The Challenge Begins

Sun. 4 September:  The Challenge Begins

Taking the Frontenac Challenge

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

The Frontenac Challenge is under way.  How many of today’s hikers successfully complete the challenge by the end of October remains to be seen.  This author has little hope he will be on the winners list.

Nevertheless, on a day that would be difficult to beat for hiking, what better way to spend your time than to explore the trails of Frontenac Park?  Our leader had arranged a full day for us.  We completed three loops of various length, hiking over fifteen kilometres of rugged woodland trails during the day.

One of the secrets of Frontenac Park is the discovery, around any given corner, of a piece of paradise.  The corner that comes to mind today was the one which revealed a beaver pond in an idyllic setting of trees and rocks.  Swimming across the pond were two beavers which quickly disappeared under the water.  At the same time a heron took silently to the wing, then resting on a more distant tree stump.  And in the water, three Blanding’s turtles of various sizes sat lazily on a log, their necks outstretched.  A typical scene in Frontenac Park.

The folks in the visitor centre had been busy all weekend listing the names of those hikers who intend to take the Challenge this year – eleven loops totalling about 120 kilometres during the months of September and October.  By the end of the day, a hundred and sixty eight people had signed up.  The parking lots were quite full yet we saw only a couple of dozen hikers on the trails.  But they were out there somewhere, working away at their list of loops.

We’re off and running – or walking.  Let’s see how we fare. 

On the Arkon Lake Loop

Sorry!  You'll have to take that trail to find the secret code

Shadows and sunlight

Western end of Arkon Lake

Tree stress - not early Fall colours

Heron

Blanding's turtles

Well-marked trails

The Challengers on a grassy ridge

Western side of Arkon Lake Loop

Heading out from the visitor centre on our second loop

Our leader points out the next loop

Beside South Otter Lake on the Doe Lake Loop

Something catches the eye...

It's a beaver.  Unfortunately I missed the turtle!

On the Arab Gorge Loop

The bench ahead provides a place to rest before returning to the cars