Iroquoia Section - Hillcrest Ave. (37.1 km) to Felker's Falls (23.2 km) - January 30, 2025.

 Iroquoia Section - Hillcrest Ave. (23.2 km) to Felker's Falls (23.2 km) - January 30, 2025.

Hiking With Friends was looking to put January "in the books" and what better way than with a trek in the "Hammer" as we took on the 14 kms or so from Hillside Avenue in the heart of the city, southeastward to Felker's Falls Conservation Area...full disclosure: the map above (copied from the B.T app) does not accurately reflect the actual route we took...but more on that later...

For now, let's focus on the fact that 22 hikers, after dropping some (o.k, a lot) of cars at the playground parking lot at Felker's Falls, coalesced on the crest of hill on Hillcrest Avenue in Hamilton in anticipation of a great walk ahead...myself, Ron B, Frank L (welcome new hiker), Doug (H.C), Lesley,  Marleen, Barbara, Grace, Sandra (Sweep), Annette, Andrew, Frances, Catherine, Donna, Rhonda, Laura, Rita, Peter, Faryde, Frank C, Renu, and Ivan...our group has grown quite a bit recently, might have to rename it "Hiking with Friends, and Friends of Friends"...who knew how much the love of hiking could bring so many together and create so many new connections?..

What's most important today is to  stay connected to the task of moving together safely in what is likely the most densely populated area through which the Bruce Trail passes...our first challenge, after a short climb, is the busy crossing at Beckett Drive...

If you are looking for classic natural escarpment features that characterize much of the Bruce Trail, this is not the hike that would provide the most, or best, of those...this little area is probably one of the more interesting that we will experience today...a recent light snowfall has provided the perfect conditions for "trail ice"...but we are prepared!

What we are not prepared for however, is this posted sign, after traveling along Claremont Access and expecting to connect up with Arkledun Avenue...it dictates that there is an end-to-end reroute and provides directions on how to rejoin the main trail at Wentworth Street (near the infamous staircase). There is no mention of this shift on the app, but we decide to follow instructions...a subsequent google search when I got home revealed the sign "may" be outdated however...

 Regardless, it was in the end a choice of the high road versus the low road and we went low...not quite the same view, but mostly flattop in either case...and we avoided the staircase (even if it was going down)...

 So as I mentioned at the start, the map route was not truly representative of our actual hike...the above depiction is "the real deal"...

the elevation profile at the base of this picture reveals that we will climb 370 meters today, a significant workout...but it's okay, Doug has reversed the direction of the hike from previous ones (most recently February 22nd, 2024) in order to have "the wind at our backs"...unfortunately (or fortunately), the anticipated 50 km/hr gusts have not materialized...it turns out that there will, however, be an additional 50 vertical meters to climb going in this direction...so either way, we are going to get  "winded"...

The temporary route we are impelled to take has trail conditions that are characterized by bare concrete with occasional ice patches...not "icer friendly" per se, so those are removed...fortunately, 22 hikers strolling along Young Street in Hamilton doesn't even raise an eyebrow...

A break at Corktown Park has the added bonus of washrooms!..there are numerous whimsical yet relevant hand drawn pictures affixed to the fence warning of the dangers of the nearby railway tracks...others take the opportunity to just "let it slide"...

Hey, look at us, we are legit back on the Bruce Trail again with white blazes and...homeless encampments...part of "hiking in the Hammer"...

After a short refreshment break and crossing the bridge on the Escarpment Rail Trail at Kenilworth Access, we get to reenter the woods proper for an extended period...

We have kept it together pretty well today as we regroup at the Kenilworth Stairs (which we do not have to take)...we are getting better at moving larger numbers "en masse", which is a credit to the efforts and leadership of our valuable Hike Coordinators...we appreciate your resolve to maintain the "all for one" group ethic of our HWF experience...

It's the Red Hill Valley Gang!

The Stark Contrast...

after passing the inspiring Bear Meeting Place, created in 2014, we enter the dystopian world of freeway underpasses and looming power behemoths...

It takes almost all the energy we have left to power up the one last big hill on old Mount Albion Road...eventually, we reach a nice wide, level conservation path, and from there, it's smooth sailing...

There's one last moment of wonderment to behold at the frozen beauty of Felker's Falls...then it's a scurry to the cars and the satisfaction of having had a great hike together...with or without the wind!

The End

It's What We Do.