Sat, Apr 28 2007 - Cheltenham Badlands (View Original Event Details)

Event Coordinator(s): Jo
Participants:Jo, vanessa wong, Justin H, Tracey, sue, mitch, heathervw, Tanya K, Janis B, Carla Blower, Jen D, Andrew Row, Rob C , Faye T, Bernadette, Hong


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Write Up:

The morning was misty with hints of rain to come....undeterred, our group set out to explore the famed "Badlands" of Cheltenham. First of all, for those of you who have seen the Alberta badlands, these are not QUITE the same. Our Badlands are a few acres (?) of exposed clay. The region contains many large clay deposits (e.g. at Terra Cotta) and there was a brick factory in the village near the badlands, Cheltenham. Around the turn of the century, deforestation and cattle grazing caused erosion of the soft Queenston shale on top of this clay deposit, revealing the red mounds below. The red iron oxide mounds contain green lines that are another type of iron oxide (caused by minerals in the eroded shale).

Stanley the dog (aka Rob C's dog) had a wonderful time, getting muddy, running ahead, running back, getting LOTS of attention - another great canine hiker in our club! Lots of interesting conversation was had. Part of the trail was on the Caledon Trailway, which is a very well-tended, level path. Once back in the woods, the trail was made a bit challenging in places by the mud - very slippery clay mud that reminded me strongly of "The Mud Hike" in Devil's Glen last spring. Some clean shoes got very dirty. We made it back to the trailhead just when it really started to rain, and when daytrippers were getting more numerous. It's a popular "must-see" spot, and ironically, considering how this feature was formed, the badlands are now facing accelerated erosion from so many visitors.

A nice hike that would be very pretty in the fall, with the leaves adding a colourful background to the red earth.

See Hong's excellent photos in the album - there's a wonderful portrait of Mitch and Sue!


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.