Hockley Valley, Forks of the Credit and Nottawasaga Lookout

All three of these hikes I have documented in my AllTrails App, which serves as an invaluable tool for tracking my outdoor adventures. This app allows me to keep a comprehensive record of each hiking experience, including details such as the exact distance traveled in kilometers, the elevation gain, the duration of the hike, and even the specific routes taken. The ability to access this data helps me remember the specifics of each hike, even years later.

Hockley Valley

We completed this hike June 30, 2024. Hockley Valley is in the Caledon Club section of the Bruce Trail. This was a pretty easy hike with nothing too exciting happening. Hockley Valley is a very happening spot, as in there are lots of people on the trails. I assume this is because Orangeville is so close.

We covered a total distance of 5.7 kilometers over the course of 1 hour and 21 minutes. This journey was not only a test of endurance but also an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. Out of the total distance we traversed, an impressive 4.94 kilometers can be specifically attributed to the main Bruce Trail.

Forks of the Credit

We hiked Forks of the Credit on August 3, 2024. It is within the Caledon Club section of the bruce trail. Part of this trail was really great in the forest and then the last bit of it was in an open field. We did 6.6 kms in 1 hr and 30 min.

Nottawasaga Lookout

On August 12, 2024 we completed the Nottawasaga Lookout trail. It is within the Blue Mountains Club section of the Bruce Trail. This trail was relatively easy walking throughout however there were challenging sections that required climbing on rocks. I know some dogs are great rock climbers and my two are pretty good but depending on the severity of incline, rock climbing can prove to be very difficult. So of course, this left me with an interesting story that I get to share with you.

We were almost halfway through where the trail would loop back to the start but we reached a point where we couldn't go further because rock climbing was required. I was standing on a flat rock and the rock to climb up was just above my waist. Normally this would be fine and the dogs could clear this height. However, the flat rock I was standing on wasn't very wide. This means the dogs had to do a complete vertical jump; no speed or running could be involved. Ok, I needed to get creative here. There was no way around that I could see so it was either up and over or turn back. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm going to exhaust all options before I ever give up and turn back.

So my genius idea was: I thought maybe if I could lift Mia up, then I could climb up and then perhaps Oliver's willingness to follow would allow him to clear this height. Oh boy was I wrong.

Why couldn't I just lift both of them you ask? Well, the rock that I was standing on wasn't wide enough for Oliver and myself to stand on it. Oliver weighs in at 70 ish lbs and he does not enjoy being picked up so that adds more resistance to his weight. So there was no way for me to be on said rock, while lifting him from below, to then lift him up on to the above rock. Yes, I totally realize I lost you there. haha My point being, that unfortunately I don't have hulk genes and therefore could not assist Oliver.

Ok back to the original story, so I was able to lift Mia up on to the rock. I then climb up there and tried encouraging Oliver to make the jump. I should also note that because Mia and I are now on the above rock, we are taking up space for Oliver to land on the rock with us. Just another teeny tiny problem. I could see Oliver pacing back and forth trying to figure out how he could do it. You could see he was working on a plan and trying to think of a way up to join us. He never did make an attempt to jump and he proceeded in getting worked up. He became defeated and reacted by crying. So I gave up. We could not continue on and we would have to head back. I had tried everything I could think of.

So I climbed down off the rock and instantly made Oliver happy. I made sure to tell him he's a good boy and to thank him for trying. He did such a good job but I was asking too much of him. I turned back around to pick Mia up and place her down with Oliver and myself so we could head back to the start. Wellllll ... just to make things interesting Mia did not want to come down. It's moments like these where I wish I had Jared or someone with me. haha

Ok. Im not sure how long we were in this one spot for but it felt like forever. I had already spent a lot of patience with Oliver trying to convince him to make the jump up that I was becoming a little short now having to deal with Mia's situation. I'm trying to stay calm since once again, I have one dog down and one dog up. I tried convincing her with treats and nothing. Which is insane because Mia is so treat driven and will do anything for one. I was literally pulling her by her harness to get her closer to the edge, so that I could lift her up and down. She was resisting every pull of the way. I can understand from her point of view because all she sees is that there is a drop off, which I agree would be totally scary. I just needed her to trust me. At one point, as I'm pulling her harness to come towards me her harness looks like it's going to come off over her head. You have got to be kidding me! Eventually, my perseverance pays off and I finally get her down. Ugh, what a girl! Now with everyone down off the rock, we can now continue on back to the truck.

All in all, we hiked a total distance of 6 kilometers over the course of 1 hour and 40 minutes. This journey was not just a simple walk; it was an adventure that challenged all three of us. Out of the total 6 kilometers we covered, an impressive 3.4 kilometers were spent traversing the renowned main Bruce Trail.

Have you ever been hiking and reached a point in the hike where you couldn't keep going? Lets hear about it in the comments.

Thanks for reading,

Kendal

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