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Sat. 28 February:  The Mill Pond Revisited

Attempt at artistry

It always seems to be perfect weather at the Mill Pond.  These statistics are based on two visits!

Last December we came here on a calm sunny day.   It was even more perfect today.  The snow had accumulated since then, of course, and so our group split into two parties:  skiers and snow-shoes.  I had decided to take my snow-shoes today, and we took a longer, more challenging route around the rugged woodland. 

There was one snow-mobile track across the lake, but, unlike the winter highways across the larger lakes, this must be a calm backwater, winter and summer.  The Mill Pond would be an ideal gentle canoe or kayak trip once the snow melts (if it ever does!).

We made a short-cut across an arm of a small lake or swamp.  Here in the snow was a well-used hole disappearing under the ice, with animal prints all over the snow.  We later learned that this was a beaver which would come up each day for some exercise. Clearly it isn’t just humans who need a winter break.

There were other animal tracks to be seen, and some nuthatches and chickadees in the trees.  As we returned to the sugar bush, a keen-eyed member of our group noticed a porcupine sitting on a branch high up a tree.  I had no idea they did this – yet another fact learned on the trail.

We had travelled through the bare trees of the sugar bush, past the empty snow-covered farm buildings.  It cannot be too much longer before the sap rises, and this silent forest springs to life – a sign of Spring worth returning to see.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         6.0 km (‘shoe)

Height Gain:             Say 100 ft.

Time on Trail:           2 hrs. 2 mins.

Start:                        10.05 am

Lime Kiln Jn:            11.30 am

Ret. to cars:             12.07 pm

Temp:           Minus 12C rising to minus 9C

Weather:       Cloudless, no wind

The skiers set off - not to be seen again until the end

A silent Mill Pond

Over-exposed to accentuate the shadows

Tiny snow-shoes hanging on a tree stump

An enjoyable undulating trail

More striking shadows

We like to disobey signs sometimes...

...so that we can cross the swamp...

...where a beaver has been coming up out of the lake to play

Perfect day for a snow-shoe trip

Good signs all along the trails

Returning to the sugar bush camp

Porcupine high up in a tree

Old homestead

More Foley Mountain Fun

Sat. 21 February:  Foley Mountain Trails

Barred Owl (photo: www.larkwire.com)

On every trip I learn something new.

The highlight today was the sight of an owl flying across the forest.  It was thanks to one of our party, with incredible eagle eyes, who spotted the owl in a tree.  I would never have seen it.  It launched itself silently into the air, landing on a branch high up another tree. 

This was a barred owl, also known as a hoot owl (and also apparently called an “eight-hooter”!).  It has a distinctive call, and has stripes down its body.  These owls apparently nest in cavities high up in the trees.  Hunting by night, they feed on squirrels, mice, voles, even rabbits.  There is something special about seeing owls.  They are silent (except when hooting!), elusive, and of course striking to see, especially close-up.

It was, perhaps, this sighting that started a lively conversation, among the snow-shoeing party today, about which bird should be the National Bird of Canada.  It seems that there is a strong lobby for the chickadee – some of which we saw today – although the favourite appears to be the loon.

It was a vigorous trip today, around most of the trails of Foley Mountain.  We covered the blue, green, red and orange trails.  We travelled across the breadth of the park, dropping down to the interpretive centre, then further east beyond the summer beach.  Down at the interpretive centre, we stood around the picnic tables for a snack as twenty or so energetic young scouts arrived from a snow-shoeing expedition down to the Big Rideau Lake.  Our return took us back up the escarpment, breaking trail up the snowy slopes, before meeting the packed trails again.

It had been slightly warmer today, and a light snowfall was starting to accumulate on the ground (and on our heads!) as we returned to our cars.  We had not seen any more owls, but we were more than happy with our one encounter today.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         9.0 km (‘shoe)

Height Gain:             Say 200 ft.

Time on Trail:          3 hrs. 10 mins.

Start:                       10.09 am

Interp. Centre:         11.35 am

East End:                 12.15 pm

Ret. to cars:               1.19 pm

Temp:            Minus 9C

Weather:       Overcast, increasing snowfall

Spy Rock

Westport below

We started off following the Rideau Trail

Busy woodpecker - we saw a large pileated woodpecker today

First the Blue Trail, and now the Green Trail

At the Interpretive Centre:  our lunch stop

Busy young scouts were returning from their adventure

At the summer beach on Big Rideau Lake

Passing through a beech grove

Climbing Foley Mountain in the snow

Animal tracks filled by oak leaves

On Foley Mountain

Too late!  We went - and returned!

Mid-week Mayhem

Wed. 18 February:  Murphys Point Trails: Lally Homestead to McParlan House

Out on the Murphys Point trails

Mayhem!  Just down the trail from Lally Homestead was a large pile of feathers in the snow, and a set of catlike tracks leading from the scene.  It was obvious that a terrible event had occurred recently.  We concluded that a nest of grouse had been attacked by a predator and all residents massacred.

This was not the only sign of activity in the woods.  We could see many other tracks on the snow, some identified as otter, and others as tiny critters running around the forest floor.  There was a tiny cache of nuts (called a midden) and signs that a squirrel had jumped down from a tree, visited its hoard and then jumped back up the tree.  

Next to the footbridge at McParlan House was the greatest amount of destruction visible.  A beaver had come up the bank from under the ice of the lake, and had gnawed away at a tree, needing only a few more bites to topple the tree down the bank.  It had made a start on another tree closer to the lake.  Who says the woods are empty?  This place is full of industry, activity, and murder at night!

Our party was nicely divided into the cross-country skiers and the snow-shoers today.  The skiers took the lead, but the ‘shoers were not far behind.  The trail undulated through the woods, from the Lally Homestead down to McParlan House.  Much of the route was packed down, these being part of the Murphys Point trail system.  For a change, it was not so bitterly cold this morning, and the sun was shining in a hazy sky.

The skiers took a longer route back from McParlan, and arriving at the Lally hut, we found that the kind-hearted snow-shoers had started the fire inside.  It was a comfy place to relax for a hot drink and a chat.

Now after seeing the results of the mayhem along the trail, I think I will postpone any plans for a night-time skiing trip!

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         7.0 km (XC Ski)

Height Gain:             Say 40 ft.

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 32 mins.

Start:                        10.07 am

McParlan Ho.:         10.50 am

Lally Homestd:        11.39 am

Temp:            Minus 10C rising to Minus 7C

Weather:       Sun, some hazy cloud.  Hardly a breeze.

A mix of snow shoes and cross-country skis today

Crossing the field below Lally Homestead

Skiers in the lead...

...with the snow-shoers close behind

Stopping to check out the carnage

Predator has attacked a grouse nest with mayhem resulting

Tiny nest - belonged to a wren?

Crossing the bridge at McParlan House

Recent beaver work - tracks lead down onto the lake and under the ice

McParlan House - built in 1814

Back at Lally Homestead at the warming hut

Enjoying a hot drink in the hut - with a fire going

Heading back to our cars

Passing  beside the foundations of the Lally barn

Across the Lake

Wed. 11 February:  Lower Rideau Lake

Approaching Lower Rideau Lake

We walked across a lake today. 

Lower Rideau Lake is perhaps two kilometres across at its widest point, and about six kilometres long, and connects to the much larger Big Rideau Lake at the Rideau Ferry bridge.  We made a loop of about five kilometres out onto the lake and back to the shoreline near the yacht club.

Out in the middle of the lake is a sort of community.  There are dozens of assorted shacks and trailers which are towed out along the ice road to form an ice fishing “village”.  Each shack or vehicle is given an identification number so that the owner can be fined if they don’t get the building off the ice before the springtime deadline.  Ice fishing shacks can cost their owners a lot of money if they have to be salvaged from the bottom of the lake.

There was no danger of our seeing any open water today.  The ice was so thick that trucks towing trailers could safely drive out onto the lake – one was maneuvering his trailer as we watched.  It was another cold morning, luckily with the merest hint of a breeze.  We followed the ice road across the lake, towards a distant island.  Soon the shoreline receded to the far horizon as we strode out along the ice. 

On our return back down the lake, we chose a different route, closer to the shoreline, making tracks across the crusty snow with our snow shoes.  We reached the shore at a public beach which is apparently an idyllic swimming area in the summer. 

As we strolled back down the road we had a fleeting glance of some waxwings flitting across the bare trees.  Winter was still very much in charge.  That springtime deadline for the ice fishers seemed a very long way into the future.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         5.0 km (‘shoe) + 1.0 km (hike) = 6.0 km

Height Gain:             Nil

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 47 mins.

Start:                        9.55 am

Furthest pt.:            10.47 am

Ret. to house:         11.42 am

Temp:            Minus 13 to Minus 11 C

Weather:       Sun, some cloud moving in.  Hardly a breeze.

On the ice

Ice road leads to ice fishing shacks

Ice road junction

Ice fishing community

Looks a lot like a Rideau Trail sign!

This tiny shack even had curtains

Looking back up the lake to the island

Out on the lake

Great swimming area in summer

Clouds starting to build