Beaver Valley Section - Metcalfe Rock (27.9 km) to Side Road 7B (43.5 km) - Oct. 12, 2023.

 Beaver Valley Section - Metcalfe Rock (27.9 km) to Side Road 7B (43.5 km) - Oct. 12, 2023.

It's the final day of the second of Hiking With Friend's 3 day trips to the northern sections of the Bruce Trail for this fall, and we are going out with a bang, as we look to take on what I consider one of the nicest hikes on the B.T, a 16 km walk from the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock in the Kolapore Highlands to Side Road 7B near Old Baldy...

A view from the sky of our route which winds its way through Duncan Escarpment Provincial Park, through several BTC Protected Natural Areas, and along the spectacular east edge of the Beaver Valley escarpment...the 6 hour journey will involve 400 meters of climbing and allow us to enjoy creeks, forests, meadows, and crevices...all the elements that comprise a classic Bruce Trail hike!..it will also end with our largest ever Section completion celebration as five! members will tick the box for Beaver Valley...a very exciting day lies ahead...

Having dropped some cars at the end in early morning sunshine, we shuttle over and assemble in the parking lot at Metcalfe Rock on 10th Line...it's the same crew as yesterday...myself, Nancy, Peter, Steve R, Lesley, Michael, Marleen, Andrew, Grace, Sandra, Laura, Frank, Doug (H.C), Andrea, Catherine, and Ron B...we are ready to take on this day!

After yesterday's mixed bag of weather, it looks like today is shaping up to be a fall classic...there are still some large, somewhat ominous looking clouds lurking about, but they just add to the dramatic autumnal sky...

We begin our descent into the Mill Creek Valley and it is soon evident that yesterday's rain has left the trail a challenging mix of mud and wet leaves...extra caution is required to navigate some very steep steps that lead down to the valley floor...

With only a minor slip by one hiker, we manage to safely make it down and are rewarded with a few minutes on the wonderfully constructed Mill Creek bridge, the architect of which obviously had group selfies in mind during its design...the angular element providing perfect positioning for this classic shot...

We are revelling in the perfect conditions for our last hike in this area for the year...it will be a long day, but where else would you rather be?..

We are now passing through the Duncan Crevice Caves Provincial Nature Reserve, part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System...

Beautiful scenery and great company with whom to enjoy it...that combination will bring a smile to your face...

Today is a hike photographer's dream (and thank you to those who contribute to this blog)...so many wondrous scenes to capture...but we also have to keep focused on the trail!..

There are some natural wonders on the trail for which pictures cannot do justice, no matter what angle you try (and I try many)...Pinnacle Rock is one of those locations...you simply have to experience it in person...such enormity in this silent behemoth...one highlight of many today.

There's a short but technical climb to deal with...our H.C does a great job, as usual, of making sure we all (especially his partner) make it up safely...

Our climbing efforts are soon rewarded with this breathtaking view to the east...

While it's only a few minutes spent in admiration, the impression this view leaves will last much longer...a scene we wait all year for...

There's a weird small grove of tilted stick-like trees as we emerge from the woods...I would lean towards thinking they are harvested for making pencils?..

Our day just continues to get nicer and nicer as we saunter (the best style of hiking) beside an open meadow...

We exit the park onto Side Road 10D (where a confused woman left her running SUV parked in the middle of the road at the top of a blind hill to grill us on what trails we had just done and where she could go)...I then give my updated sign interpretation of "child chasing ball into street" substituting the now far more common "person running into street staring at cell phone"...

Upon reaching one of our traditional resting spots in downtown Duncan, it's decided that we will take two shorter breaks today as opposed to one longer one in the middle...

We road walk up the Blue Mountains - Euphrasia Townline and re-enter nature just past Fox Ridge Road...the magnificent vistas just keep coming today...

We are passing through more BTC Protected Natural Areas, so vital to the long term preservation of this treasured trail...

After navigating a fairly large stream (there was an application permit posted back at the road for the future installation of a new bridge at this location and it is warranted), the trail rises to a grand plateau and a view to the northwest...

It's another great spot to linger and appreciate...

Eventually, we spill out onto Fox Ridge Road and begin another short gravel stretch to its end...

One last climb up the escarpment leads us to the most technically challenging stretch of trail for the day...we climb down a very steep descent and follow the base of an imposing cliff face, negotiating a series of jumbled rocks and groundwater streams along the way...classic Bruce Trail stuff here...

This is a top ten spot on the B.T for me...it has all the elements that transport you to a world trapped in time...

Andrew guards the entrance to McCluskey's Rock...the quintessential "between a rock and a hard place" place where a deep sloping crevice will take us back up to the top of the escarpment...

There's a pause at the top to regroup and catch our breath after a rather challenging yet spectacular bit of hiking...but the end is near and we eventually head onwards...

Our last "pause and enjoy" spot for the day is a lookout over Beaver Valley in the Ken Young Protected Natural Area...a well made sign shows that we are at roughly the mid-point of the entire Bruce Trail, but peculiarly, we are heading geographically southward on the Northbound trail...this would definitely confuse the Zax...

We arrive at the dropped cars on Side Road 7B and there's a palpable level of  excitement after what everyone agrees was an amazing day on the trail...this was my 3rd time trekking this route and it has never failed to impress, definitely one of my favourites...before we say our good-byes and start the ride home, there's a whole lot of celebrating to do as 5 members are feted for their completion of the Beaver Valley Section...

Congratulations to Michael, Laura, Andrew, Nancy, and Frank, on filling in one more big piece of the Bruce Trail puzzle...keep up the good work, your End to End goal is that much closer...and thanks again for sharing in our adventures in the world of Hiking With Friends.

The End

"A leaf rainbow"