Collingwood Hikes - Blue Mountain

In an effort to continue "Macchu Pichu Hike Training" Nicola and I stayed for a couple of days at Cyndy and Jim's place near Collingwood. We were hoping to find some steeper hills than around my place, and we succeeded.
We headed to Blue Mountain figuring there had to be some steep ascents at a ski hill. A very nice man, in a parking lot, who overheard what we were looking for, gave us a trail map and told us that Cascades Trail had been recommended to him. As we were parking it started to snow, wet almost rain snow but thankfully stopped quickly.

This started right in front of the South Base Lodge and climbed up the "mountain"  between
two ski slopes.

The trail climbed up a lovely little ravine with a creek.

We came out onto the ski slope to a view over the Blue Mountain Village,
Collingwood and Georgian Bay. But we were less than half way up! No snow though,
it was sunny and cool.

The trail was steep and slippery and we were glad to have the treking poles.

The poles even made the stairs easier.

The views from the top were spectacular and we stopped and had some trail mix, walked
across a few ski slopes and then down a trail called Memory Lane.

This area was accessible from the trail and the ski slope.

The rest of the trail was very steep and muddy so we made our way, rather
uncomfortably, down the ski slope. 

As we entered the Village it started snowing again. We rewarded ourselves with lattes.
Prior to hiking we had checked out the Scandinavian Spa at Blue Mountain and that was our next stop. As a reward and to help the muscle aches we knew we would have tomorrow.

There were 3 hot pools and 2 cold ones, a dry sauna, a eucalyptus steam room
fire pits with chairs around, hammocks in the woods and meditation/relaxation rooms.

It was heaven. We tried everything but the dry sauna and then I settled into a routine of hot pool, quick plunge in the cold, eucalyptus, quick plunge in the cold etc etc. After a while I got so relaxed I was totally immersed in watching a leaf circulating in the water.

I used the hot waterfall to massage my shoulders and loved it when the wind swirled
the steam and you felt like you were alone surrounded by warmth , aaaaah.