also notice that we are back on the main trail...white blazes from here on in...

The forest is starting to adopt its green floor...the trees will not be far behind...

I was very impressed with the trail conditions...pretty much ideal...

A short rest stop and a chance for some to doff their outerwear...

Shortly thereafter, we pop out onto Appleby Line and head northwest up to the Kelso Conservation Area...Marleen urges her friends forward...

Just up the road, we spot the requisite blazes and turn right into the woods...

An info board draws a crowd and a chance to see what lies ahead..

Marleen poses for the camera...perhaps her glee is a result of having found a washroom at just the right time?..

    

                                Others watch with bemusement..

                           And...back to the business of hiking...

A small pond on distant (private) land...and a just emerging trillium!..

     Our first views of Milton and beyond are revealed through some trees...

                  Ron J gives a short field lecture for an engaged group...

       We reach one of the main look out areas and it's perfect timing for an elevensie's break...

We lingered here for quite a bit...such a gorgeous day...and spending it together makes it so much more special...

          So nice out that the Toronto skyline is clearly visible from 40 km?            away...

Brian prefers the view at the next lookout northward over Kelso Lake...

Some of the gang gather for a group shot...I got "up" for this photo...

It was hard to not be mesmerized by the view...

A few strides later and we ventured out onto the ledge overlooking the Glen Eden Ski Area...this is a very interesting location...clearly visible from the 401 from where I had seen it many times...now I would be standing on it!..

I have to say that this landscape is one of the coolest I've experienced on the B.T...such an imposing rock formation with a great vista...so here are some more pics!..

We were finally "talked off the ledge" and started our push for the finish line down below...

Marleen uses her pretend bicycle to try out one of the mountain bike ramps...

A couple of switchbacks lead us down the escarpment...

...and past an old kiln...

We reach the base of the ski hill...now closed for the season...and make our way up to the pedestrian bridge across the rail line...

Wave for the camera guy!..

Hey...why not a second bridge picture?..I warned you...

Are we on the right or wrong side of the tracks now?..for hikers, it's all good!

We pass by Kelso Lake at eye level now...

Brian's curiosity takes him down a slope to investigate an inscription on a tree stump...

We spill out back onto Appleby Line and the final road stretch for the day...

On our right is "Kelso Lavender", a new family-owned farm business opened in 2018 with about 16,000 lavender plants growing within the family's home property. Coincidentally, lavender is the main ingredient in a newly developed, Canadian made (Nova Scotia) anti-tick spray I recently discovered called "Atlantik" (available on line or at your local Pet Smart store)...proven by the science lab at Dalhousie to be 97% effective...apparently ticks do not enjoy this smell nearly as much as humans...

We have reached our dropped cars at Hilton Falls and we are done!..well, other than celebrating the completion of the Iroquois Section by Doug, Ron B, and myself...

We are afforded the customary honour guard by our compatriots...

But lastly, and most importantly, we pay homage and say farewell to our good friend, and amazing fellow hiker, Arpi...she is relocating up to Collingwood and will not be part of our regular group on a week to week basis...we do hope to see her next month in the Bruce Peninsula where she is planning to complete the Trail!..stay tuned for that celebration!..

I hope you enjoyed today's blog and we'll see you next week with a special back to back to back edition from up near Wiarton...until then, happy trails everyone!

The End

O