SHORTHILLS AND NIAGARA ESCARPMENT WEEKLY FALL PHOTO WALKS

 

Once again Leigh Dayboll will be leading Nature Hikes in the Niagara Region. Read on for more.

Shorthills and the surrounding Niagara Escarpment are beautiful to photograph this time of the year!  I am once again going to be running a (mostly) twice-weekly photo meet-up and walk in the various scenic areas around Shorthills Provincial Park and the Niagara Escarpment during the Fall 2015 photography season.  We will be offering a wide range of tours this year, from easy to strenuous (but never life threatening).   We will be shooting beautiful fall landscapes, wildlife and, hopefully, lots of colour.  I guarantee that you will discover many interesting spots and subjects that you would never otherwise find on your own.  

 

New this year: This year, the mid-week hikes will occur on "non-camera-club-Wednesdays" (meaning every Wednesday except the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month).  That way, every Wednesday this fall can be devoted to improving your photography skills.  The Saturday hikes will usually take about 2-1/2 hours and the Wednesday hikes generally take around 1-1/4 hours. We have some special mid-October dates planned in and around Niagara on the two most likely colour weekends in mid-October, so those tours may be a bit longer in length .  Hopefully, we will see some members up from the other local clubs for some friendly, competitive shooting. 

 

Come and join in on the fun!  Tentatively, hikes will be held on the three listed Wednesdays as long as the light is good and it is not pouring rain, and each Saturday morning (until Nov 19th) commencing at 9:00 am sharp as long as it is not pouring rain.  Don't let cloudy or stormy weather be a deterrent.  Those are often the best days to shoot fall colours and waterfalls. 

 

Here is my tentative calendar of events (be sure to check the Welland Camera Club Events Blog each week as dates draw near, since weather conditions and last minute changes are inevitable:

 

Saturday Hikes

 

Date            Time          Activity                         Rating                   Meeting Spot

 

Sep 17         9:00am        Old locks/Secord Trail   moderate                Old Lakeview Cemetery, Townline Road, Thorold (west of the Walker Bros quarry yard)

Sep 24         9:00am        Louth Falls Gorge          moderate                Louth Conservation Area Entrance, Staff Road, Jordan

Oct 01         9:00am        Rockway Falls Gorge    advanced                Rockway Community Centre Lot, 8th Avenue, Jordan

Oct 08         9:00am        Decew Falls challenge    advanced                Morningstar Mill parking lot, Decew Road, St. Catharines 

Oct 15         9:00am        Secret Fall Waterfalls     moderate                Shorthills, Wiley Road Entrance, Thorold

Oct 22         9:00am        The Pipeline                   advanced                Lions Club Parking Lot, Hwy 20, Fonthill 

Oct 29         9:00am        Final Fall Colours I        advanced                St. John's Outdoor Centre, Holland Road, Thorold 

Nov 05        9:00am        Final Fall Colours II       moderate                Shorthills, Eller Road Entrance, Thorold 

Nov 12        9:00am        Niagara Glen trails         advanced                Glen trails parking lot, (Niagara Parkway lot by spiral staircase), Niagara Falls 

Nov 19        9:00am        Woodend Cliffs             moderate                Woodend Conservation Area, Taylor Road, Niagara Falls 

 

Wednesday Hikes

 

Date            Time          Activity                         Rating                   Meeting Spot

 

Sep 21         6:00pm       Woodend ponds            easy/moderate       Woodend Conservation Area (outer entrance), Taylor Road, Niagara Falls

Oct 05         5:45pm       Canal Sunset                  easy                       Welland Canal access road and Holland Road, north of Allanburg bridge on Hwy20, Thorold

Oct 19         5:30pm       Lake Gibson Sunset       easy                       Morningstar Mill parking lot, Decew Road , St. Catharines

 

 

As always (especially for the moderate and advanced hikes) good water-resistant hiking boots are a must.  It is always advisable to carry a small backpack with a drink, a snack, spare socks/gloves, and a few first aid items. 

 

Feel free to email me anytime at jld-law@xplornet.com to receive any updated information and intel.   

 

I hope to see everyone out to at least a  few sessions!  

 

J. LEIGH DABOLL