Rock Dunder

Sun. 5 October:  Rock Dunder

The shortest hikes can also be the most rewarding.  This could be a proverb from a wise Greek philosopher, not just the idle ramblings of a passionate hiker.  But nevertheless true.

Today our hiking club mustered thirteen energetic hikers for the Rock Dunder summit loop, an easy trip of just over five kilometres and a height gain of perhaps two hundred vertical feet.  Rock Dunder is a pink granite outcrop rising above the lakes and forests of the Canadian Shield country between Kingston and Smiths Falls.

This magnificent viewpoint was until a few years ago a wilderness camp for boy scouts.  When Scouts Canada decided to sell the land, it was purchased by the Rideau Waterway Land Trust, and thus saved for future generations to enjoy.  Rock Dunder rises steeply 275 feet above Whitefish Lake.  On a good day, apparently the skyline of Kingston, beside Lake Ontario, is visible.  Today, we experienced an unexpected cool rain squall at the summit, forcing us to reach for our raincoats.  It did not amount to anything serious.  We shared the summit with several small parties of hikers, and a little dog, all enjoying the experience.

There is one narrow arm of rock where one can stand, feeling slightly exposed, allowing for the perfect photo.  It might have made an award-winning shot to have as many of the team as possible standing on this sliver of rock, but I did not test the goodwill of the group by making such an unsafe suggestion. 

On our return we passed by two old scout cabins, both in fairly good shape and still ideal for an overnight stay.  Our lunch stop was on a short cliff above Morton Bay, with views of half-hidden cabins across the bay, in the colorful forest.  We were pleased to add to the donation box at the trailhead, in thanks to those who had the foresight to save this gem for all of us.

We had taken our time to complete the circuit, and the good conversation had made time slip by quickly.  Two and a half hours had felt like an hour, which might have been a reasonable non-stop time for the trip.  But who would want to rush with such a view to enjoy?

Statistics:

Total Distance:  5.2 km (hike)

Height Gain:      Say 200 ft.

Time on Trail:   2 hrs. 28 mins.

Start hike:          9.59 am

Summit:           10.52 am

Return to cars: 12.27 pm

Temp:              +7C rising to +10C

Weather:          Overcast, sunny intervals. Short rain shower at summit.

Our 5.2 km clockwise circuit

Striding out along the trail

Unsettled skies

Climbing up onto the granite slabs

A short rain squall on the summit

Rock Dunder summit

View down to Whitefish Lake, 275 feet vertically below

Sweeping views of the Canadian Shield

Steep drop from the summit

Romantically shown on the map as "Cabin 2"

Cabin 1  -  both cabins would make great overnight stops