Iroquoia Section - Appleby Line (121.0 km) to Crawford Lake (104.5 km) - August 31, 2023.

Iroquoia Section - Appleby Line (121.0 km) to Crawford Lake (104.5 km) - August 31, 2023.

Our Hiking With Friends adventure this past week found us exploring the well known jewels of the Milton area known as Kelso and Rattlesnake Point...we actually hiked from the parking lot at Hilton Falls C.A and hit the main trail on Appleby Line, travelled 16.5 km of main trail before sliding off onto Crawford Lake Side Trail (the far end!) for a total distance in the 19 km range...

I couldn't get my usual topographic app to work properly but here is another pretty picture of our route that took us just over 5 hours to complete and involved a decent 350 meters of ascent...

After dropping some cars at Crawford Lake C.A, we venture up the road to Hilton Falls C.A and prepare for what is shaping up to be a gorgeous hiking day...Along for the walk this week are myself, Rita, Frank, Steve K, guest hiker Tom (soon to be a new "F" in HWF?), Marleen, Doug, Lesley, Steve R, Barbara (alternate H.C), and Andrew...

 We need to put a few steps in, down Appleby Line, to actually get on the B.T route...there's a sign over on the left that demarcates the boundary between the northern end of the Iroquoia Section and southern end of the Toronto Section...Andrew and I will be revisiting this spot on Sept. 9th to start the first day of our 2 day E2E of the 52 km Toronto Section...can't wait...honestly...our group then passes underneath Highway 401...

Shortly afterwards, there's a left turn into Kelso Conservation Area and lots of kids' summer camp (last week!) activities on the go...two big kids try to get in on the fun...

"It's never too early for ice cream!" proclaims Doug, as he sources out a confectionery store at the Glen Eden complex and gets a treat to start off his day properly...

After crossing the railroad tracks and following the bottom of the now quiet ski hill, we turn up and into the forest and begin the ascent of the escarpment...

The trail here is well worn (likely due to it also being used by mountain bikers) and generally wide enough for abreast hiking, which allows for pleasant conversation (in between huffs and puffs)...the climb continues...

We reach the summit (after Frank tries out a wavy bike ramp structure), and are greeted by a gaggle of camp kids getting an elevated experience hanging out over the ledge (under the watchful eye of a couple of counsellors)...

Full disclosure...there won't be a bridge picture today, but this shot is a pretty nice alternative...

A cliff face familiar to literally tens of thousands of commuters who ply the busy stretch of the 401 below, but best viewed from a vantage point alongside it, in the peacefulness of a warm, sunny August morning...

We get to enjoy another great vista to the north over the Town Of Milton...Our substitute Hike Coordinator (in Annette's absence) enjoys her happy place for a minute...

We pause at a conveniently located outhouse for, ahem, some relief...we have had a great start to our day and the conditions are just about ideal...we are entering the best season for hiking in my mind...

After returning to, travelling southward on, and crossing over, Appleby Line, we begin to make our way towards Rattlesnake Point...but we are over our halfway point, so it's a good time for a refreshment break in the sun dappled forest...

Some crazy big fungi...

We reach the bottom of Nassagaweya Canyon after a long, gradual descent before beginning the slow climb up the other side...

After a u turn at the top, we arrive at the Canyon Lookout and there's a few of the usual denizens hanging out on the rising thermals...

We get to spend a short while out in the warm sunshine as we pass through a meadow...Crawford Lake is not far off now...

The familiar sights of the Crawford Lake C.A appear to greet our weary bodies and signal the end of another great hike...and, there's ice cream at the store!..(and yes, Doug did the double)...it was a bit longer trek this week, but lively conversation and perfect weather conditions made the time slip by...hope you enjoyed sharing our day!

The End

When your hiking buddy shows up wearing the same boots as you...(and no, we are not doing the E2E three-legged style)...