Part 8 – 1st Line to S Nottawasaga Concession 8– 359.8/890km

Part 8 was a weekend hike.

Saturday, September 21, 2024 – 20.5km-37.4km Dufferin Hi-Lands section

We got up early, around 5:30am, got ready and picked up my partner who then drove us to the start just outside of Boyne Valley Provincial Park. It was still dark out when we left as the days are getting shorter and was raining heavily en route, however had stopped by the time we got to our starting location. We started our hike at 7:40am and even though it was the end of September was pretty hot and humid out, even at this time of the morning. It was threatening rain all weekend so I ended up packing my fairly heavy but good raincoat, much to my regret as I never actually needed it and it added too much weight to my pack. That on top of the humidity and being tired in body and spirit made this weekend a really challenging hike for me, so much so that I even cut it short by 5km.

Starting off from 1st Line, you’ll make you’re way into the woods and cross the Boyne River before making a pretty steep ascent. Once at the top you’ll pop out into a field, and then again head back into the forest before coming out into another field where the Mulmur Lookout Side Trail is. As it was only 85m we took it only discover there’s not much of a lookout as the sumac has grown fairly big but there is a lovely bench at the end of the trail.

You’ll continue walking along the path that goes through trees and clearings before again crossing Boyne Creek and ascending gradually again. You’ll pass an old pickup truck decomposing on the side of the trail shortly before coming out onto 8 Sideroad, along which you’ll walk for a bit before again turning into the woods, which we did around 8:40am.

Despite the closeness of the humidity in place of the usual crisp fall temperature, it was a lovely autumnal walk through fields of asters and golden rod and forests with leaves starting to carpet the floor. Again, you’ll walk through a succession of woods and clearings, there was an amazing display of mushrooms in one tree in particular in this section. You’ll then cross over another little creek before encountering the Bibbulmun Track-BT Friendship Trail section. We got here around 9:15am and there is a lovely bench at this point. You’ll walk through the woods for awhile before ascending and then immediately descending a narrow and steep switchback before again crossing a stream. Shortly after you’ll cross another stream before making the ascent through a forest of coniferous trees.

You’ll eventually come out into a lovely meadow with wildflowers, butterflies and rolling hills. It was very hot, sunny and humid at this point. You continue along for a little longer through woods and clearings until you reach the parking lot off 1st Line East, which has a porta potty and 3 benches (!), which we got to at 10:30am. We stopped to rest here and saw a little toad and caterpillar friend. I was getting tired and my feet were starting to hurt at this point and despite this being one of our shortest hikes, it seemed really tough for me.

You’ll then exit onto the road and continue down a little ways before again turning into the woods at Rock Hill. This section was much rockier than the previous sections from this morning, as the name would imply, and the rocks were wet and slippery from the morning rain. You’ll come to a little limestone cliff, an outcropping of the escarpment which we hadn’t seen in a while. You’ll go up to the top and continue along beside limestone caves and crevices. Leaving the rocks behind you’ll continue on through the trees a little further before coming out onto 10 Sideroad Mulmur, a paved road going past corn and soy fields. After about 1km you’ll turn right onto Centre Road and see the old, boarded up church of Whitfield. We stopped here on the steps for lunch around 11:20am. The sun was beating down and it was so hot!

We left around 11:35am and continued along the dirt road past fields, farm houses and then through the woods. After a little more than 1km you’ll turn left into a narrower and rougher dirt road that descends past secluded houses. Take care of any cars coming along as the road is narrow and rough. Eventually you’ll hear running water and discover a streams has sprung up beside you and is accompanying you down along the road. After what seemed a very long time, we came to a sign indicating we were in the little hamlet of Kilgorie, which offered a bench. It was around 12:30pm and my feet were getting very sore and tired from my plantar fasciitis, but we only had about 2.5km left on our hike.

Following the paved River Road, you’ll come to a bridge over the Pine River, the trail turns into the woods just before the bridge and you’ll follow the river along until you reach the old powerhouse ruins. At this point in the hike my energy completely left me, I was drained and I found the rest of the hike very difficult. I crashed despite having recently had a snack and water and it was all I could do to finish the day, I just felt so tired which made it so difficult to push through the foot pain.

From the ruins you’ll turn away from the river and ascend a hill before again descending to the river and then exiting at River Road, which you’ll cross and go back into the woods, following the river again, which has some lovely rapids at this section. Climbing the hill you’ll soon catch a glimpse of water below. This is the pine River Fishing Area. You’ll make a steep descent, follow along the perimeter of the water for a bit before again turning back into the woods and making a steep ascent. At the top is the Bell Lookout Side Trail, which was only 200 m but I had no energy left and so regretfully passed up a lookout. Continuing through the woods, you’ll eventually come out onto a dirt road, which is the unimproved 15th Sideroad, by which I take it very few cars go on the road if at all, but by the mud tracks it seems that many ATVs and dirt bikes do, so take care as you walk along. This junction was the end of our hike for the day at 37.4km around 1:50pm, however, we still had to walk to our B&B.

We had booked a room at the Pine River Log Home B&B, and although it was only 2.2km extra walking from our end point, this section was so hard for me. I really did not think I’d make it. You continue along 15th Sideroad, turning left away from the trail. It has several steep ascents and descents before eventually meeting up with 2 Line West which heads north, however, there is a rough dirt track that leads south and eventually links up with the southern drivable portion of said road. Again many steeps ups and downs with rough, muddy terrain, but we eventually got to the B&B around 2:45pm and got our room, showered, ate the hard boiled eggs and bars we had brought for dinner and generally just passed out from exhaustion. We did have some very welcomed cups of tea and made friends with Hillary the cat and Toby the dog, both very friendly hosts. We fell asleep around 9:30pm, but not before a little spider tried to snuggle into bed with me.

Sunday, September 22, 2024 – 37.4km Dufferin Hi-Lands section – 1.0km Blue Mountains section

We woke up around 5:30am and got ready. We got a wonderful breakfast at 6:30am with toast, eggs, bacon and fruit and cereal. We left just after 7am and did the 2.2km back along the rough and muddy road and got back to our starting point at 7:45am and continued along 15th Sideroad for little bit before popping into the woods. The trail soon comes out again where 15th meets Prince of Wales Road. You’ll turn left onto the road and follow it along for about 1km before again turning into the woods. The path goes uphill along a narrow route before widening out a bit and crossing a lovely little stream. You’ll ascend again where you’ll come out into a little clearing with a bit of a view before again heading down through the trees and popping out onto to Prince of Wales Road again. We got here about 8:40am and continued along the road again for about 2km up and down hills and past farms and barns before turning off onto a rougher dirt road that goes steeply uphill, which is 20 Sideroad.

Continuing along for about 1km you’ll then turn off into the woods. You’ll continue along and eventually make a bit of a steep climb before the trees open up onto a lovely farm field. It was bright and sunny, but again too hot and humid. Some of the fields have cows in them and this section, which is someone’s private property has several little ladders, some two in a row, you have to climb over to get through the electric fences. There must have 8 or so along this section. At the top of the field is a lovely bench with a gorgeous lookout back over the hills. You’ll head again into the woods for a little bit before entering another field and walking through tall grass, which was wet from the dew, take care for ticks here as there’s really no avoiding brushing past the grass for a couple of kilometers.

Once again you’ll exit onto Prince of Wales Road, then cross to the other side and continue again through the woods. We got here around 10:40am. You’ll continue steeply downhill, over some rocks before entering a lovely clearing filled with sunshine and wildflowers. Entering the woods again, you’ll continue for a bit, crossing a stream shortly before exiting onto Centre Road. Turning left you’ll go up a bit before again turning into the trees. At this point my feet were really starting to hurt and I was very tired and had no energy much like the previous day. I was getting a bit concerned as we still had about 15km left on our planned route for the day. I really wish there were more benches along the trail as when my feet start getting sore, I really need to rest them for a bit or else I tired out pretty quickly.

Continuing along you’ll go through a small clearing before making a steep descent to Black Creek, over which you’ll cross. This creek was full of rushing clear water that looked so inviting! I did end up resting a bit on the boardwalk before continuing along the path, that makes a more gradual ascent along a wider path, which then skirts a field before crossing another small stream. You’ll continue along through the woods at the edge of farm fields, we could hear cows somewhere off in the distance, with a few steep ascents before coming out onto one of the loveliest spots so far. This little clearing gives a lovely view of the fields and hills and also provides a bench! We stopped here around 11:50am and had lunch. The sun was beating down and it was so hot and humid, so disappointing as the end of September is usually so refreshingly cool and crisp.

We started up again around 12:10pm, after brushing off a hitchhiking spider and caterpillar from my bag and continued on through the woods along the edge of the fields until coming out onto Dufferin Road 21 around 12:20pm. Take care crossing the road here as it was busy with curves. Entering the farm field on the other side you’ll make your way to the back of the field and enter the woods. Lots of apple trees around here with apples all over the ground. You’ll come out onto 1st Line EHS Mulmur and continue along the dirt road up and down hills, past fields and forests for about 3km. At one point the main trail heads into the woods running along the road and steeply ascends before eventually meeting up with the road again. Take care along this section as there are many dirt bikes and ATVs that use it.

You’ll then head off into the trees along the other side, descending steeply to cross a stream. There’s a very nice, clean log after the bridge on which to sit, which I had to. I was feeling very tired and sore and know that 8+km more was not going to happen for me today. I made the decision to cut our hike short by 5km, something I haven’t had to do up until now, but I was too tired mentally and physically to push through the foot pain like I normally can. It was about 1:40pm at this point and we now only had 3.5km left but it truly felt interminable.

Continuing along past the stream, you’ll climb back up onto the road and then eventually cross 30 Sideroad and continue again along 1st Line for about 1km past corn fields and go down and up a big hill right before getting to Mulmur-Nottawasaga Townline, which we reached around 2:15pm. You’ll turn left and continue along the somewhat busy road, down and up another huge hill with lovely views of the fields and hills. At the top is the 1880 Lavender Cemetery and a little ways further is the little hamlet of Lavender. We reached Centre Road/Lavender Hill Road in the centre of the hamlet around 2:40pm. This is boundary between the Dufferin Hi-Lands section and the Blue Mountains section. We’ve now completed 5 out of the 9 sections of the trail!

Continuing past the boundary you’ll then turn down the next street, S Nottawasaga Concession 8, which goes past some lovely homes before reaching a dead end. You’ll continue on through the woods and underbrush for a bit before exiting onto another little road. Crossing the road, the trail continues through the woods before entering the Noisy River Provincial Park. We stopped here at the road around 3pm, which is 1.0km of the Blue Mountains section. Originally I had wanted to finish the Noisy River section and end the hike at the exit of the park but looking at the terrain on the map, that section doesn’t look fun when you’re already mentally and physically done with a hike, so it’ll be added onto next time.

Gratefully changing into my flip flops, we waited for my partner, who picked us up around 3:15pm and drove us to the nearest Timmies to get some tea and Timbits. We arrived home around 5:15pm. This was supposed to be our last hike of the year but scheduling conflicts next year made it difficult to find the time for us to do four weekends, so we added one of next year’s hikes onto this year, which is in a couple of weeks. I really hope I feel more rested and better prepared, as next time, with the extra 5km, the hike will be just over 30km. I also really hope that we have proper fall weather for the next hike! Feeling very anxious for the next section.