Dufferin Hi-Land Section Km 56 to 56.3 and Blue Mountain - km 0 to km 16.3 - 4 November, 2014

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

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Dufferin Hi-Land Section Km 56 to 56.3 and
                                     Blue Mountain - km 0 to km16.3

Weather: Cloudy  and cool with a bit of drizzle

Actual Distance hiked:  17.33 km

Starting the hike

We positioned the cars and started hiking at the  Lavender Cemetery and completed the last 300 metres of Dufferin before starting the Blue Mountain Section at Lavender Hill Rd and Mulmer-Nottawasaga Townline.  A short distance later we turned right onto a gravel road.  After 1.4 kms we entered the Noisy River Nature Reserve.  Over the next two kms we moved in and out of the woods and crossed pasture land to reach the Escarpment edge and a scenic lookout.

We proceeded past several deep crevices and lookouts before descending the Escarpment.  We turned right and crossed the junction of Concession 10 and the Garden of Eden Road.  We then headed northwest though an old apple orchard into a mature forest.   After crossing the Noisy River, where we had elevensies, we climbed out of the valley to Simcoe Rd 9.  We turned right and followed the road for 650 m and then turned left at Concession 10 and continued 2.7 kms to 6/7 Sideroad, which we followed for 700 metres before turning right into a field.  It started to drizzle a bit while we we were on the road.  We gradually climbed along a fence line and a row of maples.

Elevensies

We crossed Concession 10, entered a mixed forest and followed the brow of the Escarpment to the 9/10 Sideroad.

We turned right and headed north to several rocky crevices.  Passing through a forest and field we turned left to follow a laneway along a fence line to Concession 10.  We turned right and hiked another .6 km to the car. It had started to drizzle a bit again by this time.

We retrieved the other car, stopped off at Tim Hortons and drove home.