Hilton Falls, Aug 24, 2020

 Visited Hilton Falls Conservation area in Milton, about an hour's drive from Toronto for a hike. Due to Covid, we had to book the time of visit in advance, online. (6.50$ per adult). Went without our usual picnic lunch as we decided in this hike, spur of the moment, about half hour before we actually left. Armed ourselves with coconut water, jackfruit, a box of raisins, cashews and roasted almonds and a couple of bananas. 

It was a hot day but we were quite sheltered by the canopy of maple trees Saw two falls and a large lake (Hilton  dam). While there were several visitors at one of the falls, there were virtually no one at the other falls. Of course, we could see this falls only from the top as the bottom seemed inaccessible. I was also surprised that there were only two women who came near the dam. It was a large lake/dam, possibly man made or at least it was surrounded by rocks which were definitely not the naturally occuring river rocks.  It was surprising to see zero people near this lake, after the crowd at the waterfall! 

Here are a few photos.

above...the  reservoir we had to ourselves as no people here at all! But we did not go nearer to this reservoir but   stayed on the road which ran on one side, about 20 feet above this lake. 

Above are 2 photos of the falls without any people . I wonder if the wood seen here across the path of the water was brought by  beavers or people. There is a beaver trail  on the map and so maybe these are logs brought here by beavers?

The yellow mushrooms stood out so brightly by the side of the path, one could not miss it! This other mushroom above was so thin and paperlike with a faintly colored edge to it.

Below: saw this guy walking on the road with his zillion legs!

Above : wormholes on wood ...patterns on wood made by larva while. burrowing through a piece of wood (google says it). I would like to see a video to  confirm that these patterns were made by worms/larve.

This stranger above walked easily from the side to behind the falls without getting too wet. Not too slippery  to walk either. 

Above and below are the remains of a building...a saw mill producing lumber in the past.

Above and below... I know I take the photos of the same things over and over in all these hikes but I so love these trees roots clinging so strongly to the limestone rocks and creating such wonderful patterns on earth...roots curving in all directions  while clinging to the rocks

Above: walking down the stony path of life ... only today!