Sat, Sep 1 2012 - Bruce Trail Series - Part 6 ~ 20 km Mountainview to Beamers Falls (View Original Event Details)
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We began our hike at the Mountainview Conservation. We hiked about 10 km before taking the Forty Mile Creek side trail into Grimsby. Food establishments were not abundant (at least not where we were) so we stopped for lunch at Joe Dogs on Main Street West where a number of us enjoyed their late breakfast offerings. Vegetarians did find a veggie burger option to fulfil their dietary requirements. After drinking several pitchers of water and a bit of beer, we set out on the side trail, besides and under the QEW and vaulting over a number of street guard rails to the Grimsby Harbour on Lake Ontario. Grimsby Harbour was a nice, cool and refreshing change from the rocks and trees of the Bruce Trail. After pausing a while to enjoy the sights, we retraced out steps and took the final endurance test of our hike... the steep climb up the escarpment to Beamers Falls Conservation area. While some folks rested, the others decided to check to see if there is any water in the Beamers Falls by hiking the Beamers Falls Side Trail. Unfortunately the direct access to Beamers falls is on private property, or at least we could not find close up access to it. We could not see much.. So back we went to rejoin the group. We continued our hike past the various lookouts in the Beamers Falls Conservation area, as a number of folks began a sing along. The moment was relaxing and enjoyable. Who knew we had such talent in the group?? :) The several observation lookouts offered fantastic views across the lake to Mississauga, Toronto and along QEW to St. Catharines. Impresive birds were circling overhead, but since, none of us were birders we could not identify those birds. Some of us were guessing that they were turkey vultures but they may also have been some sort of hawks, as the area is famous for observing the hawk migration in the spring.
Overall, it turned out to be a great day for the hike with the great company of folks. Total distance travelled =18 km. Thank you to everyone for coming out.
Thank you to Fazal, Bahman and Galina for driving. Also thanks to Grace who helped with the car shuttle.
$13 in voluntary donations to TOC was collected with thanks.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.