Date – November 24, 2013
Location – Map 20 Primrose and Map 21 Black Bank
Distance – 16 km
Total Trail Distance – 524.8 (369.2 to go)
Hikers – Steve, Simon, Dean, Marlene, Benjamin, Harold, Janette,
Madeleine, Kent, Julian, Sue, Benjamin, Therese and Kai
Start – 36.9 Prince of Wales Road, Dufferin Hi-Land Section
End – 52.9 1st Line EHS
Direction – North
It's a cool, bright
day in late fall — perfect hiking weather. But as we head north we are
surprised to see snow drifts already (we could have figured it out but didn't
think to check). Then, as we near our destination it starts to snow, and what
started as a fall hike ends up being a winter hike — a dreadfully difficult
winter hike. Memo to self: check the weather conditions at destination BEFORE
leaving for a hike!
We have a nice big
group, joined for the first time by Julian and Sue and their three children:
Benjamin, Therese and Kai.
It's cold and
difficult slogging. We eat our lunches standing up, and the water lines in our
packs freeze.
In open places,
especially along farmers' fields, the wind-blown snow is deep. In some cases
it's knee-deep, which makes being the lead hiker a gruelling slog. It's also
getting darker and colder. Some of us wonder if this was a good idea.
But the scenery is spectacular and
it's a good day — until the hike is over and most of us have to wait a VERY
VERY VERY long time for the reconnaissance vehicles to get back to us. Night is
falling and we are cold, so very cold. Ben and Simon fail in their efforts to
make a fire and we resort to huddling in a circle and stomping our feet,
penguin style.
 |
| Harold was tired and wanted to rest. |
