Nordic Skiing Trails for young and old just around the corner Cross-country skiing at Mer Bleue Bog By Heather Burke
Photo by Robert Williams.
GOT A CRAVING FOR cross-country skiing but only have a couple of hours to spare? No need to drive all the way to Gatineau Park when Mer Bleue Bog is just a hop, skip and ski away. It’s the perfect location for skiers who enjoy a sweet cruise through the forest without risking life and limb. Mer Bleue was born 9,000 years ago when giant chunks of Ontario were rebounding from the weight of the glaciers. One of the Ottawa River’s tributaries elevated in the process, but some of the water remains. The underlying clay in the area prevented drainage, and a wetland was formed. Plants flourishing along the edges died and accumulated until the oxygen was cut off.
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Here comes the bog part: the organisms that normally break down plant matter couldn’t survive and the vegetation piled up even more. The sitting water became acidic from sphagnum moss and conditions became even harsher. At that point the plants ran rampant and became the only things that could survive the conditions. The result: Ottawa has its very own internationally significant wetland, but who knew? Most bog plants lie low and are buried by snow in the winter. But, looking out over the bog, you’ll see windswept black spruce and what appear to be a lot of dead evergreens. Those trees aren’t really dead — they’re tamaracks (larch), which are one of the only conifers to lose their needles in the fall. The word “tamarack” is borrowed from Algonquin aboriginals who labelled it as “wood used for snowshoes.” You don’t actually ski on the bog at Mer Bleue. Groomers don’t belong on the sensitive ecosystem. The National Capital Commission doesn’t recommend skiing on any wetland. Freeze-ups are unreliable where
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there is underground seepage or movement of water. There is a good chance of breaking through, and besides, skis don’t glide that well with a build-up of frozen slush on the base. And if that isn’t enough of a deterrent, the bog water can stink! Trust me. Skiing the wide open bog can get nasty on a biting cold day, too, so it’s better to stick to the sheltered forests. Just as well, since the groomed trails at Mer Bleue are on two heavily wooded ridges with some scenic vistas of the bog below. At the same time the Ottawa River was running through Mer Bleue all those years ago, the Dolman and Borthwick ridges were islands in that river. They clung to the sand and gravel as the glacial meltwaters rushed towards the sea. The marked trails are accessible from Dolman Ridge and Ridge roads. The sandy ridges have evolved to support a mixture of mature white pine, maple and ash, as well as second-growth poplar and shrubs. Snow hangs like overstuffed pillows on sheltered evergreens. Birdfeeders are maintained at several places along the trails and the nuthatches and chickadees have learned to ignore interlopers on skis. Lots of deer and rabbit tracks hint at what skiers might see if they travel quietly with grace. A chance meeting with these timid forest creatures will most likely occur during an early morning or evening ski outing. The trails cutting through the forest are well-marked and easily followed. Some are narrow and rolling; others are wide, flat and double-tracked, groomed by spirited volunteers from the Orleans Nordic Ski Club. The strip between the two tracks is packed down and usually suitable for skate skiing. Compared with the trendiness of Gatineau Park, Mer Bleue is a low-key ski destination with less spandex and more wool. The mostly flat terrain with occasional rolling bumps to keep things interesting is perfect for beginners. There
