Sat, May 31 2008 - RESCHEDULESLOWPOKES: Eugenia Falls to Hogg Falls (View Original Event Details)
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Thunderstorms were predicted for today, which I think scared off most of our hikers. Our list was over 30 at one point, then 25 when I rescheduled, then 20 when I sent out a reminder. We ended up with 10 intrepid hikers, determined to stick it out no matter what came our way. I love it when they predict rain, because it hardly ever rains and the only the best hikers come out rain or shine!
By the time we met at Downsview, whatever rain that had fallen that morning was sizzling off the pavement. It was sunny and starting to heat up. Some hikers were worried they had overdressed. In my car, I mentioned to Shannon that I should really pick up some bug spray since I forgot to pack some. Oh, those words would come back to haunt me!
We had a 2 hour drive to get to Eugenia Falls, but it was not so hard to find despite the road being mislabled. Actually it was marked, but only once you got onto the road itself. It was the start of a another theme for our day
We all arrived within 10 minutes of each other. The parking lot was wooded and uncrowded, except the bugs were already out. I had forgotten to pick up bug spray and no one else had thought to pick some up. Desiree had a citronella/all-natural spray that she was kind enough to pack. Being a Calgarian, she is a bit more aware of bugs - they don't HAVE bugs in Calgary! Us native Ontarians just don't think about it. Desiree also had a bug net for her head. Smart girl. I bragged that I don't usually get bit bad - it's true for the most part, but I paid for that comment. I was the groups target. I don't know if it was my clothes, my soap or some combination of smell, but I was COVERED with bugs most of the hike
The hike itself started with confusion. Although I used a hike description from last year, there was a 60K diversion of the Bruce Trail *this* year. All the blue blazes that the description talked about had been painted over with fresh white paint. This caused us to have some trouble figuring out just which path to start hiking, so the group stopped to take pictures of Eugenia Falls (Impressive!) and I turned my map in different directions to figure out what to do next.
My innate sense of direction seemed to save us a few times and only one small back track until lunch. We found a huge open meadow for lunch and plopped down in the long grass, with a very brief respite from bugs. Arne & Shannon shared war stories from working in the service industry, Susie & Samantha took pictures of everyone and pictures of themselves taking pictures. Constantin brought a lunch this time! Trixie tried to tell everyone she had no lunch, when in fact she had her very own bagged lunch, so she didn't get any free food
after lunch it was back into the woods. We crossed a few stiles that were in brand new condition, meaning that Trixie had to be lifted over them -she was not so happy about that! but we did cheer her every time. We had to make three stream crossings that were quite difficult - the water was fast running and most of the rocks were underwater. But all of us made it!
At one point we got to the Hogg's Fall loop and there was a new sign put up by the Bruce Trail, that had the "you are here" arrow pointed in the wrong direction. This caused a lot of confusion and discussion, made all the worse with the bugs biting you as soon as you stood still for too long. We took the right trail however, and climbed out of the woods into a field, which meant some respite from the bugs. Our group was interrupted by some 4x4ers, while they are always nice it's such a disappointment to have loud engines and the smell of diesel in the air. We tsk-tsked them.
Back down into the woods, another directional sign (this time it was correctly marked) and we got to Hoggs falls. I was starting to gain a cool reputation for 'knowing' which way to go - I had to call our leaders back a few times to redirect them in the proper direction. I say it's a combination of many hikes with poor maps, and an innate sense of direction! When we got to Hoggs falls the water was running fast and wild and the whole group went to take pictures and peer over the edge. Except for me & Trixie, I was being attacked by bugs and couldn't bear to go any nearer to the water. I wasn't any happier on the path above, but at least the group couldn't hear me swear and curse and cry in frustration! haha!
From this point we headed back into the woods along a wide path, and back out to a rural road. There was about 3 K left to go and we had a choice to track back through the woods the way we came, or continue along the road. I made the executive decision to stay out of the woods, because of bugs, but I think the rest of the group was relieved and happy to go along. On our way home we ran into a group of unsupervised kids and dogs that had scrambled down a near vertical and very tall cliffside. As some of us looked on in wonder, we asked them if they had done that before and were assured, oh many times. and that they could go up it as easily and fearlessly as they had come down. Then they ran on ahead of us down the road. Dorota turned around to the rest of the group and said "you know, I never thought those laundry commercials were real...but now I know it's true - those kids clothes were filthy!" I just thought it was great to see kids enjoying being kids and running free with dogs and such through the countryside.
The last Km or so was uphill, although it was the same route we took in I don't remember going downhill so long. It seemed that it went on forever until finally we were right back in the parking lot. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits but more than ready to head home , especially me...while I wasn't suffering yet I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would feel the full wrath of my bug bites and wanted to be home before it sunk in. Everyone said they had a great time and were disappointed that this would be my last slowpoke hike of the season - hopefully some other volunteers start posting some slowpoke hikes this summer! We parted ways and Shannon did an excellent job of navigating on the way home (i.e. keeping me talking so I didn't get tired on the 2 hour drive back). Susie and Constanin alternately dozed and chatted on the way home.
postscript: Sunday has been absolutely excrutiating, I look like I've come down with a case of the chicken pox! However, I found some lidocaine in my medicine cabinet which is a topical analgesic for sunburn relief and I've applied it liberally over my most affected areas and it's helped me through most of the day. If anyone is else is suffering, I highly recommend picking this up from your local drug store!
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.