Hikers: John N ,Ann M, Karen B, Manu M, Peter O'S, Shirley B
Section: Toronto 2 –and Hilton Falls Side Trails
After a few successive Thursdays of rain and generally less than ideal weather, today was dry and sunny, with a temperature of about 9 degrees when we started, climbing to more than 15 degrees by the time we finished.
We parked two cars at the end point Pear Tree Parking Lot by #15 Sideroad and two in the lot by #2 on Sixth Line where we began our hike at approximately 8:45 am.
The first 6.3 km of the hike was along Hilton Falls Side Trails 2, 3, 5 and 6, and the remaining 4 km on the main trail. The trails were fairly dry and we enjoyed good hiking conditions given the warm weather through the preceding week. About 45 minutes into the hike, most hikers found it necessary to shed a layer of outerwear!
Our trails today were particularly beautiful (the prettiest encountered in this writer's brief hiking career to date). This was further enhanced by early signs of Spring – budding trees and shrubs and wildflowers already in bloom. The flowers we were seeing on the trail were called Round-lobed Hepatica which is a member of the buttercup family.
We also sighted a garter snake lazily making its way across the trail, and several turkey buzzards circling the valley below.
Another highlight encountered was a large pond where the trees and sun were reflected in its still surface.
We paused briefly for lunch by the lookout point near St Helens Road and proceeded to complete the rest of the hike by noon.
On the way back, the group stopped at the Tim Horton's on Bronte Road for refreshments and accounts
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