Niagara Km 0.0 to Km 15.2 - 15 April, 2015

Hikers: Helgy, Christine and Case

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Niagara Km 0.0 to Km 15.2 

Weather:  Sunny and mild

Actual Distance hiked:  16.72 Km

This is the first hike back for Christine since her accident last fall.   It is also a make up hike for Case.

Starting the hike

After positioning the cars we started the hike at the southern terminus cairn at the eastern end of  Queenston Heights Park, which is situated on top of a bluff that marks the shore of Lake Iroquois, the forerunner of Lake Ontario.  The floor of Lake Iroquois, called the Iroquois Plain, extends about 11 km northward and is the area where the glacial ice and melt water dropped loads of gravel, sand and clay as the glaciers melted.  Today orchards and vineyards thrive on these glacial soils.


We followed the first blaze westward along a row of trees and entered deep woods along the brow of the escarpment on the edge of a quarry.

We then descended steeply to reach the railway bed of the former New York Central Railway and followed the railway bed south.


We left the railway bed at the intersection of Niagara Townline Rd and Four Mile Creek Rd and passed under Highway 405 and then climbed a 500 metre hill before turning right into the bush along a well-defined pathway.  We continued to Dorchester Rd where we had parked Christine's car at Fireman's Park.  Christine decided that the 7 kms was enough for her first time back and volunteered to drive  her car to Taylor Road and Woodend Conservation area while Karen and Case continued on.  Helgy stayed with Christine to keep her company.

Case starting his march to Tobermory

Brock monument

Will Flowers - Blood Root

Christine leads the way

We followed the railroad for a short distance and then went down a steep hill, across a small creek and looped around the ravine coming back to the railroad.  We then reached the pedestrian bridge across the QEW.  This bridge was built with the co-operation of the Ministry of Transportation and Canadian National Railway and was jointly funded by the Province of Ontario, the Region of Niagara and Bruce Trail donors.  We continued along the railroad to a concrete underpass known locally as "Screaming Tunnel" before reaching Warmer Road.

Question Mark Butterfly

Coltsfoot

Snake sunning on a log

Pedestrian Bridge

Screaming Tunnel

When we reached Warmer Road we followed the road for 1.4 km before turning right into the woods.  We continued alongside a vineyard and turned right at the gravel road leading into Woodend Conservation Area.  We descended the Escarpment and then returned to the top circling the Woodend houses and then headed west.  We continued hiking alongside the multi-layered rock formation and the large block of dolostone that has broken away from the escarpment.

We continued through the bush until we reached the parking lot on Taylor Road where Christine and Helgy were waiting for us.

A couple who were starting their end to end got to the parking lot the same time as we did.  They discovered that they had left the key of their car in the car parked at the beginning of the hike.   One of them came with us to pick up their car when we  picked up our other car.

We stopped at Tim Horton's and then drove home.

Welcome back Christine.

Beaver Valley Km 0 to Km 13.3 - 7 April, 2015

 Hikers: Case, Helgy and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Beaver Valley Km 0 to Km 13.3

Weather:  Sun and Cloud and relatively mild with some wind

Actual Distance hiked: 14.3 Km

Starting the hike

 After positioning the cars, we started the hike at the end of Maple Lane.   We dropped below the Escarpment for a short distance before returning to the top.  We soon arrived above the Craigleith Ski Club.  We continued parallel to an access road and headed right into a deep valley.

After crossing a stream,, we climbed steeply back to a ridge with beautiful views to the north.  We continued west before descending into a deep valley and then climbed into the Loree Forest.  In 2007 this park was renamed the Len Gertler Memorial Loree Forest.  We continued on with views of the Nottawasaga Bay from the top of the Georgian Peaks Ski Club.  It was here that we had elevensies.

Elevensies

Elevensies

We continued southward to 21st Side Road.  We crossed the road and headed southward to the 18th Side Road along a road allowance.  It was here that we encountered knee deep snow which was very tiring.  Richard, Steve and Karen took turns breaking trail.

We turned right and followed the side road.  We turned left and continued through a hardwood bush and fields and entered a wooded area beside Indian Brook.

We continued along the north ridge of a ravine past a small flowerpot created by the waves of an ancient glacial lake.

Flowerpot

We then dropped into a ravine to reach the 6th Line road allowance, where we had parked our car.

We picked up the first car, stopped of at Tim Horton's and drove home.

Iroquoia Km 14.0 to Km 23.2 - 31 March, 2015

 Hikers: Case, Helgy and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Iroquoia Km 14.0 to Km 23.2
Weather:  Cloudy and Mild

Actual Distance hiked: 10.69

This hike is a makeup for Case.  Karen forgot to put the chip in her camera so pictures are limited.

After positioning the cars we started the hike at the Jones Access Road Trail.  We climbed sharply to the main trail and turned right. We hiked beside the subdivisions constructed on the raised beach of old Lake Iroquois which is locally called "The Tablelands".  We continued past parking areas at DeWitt Road and Millen Road.  We continued along the slope of the Escarpment above more housing developments and woodland.  We then ascended steps and crossed over New Mountain Road on a railway bridge.  We continued through the bush above the railway line to the Devil's Punch Bowl.

Devil's Punch Bowl

We continued above the railway tracks and crossed over Stoney Creek and continued west through a wooded area above the railway line.  We then crossed Battlefield Creek and continued westward on the railway tracks under the Centennial Parkway overpass.

We then veered southwest and reach an abandoned railway.  We hiked uphill to the municipal playing field and waterworks into another wooded area paralleling the east end of Greenhill Avenue.

We then gradually climbed to the top of Escarpment and followed the brow west to enter the mature woodland of Felker's Falls Conservation Area.  We circled around an old quarry and returns to the brow.  After reaching a gorge we turned left and followed the Escarpment rim and crossed the creek above Felker's Falls on a steel bridge to the parking lot where we had parked the car.

Felker's Falls

 We picked up the second car, stopped at Tim Horton's and went home

Iroquoia Km 2.1 to Km 14.0 - 2 April, 2015

 Hikers: Case, Helgy and Steve

Leader:  Karen

Section and Distance:  Iroquoia Km 2.1 to Km 14.0

Weather:  Sunny with some clouds and Warm.  A few sprinkles at the end

Actual Distance hiked:12.56 km

Starting the hike

This hike is another make up hike for Case.  After this hike Case will have completed the Iroquoia Section.

After positioning the cars, we started the hike at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area.

We spent some time talking to the individuals who were watching the migration of the hawks.  They told us that they had already counted 52 bald eagles.  They explained why the area was a favourite migration route for the hawks.

We then headed south on Querry Rd and turned right at Ridge Road and proceeded westward to Woolverton Road.  We followed Woolverton Road for  400 m and then turned left into the Woolverton Conservation Area.  We travelled along the brow of the Escarpment with spectacular views for 1.6 km before beginning a long and gradual descent.  We continued along the slope below the Escarpment for 1.8 km.

 We continued below the edge of the Escarpment and followed an undeveloped hydro right-of-way through a predominantly hardwood forest.  We then passed over rough and rugged terrain before dropping below the brow of the Escarpment and took the Jones Access Trail back to the car.

At elevensies Case discovered he had left his camera behind when he took of his jacket.  We decided that we finished the hike we would drive back to Woolverton Road which was closer to were the camera had been left.  Case and Steve retraced their steps and found the camera after 1 km which increased their hike to almost 15 kms.

 We then picked up the other car, stopped at Tim Horton's and went home