Job Done!

Sun. 23 October:  Job Done!

The Frontenac Challenge completed

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Job Done!  I had set myself a goal, and today I achieved it.

Not that you’d call the Frontenac Challenge a “job”, but as its name implies, it does require some organization and determination to succeed.  This has been a team effort, and several of us completed our two final loops today. 

It had been raining and blowing for a couple of days, and the overnight temperatures had dropped to around freezing, but today was perfect for hiking.  There was still plenty of colour on the trees and at our feet, but there were also many bare trees.  We had completed our task with a week to spare, the deadline being the end of October.

The Passionate Hiker finds it quite impossible to take on a hiking challenge without resorting to statistics!  Here are some examples:

• The official eleven loops were completed in seven hiking trips. 
• The total distance hiked was 120.1 kilometres.  This included the loops themselves plus the access trails from the nearest parking lot. 
• We had as many as seventeen hikers on a trip, and as little as two. 
• Our average speed was remarkably consistent, ranging between 2.63 km/hr. and 2.99 km/hr. and averaging 2.85.  This might surprise many people who figure that four or five kilometres an hour should be easy.  Let them travel the Frontenac Park trails, with a group of hikers, and then they might understand this statistic.  Our goal was always to enjoy the experience, not to break speed records.

Within Frontenac Park lie many gems.  Not precious stones, but precious places.  Perhaps everyone has their own favourite corners of the Park.  This author certainly does:  spectacular viewpoints, scenic lakes, green swamps, turtle-covered logs, sturdy boardwalks, dogs with back-packs, friendly fellow hikers, the breathtaking transformation into red and gold.  And so much more.  These are memories which will last.

Now all that remains is to return one last time to join in the celebrations.  Perhaps we’ll see you there too?

Our leader pointing out today's route, a low sun glinting through the trees

Lakes of molten silver...

...with golden trees

Anglers brew up beside Tetsmine Lake

Hidden gem on east leg of Hemlock loop...

...Fall colors still at peak here

Heading beneath a golden canopy

Lunch beside a swamp, the gusts of wind racing across its surface

One lone turtle takes a final breath of air before heading into hibernation

Load-testing the bridge over Moulton Gorge

Clearwater Lake

On the final leg

Above Kingsford dam

The hiker's code:  leave no trace but bring chocolates!

Today's route:  the last two loops

The joys of Fall in Frontenac Park

Magic Carpet

Wed. 19 October:  Magic Carpet

Like a painting

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

I took a ride on a magic carpet today.  It whirled me around Frontenac Park on a route that I bet not many of the Frontenac Challenge hikers have done this year.

The Moulton Gorge Loop is shown as an alternate to the more well-known Little Salmon Lake loop.  It’s well worth the extra effort.  Not only does its route coincide with more of the loops than any other (five), it also travels along an exciting highline to a grand view over Birch Lake.

September and October have been set aside for the Frontenac Challenge.  But what a pity it would be to rush in and do it all before the Fall colors arrived.  If I had a choice I’d do it all this week.  The colors, despite the strong winds on the previous day, were breath-taking today.  There were pockets of stunning reds, yellows and golds beside a remote lake, or along the edges of a gorge, or just randomly in the woods.  I should have learned by now that a photograph of such a scene hardly ever does it justice.  But that didn’t stop me from snapping away.

I set a good pace around this sixteen kilometre circuit, not that I was in a hurry, with temperatures in the high teens, and every step a joy.

I can’t count this trip towards my Challenge – but who cares?  This was the most spectacular of them all, and thanks to yesterday’s winds, the path was a magic carpet of colorful leaves.

Sunrise over Upper Rideau Lake from Westport

Sunrise

Heading out on Arkon Lake Trail

First splashes of colour 

Moulton Gorge (southern end)

Highlight of today's trip (photo doesn't do it justice)

Glimpse of Lynch Lake

Contrasting pathways:  woodland

...a grassy section...

...ridge, dropping off steeply to the right

Colorful hillside

Moulton Gorge (northern end)

Climbing up onto the highline...

...through the woods...

...past some very tall trees...

...to an open viewpoint (Birch Lake just out of picture left)

Beside Birch Lake

Typical scene today

The Moulton Gorge Loop

The Autumn Leaves

Tues. 18 October:  The Autumn Leaves

A Cathedral of Colour
(notice the Rideau Trail sign)

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Here are a few snapshots I took today along the Rideau Trail, using my cheap point-and-shoot camera.

I was on a maintenance trip along McLaren Lake Road, south of Perth.  The wind was doing its best to blow all the leaves off the trees in a single day.  As a result, the road and the trail were both now thickly covered by a multi-coloured carpet.

It was a great day to be outside, even if I was busy removing fallen trees from the trail.  It was over twenty degrees C in the strong wind.  No doubt the temperatures will soon fall as rapidly as the leaves.

While you're looking at these pictures, enjoy this magnificent musical interpretation by Roger Williams of the falling leaves:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGwFjbyAFm4

Heading out to McLaren Lake Road

.

This photo and the two which follow were taken on the Rideau Trail
where it follows McLaren Lake Road into the woodland

Near the footbridge north of the hunters camp

An instant coloured carpet

A Walk in the Park

Sat. 15 October:  A Walk in the Park

The height of  Fall

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

Just another walk in the park?  Not exactly.

This walk had a purpose.  For it was another of the Frontenac Provincial Park Challenge loops successfully completed.

Cedar Lake Loop is an enjoyable 13.5 km stroll through the colorful woods.  On the far side of the loop is one of the most picturesque corners of Frontenac Park, especially at the height of Fall, as it was today.   The trail passes beside Cedar Lake, across a short boardwalk, then over a rise, before dropping down to cross a longer boardwalk.  A rocky spur provides a perfect viewpoint.  The scene was framed by trees of red, yellow and gold.  The water sparkled in the bright sun.  A lively wind was stirring the branches, the leaves cascading onto the trail. My photo didn’t do justice to the scene

We were a large group today, at seventeen.  And another group from our Kingston Club was also on the trail, marching in the opposite direction.  As expected we met approximately half-way round.  But perhaps not so expectedly, both parties arrived back at the busy parking lot at exactly the same time.  There were several other small parties of one or two hikers on the trail – not surprising given the spectacular weather.   

There are now three hundred and seventy six people signed up for this year’s Frontenac Challenge.  All this author now needs is one more sunny day in October to complete his Challenge.  The forecast looks hopeful.

RTA Central group on the left and Kingston team arriving (right)

Heading off into the woods

Big Salmon Lake...

.... a busy scene today

Golden reflections on a windy day

A colorful trail

The scenic boardwalk near Cedar Lake

Meeting the Kingston group halfway round

Lunch beside the "turtle" pond

On the trail

Passing Doe Lake on the Rideau Trail

Woodland trails

Today's secret code

Bright yellow carpet

Our two groups arrive back at the start perfectly synchronized!

Cedar Lake Loop:  13.5 km

Just arrived in the author's inbox:  this excellent team photo was taken 

by our hike leader, Nancy Gaudreau - thank you Nancy: