Beaver Valley #1: Maple Lane (km 0) to Parking on 6th Line (S of km 13.3). April 27th, 2017

Weather was unseasonably warm, however a strong wind kept things pleasant and the bugs at bay!

Hikers:Andy, Bill, Steve Our Leader, Stefan and behind the camera Richard (recording Secretary)

Back in 2007 this was my first Pathfinders E to E hike with my late great hike mentors Dick Moyse and Eldon Spurrell.

We start at the north end of Blue Mountain's ski runs and are soon over to the Craigleith Ski Club lifts.

Once past Craigleith and into Alpine ski club territory we encounter a series of steep valleys and stream crossings.

Climbing to a lookout over Georgian Bay its one more valley

to the deck kindly provided by Georgian Peaks Ski Club.

Elevensies!

Georgian Bay from Georgian Peaks deck.

A last vestige of winter thanks to modern snowmaking.

After some walking in the forest its up and down and cross a stream again!

At the top of this hill we find more left over snow, this time courtesy of Mother Nature and drifts over a NE facing slope.

A walk in the spring woods, the greenest green are the wild leeks.

Another waterfall?

Flowerpot.

 One last bridge.

Andy and sweep Stefan cross the last bridge.

Cars were found and another night in the fleshpots of Collingwood ensued.

Beaver Valley 8: 3rd Line and SR 25 (km 98.7) to Blantyre (km 113.8) April 26th, 2017

Weather was warm with a welcome breeze.

Today's hikers: Andy, Fran, Stefan (the ideal room-mate) and Phantom Leader Richard (still working on his Selfie skills!)

A little road walking brought us to Webwood Falls.

Another infamous Beaver Valley stile

Into the woods we go!

Not sure about this one Ron, note little yellow flowers. Ron has come through:

The image is now clear enough to identify the plant as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum). A version without purple petals has the same common name, but is Caulophyllum thalictroides. Later on, when the leaves die down in the fall, the old tall flower stock is adorned with blue berries that stand out against a bed of dead tree leaves. Pretty but mildly poisonous (contains saponins and alkaloids)

Beaver Valley may have many stiles but this is complemented by the provision of benches at the scenic lookouts. We use this one for "Elevensies".

Fran tries to hide in a crevice.

Stefan and Andy emerge from the crevice.

County Rd 7 looking north toward Meaford.

Looks like a good spot for lunch.

Next time we cross a road we should find the car!

This water fall emerges from the escarpment wall.

Trout lilies in all their Spring glory.

Anthea's Falls? named in memory of Anthea East daughter of Dr Tom East one of the founders of  the Bruce Trail.

We found the cars OK and made it to our Collingwood hotel without incident to join up with the other Pathfinders there.

Beaver Valley #7 - Side Rd 3A 85.3 km to 25 Side Rd & 3rd Line 98.7 km - April 28, 2017

We hiked this section from north to south.

  The small arrow denotes where Bill and Case started. 

Bill needed this 1.3 km to complete his Beaver Valley Section. 

( Case was penalized 1.3 km for spilling his wine at dinner)

 Webwood Falls and an old mill site.

 Today's hikers; Steve, our leader; Case our photographer; Bill; Annemarie; 

Stefan; Annette; Fran; Richard. co-leader; Eric and Andy.

 We strike out on a long downhill slope along the 3rd Line road allowance.

It had rained quite a bit last night and we encountered a lot of mud.

 Congrats to Bill for completing Beaver Valley at this point.

 After the parade cleared away we had lunch at the John Muir Epping 

Lookout, although the sun had broken out the wind was quite cool.

 Beaver Pond Lookout

 While trying to get this Egret in my viewfinder he flew up.

 Looking East across the Beaver Valley