Genius Hour Project Week Two

Welcome to Decew Falls

Todays hike was to Decew Falls At Morningstar Mill in St. Catharines Ontario.
 I was looking at the difficulty of the trail. 
Here are the guidelines I was going off of:

Terrain (the physical features of the trail)

Steepness (how many hills there were)

Base (mud, clay, rock, dirt, wood) 

Accessibility (wheelchair, adults, children)

Each category will be rated on a scale 1-5 and Each trail will get an overall rating. The higher the rating on a scale of 1-5 the more difficult the trail. The lower number is wanted unless training for something or for pushing limits. Each trail is based on 9 different ratings totalling a score out of 45. 45 out of 45 being 100%. 

We did the Decew Falls Loop Today. 

Terrain: The terrain at Decew Falls ranges from extremely difficult where you have to use a rope and repel down the side of a cliff, to a trail that is very well packed down. The trail can be easy if you follow the beaten path and take the longer route. If you take the quick route to the waterfall it takes strength and endurance. 

Steepness: Again this trail varies, the steep cliff to get to the waterfall is quite big, but you can take the path and it is slow incline and declines. 

Base: the base is small gravel and very fine and compacted, the trail to the actual falls is quite muddy and has many different obstacles across the path including rocks, stumps, trees and running water.

Accessibility: The path is accessible to an extent for wheelchairs and children. The path to the falls I would not recommend for children as it is difficult even for adults who are in shape. 

Terrain

physicality 4

Obstacles5

Footwear4

Steepness

hills 4

Base

material 5

length 4

Accessibility

Wheelchair3

Adults 4

Children 5

Overall Trail Rating = 38/45 =  84% 

Overall this was my favourite hike, it was a challenge and felt rewarding when it was over. I liked that there were different options for different difficulty levels and the view at the bottom was beautiful.