26 minute read
Guest Editorial
ground you’ll approach a rock clearing. This is the most picturesque spot on the ride. The escarpment now stands about 60m above the valley below with a rock wall lining the landscape to the right. The valley floor is a mixture of rolling hills and a beautiful cedar lined pond. This is one of the places that causes me to reflect on how fortunate I am to live in the Ottawa area. After indulging yourself with this beautiful picture of nature, head down another technical descent to the road below.
This road is refreshingly rolling and fast, giving you the chance to crank your bike out. Upon reaching a ‘V’ in the road, head left, where the fast road continues. This leads you to a right that heads onto a double-track trail. You’ll have a short climb that brings you to an incredibly rewarding downhill section. This section veers to the right and hooks up with the beginner ski run. Head as fast as you dare down the access road and that’s all she wrote for the Eagles Nest loop.
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Mountain bikers want to feel welcome
By Dominique Larocque Creative Wheel
I’M TIRED OF THE ENDLESS RHETORIC surrounding mountainbiking in Gatineau Park. I’m tired of mountain-biking being the scapegoat for lack of creativity and decision-making abilities at the National Capital Commission (NCC). I doubt that the NCC, along with uneducated hikers, will succeed in making our sport into the sacrificial lamb of Gatineau Park.
People can complain all they want about the negative effects this sport has on the Gatineau Park trail system, but I believe that riding a bike is better for the environment (and for the waistline) than driving a car with an air conditioner blasting. The NCC, hikers and bikers need to unite in the preservation of clean air and green spaces.
So, what could possibly spoil such a pristine place as the Gatineau Park? Here’s the answer: a large group of unaware, commercial-recreational users.
Time to Start Paying? Yes!
I agree that mountain bikers have been very lucky to be permitted to roam freely among the rocks and trees for so long without having to give anything back financially (i.e. a daily/seasonal/annual user fee) or physically (i.e. trail building and maintenance). I don’t agree the illegal trail cutting and unofficial trail riding that takes place in the park.
I do know, however, that we need funding to guarantee the preservation of our green spaces. User fees could generate a big part of this funding. Bumper-to-bumper traffic during Gatineau Park’s Fall Rhapsody could start generating money that is urgently needed to guarantee proper land management and educate current mountain bike users.
If we are to preserve recreational activities in Gatineau Park, we need to start giving back. From what I hear around me, people are ready to give back. What boggles my mind is why the NCC does not create more initiatives that would allow people to do so.
NCC Lacks Vision
I was a mountain bike trail user when the NCC officially welcomed the mountain bike crowd into the park in 1990. What the NCC lacked at that time was vision, because it did not foresee the consequences this exciting and ever-evolving sport was going to have on the park’s landscape. I specify “ever-evolving sport” because we can no longer discuss and/or write about mountain-biking without specifying the style of mountain-biking one practices.
The 100,000 annual mountain bike visits to the park have to be categorized into either recreational or hard-core biking. The latter means free-riding, downhill, trail riding and cross-country racing. It is by fulfilling the specific needs of these different
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land users that we will smooth out our ride in the park. The question is: can it be done, and in time, to save the sport?
I believe it can, but it will require time and energy from people who share a passion for the sport. Here’s the vision I’ve had for the past six years: develop Camp Fortune ski hill as the hub of all hard-core mountain bike activities, and provide a technical play park with more single tracks, and an information and service centre.
If we follow this vision, the rest of the Gatineau Park trail system could then be enjoyed by recreational mountain bikers and hikers who want to enjoy a leisurely pace in the park.
Time for Consultations
Camp Fortune and the NCC need to agree before next spring on trail user fees for mountain biking and other summer recreation activities. This money could be utilized for trail design, building and maintenance. The single track leading out of Camp Fortune could then be restored to increase the quality of experience of both hiker and biker. mountain bike retailers and suppliers need to start playing a more active role in getting their customers motivated and involved in the politics of the sport. Otherwise, the avenues for biking will only keep declining, along with their bottom lines.
Educators and race organizers also have to find solutions to issues revolving around this sport. They could start by working at changing the “mountain masters, weekend warriors, rock jocks, cowboy” image of our sport.
Partnerships between landowners and
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leaders in the sport are needed to create ways to provide the type of riding that people want.
I was very disappointed by the content of a recent NCC flyer entitled “Show a Little Respect – Have a Lot of Fun.” Being a consultant in the field, I wish I had had an opportunity to comment on the flyer before it went to print. It lacked valuable information on the technical requirements of the sport, and missed out on educating mainstream bikers and park users of the evolution that has happened in our sport in the past decade.
I have been mountain biking for 17 years and represented my country at the 1991 Mountain Bike World Championship in Lucca, Italy. Since 1995, my firm, Creative Wheel, has taught individuals of all ages the health benefits of outdoor recreation.
Mountain biking plays an important role in promoting fitness and countering obesity. I know that numbers will keep increasing as more families and individuals from all walks of life start discovering this wonderful sport. I can only hope that it is those same individuals’ creative spirits that will guarantee the survival of the sport.
About the author: Dominique Larocque runs Creative Wheel, which organized 130 women and 400 children in mountain bike camps this past summer at Camp Fortune.
Photo by National Capital Commission.
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Are you prepared for wilderness adventure?
Photo by Allen Macartney.
By Ross Francis
EVERY GREAT WILDERNESS adventure involves a certain amount of research and planning.
Ya, I know. Research and planning sounds as appealing to you as the word “homework” does to a teenager. But together, these two important words build the foundation for a fun, enjoyable, outdoor trip. Also, they go a long way to contribute to the safety and well-being of all participants.
We Do It All the Time
Whether you and I realize it or not, we do research every day. In fact, it’s usually one of the first things we do every morning. We wake up, check the weather, think about our schedule or activities for the day, and then decide how to prepare, what to wear, what to eat, how to dress and what to take with us. You know the drill.
Well, preparing for an outdoor adventure is much the same. We must find answers to questions like: • Where will we go? • How long will we go for? (One day, two nights, a week, or a month.) • How will we travel? (Hike, bike, canoe, or ski.) •When will we go? (Time of year and
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season.) • What will the weather be like while we’re there? • Who will come? How many people? • What equipment will we need? • Do we have the equipment already, or will we have to rent or buy items that we don’t already have? • What will we eat? • What clothes will we need? • What risks/hazards are we likely to encounter? • What maps will we need? Do we need to get road, topographical or trail maps of the actual route? • What will our emergency or back-up plan involve? • Do we have a first aider in the group with an appropriate first aid kit? • What will the trip cost? • Who will lead the trip? • What knowledge, skills and abilities will we need? • What knowledge, skills and abilities do we have now? • What kind of physical and mental fitness levels will the trip we’re taking require?
Anticipation
Getting all participants involved in the pre-trip research and planning helps build the “team.” It helps participants gain an awareness, commitment and appreciation for what they are about to do. Spreading the responsibility around for gathering pieces of information, doing research, finding maps and equipment, etc., ensures that everyone is involved and has a role to play. They begin to feel that they are contributing something to the team, and they’ll soon feel excitement and anticipation. Even children can play a significant role. They can help design menus, search the Web for tips or ideas, sort and clean gear, and prepare themselves for the trip.
Make sure a large part of your research focuses on the route itself. What sort of risks and hazards will you encounter along the way? Find out.
“What If” Questions
Talk to people who have recently travelled your intended route. Read books that describe the route. Pick up maps and spend time poring over them. If you’re going on a canoeing or
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kayaking adventure, find out the class of rapids you’ll encounter. If you’re going on a hiking, backpacking or camping trip, find out the elevation gain or decline of trails. What’s their surface quality? How many stream or river crossings will you have to make? Is there a strong potential that you’ll encounter animals or poisonous plants? What weather is forecast?
For each point, ask yourself “what if…?” What if my canoe dumps in those Class III rapids, and wraps around a rock? What if the weather turns really nasty? What if we get lost? What if I slip on a rock and sprain an ankle? Who will look after me? Where is the nearest hospital? How can we get help if required? Will we be in a location where a cell phone will work?
Asking these questions prior to your trip will give you time to find solutions for potential problems you may encounter.
Once you’ve finished gathering all of this information, participants must assess their own personal level of preparedness. This relates to their individual physical and mental condition, as well as their attitude. A positive attitude shared by everyone contributes significantly to the success and enjoyment of any trip.
Deal With Identifiable Difficulties
This is the time to identify any shortcomings of individuals in your group, or shortcomings in your equipment, or in the knowledge, skills and abilities of participants. It’s a lot easier dealing with these at this point than ignoring warning signs, and experiencing problems, or worse, experiencing avoidable accidents during the trip.
You can deal with shortcomings by doing things like: • Taking additional training to gain necessary knowledge, skills and abilities; • Setting out a physical conditioning plan to follow; • Conducting pre-adventure outings to test your gear and help build a strong team.
If, at the end of this research, you still feel that you’re not ready, or your group
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is lacking in certain significant areas, perhaps you need to delay the trip or choose a different trip that’s within everyone’s capabilities. Perhaps you’ve set your sights too high for this outing. But don’t despair. Have you considered starting with a guided trip, where you rely on a professional guide and his or her expertise to lead the adventure? This decision isn’t easy, but always err on the side of caution.
Final Plans: Excitement Rockets Upward
Now that you’ve done the research, it’s time to plan the adventure. This is where you nail down who’s bringing what, develop group and personal equipment lists, draw up food lists, decide who’s buying the groceries, work out travel logistics, set up shuttles, and make parking arrangements and camp reservations.
You’ll also look at your maps and, based on the skills and abilities of participants, decide how far you will travel each day. You’ll choose places to camp, and identify possible side trips along your route that will show interesting features of the area.
Once you have your trip plan finalized, choose a family member or friend with whom to leave an itinerary and map. Indicate on the map the route you plan to travel, highlight campsites and stops along the way, and tell when you expect to be finished, and what time you’ll be home. The trip plan should identify all members of the trip by name, and give contact telephone numbers. If applicable, the person should have the leader’s cell phone number.
Where the Rubber Meets the Trail
When will you know how well you did your planning and research? You’ll know as soon as you actually get out on the trail or water.
Many people keep logs or journals of their trips. Here they record: what they learned, trip highlights, things that worked well, as well as things that didn’t. Try to learn from your mistakes.
All outdoor trips become a “test” not only of you and your skills, but of the
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research and planning you’ve done. Also, the trip becomes a test for the team, and how well its members work together. If you doubt this, just watch the dynamics of your team change when members discover that someone left the coffee at home on the kitchen counter, or when someone burns supper!
End at the Right Time
Don’t end your trip when you get home. There’s more to learn and enjoy following the experience, which can help make future outings more pleasurable. (Scouts refer to this as “processing the experience.”) On the way home or even at a gathering later when you’re looking at trip pictures, do a bit of a debrief, or an evaluation of the experience.
Make a list with these points: • What went right? • What went wrong? • Would we do the route again? • What would we do differently next time? • How well did the equipment work?
As you start reliving (and enjoying) the adventure through pictures, stories and debriefing, you might find your members learn some not-so-obvious lessons. Don’t miss this terrific opportunity.
Scouts Canada has been conducting camping and outdoor adventures for nearly 100 years; during this time it has found that research and planning prior to the adventure generates as much thrill as the trip itself.
Any group or family can easily apply the same practices that Scouts Canada uses for camping and outdoor adventures.
Ed. Note: Be sure to pick up The Fieldbook for Canadian Scouting. It’s guaranteed to make your outdoor adventure run smoother.
Frontenac Provincial Park:
Photo by Frontenac Provincial Park.
Great paddling, great trails, let’s go!
By Ross Francis
“I'VE GOT A YOUNG FAMILY, and would like to get into back-country camping and canoe tripping. Where should we go to get started, and what parks have you tried?”
These are questions that I'm asked frequently. They're the same ones I asked people several years ago when my wife, son and I moved to Ottawa.
Roundabout Route to Frontenac
Back then, our son was almost four. We had already introduced him to backpacking and canoeing in New Brunswick, so we were looking for two, three and four-day trips into the back-country. Nothing too tough, just a place to escape the crowds. Camping is important to us, so we wanted to share our love for the outdoors with our son, hoping that he would eventually “catch the bug.” We wanted to find places where a few hours of paddling or hiking would take us to our campsite.
“You've got to go to Algonquin,” everyone said. So our search started at Algonquin Park's Tom Thompson/ Canoe Lake circuit. This is a great trip, but not in July. It's simply too busy. What seemed like hundreds of canoes buzzed by, reminding us of Queensway traffic. We loved the park, the scenery and the route, but it was simply too busy for our liking. (Some people find that reassuring, knowing that there are lots of other people nearby in case something happens.) We still enjoy trips in Algonquin but we wait until fall when there are fewer people, and the selection of campsites and routes is better.
Back-Paddling to Frontenac
Back to square one.
At this point I remembered that a friend in New Brunswick had once worked in a park near Kingston where access to campsites was only by foot or by canoe. That sounded great to us, so we picked up the map. That's when we discovered a hidden jewel: Frontenac Provincial Park.
This park proved exactly what we were looking for. Of course the park is much smaller than Algonquin, so there are fewer routes and campsites, however, for some reason we didn't seem to have any difficulties choosing and booking them. Our first trip involved an overnight experience—just long enough to scout out the lay of the land and decide if it suited our needs. We selected Site #5, at the end of Big Salmon Lake, because it was accessible without having to portage.
We arrived on Saturday morning, just as the wind was picking up. Fortunately, it was at our backs and we got a “double bonus.” How? We had remembered to pack a small parafoil (a kite). After paddling out from the dock, we simply got the kite flying, and “sailed” down the length of the lake.
It didn't take long to find our campsite. We set up the tent, explored a bit, and had an enjoyable night.
Many Happy Returns
Since that first trip into Frontenac, our family has returned many times. Our next trip took us around the perimeter of the park in three or four days. Most of the portages that we encountered were fairly easy, but the portage linking Birch
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and Little Salmon Lakes was a different story. Whether you are ascending or descending to or from Little Salmon Lake, it is quite steep. But even with young kids, that portage is quite manageable if you take your time.
After having seen or camped at most of the sites, Frontenac Park has become a favourite destination for our family. What makes Frontenac Park ideal for general camping, hiking and canoeing? It offers: • Beautiful campsites • Short paddling routes • Interesting hiking trails • Great swimming • Well marked and maintained hiking and portage trails.
The park offers real variety, satisfying almost anyone's wants. Most sites feature a raised platform on which to set up your tent. This means water doesn't lie in puddles, but drains well, reducing the possibility of a flooded tent.
Frontenac not only offers great canoe routes, but also a wide selection of excellent hiking trails and campsites for backpackers. Most are easily accessible for family camping (less than 10 kilometres).
Portaging into the Park
Shortly after moving to Ontario we quickly learned that in this province, paddling and portaging pretty much go together. I know what you're thinking: canoes are meant to be paddled, not carried. But sometimes it's necessary to carry them to where they'll be paddled. Now, this doesn't have to be a bad thing. In fact a short portage can provide a welcome change of pace and scenery.
Frontenac is a great park to develop your portaging skills. It offers many portage routes that link beautiful lakes; they range in length from under 100 metres, to just over a kilometre. The longer ones take you deeper into the interior, and typically farther away from the crowds. Making portaging enjoyable (okay, tolerable) depends on your ability to carefully select and pack lightweight gear efficiently in as few packs as possible. Not having the lightest and sleekest equipment available shouldn't
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stand in your way; it may just require a second trip.
So what if you have to “double portage” (make two trips)? Part of the beauty of “getting away from it all” involves kicking back and relaxing, so take your time on each portage. Enjoy it. I've seen people portaging with big coolers and metal lawn chairs. But, hey, if these make your camping experience better, go for it.
Portage-Free Routes
Frontenac offers many “portage-free” routes for those who don't want to carry their canoe at all. However, this will mean a little bit of extra driving. After you've registered and obtained your camp and vehicle permits, you'll have to drive to an access point. Here's how to get to several.
You can get to the back-country from the Snug Harbour Road at Mitchell Creek. From this point you'll have portage-free access to campsites on Birch and Kingsford Lakes (both of which offer beautiful, well maintained sites).
Another access point is off Devil Lake Road (formerly Salem Road) at Kingsford Dam. This route provides portage-free access to Kingsford and Birch Lakes. If you follow the Devil Lake Road a little bit further east, turn off on a side road to Michael's Old Frontenac Landing. This route provides access to Devil Lake and Campsite #10 at Hardwood Bay.
If you access the park from the two public boat launches on the Old Perth Road (County Road #10), you'll gain portage-free access to Campsite #1 on Buck Lake, and Campsite #10 on Devil Lake.
At some access points, you'll find outfitters or property owners who will allow you to leave your vehicle on their property for a small fee. (This provides a bit of security.)
Remember–before driving to one of these access points and heading for a campsite, you must first obtain proper permits at the Park Office. hiking trip, you'll have lots of planning and preparations to do. Scouts Canada's Fieldbook for Canadian Scouting is an excellent resource for anyone getting started, so stop by the Scout Shop at 1345 Baseline Road in Ottawa and pick up a copy. You're sure to find it helpful. While there, check out the great selection of camping equipment and other excellent deals.
Frontenac: All Year Round
Don't end your camping season when the lakes freeze over; Frontenac is open year-round. Simply switch gears, and wax up the cross-country skis, or even try some winter camping.
How to Get to Frontenac Park
Our route (from Kanata) usually takes us out through Richmond, where we follow Route #10 to Franktown. Then we turn left along Highway #15 for a short distance to the Old Perth Road #10. After driving through Perth, make a right turn and continue following Route #10 to Westport. Continue through Westport (still on #10) and head towards Kingston. At Route #5, turn right on Rutledge Road toward Sydenham. Continue along Route #5 watching for Route #19 (Bedford Road). Take another right on Route #19, which will take you to the park.
Despite my fear, I discovered a strange sense of adventure that got me hooked on this challenging sport. Two years later I was back in the Gats–this time as a participant in an orienteering navigation clinic hosted by then National Team member Gord Hunter. I returned each year to participate in local or international orienteering events hosted by the Ottawa Orienteering Club. These visits culminated in a win at the National Championship in 1996 near Wakefield.
That navigation clinic must have taught me something right! The moral of the story is that navigation doesn’t have to be scary. A few important skills will help you find your way. I’ll share some tricks I have learned over the years. But first, what is orienteering?
Orienteering: The navigation sport
Orienteering is a sport in which participants use map and compass to locate several checkpoints in the woods. The route the participant takes between the checkpoints is not specified and is entirely up to the participant; this element of route choice and the ability to navigate through the forest are the essence of orienteering. Whether you
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Don’t get lost!
Successful navigation starts with orienteering.
By Mike Waddington Adventure Racing Canada
“HAVE FUN AND DON’T GET LOST!” somebody yelled. I was leaving the start line in an orienteering event in the Gatineau Park almost 25 years ago. I was only 10 and it was my first visit to this new terrain. The woods were dark with thick underbrush, beaver ponds and rocky ground. It was very different from the Dundas Valley back home in Hamilton. Before too long I was alone, I was lost and I’ll admit I was a little scared . are a runner, hiker, skier, paddler, or adventure recently hosted the Eco-Challenge racer, the navigation skills that Canadian Championship in Golden, BC, orienteering provides will be valuable to and most participants found that the you. mountain orienteering was the toughest
“Canadians need to escape the rat race part of this gruelling 300km, three to and experience our great outdoors,” says five-day race. Nina Wallace, founder of Backwoods Orienteering is also a winter sport. Adventures and the Dontgetlost.ca Nevin French, who has taught navigation clinics. “Canadians need to orienteering to the National Military experience adventure, and orienteering Pentathlon team, prefers orienteering in skills can help them do that. The better winter. He enjoys ski orienteering, which your navigation, the more adventurous combines the challenges of navigation your outdoor quest becomes,” she adds. with the speed of cross-country skiing. Wallace has coached Canada’s National “In ski-orienteering you can never relax Junior Orienteering Team as well as mentally because smart course planners teams that have recently competed in will make you do a lot of navigation on the Eco-Challenge Adventure Race. downhill sections, right when your legs
The sport of Adventure Racing is are burning and you just want to tuck.” growing at an extraordinary rate in Perhaps this is why orienteering is Canada. It takes orienteering to the next often referred to as the “thinking sport.” level by combining mountain biking, If you aren’t thinking, you may be going canoeing, running and orienteering. quickly but in the wrong direction. Even Adventure Racing Canada (ARC) hosts if orienteering isn’t in your plans, the Subaru Adventure Racing learning map and compass navigation series—Canada’s largest adventure skills will make your next visit to the racing series—with races ranging from Gats more enjoyable. Here are the five to eight hour Enduros to the 24 some pointers on orienteering and to 30 hour Outback events. These events navigation basics. all require good orienteering skills, and the all night Outback races also require Declination good night orienteering skills. ARC also Sometimes you will have to use a map
