Blue Mountains Section - Devil's Glen (30.3 km) to Pretty River (36.4 km) - Sept. 15, 2022.

Blue Mountains Section - Devil's Glen (30.3 km) to Pretty River (36.4 km) - Sept. 15, 2022.

Our Hiking with Friends group was back up north this week for a 17.2 km walk in the Blue Mountains section of the Bruce Trail from the parking lot at Devil's Glen northward to the Pretty River parking lot on Pretty River Road.

An aerial view of our route which took us 5 and a half hours to complete and, despite what appears to be a relatively flat terrain profile above, did require 315 meters of ascension, but no major climbs...also, for some strange reason, my Garmin tracker took a very weird deviation as seen by the spike in the upper right  (seemingly while I was down in a major crevice) that put my distance out of whack and resulted in my watch suggesting we did closer to 19 km which was I now know was not the case...

After sorting out our dropped cars at Pretty River, we arrive at Devil's Glen to gear up and commence this trek...our group of friends today comprises of myself, Andrew (guest hiker), Frances, Marleen, Lesley, Annette, Sandra (sweep), Brian (leader), Catherine, and Boyd...

We get a good early start on what is shaping up to be a fabulous September morning...a bit cool but the rising sun will start to warm things up soon enough..

It's a pleasant start to our day as we make tracks through woods and by fields of wild flowers...

Our first road crossing is at Simcoe Road 124 and we are  quickly back into the bush...

We then follow the edge of a just harvested corn field, it's stubble sticking stubbornly stout...

Our guest hiker, Andrew, sports several badges that are testament to his much valued participation in this section as a Trail Captain...he is responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of several kilometers of the Bruce Trail just south of where we are...he briefs us on some interesting aspects of the trail in this area since he became a local resident and involved B.T hiker the past few years...

The hiking gets a little more "escarpment-ish" including a few decent crevices...always difficult to capture the depth of these features, so I use that excuse to introduce my new hiking boot (I have a matching left one) as an attempt at perspective...really just wanted to show off the boot...but you knew that...

Our arrival at Concession 10 South Nottawasaga heralds the start of a recently opened (May 2022) portion of trail through a recently acquired BTC nature reserve...

The new trail initially heads westward along a recently harvested field...the impressive machinery used to complete this task sits imposingly idle along the route...

The trail then veers northward into a forested area through which a wide swath has been cut...this path can best be described as "absolutely delightful"...it's a brilliant piece of walking that is made all the more enjoyable by the great company and magnificent morning sunshine...

I rate this new piece of the trail a "10"...another example of how important the BTC's efforts at land acquisition are and what can be achieved through their enterprise...

Our pace has been excellent this morning and the kilometers are slipping by...

Unfortunately the idyllic nature of our environment is rudely interrupted by our arrival at the imposing Duntroon Quarry, opened in 1968 and operated since 1995 by Walker Industries...signage advises that ultimately (once the escarpment has been irrevocably altered), this land will be reclaimed as a lake and conservation area...

Fortunately, we are soon back in nature and Lesley gives us some delight with her pose on a "cedar horse"...

The crossing of County Road 91 offers us a nice view to the east...

We pass through another lovely meadow...

I guess we've all dropped something along the trail at one point or another...a set of keys would likely be a little more problematic than some other items...we find a set affixed to a post by Nottawasaga Side Road 26/27...

We have now entered the Nottawasga Lookout Provincial Nature Reserve and I manage to find a view that justifies the name afforded this area...

But this area is the real highlight of the Preserve...the Singhampton Caves...

...but first, as we are well past the halfway point of our hike, we stop to enjoy some refreshment...

The group then splits in half as some of us make our way down into the massive crevice system and the others work their way around on the main trail to meet us on the other side...

 It does take some effort, but the rewards are well worth it as those who have been through this breath taking catacomb area are aware...

This labyrinth is part of one of the most unique side trails you will encounter...

The behemoth that is Standing Rock is our next visual delight...

Our group reconvenes back at the intersection of the main trail...

The others have enjoyed a somewhat less technical, but still beautiful path, to meet us there...

We celebrate our reunion shortly thereafter with a bridge picture (admittedly a pretty weak example of a bridge over a dried up stream bed but hey, it's what was available)...

It's out into brilliant sunshine after that as we arrive at the intersection of Osprey-The Blue Mountains Townline and Blue Mountains- Clearview Townline with gravel under our feet for the next kilometer or so...

We chug, chug along with our finish line not far off...

A trail notice on the BT app advising of culvert work at the entrance to Pretty River is validated in our presence...it does not halt our progress however.

And the name of the river that graces this provincial park's title is also validated...

It has been an awesome outing and our arrival at the dropped cars has a sense of gratitude that we are finished our hike, mixed with a tinge of regret that our journey is over...for today at least...a hike like this only leaves you wanting to get back out on the trail sooner than later!..thanks for travelling along with us and we'll see you next week back in Beaver Valley.

The End