I don’t get out to Grimsby very often. But when I do, the Niagara Escarpment calls out to me. There is just something about running up Hamilton Mountain and doing so through a network of trails. It is challenging and beautiful. I love it.

This is a trail map of the route I usually take.

The trail is really nice and works its way through several different terrains.

There is one section of this trail that requires getting over a fence.

The fence is there to protect children who play soccer on this field. You can see the collectors lane of the highway at the top of that hill.

This is a stile. It’s basically a double-sided ladder that helps you get over the fence.

The problem I had with my trail run this weekend was that this stile wasn’t there. The trail marking sign was still there but the stile was gone.

My first thought was that they had rerouted the trail. I ran up the hill beside the fence just to the left of this older photo where . . . I was met with an even taller fence.

I had no choice but to climb the fence myself. I really wanted to run all the way up the escarpment and I wasn’t going to let the absence of a stile stop me.

Once I got over the fence, I was able to rejoin the trail. You can see the blue trail marking on the tree and how this route lets you go underneath the busy highway.

It was a nice run but I am still left with a few questions . . .

Did someone remove the stile because it was damaged?
Will they be replacing the stile?
Do the people who maintain the trail even know it’s gone?

and

Who Stole My Style?

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that pun!

More photos of my run up the Niagara Escarpment

• I Ran Up The Escarpment
• Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
• Waterfront Trail