Dufferin Hi-Land Section - Rock Hill (29.4 km) to Prince of Wales Drive (41.7 km) - Sept. 1, 2022.

Dufferin Hi-land Section - Rock Hill (29.4 km) to Prince of Wales Road (41.7 km) - September 1, 2022.

Our Hiking with Friends adventure this week found us back in the picturesque Dufferin Highlands enjoying the environs of Whitfield and Kilgorie while travelling 12.5 km along roads, pathways and, of course, trails!..we went up,down and all around and here's some idea of what the hike was like...

The bird's eye view of our route from the east, starting on the left...we spent 4 hours on a spectacular first day of September traversing the landscape, and as well as descending what I deem is one of longest hills on the B.T (and yes, I have climbed it as well), we still managed to ascend 355 meters so the legs got some work...

We congregated initially on Prince of Wales Drive to drop some cars and the drivers got to play the "do I stay or do I go?" game...

Our "Prince of Hiking with Friends", Steve, has initiated a transition of responsibility from being solely on his shoulders, to a more group supported structure...many of us owe a lot to his dedication and organizational skills...now let's see how he does transitioning from leader to follower...looks pretty happy so far.

A short drive later (well actually one of those that begs you to think, is this hike really only 13 kms?..I hope the trail follows the crow's flight path...) and we gear up under perfect weather to get the show on the road/path/trail...I must say that this parking lot (Mulmur Hills on the BT app) has been freshly graded and fenced and they did a great job...

Our group is ready and includes myself, Liz, Laura, Barbara (her first leader position in the new regime!), Sandra (sweep), Frances, Marleen, Annette, Steve, Lesley, Steve R, and Muris. 

Our hike is underway and after a very short walk up 1st Line East, we turn into the area known as Rock Hill Corner...

This little gem of an area surprises you with several short climbs, and some beautiful crevices, fissures, and rock formations...

We even got to cross a rock bridge...

After about 30 minutes on this section, we pop out onto 10 Side Road and although we have only literally gone around the corner from our starting point, we have already seen some beautiful landscape, and there's more to come!..

But first we have to pass through the bustling metropolis of downtown Whitfield (formerly Beechnut Corners)...it was a major settlement on the original Hwy 10 back in the day...

We stride up Centre Road and a small lawn sign is a reminder of a Canadian hero and his legacy...if I start to feel tired today, I need only think of his herculean effort and use his inspiration to carry on...

We eventually come to a fork in the road...and take it...

We begin the loooooong descent into the Pine River Valley...we are, in my mind, officially into prime hiking season...the air is fresh, the sun is warm but not too hot, and best of all, no bugs!

If you enjoy sun dappled forests and babbling brooks on your morning walks, you were in the right place here...

We reach the intersection of Centre Road and River Road (known as Kilgorie) and take a left to head up River Road and see if we can find the thing this road is named after...

It doesn't take long and we are soon back into the woods following the Pine River upstream...

Another iconic sight on the B.T., the long abandoned (in 1927)  Dufferin Light and Power Company Powerhouse, which used to provide electricity to Shelburne, Horning's Mills, and parts of Orangeville...

I give this forest a 10/10 on this day...Steve glides by a former giant of the woods...

The kids waiting for the Hiking with Friends school bus to arrive?..

A quick crossing of River Road and we prepare to enter the Pine River Provincial Fishing Area...

The pace has been relatively good today...the result of excellent trail conditions but also a testament to our hiking acumen, no?..to be honest (tbh if I was texting), we did slide by a couple of blazed turns but that is just a reflection of how much we were enjoying each other's company...

A serene lake surrounded by forested hillsides all to ourselves...on a picture perfect day...

...so I took some more pictures...

A quick detour up the Bell Lookout Side Trail for our break was in order...not the best view I've experienced tbh (you know what that stands for now)...but a pleasant spot with a couple of benches so it fit the bill...

We touch upon 15 Side Road briefly as we resume our walking refreshed and eager to move onward...

A "fun guy" photographer ?..

A little rest, re-hydration and regroup (the 3 R's the school kids learned apparently) at the bottom of the northern section of Prince of Wales Road...

After re-entering the forest via a stile, Steve and a couple of others approach what appear to possibly be four alien abductors waiting in the distance...

Steve...still on earth and following along dutifully in his new position, passes the start of the Melodonna Side Trail...named after the wife of the generous landowner who provides access to this portion of the trail...

Yes, there are hikers in these photos!..my "Where's Waldo" (full disclosure: we have no hikers named 'Waldo') collection...just showing the scale of the beauty we were privileged to enjoy...

No better way to wrap up a hiking photographer's day than the bridge picture...this is the spot the Melodonna S.T rejoins the main trail (not that we took it - maybe next time)...

We finished off the last couple of kilometers on Prince of Wales Road and reached the dropped cars...to her delight, we feted Liz's mention of her having completed this section in our traditional honor guard fashion...a lot to like about today's hike...glad we could share it with you through pictures and words that depict our favorite "outer space".

The End

(Post edit...it came to light that Steve had in fact been abducted by this alien life form but was returned after they discovered he had a "hiker's brain" that was not understood by their civilization)