Sat, Oct 25 2008 - Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon (View Original Event Details)
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In the end there were 12. 12 weather worthy hikers ready for the rain. Some even sporting umbrella’s(Mayte, Kristine and Pat!) And in the end as often happens the rain petered out a ½ hr after we arrived at the parking lot, drizzled for another hour or so and then the sun peeked out, not bursting with any energy till we got back to our cars but there, accompanying us for the next few hours on and off nonetheless.
We started out the hike not sure just how long we would be on the trail, changing and varying our route as the weather turned better and better. All in all we managed 16.5k (Ok some wayward hikers went a tad further) with no mishaps, well few mishaps. Next time we’ll climb that Devil’s Pulpit but this time we were happy to pass it by not relishing the slippery climb. It really was a perfect late October day with the muted colours of fall greeting us everywhere. As we made our way, the trail of fallen leaves varied from yellow to red to deep purple. The meadow lands sported pale greens and yellowing grasses, the graying of blue blazes, tuffs of silk from milkweed, and the drying browns of plants such as Queen Anne’s Lace. The rolling landscape and kettle lake in this park are the massive deposits and depressions left behind as glaciers scoured this region. This is considered the end of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Not only did we travel through the Forks of the Credit River Park but also managed the Trimble trail in the Belfountain Conservation Park. And although we didn’t manage to climb the Devil’s Pulpit we did go up the Brimstone trail, both Irene and I thinking, not bad for our first hike of the season!
Ghanesh led the hike (assuring us that he would become a volunteer in the future!) and took it upon himself to confiscate Victor’s camera for photo stops. Victor was very compliant. Some of us trailed a bit behind at the end chatting and enjoying the scenery but thanks to Michele, and then Ghanesh, we made the right turn(s) and found our way back passing by the most perfect rainbow (with a faint one on top). Unfortunately we were cameraless as our only camera’s were amongst the eager group that took the longer loop back ….not by choice it would seem. They were considerate enough though to keep wandering back to see where we had gotten to not realizing they had gone the different route. But it all leads to the parking lot so we weren’t too worried, paricularly after I called Andrew on his cell phone!
Some of us ventured afterward for food and drink at Paul’s Tomato Pie beside Chalkers as it was closed for a private function. Wow, it was amazing! Certain members took it upon themselves to hassle poor Sue (Me!) for her unfortunate stepping on and subsequent squishing of a poor frog! Some enjoying this past time more than others (Dorothea and Pete!). Completely undeserved!!@! (Alex did attempt to stop the foot mid stride but…CRUNCH! Oops.) All in all it was a most perfect day!
Sue
(frog killer)
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