Caledon Km 61.6 to Km 72.3 - 27 April, 2016

We started this section at Hockley Road and completed it at 
Mono Centre Road, the end of the Caledon Hills section.

The weather was sunny and about 10C. Great for hiking !

 Today's hikers; Annette, Sefan; Helgy; Karen our leader; Anita; Steve; Christine; Andy; Eric and Case.

 From Hockley Road the Trail climbs to enter the Hockley Vally Nature Reserve.

 The Trail climbs to a hiker's rest bench with outstanding views of the valley
we them entered a hardwood forest

 "Anyone see any white blazes ?"

 Evidence of the last ice storm

 "I don't think we will get it started, see, there's a loose wire over there."

 The Trail crosses a tributary of the Nottawasaga River by a series of three bridges.

Oakville Pathfinders think bridges are for wimps ! 

The Trail climbs steeply on a switchback to the ridge. 

 "Elevensies"

Dutchman Breeches

The Trail follows Dunby Road and we turn left on to Third Line EHS 

The Trail turns left off the 3rd Line and climbs a steep and rocky path to the top of the escarpment. 

Trout Lily (Dogtooth Violet)

Must be a 'Hobbit ' staircase 

 The Trail descends through crevices and via steep steps to the 3rd Line.

We follow the Third Line back to the cars. 

Caledon Km 18.3 to Km 33.8 - 21 April, 2016

We hiked this section from north-east to south-west from the intersection of  Finnerty Sideroad and 
Innes Lake Road km 33.8 to the intersection of Willoughby Road and Escarpment Sideroad km 18.3.

The weather about 10C and cloudy with sunny intervals.

 Today's hikers; John N; Christine; Helgy; Karen our leader; Stefan; Eric; Mike; Anita; 

Annette; John G; Andy; Steve and Case.

 The hike starts out off road but soon we are road walking along  Finnerty Sideroad.

 At the corner of Airport Road we walk in to check out the Wat Lao Buddist Temple.

Andy took some pictures and some others just wanted their pictures taken.

We then hiked 1.8 km south on Airport Road. 

 We turn west onto Escarpment Sideroad and after crossing Mountainview Road 

we turn south into a hardwood forest. We could see the forest floor greening up for Spring.

Look, more wild flowers .......

 After about 1 km we crossed Escarpment Sideroad and climbed a stile into the forest on the North side.

 We passed an interesting cabin in the middle of the woods. 

Andy said he thought he heard "Dueling Banjos" off in the distance. 

 Steve suggested "If I can get this baby started we can cut down all the road walking."

We don't get it started so we descend down the slope of the Paris Morraine. 

 We turn south on to St. Andrew's Road and after 500m 

we turn west into a pine forest where we stop for lunch.

 Eventually we come back out on to Escarpment Sideroad and head west.

 Andy captured a great picture of a red winged black bird sitting in the reeds in a roadside pond.

 Looking down Kennedy Road. Port Credit and Lake Ontario are down there somewhere.

At Kennedy Road we leave the road and hike to the top of a grassy knoll 

with a wide vista to the north and west.

 Do we have to dodge the cars on Hwy #10? ......................... Oh thank, goodness a tunnel !

 "Hey, guys, what's so interesting?"

Now Andy thinks he hears 'Candle in the Wind'

 "He looks just like Steve Kelly !"

 We turn left off Escarpment Sideroad and climb gradually up the escarpment and 

the steeply down to the site of an old farmstead. Only the old windmill remains.

Back to the cars with a stop off at the Coffee Bean on Hwy 10 for coffee and a bite.

Caledon Km 46.6 to Km 61.6 - 19 April, 2016

This section starts at km 46.6, a parking area on Mono 5 Sideroad. We finish at km 61.6, a parking area on Hockley Road.

Fantastic hiking weather, sunny, cool wind  and temp at about 4C.

 Today's hikers; Steve; Anita; Karen our leader, Eric; Christine; Andy and Case.

 We set off through a pine plantation.

 "Okay, which one of you did this ?"

 Apparently this area was devastated by a tornado in 1985.

 Lovely to see the first wildflowers.

 View from the Hockley Valley Resort.

 Case and Andy take a wrong turn and discover the elusive Hockley Valley Glazier.

We were going to attempt to climb to the summit when we realized the others 

may be looking for us and we reluctantly turned back.

 The area in black was a recent grass fire.

Back to the cars after a fantastic 15 k hike !