Iroquoia Km 0 to Km 2.1 = 30 March, 2015

 Hikers: Case, Karen and Steve

Leader:  John G

Section and Distance:  Iroquoia Km 0 to Km 2.1
Weather:  Cloudy and Coldish

Actual Distance hiked: 8 km

This hike is a makeup for Case in conjunction with the Monday 8:30 drop in hike

We started the hike at the beach and followed the Forty Mile Creek Side Trail to the main trail.

From the bridge we hiked along Gibson Street for 50 m and then turned left and climbed steadily to the top of the Escarpment.

First Spring Flowers

From the top we turned right and followed the Escarpment brow north to several lookout points at Grimsby Point Bluff.

We turned away from the brow and entered the open area of Beamer Memorial Conservation Area.  This area is known for observing the hawk migration in the spring.  There were people using the observation tower.

From here we took the Grimsby Point Side Trail to the Beamers Falls Side Trail to Beamers Falls.  After observing the falls we made our way back to the beach to our cars.

Beamers Falls

Beamers Falls

Beamers Falls

Beamers Falls

Going Down

Going Down

Iroquoia Km 23.2 to Km 34.1 - 24 March, 2015

Hikers: Case and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Iroquoia Km 23.2 to Km 34.1
Weather:  Sunny and Coldish

Actual Distance hiked: 12.15 km

This hike is a makeup hike for Case, who joined the group shortly after the New Year.

After positioning the cars, we started the hike at the Concession Street.  The parking lot was closed due to construction so we parked our car in a church parking lot.

We took the Sam Lawrence Side Trail to the trail and turned left at the Jolly Cut and continued through the woods to the Sherman Access.  We descended the Wentworth Street steps, to the Escarpment Rail Trail.

From the Escarpment Rail Trail we continued across the slope of an old ski hill through the woods.   We continued up the Escarpment through a mature woodlot above Red Hill Creek and the King's Forest Golf Course to a large clearing. We crossed a concrete bridge over the creek and continued straight along the Red Hill Creek.

After a series of turns we came to an asphalt path, the Red Hill Valley Trail.  On the left was the eastern terminus of the Mountain Brow Side Trail.   We followed the now closed Mount Albion Road uphill and passed under the viaduct for the Red Hill Valley Parkway.

We entered a more open area and then hiked the multi-use East Mountain Trail Loop along the Escarpment Brow before emerging into the Conservation Area.

Felkers Falls

We spent some time admiring the Felker's Falls, drove back to Concession Street to pick up the car, stopped at Tim Horton's and when home.

Toronto Km 21.3 to Km 30.9 - 17 March, 2015

Hikers: Helgy, Case, Anne and Steve

Leader:   Karen

Section and Distance:  Toronto Km 21.3 to Km 30.9

Weather:  Sun and cloud, cold and windy

Actual Distance hiked: 11.69

Starting the hike

After positioning the cars we started the hike in Limehouse.  We crossed the road over the railroad tracks and turned left onto Kirkpatrick Lane.  We followed Kirkpatrick Lane around a corner to the right to the intersection of the Fifth Line.  

We turned left and after 75 metres we left the road to the right.  We climbed a cliff on the right and hugged a field edge and passed through a young forest before climbing the side of a large drumlin.  We followed a series of field edges to rejoin Fifth Line.

We then turned right and followed Fifth Line north for 900 metres and then turned into the bush.  We then crossed a creek and after skirting the edge of some cultivated fields we crossed a swamp on a boardwalk before reaching Sixth Line.

Elevensies - Service with a Smile

We turned left along the Sixth Line to Highway 7and turned right and followed the road for 700 metres.  We then turned left into the bush passing through sections of wet and dry land before crossing Trafalgar Road.  We followed a 250 metre board walk to the high ground of the Scotsdale Farm. 

We continued through a mature woods where tall graceful trees form a high canopy overhead.  We crossed a bridge and headed into a pasture.  We continued through a series of fields, woodlots and wet areas before reach the Maureen Smith Side Trail, which we took to the parking lot at the Scotsdale Farm where we had parked the car.

We picked up the second car, drove to Tim Horton's and went home.