HIKING
GO THERE
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
truly caught me by surprise. Here, sitting on top of all this rock, which is sitting on top of a big hill, I found a beaver pond. Well, I’ll be… (I’ve got to say it) …dammed!
Wolf Trail THE WOLF TRAIL does double-time as one of my favourite snowshoeing spots in the winter. Wolf Trail starts at Parking Lot 13, across the street from Blanchet Beach, which has washroom facilities for those feeling the need. The parking lot sits where the Blanchet farmhouse once stood, with the farm property extending uphill. According to a sign posted near the trail entrance, the property once belonged to a Vermont owner (coincidentally named Blanchet), who came to the area after encountering some hard times. The sign also alleges that some of the trees from his orchard are still producing fruit (apples, pears, plums). Unfortunately, I saw no evidence of this, and had to rely on the treats heating up inside my backpack. Take along a good quantity of treats and water on this hike. The trail takes you on an 8.3 kilometre jaunt up the back of the Eardley Escarpment. It takes about four hours to complete. What type of terrain will you encounter? It varies from fire road, to single track, to root and rock trail. In wet weather, count on mud. The Blanchet portion of the trail gives your body the courtesy of a gradual, gentle warm-up with an easy walk 6
uphill. After approximately 15 minutes, signs will present you with the choice of either continuing straight to the Tawinda Lookout (3 km), or heading right to the actual Wolf Trail. Both options will take you along the same loop, but I prefer heading right, and accepting the uphill hike. Somehow, I enjoy the lookouts more when I feel like I’ve really earned them. After climbing a few smaller hills, one first-time hiker on this trail remarked, “Is that it? That wasn’t bad at all.” Her question was soon answered by a hilly climb that seemed to keep extending itself. First Prize Winner The prize awaiting hikers at the top, however, is well worth any effort. It offers not only a self-congratulatory moment to reflect on where you just came from (i.e. all the way down there), but also a nice opportunity to take a photograph of the Ottawa River Valley. The next portion of the walk lets you continue along this ledge to a second lookout, which comes complete with a bench to sprawl out on while you drink in the breathtaking scenery. The man-made bench is somewhat of an accessory to the seating nature provides. The first time I hiked along this portion of the trail I encountered something that
True to the Laws of Physics You’ve heard the old saying, “What goes up, must come down?” The Wolf Trail does not contradict those words. The trail demands that you begin picking your way down through a path etched by roots and rocks, before you have an opportunity to head to the Tawinda Lookout. The Tawinda Lookout is one of my favourite places in Gatineau Park. This high, bald rock offers nearly 360 degrees of fabulous views. It’s the perfect place to put your butt down, feet up, contemplate life, and enjoy a picnic. (There I go mentioning picnic snacks again. Basically, I like taking any opportunity to enjoy food on a hike; everything just seems to taste better outdoors.) Over the past couple of years (judging by the crowds I’ve encountered there recently), this lookout has become very popular. Today was no exception. Brought out in droves by a gorgeous sunny weekend morning, flock after flock of hikers arrived at Tawinda until the lookout (and when I say “the” lookout, deep inside I mean my lookout. Mine. Mine!) began to resemble a Dirty Sweaty Person Convention. And though it was obvious that none of us had planned to meet anyone there, we greeted each other pleasantly, and did our best to respect everyone else’s illusion of privacy. Besides, there was plenty of scenery for everyone to enjoy. After a refreshing break, our group enjoyed a somewhat more relaxed hike back towards Blanchet. To our right lay large boulders and rock formations; to our left was a marsh that no doubt was home to many critters. Everywhere, trees filtered the sunlight into many shades of green. It would have been so easy to forget that civilization was closing in on us again. Unfortunately, the constant sound of traffic intruded upon our reveries. Approximately three kilometres further, we found ourselves re-converging on Ottawa Outdoors Fall
