Chinguaccousy Rd (2.0) to Pukering Lane (15.7) = 13.7 km
We actually did this trail backwards starting at Puckering Lane and ending off at Chinguaccousy Rd. We are now hiking in the Caledon Hills section.
We are only hiking this trail with 4 of us (Cathy, Tracy, Andrea and Sonya), as Judi was not feeling good and backed out at the last minute, and Jackie due to health issues was not scheduled to hike with us today.
This blog is being posted 8 months post-hike. There are a few reasons for that, one being that it was an emotional hike (and more emotional for some than others).
Although it is 8 months ago, it will always be memorable since it was the day we were not prepared and left vulnerable. But following this hike, all 6 of us do agree that we would not hike when conditions are not safe, or when we are not prepared. We choose to hike this backwards so that when we got to the highest point (Devil's Pulpit) we would hike it up instead of down (Judi had found a blog on the web and someone who hiked it had suggested that).
Hamilton at the end of January was beautiful and sunny and snowless. Caledon Hills on the other hand was not. We should have brought our ice picks for our boots/shoes. We started out hiking and it was ice with a light dusting of snow over top. We had some difficulty finding where we had to start on Puckering Lane as it was a small road with a slippery hill that Craig had difficulty climbing with the vehicle. Also there were no signs for the Bruce Trail, only to find our later on the Bruce Trail site that "blazes and signs may not be visible due to ongoing vandalism." We finally found our way, only later to find out that due to some construction the Bruce Trail had temporarily been rerouted and so where we thought we were hiking, we were not and later leaves us hiking on a closed piece of trail not really knowing where we were going, and in bad trail conditions. And never mind the large hills we had to climb, we were having difficulty standing on 2 feet on small inclines and even flat ground. All of us more than once were down on our back sides. :-)
Of course, we still found times to talk and laugh and enjoy each others company, but at other points there was tension, fearfulness, and tears. At the end of our hike when we were stuck at the Devil's Pulpit, our angel Shaun appeared with 3 inch ice picks on his boots and if it wasn't for him we were not sure we could have done it by ourselves. For sure this day was a reminder that we should never put ourselves in jeopardy, always research the area we are hiking, and prepare for the current conditions. Enjoy our pictures.
We are only hiking this trail with 4 of us (Cathy, Tracy, Andrea and Sonya), as Judi was not feeling good and backed out at the last minute, and Jackie due to health issues was not scheduled to hike with us today.
This blog is being posted 8 months post-hike. There are a few reasons for that, one being that it was an emotional hike (and more emotional for some than others).
Although it is 8 months ago, it will always be memorable since it was the day we were not prepared and left vulnerable. But following this hike, all 6 of us do agree that we would not hike when conditions are not safe, or when we are not prepared. We choose to hike this backwards so that when we got to the highest point (Devil's Pulpit) we would hike it up instead of down (Judi had found a blog on the web and someone who hiked it had suggested that).
Hamilton at the end of January was beautiful and sunny and snowless. Caledon Hills on the other hand was not. We should have brought our ice picks for our boots/shoes. We started out hiking and it was ice with a light dusting of snow over top. We had some difficulty finding where we had to start on Puckering Lane as it was a small road with a slippery hill that Craig had difficulty climbing with the vehicle. Also there were no signs for the Bruce Trail, only to find our later on the Bruce Trail site that "blazes and signs may not be visible due to ongoing vandalism." We finally found our way, only later to find out that due to some construction the Bruce Trail had temporarily been rerouted and so where we thought we were hiking, we were not and later leaves us hiking on a closed piece of trail not really knowing where we were going, and in bad trail conditions. And never mind the large hills we had to climb, we were having difficulty standing on 2 feet on small inclines and even flat ground. All of us more than once were down on our back sides. :-)
Of course, we still found times to talk and laugh and enjoy each others company, but at other points there was tension, fearfulness, and tears. At the end of our hike when we were stuck at the Devil's Pulpit, our angel Shaun appeared with 3 inch ice picks on his boots and if it wasn't for him we were not sure we could have done it by ourselves. For sure this day was a reminder that we should never put ourselves in jeopardy, always research the area we are hiking, and prepare for the current conditions. Enjoy our pictures.
it took us quite some time to find our start and then which way to go on the trail. From talking to others who do the Bruce Trail, we hear the same thing. Sometimes no matter how much you research and navigate where you are suppose to be, it doesn't always work out that way once you get there. Don't we know it!!!!!
So here it is - the Devil's Pulpit. Looking at this picture it does not look so bad but if you took an aerial shot you would get a better idea. The steps are snow/ice (which you can't see here since Sonya is sitting on the ground at this point), below us it continues to go down, at the top there is a hairpin turn. Shuan showed up just before this and helped us. He carried our poles, we used his ice pick shoe to brace ourselves against, and he talked us through it.
We hiked almost 14 kms which took us about 6 to 7 hours. Sonya hugged a tree at the top of the Devil's Pulpit and broke out in tears - it took her everything mentally to get up that hill. We realized that we had put ourselves in a bad spot and we thank God for sending us an angel that day to help us get up and out of there.