Niagara Weekend Getaway | DAY 2: (Pt. 2) Ball's Falls + Niagara Bench Lands Winter Winefest

Read Part 1 HERE !

Eventually, we made our way to Ball's Falls.
Little did we know that our chosen weekend for hiking had coincided with the Niagara Bench Lands Winter Winefest.

​A member of security greeted us at the entrance, and informed us of potential hiking restrictions due to the event. The asphalt lot had been allocated as reserved parking for the Winter Winefest, though it was hinted that there wouldn't be penalties for utilizing it for our intended objective.

Entry onto the Holiday Trail was designated via bulb lights along the path. They would line the weaving Switchback Trail, then diverge onto Cataract Trail over the channel.

I had paused momentarily to hunt for washroom facilities, only to discover the horrendous fate of the conservation building being locked. It was to be anticipated, though there weren't exactly any other plumbing facilities, indoor or outdoor, in proximity.

Opting to make haste, I stepped over the bulbs and traversed onto the south portion of Cataract Trail. Given the morning's mixed precipitation, the trail was not as user-friendly as that of Albion Hills following peak snowfall.

​The uphill sections had been dampened by a rain-snow mixture, causing the rocky surface to become slippery. At the very least, the surface has not frozen over, since temperatures hovered about the positive single digits with minimal gustiness.

​We passed by The Woolen Mill, a cute little photo spot overlooking the teal-beige waters beneath. Alas, given uncertainty of the ground conditions, I decided against venturing down for a closer view.

View the full album HERE !

​Upper Ball's Falls likely assumed the shortest hike of life, with even the sleepy polar bear declaring it be more reminiscent of a "walk". This was, in fact, a relief to me and my urgent washroom needs.

​There were two lookout points for the falls: a narrow viewpoint through a clearing edged in barren branches and a cobblestone deck bearing graffiti-covered warning messages. Observing frozen falls had been one of my goals of the hike, but timing wasn't right yet; water continued to flow under the above-seasonal conditions.

Extreme caution was summoned for the downhill trek, wherein slip and fall hazards could be fatal when combined with weak ankles.

A short section had been covered with wooden planks, likely to combat unstable ground conditions due to water permeating. The sleepy polar extended commentary that the planks had been lacquered too sleek, increasing chances of slipping. Tactile strips had been installed on top, though arguably insufficient in providing enough friction against wet surfaces. Though the concept of using matte finishes was consistent with health and safety knowledge, I paid little to no attention to this remark, for constant concentration was used to improve traction regardless of in-situ natural ground conditions and man-made inclusions.

As we routed back to the Holiday Trail, I contemplated the possibility of available bathrooms, for any event that serves food and drink ought also to have lavatories present. 

​Crossing over to the event grounds, we were permitted through the gates without proof of admission. From that point on, I made a beeline for the bathrooms. Three portable bathrooms and one fully-enclosed, unisex bathroom - complete with accessibility ramp - awaited me at the northeast end. Intensely grateful I was not only for sanitary, indoor plumbing, but also the fact that we had chanced across the event unknowingly. These stalls likely would not have been present under typical, event-free conditions.

​Heating lamps, festive décor, and a series of vendor tents could be found throughout. The winery stalls were of little interest to us, though we did undertake a brief journey of the indoor marketplace.

I successful persuaded the sleepy polar bear into acquiring black garlic in spread and powder forms. Creamy cheese curds were skimmed over (no pun intended), yet did not make their way into the basket. While curious, the quantity being retailed was far too great for the average household to consume before moulding.

​We caught a glimpse of a stand-up series/magic show within the Cozy Comfort Lounge, then decided it was time to return home.

​Though the Lower Ball's Falls didn't entail much of a walk, natural illumination was waning. I was keen to get back and unpack.

​With a crippling craving for dessert, I began to mentally explore options en route. The sleepy polar bear's suggestion of Mr. Puffs had me taken back, for the detour was hardly convenient and, worst of all, hardly efficient in maintaining my desired arrival time.

I settled for Two-Bite Brownies at Loblaws, and picked up a Gingerbread House kit while lodged in the same area.

​It was in high spirits that I returned to my humble abode. The brief weekend trip had been a relaxing, enjoyable breather from the pressures of daily routine.

The experience enabled me to conquer the remainder of the work week with eased tensions. Yet, of course, one can only escape reality for so long.

​Spendings of the trip were deemed reasonable, paving the pathway for future trips of similar time commitments. Packing and unpacking will forever be viewed as troublesome, but are manageable tradeoffs if executed at rare intervals.