Iroquoia #2 Lewis Road 11.1 km, to Felker's Falls 23.2 km, Feb 16, 3017

Today we hiked from the Lewis Road Access Trail to Felker's Falls

The weather was sunny and -5 C, perfect for hiking.

Today's hikers; Ron; Anita; Fran; John; Christine; Carol; Ann our leader; 
Mike; Sefan and Case the photog.

 We climb from the parking area on Lewis Road 

to the Bruce Trail midway up the Escarpment.

 Most of today's hike was below the brow of the Escarpment.

 We had to maneuver several  tricky ups and downs, 

icers were a necessity. 

 At lunch break someone spotted a Great Horned Owl

 Steps up the railway embankment where we cross 

New Mountain Road on the railway bridge.

 We descend into the Stoney Creek valley at the Devil's Punch Bowl.

 We cross Stoney Creek again.

 Finally we climb to the top of the Escarpment 

and I get a picture of Hamilton below.

Felker's Falls.

Iroquoia #1 Grimsby 0.0 km to Lewis Road 11.1 km, Feb 09, 3017

We hiked this section from West to East to have the wind in our back while road 

walking. The weather was abt. -5C and somewhat cloudy.

 Today's hikers; Case the photog; Stefan; Bill; Carol; Christine; Steve our leader 
and Mike. A large Persian cat checked us out, Steve wanted to call him Bob.

 We hike the Lewis Road Access Trail, 480 m, 

a steep climb halfway  up the escarpment to the Bruce Trail.

  

We follow the Trail through a predominately hardwood forest towards Fifty Road.

 Another climb to the top of the escatpment.

 View from the escarprment north to Lake Ontario

 The Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, perfect spot for lunch.

The tower is used to observe the Hawk migration into Ontario in the spring.

 The Town of Grimsby from the Escarpmeny.

 A long descent to the bottom of the Escapement.

 We follow the Forty Mile Creek down the Trail.

The Trail comes off the Escarpment in the Town of Grimsby

My picture of Stefan on the bridge across Forty Mile Creek..

The creek is the boundry between the Niagara and Iroquoia Sections.

Iroquoia #5 Artaban Rd Parking Lot 46.7 km to Sydenham Rd Lookout 59.7, Feb. 2, 2017

We started our hike at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area parking lot 
on Artaban Rd. and hiked to the Sydenham Rd Lookout.

 Today's hikers; Case; John N; Marian; John G; Mike; Fran; 

Annette; Eric; Steve, our leader; Christine and Stefan.

The weather was excellent for hiking, snow on the ground,
 mostly sunny, -5C and some wind in the open areas. 

 February 2nd seems a bit early in the season to see a groundhog nevertheless

He seemed intent on looking for something?

 The Trail passes The Hermitage, a large private home built about 1855.
 It was completely burned out in 1934. The DVCA has recently completed a 
stabilization and renovation project on what remains of the stone structure.

 We stop for a bathroom break at the Dundas Valley Trail Centre. 

A restored Railway Station.

 We attract some company at our lunch break

 Did someone inadvertently activate their Personal Locator Beacon?

 Dundas Golf and Country Club

 Road walking up Sydenham Road and across the railway track.

 Yes Marian, if you want to get to the car you will have to climb to the top. 

 Frozen falls

On our walk to the cars we got a taste of February weather 

as the wind was blowing snow across the road.