Fossil Glen Hike #20

Family Thanksgiving Hiking part 2. We're on the trail with the Trelfords this morning. We headed for the hikes listed as #20 and #21, Fossil Glen and Sutherland/Carnahan Nature Reserves. Listed highlights include fossils, crevices, and a settlers cabin.

We parked at the terminus of the Gordon Sutherland Parkway, (after it turns to a dirt road) north and a little west of Owen Sound.

Up and over the stile to begin with. I'm reciting "There was a crooked man, who walked a crooked mile..." to prove to everyone that I havn't just made up the word stile. It doesn't work, they still don't believe me!

We cross through a field of long dewy grass and milkweed pods. This is the main trail marked with white blazes. Thank you to the volunteers that mow these paths for us! It keeps our feet drier for sure!

We head down into the forest along the talus slope and quickly come to an interpretive plaque showing us some of the fossils we can look for that are plentiful here and also identifying some of the ferns we may see.

Armed with a few fern names, I'm determined to commit them to memory.

It is amazing in this section. Yes, as the name suggests there are lots of fossils visible. (some of them have even been marked with some pink ribbon to help us out!)

The escarpment rock is breathtaking. So mossy, so fern-y, towering crevices over our heads that go on for miles!

Drew is in his glory finding hiding spots. I start to get worried that we'll leave him behind and never find him again. He can get so far in and just sit quietly!

Drew does find a crevice that is more of a cave that we've "suggested" he climb through. Right after pointing out that there are most likely snakes in there, I'd hang out there if I was a snake!

Curiosity beats fear of snakes and he does it!

Thanks to the earlier signage I'm able to identify the Walking Ferns living in big groups on the rocks. Check that one off my list! It's not unusual in this area, but it is rare in the province.

Eventually the trail curves around and the Frank Holley Side Trail appears on the left to loop back towards the vehicle.

On this path we met up with the remnants of a settlers cabin. Tough land to farm I'd think! I don't envy them, or blame them from leaving this land to the moss and mushrooms.

The Frank Holley Side Trail shares a section with ATV's, and since it is the Sunday of Thanksgiving, we can hear them buzzing. Instead of walking along the ATV trail, we head back along the main trail to our vehicle. More time in the crevice and checking out the fossils!

This hike is maybe my favorite for crevices now. There are 3 way up on my list, Porcupine Crevice, and the trails behind Woodford are the other two!

We hiked for 4 km and spent an hour and a half exploring on October 12th.

"There was a crooked man,"

BY MOTHER GOOSE

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile; He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse, And they all lived together in a little crooked house.