Come Hike with Me Again

Two weeks ago I hiked the Hockley Valley Nature Reserve and found peace among the trees. This weekend I explored the Nottawasaga Bluffs, part of the Bruce Trail near the Blue Mountains. Although I mainly enjoy posting my hiking photos on the blog because I endorse spending time in nature as a way to stay physically and mentally healthy, I also wanted to share these images to be able to highlight the value of keeping our natural wonders intact. See the third picture? It shows the entrance to crevices that were formed thousands of years ago when water would pool in cracks in the rock and then expand when freezing over the winter. The pressure that the ice exerted on the rock forced the cracks to widen into fissures, then crevices, as you can see in photos 4 and 5. One of the deepest caves goes down ten metres and has four levels, the lowest of which is cold enough that it is covered in ice throughout the year. Being able to explore geological history like this is priceless. I wish we could make a greater effort at protecting our conservation areas, and increasing their size and number!

Come Hike with Me

To make sure I relax away from the computer, I don't usually post on weekends. However, today I went on a lovely day hike, which despite the physical strain is one of the most relaxing activities I enjoy engaging in! Now that bug season is over, the leaves are starting to turn, and the temperature is at that optimal level (not too hot in open fields, not too chilly in shaded forests), I long to go hiking pretty much every day. This time I chose a 4.5 km loop hike in the Hockley Valley Nature Reserve. The scenic views, fresh forest air, and random encounters with cows on adjacent properties (see below) made me very happy, and I was really glad to reconnect with nature and feel grateful for the protected wild areas we still have. If only we could conserve more of it. Enjoy the photos!