The Loppet

Sat./Sun. 7/8 February:  The Loppet

Each year the Tay Valley Ski Club runs a series of races at Murphys Point.  These “loppets” cover various distances:  2.5 km, 5 km, 10 km and 20 km on two different, but connected courses.   

This year, the race date was uncertain due to poor snow conditions.  Luckily, during the week before the race, it hardly stopped snowing, and so the snow was perfect for racing.  It was the temperatures and the wind which were the challenge – at least for those who were not actually creating body warmth by racing.

I volunteered as a marshall.  On the Saturday I met the race director who showed me my two positions out on the course.  I unwisely turned up in snow shoes and so had to work hard to keep up with her as she ski’d around the trails.  On race day, Sunday, I brought my good set of skis and sturdier ski boots, which was much more sensible.

The challenge was standing at first one and then another nearby way-point in temperatures of minus 15 C and wind chills of minus 24 C, in sometimes strong gusty winds.  Thank heavens I had brought my warmest down winter jacket which kept me warm if not toasty all day.  

I could have kept warmer hands if I had not been taking dozens of photos of the participants!  Most of the pictures resembled a white landscape with a vague tiny figure somewhere in the middle.  Later editing somewhat improved the results.  I kept my feet warm by stamping my ski-clad feet and moving up and down the way-point line. 

The wind in the bare trees caused them to crack and creak alarmingly and I had visions of having to rush out and stop the race as a tall tree came crashing down – but they luckily remained upright! 

As the last racer passed by, I was joined by another marshall who was located not far from me and we happily joined the throng of skiers enjoying hot soup in the small, cosy and WARM chalet.  It had been a successful day and I had survived almost four hours of standing around in a frozen, windswept Canadian forest. That’s MY idea of fun!

Statistics:

Sat.

Total Distance:         3.8 km (snow-shoe)

Height Gain:             Say 60 ft.

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 21 mins.

Start:                        10.10 am

Ret. to car:               11.31 am

Temp:                      Minus 13C

Weather:                  Light snow

Sun.

Total Distance:        3.0 km (XC ski)

Height Gain:            Say 60 ft.

Time on Trail:          Say 40 mins. skiing

Start:                        n/a

Ret. to car:               n/a

Temp:                     Minus 15C

Weather:                 Overcast, ice pellets, windy

Lots of really bad pics of passing skiers!

Winter Trail

Sun. 1 February:  Murphys Point Winter Trails: Round Lake

That’s Canada!  On a bone-chilling winter morning, with the temperature at minus eighteen degrees Celsius and wind-chills of minus twenty four degrees, here were nine eager enthusiasts strapping on their snow-shoes for an energetic trip into the back-country.  And why not?  The sun was shining and fresh snow lay on the trail.    

Our journey today took us onto the most rugged of the Murphys Point trails, a circuit of Round Lake, starting at the Lally Homestead.  The first part of the journey followed the Rideau Trail route, and then soon after leaving the group campsite, we turned right onto the winter trail.  It is a woodland path, and far from flat, as it meandered across a rugged landscape.

For much of the route, we were breaking trail, since nobody had travelled this way since Friday’s snowstorm.  Except for the fox.  We followed his tracks for at least a couple of kilometres until he finally veered off towards the lake. 

We kept up a brisk pace.  The route seemed to reach a high point, where the trees opened up a little, before dropping back down, eventually meeting the Murphys Point road about two and a half kilometres from the start of our trip.  Some of us had parked their cars by the summer gate, but a few of us decided to stretch  our legs for a fast walk back up the snow-covered road to make a  full circuit.

By now we felt positively warm, and wondered why it had seemed so cold at the start – yet the gauge still read minus eighteen. But that’s nothing to brag about in Canada - just another day in the outdoors!  

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         6.0 km (‘shoe) + 2.5 km (hike) = 8.5 km

Height Gain:             Say 80 ft.

Time on Trail:          3 hrs. 0 mins.

Start:                        10.12 am

Round Lake camp    11.10 am

Road:                       12.34 pm

Ret. to car:                 1.12 pm

Temp:            Minus 18C feels like minus 24C 

Weather:       Cloudless, biting N.wind

Setting out from the Mica Mine parking area at Lally Homestead

First section follows the Rideau Trail northwards

The group camp access road

Brisk pace on a bone-chilling day

Gnarled tree throws its shadow across the trail

Breaking trail (following the path of a fox)

Here the fox heads off to the right

Perfect back-country trail for snow-shoeing

The  final hill before reaching the Murphys Point road

Goodwood Marsh

Wed. 28 January:  Goodwood Marsh Nature Trails

New woodland trails opened in April 2012

The Wednesday Wanderers – that’s the name given to the hikers who turn out each week for a short ramble somewhere not too far from Perth. 

Today we strayed a little further from home to Beckwith Township, not far south and east of Carleton Place.  This is a mix of flat farming land and wooded swamps.  Somewhere in this wilderness is the source of the “Mighty” Jock River, which wanders for 72 kilometres before joining the Rideau River north of Manotick.  There was no sign of a stream here.

The people who run Beckwith Township are far-seeing.  They have invested in a sports complex which would be a welcome addition to any town or city, and perhaps rare for a rural township of around six thousand scattered residents.  Out in the open countryside they have built several soccer/football fields, a hockey arena, and a large indoor soccer arena.  They have also invested in building hiking trails.  Today we explored the Goodwood Marsh trails, which were opened in April 2012, and are apparently quite popular.  A couple of loops have been constructed in the marshy forest, starting from the sports complex.

The snow was hard-packed, making it ideal for icers, or in my case, MICROspikes.  For the amount of time that I spend lauding their product, MICROspike Co. should make me an honorary member of their board of directors!

The local church had donated several bird houses which we noticed as we walked around both loops.  Each bird house had its own unique design.  On the front of one was written “For birds only” just to avoid any confusion amongst the local wildlife.  We did see a few chickadees, and apparently one of them was making a spring mating call, which we thought was very optimistic, knowing the Canadian winters as we do.

Returning to our cars, a smaller group of us, reluctant to quit on such a bright sunny day, explored a short section of the Beckwith Trail.  This well-signed trail finds its way into Carleton Place, and we plan to walk it in a couple of weeks.  Given the snow forecast for tomorrow, we will need snowshoes for this next trip.

Perhaps with a name like "Wednesday Wanderers" we might be co-opted into a game of indoor soccer on our next visit!

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         about 7.0 km (hike)

Height Gain:             None

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 56 mins.

Start 1^st hike:            10.08 am

End loop 1:               10.42 am

Ret. to cars:              11.37 am

Start 2^nd hike:           11.45 am

Finish:                       12.12 pm

Temp:            Minus 15 rising to Minus 12C

Weather:       Cloudless, cold N. breeze

Putting on our icers for this walk

Birdhouses were donated by Ashton United Church

Impressive hockey and indoor soccer arenas

Chicadee with a tiny bug

This one reads: "For birds only"!

Like the turret of a German castle

Fisher tracks

Foley Mountain Trails

Sun. 25 January:  Foley Mountain Trails

Perfect trails for a winter hike

The trails in the Foley Mountain Conservation Area make a perfect outing, and especially in winter. 

Of course, the view from Spy Rock is the jewel in the crown, but there is so much more to enjoy here.  There are gentle hiking loops in the forest, and more rugged trails angling down the steep escarpment to the lake below and back up again, and there are narrow woodland pathways to explore.

Today we covered all the above.  Temperatures around minus 15C with a sharp North wind did not deter us.  First we tackled the short, undulating Beaver Trail, which brought us to Spy Rock.  The harsh sunlight reflected on the ice of Upper Rideau Lake.  It was a scene which could just as well have been captured by black and white film, in contrast to the golden Fall colors of my last visit; but no less spectacular a place to stand, for a bird’s eye view down to the sleepy town of Westport.

Having cooled down enjoying the views at Spy Rock, we were ready for a brisk hike along the Rideau Trail, which dropped down through the trees to the Interpretive Centre at the foot of the escarpment.  Here was a perfect setting for “elevenses”, with picnic tables and views to the lake below. 

Our return journey took us up the steep road back up the hillside, and then onto a narrow woodland path across the escarpment.  We stopped at a small bridge where we learned that a rare patch of skunk cabbage grows here.  In the trees we spotted a hairy woodpecker, and in the snow we saw the tracks of many different small animals, mainly rabbits, but also perhaps fox or other predator. 

Dropping down to the Rideau Trail again, we were faced with an ascent of “Heart Attack Hill”, a very encouraging name to a retired hiker over 60, but no casualties reported!  Hence back to our cars. 

What finer way to spend a bright sunny winter’s morning? 

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         5.8 km (hike)

Height Gain:             Say 200 ft.

Time on Trail:           2 hrs. 17 mins.

Start:                    10.07 am

Interp. Ctr.:          11.17 am

Ret. to cars:         12.24 pm

Temp:                   Minus 15C

Weather:              Cloudless, sharp N. wind

Our first loop 

On Beaver Pond Lookout loop

Close-up of Westport from Spy Rock

Westport from Spy Rock

Big Rideau Lake

Assembling for a team photo

Bright winter sun

Plenty to see along the way

Dropping down to the Interpretive Centre

Fox?  Marten?  Please identify for us!

Rideau Trail memorial

Here the Rideau Trail was opened in 1971

Perfect, but cold

"Elevenses"

Heading up the steep road from the Interpretive Centre

Here grows skunk cabbage 

An exciting trail

"Heart Attack Hill"

Otter Lake

Wed. 21 January:  Otter Lake

Setting out towards the lake

What better than a brisk walk across a frozen lake to clear the lungs?  And Otter Lake was stunningly beautiful, under a dark blue sky and brilliant sun. 

After several weeks of below-freezing temperatures, there was no doubt about the ability of the ice to hold our weight.  We could have driven a truck across it.  Nevertheless, to the unaccustomed, it was a little unnerving to be standing out there on the wide lake, hearing the regular rumbling sound of the ice cracking as it contracted in the cold air.

We followed the shoreline of the lake, with views of the beautiful lakeside homes; views normally reserved for boaters in summer; but even better in winter, with the bare trees no longer hiding many of the most secluded cottages. 

Some of us were wearing snowshoes, and others just cleats on our boots.  Either option worked today.  There was very little snow on the lake, and many large patches of shiny ice.

We passed one island which was connected to the shoreline by a short causeway.  A modern cottage was nestled in the trees on the island.  After a couple of wide bays, we reached a point where the water had unfrozen then refrozen, creating a pool of large snow crystals lying on the surface of the ice, in the shape of fern leaves.

We sped back along the ice, this time cutting inland of the island, across the causeway, and back to our starting point.  The slightest easterly breeze felt cold, and a stronger wind would have made this a chilly return.  But we could hardly have chosen a better morning to take a stroll out into the Canadian winter.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:         4.8 km (snow-shoe)

Height Gain:             Negligible

Time on Trail:          1 hr. 37 mins.

Start:              10.09 am

Finish:            11.46 am

Temp:            Minus 17 rising to Minus 13C

Weather:        Cloudless, no wind

Otter Lake

Lakeside "cottage"

On the ice

Looking out across the lake

We walked around a couple of bays

This area had melted then refrozen...

...causing some interesting ice crystals like leaves

The ice was solid

Heading back 

Cracks in the ice caused by contraction.
We could hear the cracking sound across the ice

On the lake

One of the islands on Otter Lake

An awesome expedition