Niagara - Queenston (0.0) to Firemen's Park (7.0) - Jan. 7th, 2021

We started our Hike at Firemen's Park with two groups hiking to the Cairn at Queenston Heights and back for a 14 km hike.

Our first group of hikers consisted of Ann, Fran, Ron, Alex, Doug, Annette and Steve the photographer.

Our Bridge picture.

Icers were required.

Toronto is visible on the Horizon.

The Niagara River comes into view as we neared the Cairn.

Alex and Doug by the Cairn marking the Southern Terminus of the Bruce Trail.

We stop for our elevenies by the Brock Monument.  The second group came along as we finished up.  This group included, Mike, Barbara, Brian, Ken, Marleen, Arpi, and Catherine.

Barbara stands by the Cairn.

Catherine and Ken start back to Firemen's Park with Barbara and Brian in the distance.

Ann has done the research and apparently this is a microwave communications tower erected in the 1950's by Fleet industries that was used to test and calibrate large parabolic dishes.  The equipment was used in the DEW (Distant Early Warning) system installed in the Arctic during the cold war.

Brian and Michael on the Trail.

Believe it or not, we missed this right turn but not for too long.

A steep icy descent with various techniques used to overcome this challenge.

The Trail was getting muddy as the day warmed up.

Nearing the end of the Trail with the cars waiting.

Toronto - Speyside (11.4 km) to Dufferin Quarry Bridge (4.8 km) - Dec. 10th, 2020

 
Todays Hike was from the Pear Tree parking lot to Dufferin Quarry bridge and back for a total of 13.2 km hike.  Nancy, Ken, Annette, Sandra, Michael, Marleen, Catherine, Doug, Arpi, Ron B. and Alex were all in attendance with Brian leading the hike.

The Trail is fairly rocky with remnant snow making things tricky.

Great views across the valley to Kelso.

Dufferin Quarry from the Bridge.

Elevensies.

The Trail passes Greystone Golf Course with the city on the horizon.

The last hike back to the cars.

Iroquoia - Dundas Trail Centre to Sydenham Lookout - Dec. 3rd, 2020

Our hike today was somewhat delayed as some of us couldn't seem to access the original parking lot at Merrick Orchard so we had to relocate to the Sulfur Springs lot.  Despite the delay, we did complete the 17 km hike to Sydenham and back which included 8.3 km of new main Trail hike for Ron B.  We hiked on the Main Trail through Dundas and up to the Lookout and then returned on the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail back to the Trail Centre.

Hikers included Brian, Alex, Ken, Catherine, Ron B., Nancy, Arpi, Marleen, Mike and Steve.  It was a clear cool day with a bit of snow but not enough for icers.

We passed by the Trail Centre on our way with a few hikers making a quick pit stop.

The Trail passes a farm with friendly horses.

and a small pond that had begun to freeze.

The Trail follows along the railroad tracks and a long train passed as we were hiking.

Ken getting a video of the train.

Marleen practicing her golf swing at the course. Note how she keeps her head down with her eyes on the ball.

Elevensies in Dundas.

While some of the hikers headed up to the Sydenham Lookout, the more savvy hikers sought out a coffee shop in Dundas and waited.

The view from the Lookout.

and the return down the hill to Dundas.

The Rail Trail seemed very long.

The final km back to the cars and home.