Devil's Punch Bowl

It was a sunny, frozen Saturday perfect for a hike. Heather and I had never been to Devil's Punch Bowl in Hamilton, one of the higher profile of the city's myriad waterfalls. It's 2016. It's time.

Descending into the gorge, we met up with our old friend Bruce, the 890 km trail that follows the escarpment from Queenstown to Tobemory, and veered up the river to see the frozen falls. Walking gingerly on the ice covering the flowing water, we approached the bowl that spoke of a roaring waterfall of the past. This visit, it was beautifully ice covered, with a chute of water funneling through a tunnel of ice. We could walk right up to the mound of ice at the bottom and see the new ice slowly forming and building up.

The best view of the falls and gorge could only be witnessed this time of year by flopping down right on the river. I wished I had brought my camera and wide-angle lens.

Just as I was feeling there wasn't much left in the neighbourhood to see, Hamilton impressed once again. We'll have to check it out one day in the spring to see it in full force, but the winter provided a unique view to those most keen to brave an icy scramble to the bottom and over the river.

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