Iroquoia - Guelph Line (83.5 km) to Grindstone Falls (72.4 km) - July 18th, 2019

We had a large group (13 hikers) for the 11.1 km hike under cloudy skies.

After crossing a field we entered a forested region that despite the Leader's comments had a number of significant hills requiring a clothing adjustment early in the hike..

Ron found a sample of interesting "slime"

After exiting the forest we crossed fields with very tall grass!

Fisher Pond

Ron finds some more interesting fungi.

We re-enter the forest.

But soon exit to more fields.

A final stile as we enter Waterdown.

Eric demonstrates his amazing flexibility and plays a gnome in the tree.

Final hike down to Grindstone Falls and the cars.

Iroquoia # 2 - Lewis Rd (11.1) to Felkers Falls (23.2) - August 15, 2019

A forecast of 22 and sun brought out lots of hikers today!!!

Thanks Case :-)

Annette, Eric, Arpi, Michael(trying to make Arpi feel less vertically challenged), David, Ron J, Ron B, Lucy, Brian,
 Bill

The hike started with an invigorating climb up the escarpment on the Lewis Rd ST to get to the main trail.

We walked on hard pack trails in a sea of jewelweed. Jewelweed can be used to help treat poison ivy which was also abundant today.....

.

....... and across dry stream beds

Elevensies were at the Millen Rd ST with Arpi sharing her homemade almond biscotti for dessert :-)


The trail took us up and down hills.....

along a train track....

and under Centennial Parkway.

Ron discovered some psychedelic mushrooms!

                     Felker's Falls

"......Bet we can get to the bottom of the falls without anyone noticing....."

 Home stretch

Plants on the trail

Interesting tree root, wooly aphids,  mayapple
Jack in the pulpit, raspberry, dead man's finger
Solomon's seal, doll's eyes (white baneberry), blue cohosh

The hike finished with a stop at the bakery for some well-deserved treats :-)

Iroquoia - Grimsby (0.0) to Lewis Rd (11.1) - August 8, 2019

22 degrees, humidity and a severe t-storm watch couldn't deter Ron B, Arpi, and Brian from hiking today.

Credit for the map goes to Case :-)

The hike starts with a climb up the escarpment to "Michael's bench"

From there, it was a short walk to the viewing platform 

Timing was perfect....we just made it to the washrooms at Beamer when the thunderstorm hit.

Rain gear was donned and we waited until the worst of the storm had passed.

Hawk Watch Observation Tower

The deluge

Although the rain had pretty much stopped, the lightning to the south kept Brian entertained.

The hike leader was not quite as amused.

Entering the Woolverton Conservation Area after some road walking along Ridge and Woolverton Roads

                                               The view from the top of the Escarpment

                              The terrain varied from rocky to muddy....a lot of it slippery.

Poison ivy vine covering blaze, Staghorn sumac, old stump,
 poison ivy starting to change colour, maidenhair fern,
pears are almost ready,  bracken fern? and hart's tongue fern? , more poison ivy

At the Lewis Rd Side Trail...all downhill from here.

                                                Always feels good to get the boots off.

A quick stop at a farmer's market for some produce and lunch at Tim's finished off the hike :-)