Sun, Sep 24 2006 - Dundas Valley Headwaters Trail - Saif's Group (View Original Event Details)
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A Victorian Railway Station, replete with a 1929 carriage, played backdrop as 11 eager hikers buckled their backpacks and laced up their boots. Saif suggested that a “group photo” will be nice, but the word “group” sent quick-thinking and new-to-TOC Mariana into a tizzy as she anticipated a “hug” to follow. She was soon relieved, however, to learn that the TOC’ers don’t kick off events with “group hugs”—not yet, at least. Gerry got all the bearings from a map on the wall and a bunch of retrievers bid the hikers good bye as they set off on the main trail, irreverent to the patches of dark cloud.
A brisk pace through the densely wooded conservation area brought them to the ruins of a hermitage built in 1855 by a Scottish settler. The wise old monument looked down kindly as the explorers walked around, peered through the windows, and recorded the moment with digital novelties. Back on the main loop interesting formations of moss-covered rocks lined a cliff. Before long, the adventurers branched off to the Heritage trail. A couple of H2O breaks, a half dozen bikers, some deer spotting, and a garden snake later they reached the Sherman Water Falls.
A high school class was studying rock formation and water erosion, while the hungry ate lunch. Fifty meters was not close enough, so Saif, Tara, and Coco took on the eastern flank, whereas Jason, Hong, and Prashanth climbed up the western rocks to get up close and personal with the falling water. The fall is in two stages: first a 60 meter drop on to a flat rock face and then another 40 meters straight down. The six had climbed up to the sides of the 40m high rock face and Prashanth lived dangerously by walking across the water flow.
Back on the trail, graced again by the elusive two-eared deer, we trotted along to the apple orchard. Jason and Hong got some apples and then… it happened. Thick gobs of rain came down, but only to fall on colorful rain gear. The rain soon stopped and we were back to the trail center greeted again by Jet and Kinsley (the retrievers).
EpilogueWhile others left, Tara, Hong, Prashanth, Jason, and Saif stayed back to search for the mythic Sulphur Spring. The rancid water is said to engender superhuman capabilities.
Jason's thoughts
I can see the joy's of walking through nature, allowing yourself to be immersed in beauty and sereneness. The Waterfall would have been a perfect place to meditate, had it not been for the Geology students.. After the rainfall, the forest took on whole different quality that must be experienced, as there is no description in words.. I look forward to some future hikes. Finally, sulfur smells....
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