Sydenham Km 115 to Km 131.4 - 13 July, 2015

Hikers: Steve, Helgy, Christine, Andy and Case
Guest Hikers:  Anne Giles and Carolyn

Leader:   Karen

Section and Distance: Sydenham Km 115 to Km 131.4

Weather:  Sunny, hot and muggy

Actual Distance hiked:  17.7 km

 
Today Carolyn and Ann joined us for the hike.  After positioning the cars we hiked the East Linton Access Trail to the main trail.  We dropped through a narrow crevice and for the next kilometre we followed a series of spectacular crevices.

Walking Fern

We then ascended to the top of the Escarpment for a fabulous view the passed through a mature forest where old stumps left by loggers a century ago are still scattered throughout the understorey.  This area is known at The Glen as it is like a bay of beautiful treetops.

 We continued hiking north along the Escarpment through mixed forest and cedar bush.

We turned west and headed down through a crevice to the bottom of the Escarpment.  We crossed a stream and reached a field before re-entering a forest to the left.   The trail was through high ferns. A short distance later we entered BTC-owned property by a large hay field and followed a fence line west for almost one km before turning sharply to the right along another fence line, before entering another hardwood forest.  We continued north and slowly emerged from the overlying glacial tilt before crossing Lindonwood Rd.

We crossed Lindonwood Road north along the top of the Escarpment  through a wooded section with views of Georgian Bay.

We headed north for 800 m and turned left along an old logging road.  After leaving the logging road, we followed the Escarpment and descended through a crevice into a field.  We followed a fence line and turned onto a cart path before reaching Lundy Lane which we followed to our car.

We drove to the Knights Inn.  After cleaning up we went out for supper before retiring for the night.

Sydenham Km 75.8 to Km 91.7 - 7 July, 2015

Hikers: Steve, Helgy, Christine, Andy and Case
Guest Hiker:  Anne Giles

Leaders:  Richard and Karen

Section and Distance: Sydenham Km 75.8 to Km 91.7

Weather:  Warm, cloudy and rainy

Actual Distance hiked: 17.23

After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Mel and Diana, since this is the last time we will be staying at the inn.  We positioned our cars and started the hike.  It started to rain and most people put on their rain gear before starting out.

We crossed the road and entered a forest a the base of the Escarpment and followed the talus slope upward until we finally crested the scrap edge.  By this time the rain had stopped and the rain gear was stripped off.    We continued through a meadow before descending once more.

We soon reached a mature pine plantation which then became a mixed hardwood forest.

We emerged from the forest onto an unopened road allowance which soon became Sideroad 15 and continued along the road to 10 Concession S.  We turned left and followed the road before turning right into a cedar forest.  The rain came down quite heavily when we were on the road.

As we entered the forest, the rain let up but it became quite muggy.  We passed under power lines and the hiked between giant dolostone blocks separated by spectacular crevices,  In the deepest crevice snow can still be found in June.  There was no snow today.  Instead because of the humidity there was fog.

Entering on of the crevice

Exiting the crevice

 

After passing a beaver dam we hiked at the back links of the Stone Tree Golf Course and reached the escarpment again. 

We continued west into the forest and climbed a small hill into a meadow and followed a fence line before heading north along the edge of a pine plantation and entered a hardwood forest.  We then reached Superior Street and headed west for 800 m to |Highway 6/10.

After crossing the Highway we hiked south and descended below the scarp edge.  We passed an Observation Tower which gives excellent views of the Sydenham River Valley and Owen Sound.

After climbing and descending the tower we continued south through crevices and large boulders before entering an area known as The Palisades which is a long, rugged corridor of land that was purchased by the BTC in 2009.   Hiking this section was very challenging to hike but was beautiful.  The hiking was made even more challenging by the rain.

Hi there - look where I am

After zigzagging downhill we turned toward the Grey Sauble Conservation Area land.  We continued through a lovely forest to arrive at the Sydenham River. 

We climbed uphill to the scarp's edge  At the top of the Escarpment is a plague dedicated to Nels Maher a well known naturalist who had a long interest in ferns.

We continued south to Inglis Falls where we had parked our car.

After admiring the falls we picked up the other car and drove home.

Sydenham River

Inglis Falls

Inglis Falls