Hike Report:- Blue Mountains - 2 including Mad River and Betty Carter Side Trail

Leader: John N
Hikers: John N, John G, Karen, Bev, JoAnn, Margaret,  Rudi

Section: Blue Mountains - 2 including Mad River and Betty Carter Side Trail Marker 20.5 km to 36 km

Because we had three cars to stage John decided on a hot pursuit. To make it easier for the three drivers to catch up the others followed John on a short hike on the Duntroon View Side Trail

 across a field and into a wooded valley before returning to the main road to start the hike on the white trail. The main group headed off down the Trail along the roadway before turning right up Concession 10 Road. This road stretched straight for some distance which made it easy to see our ‘hot pursuit’ team and facilitate the catch up about two kilometers up Concession 10.
 

 Once the hike was reunited we continued up the road and the Trail entered a wooded area then along and across Simcoe Rd 24 to arrive at the main gate of Devil’s Glen Provincial Park.
 

Here we made a brief stop at the viewing platform before returning to the main trail to descend a long flight of wooden stairs into the Park. On the way down the slope we traversed a section what Karen called a ‘tree avalanche’ area of wind uprooted trees.
 

 It had blocked part of the Trail which now was rerouted around the avalanche area. Soon we reached the Devil’s Glen Ski Club club house and turned onto the Mad River Side Trail.


 

 This was a really nice part of our hike. The Trail meanders along the Mad River where we passed and inspected a historical cabin which had been rebuilt and had originally been the residence of Tom Slye who worked this area in the early 1800’s. The current cabin was recovered from Manitoulin Island in 1997 and relocated here to commemorate Tom Slye pioneering work.
 


From here the trail follows along the Glen Huron Pond

and we soon arrived in the hamlet of Glen Huron where leader John N. found a historical site with picnic tables and stopped for lunch.


Rested and replenished we started off again, still on the Mad River Side Trail, up Concession 8 South Nottawasaga for about 500 meters then turned right onto 15/16 SR and headed up a long grade, and up, and up, and further up,
 

 to the top of McKinney’s Hill where we rejoined the white Trail. This is also where the Ganaraska Hiking Trail from Devils Glen to Port Hope is terminated in the west.
 


 and then to the Betty Carter Side Trail,


through the Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area, back once again onto the white Trail and to the staged cars. Once cars were recovered it was back to Pete’s for a brief stop. A great Hike.