Monday’s rain and subsequent deluge across Albion Falls that resulted in 10 people needing to be rescued by firefighters from the gorge is nothing new.

Heavy rain has resulted in problems around the east Mountain waterfall for decades.

“Group of hikers rescued from gorge” was the headline on July 17, 1998 above this story in The Hamilton Spectator:

A sudden rainstorm flooded the gorge below Albion Falls yesterday where a group of people including six young children were hiking.

The children, all of who were under the age of 10, and the three accompanying adults were rescued by firefighters.

A sudden rainstorm flooded the gorge below Albion Falls yesterday where a group of people including six young children were hiking.

The children, all of who were under the age of 10, and the three accompanying adults were rescued by firefighters.

"It was pretty rough. Water was coming out the sides. And it's all rock at the bottom there, so it was slippery, " said Lieutenant Mark Leger who led the rescue team of 13 firefighters.

The children were carried up the mountain and the adults were guided to the top with rescue ropes.

No one was injured.

The sudden rain yesterday afternoon caused a flash flood in the gorge which cut off the hikers' route back to the top.

The group was trapped at the bottom of the gorge as runoff from the above highway and the falls made it impossible for them to leave without help.

During the half hour rescue, the rain water rose two feet, said Leger.

"In some parts the water was up to our waists. They were all very brave, even the little ones, " he said.