Sun, Nov 24 2013 - Bruce Trail Series Part 10 - 22 km - Albion Falls to Scenic Drive (inc Eramosa Karst) (View Original Event Details)
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The day started out sunny and cold. We started our hike at Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. Note that there is parking fee ($2/hr) at the area. The group kept the brisk pace on fairly level terrain to keep warm. Other than a couple of caves which we did not go into, we decided that interpretive signs explaining different types of karsts would be useful. Otherwise, at this time of the year, the geography and the geology seemed unremarkable. Springtime may be better, when water flow into and out of sinking streams may be more impressive. After about 3 km hike, we drove about 2km to Albion Falls. The trail that leads down to the bottom of the falls was closed. While one could get around the fence that was put up, we met one person coming back up, who said that the trail down was rather icy, and thus, we decided not to risk it. Instead we went to the lookout point, where we quickly ate our lunch. The wind stated to pick up and we needed to get moving again to keep warm.
We began our hike on the Mountain Brow Side Trail and headed east on Bruce Trail. First unintentional detour was up (and then down) the Uli stairs. That was not so bad. The staircase was not too high. As we then continued towards Wentworth steps, staircase that we did need to climb. When we got to the staircase, the super athletes raced up the 498 steps to the top (probably setting speed records- if they only had a stop watch to time their ascent), while others - like the leader - slowly (huffing and puffing) followed behind. The super athletes in their run up, did not notice that Bruce Trail turns off the staircase about half-way up, and thus, climb up to the very top is not necessary. However, since those folks were already up on the top, the slower folks had no choice but to follow. Once on the top, enjoying a great panorama view of Hamilton, the proposal was that we could take a short hike along the streets - passing Tim Horton's - that some of us were certain - served hot drinks- before rejoining the Bruce Trail at the Jolley Cut; or we could go down the stairs and rejoin the main trail, half way down - at the turn off that we missed (eliminating the hot drinks stop). Someone suggested that going "down the stairs is good for you"- and everyone (if not somewhat reluctantly) agreed. Thus, down the stairs we went. Lucky it was only half-way down… On Bruce Trail we continued… At the Dundurn staircase, along the way, some may have been tempted to go up and down (just because it would be 'good for us') but it was getting dark and so we kept moving along the trail. The Scenic Drive staircase has 289 stairs, but we started about half way, so luckily we did not have to climb the entire way. Once at the top...do you think there was a Tim's anywhere close?? And in Hamilton, the birth place of Tim Horton's?? Noooooo... The nearest one, someone said, was about 6 blocks away... So the group hiked up the road and had to keep warm at Food Basics, while drivers got their cars.
Overall, although very cold, the day was sunny and dry and a great day for a late autumn hiking with a fun group of folks.
A big thank you to Kristie, Neil and Sandy for driving - you made this hike possible!
$14 in voluntary donations was collected with thanks!
For anyone interested there are several websites that describe the staircases up the
escarpment in Hamilton, including... http://www.hpl.ca/articles/mountain-steps
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