Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 41.7 to km 56.3 - 30 October, 2014

Hikers: Bob, Christine, Helgy, Anne G. and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 41.7 to km 56.3.

Weather: Cold and cloudy  with a few rays of sunshine

Actual Distance hiked:  14.9 km

 After leaving the centre and positioning the cars, we started the hike at Lavender Cemetery Circa 1880 to 1st Line East, a farmer's dirt road that ended in a path and came out at 30th Side Road.  The trail crossed the road and into the bush.  We passed over a stream that seemed to pass through an old bridge and then over some very flat rocks before tumbling down the hill.  We came out again onto 1st Line East.  We then turned right through some fields and emerged onto Country Road 21 near Black Bank.

Elevensies

We went down a steep slope and crossed the Black Bank Creek Bridge and then went up a very slippery steep incline with lots of rocks on the trail.  We emerged at Centre Road. crossed the road and proceeded up some switch backs, through some pine bush, past a meadow and up a rocky steep incline before coming to Prince of Wales Drive.   We turned right and about 600 metres up the road we entered some farmland.  When we reached the top we were rewarded with great panoramic views. We turned left and found ourselves in a field with several cattle.  We entered more fields, and some deep bush, were we had our lunch.  After lunch we continued through the bush to a box containing a book asking for feedback.  Richard did the honours for the group.  We ended at 20th Side Road.

A one km walk to the car ended our hike.  This completes most of the Dufferin Hi-Land section, our second.  We still have the few hundred metres of road walking from the Cemetery to Levender Hill Road, which we will complete next week when we start the Blue Mountain section.

We retrieved the other car, stopped at Tim Horton's for coffee and then drove home.

Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 29.4 to km 41.7 - 28 October, 2014

Hikers: Bob, Christine, Helgy, Anne G. and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 29.4 to km 41.7.

Weather: Warm, Cloudy with some sunshine and rain for the last 1/2 km

Actual Distance hiked:  13.7 km

After leaving the centre and positioning the cars we started the hike at km 29.4

Starting the hike

We turned right along 1st line E and then entered a wet forest with cedar and alder, strewn with moss-covered rocks and ferns.  After crossing three small boardwalks, we passed many crevices and caves as we hiked to the top of the escarpment.   We then passed through a mature hardwood bush and then headed west through a pine plantation before turning left onto Centre Road at Whitfield.  The trail turned down a long ravine until we met River Road at Kilgore.  Proceeding up River Rd, past the old Kilgore SS #15 school, we came to a bridge where we turned left into the bush. 

We soon passed the remains of the Dufferin Light and Power generating station, where we had our elevensies, which included Ann's homemade cookies.  We hiked along the pine needle covered trail, which paralleled the river bank.  We crossed River Road and went up a steep hill to the Pine River Fishing Pond.  We continued uphill until we reached Bell Lookout Side Trail which we climbed.  There we saw a plaque dedicated to Grace and Grant Bell, who where founding members of the Dufferin Highland Bruce Trail Club as well as spectacular views of the area.

ruins of the Dufferin Light and Power generating station

The trail then exited the bush on 15th Side Road and turned left on Prince of Wales Road.  A few hundred metres up the road we turned left and climbed through some fields and mature forest and over several streams.  We then climbed a stile to exit the woods back onto Prince of Wales Road and proceeded over a couple of hills on Prince of Wales Road to the car.

We retrieved the other car, stopped at Tim Horton's for coffee and then drove home.

Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 15.2 to 29.4 - 23 October, 2014

Hikers: Andy, Christine, Helgy and Steve

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Dufferin Hi-Land Section - km 15.2 to 29.4.

Weather: Cool  and sunny - perfect hiking weather

Actual Distance hiked:  15.59 km

After positioning the cars, we started at the parking lot on 1st Line EHS near 10th side road and made our way back to Hurontario Street, where we had parked the first car.

The hike had many steep hills  and ravines, as we wound our way through hardwood forests and meadows. 

Next we hiked through the Boyne Valley Provincial Park passing the babbling Boyne River on several occasions.   The park also included several hills and ravines.

The fall colours were still visible despite the rain and wind earlier in the week.

We lunched atop Murphy's Pinnacle, a sand and gravel kame created by glaciers 12,000 years ago.  We could see the wind turbines and colourful forests in the distance.

 After lunch we descended a steep hill before climbing our way back to the car.

We drove back to the first car and headed to Tim Hortons for coffee and headed home.

A great hiking day.