The Passionate Hiker: The Place to Be

Sunday, September 10, 2017

The Place to Be

Sat. 9 September: The Place to Be

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

It’s Frontenac Challenge time again!

See https://www.traversing.ca/blog/2017/9/1/the-2017-frontenac-challenge-starts-today

Not that I’m attempting it this year. But some members of today’s party have already completed several loops, and we’re only a week into September. On the trail we met a couple of guys who, some years ago, started the challenge at the earliest possible time: one minute past midnight on September 1^st, and they completed all the loops in three days, sleeping beside the trail to avoid wasting any time. Not for me!

Today we hiked 15.8 km around the most remote northeast corner of Frontenac Provincial Park, starting at the Kingsford dam. Although they call this the Gibson Lake Loop, you only get the very slightest glimpse of this small body of water through the trees. But there was plenty to see.

We were on the lookout for turtles and owls and the rare red-headed woodpecker. We saw one small turtle on a distant log, heard the sound of a pileated woodpecker, and admired the bright red colours of the cardinal wildflower. And we enjoyed the perfect cool, sunny weather for our walk. Pockets of early colour were to be seen, a prelude to the crazy golds and reds of October.

In the far northeast corner of the loop is a bright green swamp which, on my previous trip here, I had christened the “grimpen mire”. Others know it as the “pea soup”. Not a place for a casual bathe.

We were not alone. Several other hikers were enjoying these ideal conditions. It’s not surprising. At this time of year, for those who enjoy the outdoors, Frontenac Park is the place to be. And as you can see from the pictures, we were having a great time!