Section: Iroquoia Hike 6, Hwy 6/Old Guelph Rd to King Rd, Markers 64.5 to 73.3, for 8.8 km.
Hike Leader: John
Hikers: John, Carol, Agnes, Stephen, Jim, and Rudi
Given the cold weather and the aggregate of recent snow falls, Leader John decided to break the planned 15 km hike into two sections and start at Hwy 6 rather than at the planned Sydenham Lookout Side Trail . Then, after completing the front end 7 km at King Rd, determine the appetite to proceed to Sydenham Lookout and complete the full 15 km of the hike plan.
The hike commenced on the Escarpment brow just above a series of wooden steps to descend to Old Guelph Rd at km 64.5, and continued to descend concrete steps and then through the tunnel under Highway 6, up another set of concrete steps and past the ruins of an old homestead.
Passing through woodlands and traversing an area of valleys and ridges, the hikers crossed a railway and shortly reached Snake Rd.
Here we scaled a long slope and followed an old road allowance to the edge of Grindstone Creek Valley. Once on top, the Trail goes into a long and gradual descent and along the way we see a number of large areas up the slope where the snow and leaves had been churned up and appeared to be used as a frequent deer bed down area. Soon we reached the floodplain and crossed the long bridge over Grindstone Creek.
From here we gradually climbed the forested slopes along the fast flowing creek and take the Waterdown Road Side Trail which climbs steeply up the valley slope and then across Waterdown Rd into the McNally property.
Proceeding along the Escarpment edge we reach the McNally Side Trail which takes us back to the main Trail and ultimately we safely emerge at King Rd , km 73.3. On the way to Tim’s the desire to proceed to Sydenham Lookout Side Trail and complete the remaining section today faded rapidly and we retired to Tim’s for rehydration and debrief.
Here we scaled a long slope and followed an old road allowance to the edge of Grindstone Creek Valley. Once on top, the Trail goes into a long and gradual descent and along the way we see a number of large areas up the slope where the snow and leaves had been churned up and appeared to be used as a frequent deer bed down area. Soon we reached the floodplain and crossed the long bridge over Grindstone Creek.
From here we gradually climbed the forested slopes along the fast flowing creek and take the Waterdown Road Side Trail which climbs steeply up the valley slope and then across Waterdown Rd into the McNally property.
Proceeding along the Escarpment edge we reach the McNally Side Trail which takes us back to the main Trail and ultimately we safely emerge at King Rd , km 73.3. On the way to Tim’s the desire to proceed to Sydenham Lookout Side Trail and complete the remaining section today faded rapidly and we retired to Tim’s for rehydration and debrief.
Report by Rudi, Photos by John and Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment