Through the Gate

February:  Through the Gate

Exploring private landscapes

There are plenty of great hiking destinations around Eastern Ontario, available to anyone who loves the outdoors.  But have you wondered how many other special places might be hidden away on private land, known only to a small handful of people? 

Over the past few weeks, the Passionate Hiker has had the privilege of visiting two contrasting, but equally beautiful, private properties, discovering landscapes familiar only to those lucky enough to call it “home”.  These glimpses “through the gate” have left a strong impression on this author.

The area north from Perth to Lanark, two of the original military settlements of Lanark County, was settled in the early 1800’s, and is today a mixture of farm fields and rolling woodland and swamp.  Several rivers, notably the Mississippi and the Clyde, snake their way through the landscape. 

Somewhere in the midst of this country lies a property of almost three hundred acres, once a working farm, with a magnificent barn still standing proud.  On two sides of the property are beautiful rivers, and within its boundaries lie secret paths and trails through the woods and over rocky ridges.  For example, one trail passes through a magnificent avenue of pines, along a carpet of pine needles, while another trail crosses a low, wooded ridge towards a hidden valley.  Over several short visits I wandered at will, clocking over twenty kilometres and imagining how incredibly attached I might feel to this landscape if I was owner of this particular corner of Canada.

By contrast, heading south from Perth, you quickly enter the more rugged Canadian Shield country, with its many lakes, swamps, forested ridges and old mine sites.  In the midst of this wilderness lies a home which sits above a private lake, and surrounded by forest.  A more tranquil, breathtakingly beautiful, setting would be hard to imagine. 

An imaginary paradise

Here we wandered through the topsy-turvy woodland, around the lake and across meadows.  We explored the foundations of an early farmhouse, and the concrete bases for some sort of mine works, now hidden in the trees beneath a low hillside.  This lonely corner of the rugged Shield Country would have a fascinating story to tell of its early settlers, farmers and miners.  The overgrown foundations and excavations are a haunting reminder of those distant days when life was mostly about survival, with little chance to enjoy any sort of retirement.

Now it’s different.  I’m sure many of us dream about that ideal retirement home, above a lake, surrounded by colorful birds at the feeder, and friendly wild animals wandering past the windows, with just the sound of the wind in the trees to disturb the silence.

Of course, that’s all nonsense!  In practice, you have to have energy to live in such a place:  energy to shovel driveways, cut wood, fix fences, and countless other duties which come with the privilege of living in paradise.  But, I thought, it would still be worth it! 

To my gracious hosts:  Thank You - for inviting me "through the gate".

Note: click on pictures for full size view