Splitrock and North Mono - Dufferin Section - September 3, 2020

We started our 14 km hike under beautiful blue skies and sub 20 degree temperatures with Ken, Marleen, Michael, Sandra, Richard,  Ron B., David, Arpi, Brian, Annette, with Fran and Steve as the photographers.  We were continuing our Dufferin Sidetrail Hikes with Splitrock, Ralph Tremills, Narrows, 2nd EHS, Walter Tovell, Lookout, McCarstons Lake, and Carriage ST all part of the route today. 

Brian thinks better of going down into one of many crevices we encountered.

Splitrock ST follows along the edge of the escarpment.

The Narrows ST lived up to its name.

Heading south on Walter Tovell ST.

Elevensies was at the Lookout on Lookout ST.

The view from the Lookout.

Back on the trail again.

Descending the Escarpment on the Carriage Side trail

Heading north on the Walter Tovell Side Trail with a few hikers looking to take a dip.

A farm along 2nd EHS

A final hill before the cars!

Boyne Valley PP - Dufferin ST Badge - September 17

Twelve hikers continued in their pursuit of the Dufferin Side Trails badge by doing the four side trails in Boyne Valley PP. 

Catherine, Nancy, Arpi, Michael (who lead the way and made sure we came home with 12 hikers!), Doug, Marleen, Ken, Annette, Brian, Sandra, Ann, and Fran (photographer and sweep)

We passed through fields of goldenrod

and entered the woods.

A bit of road walking on 1st Line E

All traffic signs were obeyed :-)

On the Boyne Valley Side Trail--The leaves are just starting to change colour

On the main trail, heading down into Boyne Valley

Case has us trained to stop on all bridges to pose for a picture.

Bridges are for wusses!

A hike wouldn't be complete without a little bit of mud.

On the Primrose Loop ST

It's always a bit worrisome when the guy out in front pulls out a map.


There and back on the Prince of Wales Side Trail

The Primrose Loop ST passes through a woodlot

This one's for Ron

A bit of a rest before summiting Murphy's Pinnacle.

At the top

Murphy's Pinnacle

Garden just before the end of the hike

Mono Cliffs Provincial Park Loop Hikes - August 27th, 2020

 

As a tentative start to our hiking season, we decided to do a loop hike in the Mono Cliffs Provincial Park.  Apparently there are Side Trail Badges so to spice up the same old hikes we thought we would give it a try with a 13.4 km hike.  Hiking in Covid times meant all nine of drove to the Mono Community Centre.

Hikers included Annette, Ken, Sandra, Fran (co-photographer and sweep), Marleen, Arpi, David, Mike, and Steve.  Note the social distancing!  We started with the Laidlaw Side Trail up a significant hill that got the heart going right away.  It soon met up with the Main Trail which we followed north for 2.7 km where we descended to the Walter Tovell Side Trail.

A few views from the lookouts along the main trail which follows the escarpment edge.

Walter Tovell ST  passes a few ponds.

We turned east onto the Carriage Trail which we followed to the Provincial Park parking lot and then reversed course.

Along the way we passed a few more ponds.

We turned onto the South Outlier Connector which began gently but soon became a steep series of switch backs with lots of wet slippery roots.

Our hike leader making sure he is still Covid 19 compliant and breathing.

After hiking south on the east side route to the south end of the Outlier, we walked north on the Walter Tovell ST to climb up the South Outlier Connector again (better than having to descent this trail).  We then hiked south on the west side route of the Outlier to meet the Main Trail and shortly thereafter the Laidlaw Trail and back to our cars!