Blue Mountain - 30.1 to 47.1 - 11 November, 2014

Hikers: Bob, Helgy and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Blue Mountain - 30.1 to 47.1

Weather: Warm with Sun and Cloud

Actual Distance hiked:  18.1 km

After positioning the cars we followed Simcoe Rd 124 for 50 m and followed the edge of the escarpment until we reached a road allowance.  Crossing Simcoe 124 we entered the woods and crossed a boardwalk through a privately owned forest and farm land to Concession 10.  At Concession 10 we turned right and crossed 21/22 Sideroad to Simcoe Rd 91.

We paralleled the road for 700 m and then headed north following the east side of a hedgerow skirting the edge of a field.  We turned left and entered a maple forest and followed the escarpment through a mixed hardwood forest.   This section will be closed from Nov 15 to Feb 28 because the landowner is undertaking logging.  We noticed that many trees had been marked for the operation.  We had our elevensies here.  Because it was remembrance day we observed a two minute silence. We then hiked to a large field and turned right to cross a farmer’s field.  At the fence line we turned left and continued along the edge of the field along a cedar rail fence to 26/27 Sideroad.

Elevensies

Crossing 26/27 Sideroad we continued north along the escarpment edge, meandering through a mature forest to Osprey-Clearview Townline.  The trail then turned right and headed back to the edge of the escarpment to a lookout.

Some of  us descending through a cut in the cliff dropping steeply to a stream at the base of the escarpment on the Standing Rock and Caves side trail and rejoined the white trail at km 42.  It was here that we had lunch.

We passed the stream and hiked northward along a decaying rail fence descending to 30/31 Sideroad.

We crossed 30/31 Sideroad and continued north on the Blue Mountain-Clearview Townline to the top of the hill.  We descended the unopened road allowance to reach the Pretty River and followed the north bank of the river, heading through a cedar forest to Pretty River Road.

Pretty River

Heading west we climbed steeply up and over a moraine (a mound of sand and gravel left behind by the glacier 12,000 years ago) with excellent views to the south over the Pretty River Valley.  We entered a transitional forest and descended steeply down the other side of the moraine.  We turned left winding through cedars and then got to the Pretty River Access Trail, which we took for .3 km to our parked car on Pretty River Road.

We picked up the other car, stopped at Tim Hortons, and drove home.

Blue Mountain - km16.3 to 30.1 - 6 November, 2014

Hikers: Bob, Helgy and Steve

Leaders:  Karen and Richard

Section and Distance:  Blue Mountain - km16.3 to 30.1

Weather:  Rain with a few dry spells

Actual Distance hiked:  15.8 km

Starting the hike

We followed Concession 10 road allowance to a grove of maple and birch trees.  The trail then turned left and emerged from the woods to a field.  We then entered an immature cedar forest and took a logging road across a field and through some wet areas.  We turned right and entered a mature cedar forest with Escarpment cliffs on the left.  As we left the forest we passed the ruins of a lime kiln.  The kilns were used by the early settlers to burn the Escarpment’s dolostone rock to create lime.

We then entered a re-forestation area to an access road and followed an old logging road southward.

We then entered a mature hardwood bush and campground to the Keyhole Side Trail.  Even though it was raining we decided to take the side trail as most had not seen this before.

We hiked back to the trail and turned left past the Nottawasaga Lookout and Freedom rock, where we had our elevensies.  Because of the fog and rain the views were not that great.  We followed the Escarpment in an easterly direction before heading north away from the scarp edge. 

We then entered the Devil’s Glen Country Club property and hiked through a pine plantation before heading to the top of the ski slope.  The trail was very wet and slippery.  Once up at the top we followed a series of downhill switchbacks, before stopping for lunch under the ski lift at the bottom.  The trail was very wet and muddy making the footing very difficult.

After lunch, we turned right to follow the river to the country club bridge.

We continued along the road into the woods by the Mad River.  After following the river or a short distance we gently climbed up a series of natural steps and wooden stairs to Devil’s Glen Provincial Park were we had parked the car.

Despite the wet slippery conditions, most of us were able to stay on our feet.  Our leaders - well not so much.

We picked up the other car, stopped at Tim Hortons and headed home.