LOOP HIKE OVER COLDEN MOUNTAIN

It was a beautiful Saturday morning as three of us headed out towards the Adirondacks for a day's hike.  I was reflecting on the hike I had wanted to try, "Trapped Dyke" being a trench in the mountain, softer ground eroded over time that sank, creating a dyke down the mountainside into Avalance Lake.  Many people have hiked it over time and since the Hurrican Irene passed through, there was a new slide opened down Colden, making an somewhat easier passage for a climb through this dyke up to the summit; however, as I hadn't tried it but only read about it, I questioned my choice of whether to try it and continue with my friends. I looked at the dyke and decided to stay with my frends and leave this climb for another time.  In doing so, I enjoyed an array of excellent views of the mountain on the side we came up.  To be continued ...

Great Day Again ... but oh Tigggy ...

I was about to write my next blog about a great day  hiking in the Daks (Adirondacks) and as in making my way to the computer, I witnessed a most precious moment .... my cat Tiggy (Tigger) who was so used to snuggling with Leo, his brother who passed away this year, has been gently inching towards his sister Lucy, who is fiercely independent, and Lucy, not willing to admit she likes the attention, was remaining in her spot and allowing Tiggy to sleep at the other end of the bed, which Tiggy appreciated! Take a look at the picture...

EXPLORING THE CHIC CHOCS & BIC NATIONAL PARK

Hmmm, where can we go for a long weekend, about five days.  Well .... a backpacking traverse along a 25 km section of the International Appalachian Trail sounded like a good fit!  This is part of the infamous trail that originates from Springer Mountain, Georgia up to Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine and has since continued on into Canada, through Quebec Province, along the huge Peninsula, south of the St. Lawrence  River that spills into the Atlantic Ocean, ending at Percy Rock.  The northern stretch of that Peninsula has been designated as the Gaspesie National Park.  This includes the Chic Chocs and the section that we did was the McGerrigle Traverse.  We packed the car the night before and headed out at 5am the next morning.  It took us nine and a half hours to reach our destination at the campsite of Mont Albert, in the hub of the Chic Chocs, which from the Micmac “Sigsôg,” meaning impenetrable wall.  The Chic Choc Range and the McGerrigle Mountains are the focal points of "Parc National de la Gaspésie". Within its 800-square-kilometre boundary are five of the highest peaks in Quebec, offering some of the best hiking trails in the province, featuring diverse fauna and flora, and majestic scenery.  The highest mountain in Quebec is in the Torngats way up on the point above Labrador, reachable only by plane.

Our campsite was close to the lodges, shuttle services and the Visitor's Center.  We were so mesmerized by the quiet stillness of our campground.  There were people around but everyone was so respectful of the surroundings, we almost thought we were the only ones there.  It was about 3 pm when we set up our tent and settled into the evening.  We pulled out the chairs and poured two glasses of wine.  The potatoes were wrapped in foil with onions and lemon juice and cooking on the barbecue, while the salmon was getting its rub.  We breathed in the atmostphere with all its enchanting aromas and felt alive with a wonderful contentment.  After a satisfying meal, we cleaned up and prepared our gear for the traverse .... hmm decisions, decisions, packing light while maintaining warm clothing.  Aaah, bed was a welcome sight.  It was easy to wake up at 6am with the sun poking through the trees and the birds singing.  We packed up the car, ate breakfast and headed for the shuttle bus that would take us to our starting point of our traverse. 

The bus left at 8am and drove about an hour along a dirt road through the park.  We made a stop at the Jacques Cartier campground where we visited a small museum of the area.  This allowed us to be better acquainted with the habits of the caribou and their growing extinction.  A small number still survive this far south, making the park's efforts to keep them here so important, not only for tourists' enjoyment but the survival of the herd.  Over the years, these caribou developed their own characteristics such as thinner antlers.  The day was cloudy but a comfortable temperature as we made our way over the rocky path, which over time tired the feet as the rocks were loose and plentiful.  Jacques Cartier's summit was barren, all rock and in the distance we saw four caribou grazing.  They would lick the lichen from the rocks.  We took a break to have lunch and look through the Ranger's telescope for a closeup view of the caribou.  About a half hour later and a stop at the only other building on the summit, an outhouse off by itself mounted on a deck with steps, we rock hopped on the descent towards our first hut, Tetras.  It was a rustic hut nestled in the col of the mountains among the trees and near Lake Samuel de Cote.  It was at this lake that I met up with a friendly caribou.  Among bringing our food and cooking items, we also needed to pump water.  So off I went down to the lake, a quiet and still late afternoon, a cloudy sky and a pleasant breeze.  The path down to the water was tricky, filled with holes and slippery muddy grass, roots and rocks.  Not an easy escape to the hut with arms full of water containers, hose and pump.  Nevertheless, it was beautiful out and I wanted to see the lake.  As I pumped the water, I heard someone saying there was a caribou across the lake.  I looked up and there it was.  A full grown buck with long horns, an older male with a commanding presence.  I could hear the people near the hut commenting how it was looking over at us, more specifically me... and why not, caribou have poor eye sight and in my black long pants, black shirt, hunched over pumping water ... I looked more like a prospective mate.  As he watched me, he decided to make his way over around the lake, which was not big.  I suddenly went into quicker pumping action.  Meanwhile, everytime I pumped, the air through the tube made a squeeking sound like "eeeek, eeeek, eeeek" ... probably secretly calling the caribou over!  Well that "eeek" quickly became eek eek eek eek eek and I could hear his hooves thumping closer.  I sprang into action up that tricky slope and shortly after arriving at the hut, the caribou poked his head through where I came up and looked straight at me .... yikes, a little too friendly for me.  Everybody on the deck of the hut grabbed their cameras and watched as the caribou, dissappointedly lowered his head and moved away.  The other hikers in our cabin were great company.  I got to exercise my French and they got to exercise their English.  We all got along well and exchanged emails to send pictures. 

The next morning, we slept in until 7am, as we only had 6.8 km to go to our next hut, Roselin.  This section would bring us across the Xalabu Mountain, down a ridge with Lake Caplan on one side and on the other Lake des Americains.  Although it wasn't that far,  it was technical maneouvring over the boulders, hopping from rock to rock; however, as we got further down, the trail softened and we were on pine needles mixed with roots and fewer rocks.  We came to a shelter for eating only, on the side of the lake.  We took more pictures and then finished for the day after 0.7 km to our hut, Roselin.  This hut was more modern, octagon shape with lots of windows, beautiful constructed.  It accommodated 8 people.  The bunks were stationed like separate quarters which allowed for some privacy.  There were lots of hooks.  Through the night Cathy heard a mouse and sure enough the little critter was eating through the garbage.  We then realized the purpose of certain hooks which we then hung our food bags on.  There were only four of us in that hut for the night.  The next morning we were making our descent to the car to head out to our next campsite at the Bic National Park, so we rose early, shortly after 5am which was easy to wake up as these huts had no curtains so lots of light would shine through and by 7:30 am we left.  In two and a half hours, over 8.4 km, we made it to the car.  We pulled out the chairs, grabbed two cold beers and sat and toasted our accomplishment.  It was a wonderful traverse and one we would like to explore further in the future.  We showered and repacked the car and headed towards our next destination.  Bic Park was situated on the south shores of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, where the ocean and river meet, where the salt water comes in tides and pulls out again.  Whales, seals, assorted birds could be seen around here.  After setting up camp, we toured around and stopped at viewing areas.  One in particular was fascinating.  Hundreds of seals would come into shore and lay on the  rocks while the tide was out.  They would bathe in the sun for hours.  This made viewing very easy and a photographer's dream.  We made the most of our day there and the next day did a small hike along the coast, about 1 km and soaked in the beauty of the shoreline, the ocean, the moist foggy air and finally we had to leave.  About 9:30 am, we started for home.  Staying at Bic the night before, shaved off about two hours of travel.  The journey was great and with all the pictures we took, it was easy to return again in vivid recollection.