Beaver Valley Km 27.9 to Km 42.1 - 23 April, 2015

Hikers: Case, Helgy and Steve

Leader:  Karen 

Section and Distance:  Beaver Valley Km 27.9 to Km 42.1

Weather:  Cold and Cloudy with a wind chill factor - a few flurries

Actual Distance hiked:  14.65


When we got up this morning there was about a 1/2 inch of snow on the ground and it was still snowing lightly.  We got dressed and went down to breakfast.  Diana had prepared a good breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, sausage, yogurt and fruit compote, orange juice and coffee.

Although Diana had some objections, Mel joined us for breakfast.  Diana spent some time complaining about past guests.   Guess she wanted to make sure we did not do any of those things.

Leaving the B&B

After breakfast, Mel drove with us to the end of our hike where we dropped of our car and he then dropped us all off at the beginning of the hike.

Starting the Hike

We crossed 10th line and crossed fields before turning left.  We then hugged the steep valley wall of Mill Creek south and crossed a bridge before taking switchbacks to the top of the valley. 

We then headed south and entered the Pinnacle Rock Nature Reserve, a 130 acre farm donated to the BTC in 2013 by the Richardson family.  This section of the Niagara Escarpment  includes provincially endangered butternuts, bobolinks, a wetland, a waterfall and the impressive Pinnacle Rock itself.

Pinnacle Rock

Pennacle Rock

We then headed west and climbed to the base of Pinnacle Rock, a large piece of rock that has separated from the edge of the Escarpment.  At the top we turned right to follow the Escarpment.  To the right we passed the spectacular Duncan Crevice Caves.

We continued along to 9th Sideroad and turned left.  At the village of Duncan we turned right and followed the Towline Rd and Fox Ridge Rd to the 3rd Line. This road walk was very cold and windy and we all agreed it had not been our favourite part of the hike.   We then turned left and followed the road allowance south up the Escarpment until it arced to the right off the road allowance.  Soon afterwards we stopped for lunch.  We then descended across a scree slope.

Lunch

Lunch

 We followed the base of the Escarpment before ascending to the top through a spectacular natural pass.  Along the top we skirted McCluskey's Rock and descended a wide east/west valley before turning south.

We then joined Sideroad 7B and followed it south to the parking lot of the Old Baldy Conservation Area.

After the hike we drove a place Steve thought might be available to us when we are hiking in the area.  We all agreed it was beautiful place.

We drove to Meaford to Tim Horton's and then drove back to the B&B.

After cleaning up, we went back to the Leaky Canoe for dinner.  After dinner we went back to the B&B, watched a bit of TV and retired early for the night.  The weather looked more promising for tomorrow.  The forecast was for cold temperatures and sunshine.