The Blueberry Bite

Sat. 13 February:  Blueberry Mountain

Perhaps this is what it’s like on top of Everest?

You slave for long hours to climb it, then spend 5 minutes on top, stopping only for a quick photo of yourself.  In this case the scale was a little different!  Our ascent took just a few minutes, but like Everest we spent the briefest of moments on the top.  My camera had frozen solid but luckily a member of our party was able to take a rapid snapshot before we headed back down into the shelter of the trees.

This may not have been a Himalayan peak, but Blueberry Mountain, a low ridge rising above the trees in the Lanark Highlands of Eastern Ontario, had its challenges today.  And this modest hilltop does have bragging rights as the highest point in Lanark County.

The temperature was around minus 28 degrees C this morning, under clear Arctic skies.  But in a stiff NW wind, the “feels like” temperature was around minus 41 C.  I put on as many clothes as I could – layer upon layer of sweaters and hats and gloves.  As a result I was not in danger of getting frostbite, apart from on the tip of my nose.  I traded my hiking boots for insulated snow-boots, but my toes still took some time to warm up.

You may ask why six hikers and their host were out there at all on such a day.  Perhaps while standing on the windswept ridge, we might also have asked ourselves the same question.  

But it’s a matter of pride.  After all, to a Canadian, dealing with temperatures in the minus twenties is really nothing at all. It’s common in winter to have weeks on end like this, and often it’s much colder than that.  So why make a fuss about it?  Are we all getting soft?  Not these hikers!

Nevertheless, after our hike, we accepted our host’s kind invitation to step inside his beautiful old home beside the trail.  Here we thawed out, relaxing in comfortable seats by the stove, and discussing possible new hiking routes around this lonely landscape, truly one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County.  

And this particular Blueberry certainly had a bite today.

Post-script:  this photo came to my inbox from an excellent photographer by the name of Andrew Hannah.  Multiple layers of clothing, frozen balaclava, minus 40C wind-chills, yet still enjoying the scenery.  Now that's passionate hiking!

Passionate Hiking:
Blueberry Mountain in 40-below wind-chills
This great photo by Andrew Hannah

Note: click on pictures for full size view.