The Webwood Falls Nature Reserve is located north of the Town of Kimberley in the municipality of Grey Highlands. A true cascading waterfall, although not a ‘bridal veil’ falls such as you find at Indian Falls or Hogg’s Falls, it’s much more akin to Walter’s Falls in style. The water flow is definitely not heavy,Continue reading “Webwood Falls, Fairmount Passage, Grey County”
Category Archives: Hikes
The bear and I walking the “Old Mail Road”
In the middle of a peaceful forest are the remains of an old pioneer road traveled regularly, despite its chronic state of disrepair, by settlers taking up land in the new townships. The Old Mail Road must have been, at least in part, an old Indian route, because ancient artifacts have been found along it.Continue reading “The bear and I walking the “Old Mail Road””
The Petun, or Tionontati (“People Among the Hills/Mountains”)
I led an Historical Hike with fellow members of the Blue Mountain Bruce Trail Club. A day in Our local History – December 7, 1649 marks the 370th Anniversary of when the Iroquois conducted a deadly raid against the Betan (Petun) Wolf clan village Etharita (St Jean), one of the nine Petun Villages located alongContinue reading “The Petun, or Tionontati (“People Among the Hills/Mountains”)”
Nottawasaga Bluffs and the Amabel formation
High on the Escarpment overlooking Nottawasaga Bay and Collingwood is a rocky oasis of trees, ferns and deep crevices that were created when huge blocks broke away from the cliff face. The Trail begins at the Nottawasaga Lookout and passes by ancient cedars that cling to the Escarpment face, zigzagging through the Pretty River ValleyContinue reading “Nottawasaga Bluffs and the Amabel formation”
Skinner’s Bluff & the Sea Cave
Today, I hiked a 19km loop at Skinners Bluff to Bruces Caves atop the Niagara Escarpment. It is so breathtaking, I can honestly let the pictures do the talking for me. Along the way, I stopped and enjoyed many spectacular lookouts over Colpoys Bay with the Escarpment ridge showing on the other side . FinishedContinue reading “Skinner’s Bluff & the Sea Cave”
Remnants of long ago lives on in the magic of the forest .
As I hike the path leading to the forest, there is a transformation that begins to take place. I can feel the earth’s warmth being released from the ground beneath, travelling up my body and relaxing my muscles. The grasshoppers on the path spread their wings and fly to the fields on either side, allowingContinue reading “Remnants of long ago lives on in the magic of the forest .”
Boyd’s Crevices and the Horse skull
At the Boyd Crevices, the Bruce trail leads through a labyrinth of crevices and mini-canyons lined with sheer walls of limestone rock that define the many fissures. The crevices only get a little light, perhaps no direct sunlight at all, so they form a cooler-than-normal micro-climate. The walls are covered by mosses and ferns, andContinue reading “Boyd’s Crevices and the Horse skull”
The two Scarpes of the Beaver Valley
Did you know that there are actually two different ‘Escarpment’ cliffs, depending on where you are in the Beaver valley? The one is obvious on Grey Rd 13, with Old Baldy and Eugenia Falls. The second one travels along Pioneer drive and passes the Beaver Valley Ski Club. I hiked 21 kms here, and IContinue reading “The two Scarpes of the Beaver Valley”
The Outlier and the Viking
During the Ice Age, continental glaciers covered Southern Ontario on numerous occasions. Over a period of about a million years, major advances of glaciers alternated with long periods of mild climate during which the glaciers completely disappeared. When at it’s minimum, the glacial ice was about two km deep in the Blue Mountains area.The lastContinue reading “The Outlier and the Viking”
The Pretty River and explorer Samuel Champlain
Today, I hiked the waterfall trail in the Pretty River Valley. It is named rightfully so. It is so peaceful and “Pretty” in here, but did you also know that famous explorer Samuel Champlain passed by here in 1616! In his journals, Champlain said that “travelling (here) is very troublesome in winter”. No kidding! CanContinue reading “The Pretty River and explorer Samuel Champlain”
Petun to pioneers – Nottawasaga Township
I hiked to the Petun Conservation Area up the Escarpment in the Pretty River Valley. I did a 10 km and was pretty sore and tired by the end of it. But that’s what Vikings do – they wait for perfect conditions and then push themselves to the top – this time the top beingContinue reading “Petun to pioneers – Nottawasaga Township”
The Niagara Escarpment has the oldest forest ecosystems
During the late Ordovician Period,approximately 450 million years ago, a large, shallow warm water sea filled this area. The climate was tropical, and although the shallow sea was teaming with life, plants and animals had not yet been established on land. It was the time of the first arthropods, such as the trilobites, who’s fossilsContinue reading “The Niagara Escarpment has the oldest forest ecosystems”
NIAGARA ESCARPMENT HISTORY & HIKING 