Ridgewalk

Fri. 26 August:  Ridgewalk

Lots of dangerous holes to fall into

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

I can’t keep up with all this activity.

Just like my Rideau Trail end-to-end trip two years ago, this “blue trail challenge” has turned me into a fanatic.  This was my third trip to Gould Lake in just over a week.  If you have been there, you will know that it’s a little off the beaten track, especially when approached, as we did it, from the north.

Today our mission was to finish off the Gould Lake Blue Loops with a hike along the Ridgewalk trail and back along the shoreline on the main Rideau Trail.  In case you have not been following my previous blog entries, my goal is to hike all the side trails of the Rideau Trail, which are marked by blue (as opposed to red) triangles.  Why?  Because I want to find out what we are missing by often ignoring these side trails, and then to find a way to introduce more people to these lesser used routes.

The main feature of the Ridgewalk comes just before you drop down off the northern end of the ridge.  Here the trees thin out, giving fine views across the lake from our rocky perch.  We were perhaps only about a hundred and twenty feet above the water, but it felt a lot more than that.  The return beside the lake provided many more ideal viewpoints of lake and islands.

It was such a perfect day for hiking that we kept on walking, adding the Mine Loop and Spur trail to our hike. This loop I had completed only two days earlier.  It was just as spectacular the second time around.  As we cooled off our feet in the lake waters at the end of the Spur trail, a tiny frog hopped up on the rock, looking up at us with interest.  The sound of the loons echoed across the lake.

Back at the beach, a few families were relaxing by the lake.  The summer camp kids were racing off into the woods for a game of cat and mouse.  A short swim in the dark waters was the perfect way to cool down. 

I have several more Blue Trails yet to explore.  Gould Lake has set the bar high. 

Rideau Trail bridge

Reflections in the lily pond

There were little frogs everywhere

Superb new boardwalk replaces older version

Southern end of Ridgewalk

Climbing up the ridge

Past a large swamp

Ridge-top rocks

Some larger trees...

...but many, especially oaks, suffering from the dry summer

My hiking partner likes to point out the scenery..

..in both directions!

Northern end of the Ridgewalk

Back along the main Rideau Trail

An exciting section of trail

Spectacular views

Deep mica pits right beside the trail

Spot the friendly visitor...

Frog Friend

Triple Triple

Wed. 24 August:  Triple Triple

Gould Lake:  start of the east side blue loop

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Whoever heard of a “triple triple” prior to Usain Bolt’s recent Olympic feat?  Of course, I’m not counting those Canadians who might think it’s a super-sweet coffee from Tim’s.

Well, today, the Gould Lake Blue Loop trails, already gold medal winners from last week, earned their “triple triple” status.  Three loops and three gold medals.  Today’s two loops both conveniently started and ended from the Gould Lake beach, the first loop heading out along the eastern shoreline of the lake, and the second loop the western side.  The sections of trail beside the lake were narrow and ideally suited to twist an ankle.  And there were plenty of stiff, short climbs to give the hiker a good workout.  Both return journeys were along beautiful old wagon or walking trails, through bright green woods.

The highlights were the various rocky lakeside viewpoints, of breathtaking beauty.  A pair of loons swam back and forth, looking for small fish to eat.  A lone kayaker glided across the rippling waters of the lake.  We took off our hiking boots to cool our feet, and the water was warm.

The rugged countryside around Gould Lake was once an active mica mining area.  There were plenty of dangerous holes to peer into.  Some were dry, one was filled with green water, and another was inhabited by a large porcupine.  Some of these pits had fences around them, but not all - beware this trail in winter!

Back at the beach, a party of kids was returning from a kayak trip.  This was the type of day that kids remember forever, and talk about in their old age:  “It was sunny all summer long….”, “I beat all the others back to the dock…..” and so on.

So many reasons to award the Gould Lake blue trails the highest award, and to put this little paradise top of the list for another visit. 

One of several idyllic viewpoints

These trails are maintained by the Rideau Trail Association

Time for a swim?

One of several mica pits

Here at Porky Junction the two eastern blue loops meet

Setting out on our west side loop

Here we joined the main Rideau Trail briefly, to cross the swamp...

...before turning right onto the Mine Loop

Bright green woods

Loon 

Our lunch stop at the end of a spur in the middle of the lake

Breathtaking

Only one house to be seen on the entire lake

More green woods

Another mica pit

This signpost to distant Ottawa gives hope to the weary hiker 

Porcupine happily living in the bottom of a deep mica pit

The kids return from a trip on the lake

This old mica mining building acts as the Gould Lake barn

Gould Lake Gold

Wed. 17 August:  Gould Lake Gold

Exploring the blue side trails:
I wonder what the drama might have been behind these lost keys?

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

If this trail had been competing in the Olympics, it would have walked away with the gold medal.

Yet, how many people explore these trails on the east side of Gould Lake?  Not many I would guess.  Certain lakeside beauty spots along the route are popular with paddlers - we saw a few canoes today - and the main route of the Rideau Trail runs along the west side of the lake.  But on this east side, visitors are less frequent.  At night it falls silent, since there is no camping allowed at any point along the lake.

This adventure was part of my quest to hike all the “side trails” of the Rideau Trail, marked with blue triangle markers as opposed to the orange markers on the main trail.  I suspect that not many people have taken the time to walk every blue trail.  I am finding many hidden gems.

Our starting point was not easy to find. The blue trail marker was hidden in the trees beside Bedford Road, but we found it.  We marched north up the road for a few hundred metres, beside pretty Cronk Lake, before diving into the rugged Shield country.

So what makes a gold-medal winning trail?   This one was challenging – take a look at the elevation profile below.  It was picturesque in the extreme – several high rocky viewpoints overlooking Gould Lake, and perfect swimming areas at the water’s edge.  The trail glittered with little pieces of mica, and we passed several dangerous, but fascinating, holes in the ground where once the mica was mined.  Wildlife seemed unconcerned by our presence.  We saw an osprey, lots of tiny frogs, watched a loon catching and swallowing a fish, spotted two deer hiding in the trees.  We met no other hikers, but chatted to three friendly people in a canoe.  Four other canoes were heading across the sparkling waters of the lake.  The trail markers, especially at the junctions, made sure we would not get lost in this rugged, energy-sapping terrain.   The final stretch along the “wagon trail” was a perfect woodland stroll.  

Add it all up and you have a winner!

The early splashes of colour in the woods were not a good sign.  This has been a long, dry summer, and some of the trees have given up the struggle already.  Nevertheless, a return journey during the magical autumn season would guarantee another gold medal.

 

Good trail signs

Deep, dangerous mica pits

Long snake skin - rat snake?

Gould Lake:  Rideau Trail runs above the opposite (west) shore
This artistic photo courtesy of Nancy Gaudreau

A  tempting swimming spot

A tiny frog joins us for lunch

Catching a fish...

...and swallowing it

Rugged landscape - lots of climbs and drops

Another grand viewpoint - canoes can be seen across the water

Looking back to our ideal lunch stop on the point
Beautifully captured by Nancy Gaudreau

A woodland stroll back to the car