Hiking with Friends

Iroquoia - 13.9 km (on Main Trail - not counting the side trail access) from Hillcrest Avenue to Felkers Falls. Ten of us hiked. Steve R. (photos), Lesley (photos) Diane, Frances, Annette (coordinator), Barbara, Renu, Georgia, Doug (photos and blog), and visitor Emma (Georgia's daughter). It was a dampish day but warming up to an afternoon high above 10 degrees C.  There was no  snow on the ground in Oakville, but here, in Hamilton on the edge of the Mountain, we really needed our icers!  Off we go, climbing up to the main trail, road walking along the Claremont Access and Arkledun Avenue to the Wentworth Steps ... ... and down we went, sacrificing all that climb.  But as you can see, we were all cheerful and enjoying ourselves. Then onto the Escarpment Rail Trail, gradually climbing until we stopped for elevensies at the lookout over this metal fabricator (originally a brickyard?). Shortly after this, we re-entered the bush and found ourselves climbing up and down, ...

  Guelph Line to Mount Nemo This week our 9.5km hike was in the Iroquoia Section from Guelph Line to Mount Nemo Conservation area.  Joining the hike were Doug (photographer), Diane, Barbara (HC), Georgia, Rita, Frances, Annette and Sandra (sweep). We tackled the long road walk first to get that out of the way and we were a very quiet group to start. We had a lot to focus on between the busy road and the fresh snow from the storm on Wednesday set us up for the first winter hike of the season. The sun was shining and we were sheltered from the wind with the snow like sand underfoot in places, a grand day for a hike! After the long road trek we arrive at the base of the escarpment with a blanket of fresh snow!  Off we go on the upward rock climb. Everyone took their time and made it up the rocky snow covered gap to the top of Mount Nemo conservation area.   Happy hikers pause for our bridge photo! Elevenses at the lookout with amazing views. The trail is snow covered an...

  Niagara Section - Kinsmen Park (68.5 km) to Grimsby Lions Community Pool (81.7 km) - Dec. 4, 2025. Hiking With Friends headed south to the Niagara Section this past week (after an reluctantly having to cancel last week due to weather) and took on a 14 km walk from Kinsmen Park near Beamsville over to the end of the section in Grimsby...it was our first full on winter hike experience...was it cold?...yes!...was it a challenge?..yes!...did we all make through safely and have a great experience?...well, you'll have to read the blog to find out! After dropping some cars at the Lions Park Community Pool parking in Grimsby, we head over to Kinsmen Park and after a round table discussion (without the table), assemble the 17 of us on a cold and blustery morning...there's myself, Rita, Barbara, Frances, Annette (H.C), Andrea, Faryde, Renu, Peter, Laura, Nancy, Ivan, Steve R, Lesley, Sandra, Donna, and (way in the back) Ron...a hardy group ready to face adversity, challenge, and the wi...