Hike Report:- Dufferin Hi-Lands 6 - Blue Mountains 13.8 Kms, including June & George Willis Side Trail

Leader: John N
Hikers: John N, John G, Margaret, Rudi, Shirley, Bev, Joanne, Ann , Tom with Oprah

Section: Dufferin Hi-Lands 6 - Blue Mountains 13.8 Kms, including June & George Willis Side Trail

Nine hikers rendezvoused at Pete's Donuts (corner of Hwy 10 and Hwy 89) for coffee, departing Pete's at 8 am. for Primrose, leaving two cars at 30 Side Rd & 1st Line EHS and driving to starting point on road at 9/10 Side Road, walking off at 9 am. on Blue Trail. It was quite cold and overcast and windy out in the open on unpaved road.

 Following the Blue Trail for about 4 km on road, the road ahead looking decidedly hilly, the surroundings beautiful farmland, turning left onto the main trail at the Noisy River sign, a descent, then a long steady climb up to the top of the escarpment with some fine views to the north and east at Honeywood - passing through a mature beech forest, with Oprah leading the way and John N. a close second. We then descended over jumbled rocks of the escarpment.
 






Here the trail was woody and rocky with spectacular moss covered boulders and deep crevices (some snow still visible way down below) and caves (we thought deep enough to contain a sleeping bear!) Everywhere else was green and alive and welcoming Spring. Tom identified wild garlic growing beside the trail and some of us had a taste of that. We also noticed the ferns beginning to unfurl their leaves. 
 


A couple of times I saw a Hawk circling above us. A t a break I was happy to share my pear with Oprah which she enjoyed enthusiastically. 

 





We stopped for lunch around the 9 km mark, sitting on some conveniently fallen trees but soon felt quite cold and anxious to be on our way. Gradually we became aware of descending. At the bottom we crossed a stream and as the sun came out it got slightly warmer.
 

 The trail at this point took us over grassy field areas then into woodland trail, through a beautiful patch of Silver Birch. In the sunshine they really did shine like silver.




 
 
The final 2 km of the hike took us through a natural avenue of beautiful cedar, balsam and pine trees, emerging at the cars, we finished the hike at 12.30 p.m.


 Thanks partly to Oprah's speedy pace, driving from the finish to pick up the other two cars and head for Pete's Donuts (God bless him!) before our long drive home.