The Passionate Hiker: The Cataraqui Trail (8): Yarker to Strathcona

Sat. 7 November: The Cataraqui Trail (8): Yarker to Strathcona

Victory! Completing the Cataraqui Trail

Success!

This afternoon, eight hikers strode across the finish line at Strathcona, marking the completion of our 102.2 kilometre end-to-end journey along the Cataraqui Trail. Starting back in April in Smiths Falls, we completed our mission in a series of eight hikes, averaging just over twelve and a half kilometres per leg of the journey.

We seemed to get stronger as we went along. Today, the pace was brisk, averaging four and a half kilometres an hour, including the time that we stopped for lunch.

Hiking in November can bring a wide range of weather. I had imagined that we might be forcing our way through a sub-zero snowstorm, or heading into the teeth of a gale with horizontal rain. Not today. The sun shone out of a blue sky, and a pleasant westerly breeze kept us cool as we raced along. This being Fall, the weather can change quickly, and by the end of the walk, the clouds had magically appeared, and it threatened rain showers. But by then, with perfect timing, we had reached the end of the trail.

This final leg of the journey was (literally) downhill all the way, the line dropping 66 metres (217 feet) from its high point on Yarker Road to the trail end at Strathcona. We paralleled the Napanee River today, although it only came into view, through the bare trees, towards the end of our journey. It was a pleasant trail, with long sections of low embankments across the fields and through the woodlands of red pine. We skirted the edges of two villages along the way.

The end of the Cataraqui Trail is somewhat disappointing, after the wonderful signage and mileposts along the way. It just seems to peter out at the Strathcona Paper Company mill, with no Cataraqui trail signs visible anywhere – a contrast to the fanfare at the Smiths Falls end of the line.

We could see where the line continued towards Napanee, but a large “Private” sign deterred further progress. Apparently there are moves to finish the trail to its logical end where it meets the mainline. That would be fitting.

Not that any of this bothered us. Our hike leader had put special thought into this last journey, and magically produced a box of delicious victory cookies (or some such name) and personalized certificates for each participant.

We had successfully completed our goal this year, and a proud team of hikers jumped into their vehicles for the long journey home.

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

Statistics:

Total Distance: 13.6 km (hike)

Height Gain: Negligible

Max. Elev: 144 m (472 ft.)

Time on Trail: 3 hrs. 1 mins.

Yarker: 10.06 am

Lunch: 11.55 am

Strathcona: 1.07 pm

Temp: + 9C

Weather: Sun then cloud. W wind.