HUMBER RIVER

For today's circular hike around the Humber River 37 adventurous hikers met at the Old Mill Station. Barry and Roger were today's leaders and had pre-hiked the route the day before prompting a note to be sent out to the members on the Blog List strongly recommending the use of icers and walking poles. 

Thankfully most of the participants heeded the warning and put their beloved icers on!

After imparting the day's info and stressing the need to stay behind Barry due to the lack of a clearly defined path we set of for the park and to find the Humber Trail with the temperature at -5 degrees

Entering Etienne Brule Park with Rosemary doing the count

Sitting below the surface of the snow was sheer ice requiring everyone to be extra careful 

Jutta kindly volunteered to sweep and can be seen at the back helping someone with their icers

While waiting we had a semi group photo

Finding a path through the white stuff

Huge chunks of ice jam up around the river's edge

In the middle of the river water was flowing copiously

It was a rare sight to see the group in single file

Winterscape

Bringing up the rear

A history lesson of the Lambton area

Lesson over, back on the trail

Dundas Street road bridge

Crossing the Humber River

Up the hill into Lambton Woods Park

The easy way to travel unless you are a dog!

Stanley legging it up the ravine

He made it

Diners at the Humbertown Plaza

Posing for a group photo at the street art under the Dundas Street bridge

Having fun putting the icers back on

These things are a pain in the rear!

It's a dogs life

Not the best weather to be riding in

Waterscape

Monument to the volunteer Fireman that lost their lives during Hurricane Hazel

Debating who can sit down

Up the hill to the finish

 The pub goers say goodbye to the rest of the group

Exchanging Icers for Beer Glasses

At the Dark Horse

Kevin gets the right beer

The distance from the start to the Pub

Despite the comparatively  short distance of the official circular hike of 9 km, most will agree that it was a decent workout due to the terrain conditions. Thank you to Jutta for her carrying out the job of sweep so diligently and to Rosemary for not counting in Gaelic.