I'm at my parents house for the week. Should be nice to not have to get up early everyday until the 31st. I'm excited.
Nothing major set for the next week. Most likely a whole lot of nothing. I'm quite ok with that.
Out.
T.
22.12.07
19.12.07
i'm that cool
So today marked a new high. I was referenced as a blogger of some substance by one of my friends.
It really makes me glad to think that someone considers myblog a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the whole blogosphere.
Sigh...
You win some days, you lose some days... today, I win. And I'm ok with that.
Out.
It really makes me glad to think that someone considers my
Sigh...
You win some days, you lose some days... today, I win. And I'm ok with that.
Out.
12.12.07
done!
I'm done Psychology... and I passed! Woo!
Now to tackle the ever-elusive DE... and then I'll be done my pre-requisites for applying to grad school. Whee!
Out.
T.
Now to tackle the ever-elusive DE... and then I'll be done my pre-requisites for applying to grad school. Whee!
Out.
T.
2.12.07
hike
Here's the account of the Walter's Falls Loop. In the Bruce Trail Guide 24th Edition, it is on Map 29 in the Sydenham Section of the trail.
According to the Bruce Trail website, this is one of the 40 recommended hikes for their 40th year of operation.
The hike itself in the summer would be a fairly easy hike, only about 5.3 km in length, however with the addition of 6 - 8 inches of snow as an average, it put itself into a more moderate level (basis coming from unseen rocks, potholes, fences, and slippery conditions throughout.)
The hike suggestion was to do it in reverse (which in hindsight was good because the trail conditions weren't that great near the end - only in snow. Trail markings were good.) so we did.
Here's the map:
We started at the S (for start). The parking lot was at the Inn at the Falls in Walter's Falls. Fairly sizeable lot with an easy walk to the brim of Walter's Falls (very pretty) (reference 1). From there, the trail markers are easy to find and follow. So we did. The first part of the trail (reference 2) was a stroll along the side of the valley with occasional views of Walter's Creek. It was a fairly easy walk with a few places that I had to test before I put my weight on just in case I fell. Didn't happen here.
After about 1.5 km, the trail came up to the road, crossed it, rose up the opposite bank, and went along a fence for a while. Then it came out to a T-Intersection of two other roads where you crossed and entered the Walter's Creek management area. Here is where we left the main trail and followed the Walter's Creek Side Trail (blue blazed) (Reference 3). For the most part, it was an easy walk through the woods, despite the depth of the snow (approx 8 - 12 inches in these parts because of the open area). I hit a groundhog hole and fell. Stupid groundhogs. Why would anyone pick one up?
After the 1 kmish trail, we crossed a bridge over the creek and turned left onto the main trail. Following the trail back toward Walter's Falls, it was a really nice walk, such as the area on the north-east side of Speyside (reference 4). Reference 5 is a field where we lost the trail markers. They were fairly well marked until about half-way through the field where there was one on a post and then nothing. We walked up the field and there was nothing there. We looked down the valley and there was nothing there. I fell into a larger hole here (most likely off a fence I didn't know was there). So, after some deliberation, we turned around and came back to the road, where we walked around the corner to meet where the trail came out of the section we couldn't find. Upon first glance, the area looked fairly thick. Oh well... in the summer I'll try again.
The last section was a great section of trail with more ups and downs, but harder because there wasn't a track and the snow was still in the 8 - 12 inch deep range. There was sort of a rut where someone had gone through before, but it was covered in snow. (Reference 6). This happened for a while along the banks of the creek, and then we rose out of the valley (Reference 7) via a few switch backs and stairs that were covered under more snow.
At the top of the hill, we rounded a big wooden thing and a few pieces of heavy equipment, crossed a field, crossed the bridge at the top of the creek and ended up in the Inn for lunch with VERY TASTY hot chocolate - a close rival to Carnation in taste quality. The food was good portions, but overpriced. Oh well... that's what you get at a fancy inn.
Total hike time = approx 2 hours (probably closer to 1.5 without snow or detour)
Recommended: Yes. In the Winter: No. Unless you have snow shoes or good winter boots (and water... always take water... why I forgot this time, who knows...)
For pictures, see this album.
According to the Bruce Trail website, this is one of the 40 recommended hikes for their 40th year of operation.
The hike itself in the summer would be a fairly easy hike, only about 5.3 km in length, however with the addition of 6 - 8 inches of snow as an average, it put itself into a more moderate level (basis coming from unseen rocks, potholes, fences, and slippery conditions throughout.)
The hike suggestion was to do it in reverse (which in hindsight was good because the trail conditions weren't that great near the end - only in snow. Trail markings were good.) so we did.
Here's the map:
We started at the S (for start). The parking lot was at the Inn at the Falls in Walter's Falls. Fairly sizeable lot with an easy walk to the brim of Walter's Falls (very pretty) (reference 1). From there, the trail markers are easy to find and follow. So we did. The first part of the trail (reference 2) was a stroll along the side of the valley with occasional views of Walter's Creek. It was a fairly easy walk with a few places that I had to test before I put my weight on just in case I fell. Didn't happen here.
After about 1.5 km, the trail came up to the road, crossed it, rose up the opposite bank, and went along a fence for a while. Then it came out to a T-Intersection of two other roads where you crossed and entered the Walter's Creek management area. Here is where we left the main trail and followed the Walter's Creek Side Trail (blue blazed) (Reference 3). For the most part, it was an easy walk through the woods, despite the depth of the snow (approx 8 - 12 inches in these parts because of the open area). I hit a groundhog hole and fell. Stupid groundhogs. Why would anyone pick one up?
After the 1 kmish trail, we crossed a bridge over the creek and turned left onto the main trail. Following the trail back toward Walter's Falls, it was a really nice walk, such as the area on the north-east side of Speyside (reference 4). Reference 5 is a field where we lost the trail markers. They were fairly well marked until about half-way through the field where there was one on a post and then nothing. We walked up the field and there was nothing there. We looked down the valley and there was nothing there. I fell into a larger hole here (most likely off a fence I didn't know was there). So, after some deliberation, we turned around and came back to the road, where we walked around the corner to meet where the trail came out of the section we couldn't find. Upon first glance, the area looked fairly thick. Oh well... in the summer I'll try again.
The last section was a great section of trail with more ups and downs, but harder because there wasn't a track and the snow was still in the 8 - 12 inch deep range. There was sort of a rut where someone had gone through before, but it was covered in snow. (Reference 6). This happened for a while along the banks of the creek, and then we rose out of the valley (Reference 7) via a few switch backs and stairs that were covered under more snow.
At the top of the hill, we rounded a big wooden thing and a few pieces of heavy equipment, crossed a field, crossed the bridge at the top of the creek and ended up in the Inn for lunch with VERY TASTY hot chocolate - a close rival to Carnation in taste quality. The food was good portions, but overpriced. Oh well... that's what you get at a fancy inn.
Total hike time = approx 2 hours (probably closer to 1.5 without snow or detour)
Recommended: Yes. In the Winter: No. Unless you have snow shoes or good winter boots (and water... always take water... why I forgot this time, who knows...)
For pictures, see this album.
the weekend
A few highlights from my trip away:
1. The snow-squall like conditions on the road between Fergus and Orangeville. 4-6 inches of snow, ruts where the people in front of me drove, and blinding whiteouts at times. Woo
2. Awesome Bed and Breakfast. Very nice quarters, comfortable bed, excellent view out of bay window of stream / waterfalls, nice property. Quiet. Lots of sleep.
3. Walter's Falls - it's nice. The stories go that if you don't get lost finding it, you'll get lost finding your way out. I did not get lost (I had a local who was of lots of help - thanks Amy!).
4. Hiking the Bruce Trail. Supposedly there's a complete loop around Walter's Falls, but for some reason, we couldn't find the blazes after hiking 3.5 - 4 km out of the 5.5 km loop. So we had to backtrack through the 6 - 8" deep snow and continue on from the road. I'll upload a map eventually.
5. Safe travels home. The roads were clear on Saturday for the most part. Some slush, but not nearly as bad as Friday's trip up.
It was well-needed.
I decided it was safer for me to not attempt the drive to Breslau this morning, so after a quick e-mail to the pastor, I hopped back in bed. It's been an ok day.
Woo.
Link to pictures from the trip:
Out.
T.
1. The snow-squall like conditions on the road between Fergus and Orangeville. 4-6 inches of snow, ruts where the people in front of me drove, and blinding whiteouts at times. Woo
2. Awesome Bed and Breakfast. Very nice quarters, comfortable bed, excellent view out of bay window of stream / waterfalls, nice property. Quiet. Lots of sleep.
3. Walter's Falls - it's nice. The stories go that if you don't get lost finding it, you'll get lost finding your way out. I did not get lost (I had a local who was of lots of help - thanks Amy!).
4. Hiking the Bruce Trail. Supposedly there's a complete loop around Walter's Falls, but for some reason, we couldn't find the blazes after hiking 3.5 - 4 km out of the 5.5 km loop. So we had to backtrack through the 6 - 8" deep snow and continue on from the road. I'll upload a map eventually.
5. Safe travels home. The roads were clear on Saturday for the most part. Some slush, but not nearly as bad as Friday's trip up.
It was well-needed.
I decided it was safer for me to not attempt the drive to Breslau this morning, so after a quick e-mail to the pastor, I hopped back in bed. It's been an ok day.
Woo.
Link to pictures from the trip:
 |
| November 30, 2007 |
Out.
T.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)