Hiking is so close

    We are so lucky to be close to Gatineau Park which is about a 15 minute drive from here. Hiking at Pink Lake, etc

        Gatineau Park is a federal conservation park and is the largest green space in the Gatineau/Ottawa area. The park occupies an area of more than 361 square kilometres and is a place of many unique and diversified ecosystems and heritage features. It is located where the Canadian Shield meets the St. Lawrence Lowlands. It is open year-round but some of the roads in the park are closed off to vehicles on certain days of the week so that these roads can be used exclusively by cyclists. This park includes some famous landmarks such as the Mackenzie King Estate, Meech Lake and the Prime Minister's summer home. There are many walking trails. So far we have walked a few of them.

    One hot day in the summer we walked the trail around Pink Lake. There were quite a number of people there because it is a popular hike. By the end of our hike around the lake we were hot and sweaty.

There were many wooden walkways and stairs but also rough terrain.

Beautiful Pink Lake, named after the Pink family who settles the land in 1826, not the colour.

Another view of Pink Lake

    Later in the summer, we took our lunch and drove up to the information centre and walked the Sugarbush Trail. It was a lovely walk through the woods with an abundance of mushrooms and fungi along the way. After our hike we sat at the picnic table and had our lunch. So nice and relaxing.

To get to the start of the trail we crossed a bridge. On one side we saw the

remnants of work done by beavers or maybe the branches floated down stream

and were caught on the rocks.

On the other side of the bridge you could see the actual beaver 

lodge piled up with the same sort of branches.

The scenery surrounding us during our walk was so beautiful.

Mushrooms galore!

    In the autumn, we went into the park to see the colours. The park at this time of year is very busy with many vehicles travelling through it. So busy that the National Capital Commission (NCC) hire people to assist at road crossings and parking. People come from far and wide to see the colours. This year we heard that people from the Toronto area travelled 4 plus hours to experience the delights of the Canadian fall. Once we found a parking spot, we walked the closest trail, The Pioneer Trail.

At the entrance of the trail we are greeted by the fall colours.

Even in October flowers are blooming and bees are buzzing!

Anyone living in there?

Too bad that people think that they need to leave their mark.

More mushrooms, more photos.

Mushrooms amongst the decay.

A decaying log.

Lichen on the fallen tree trunk.

A small branch on the path. Colours!

Fall colours of a sumac tree.

    Hiking in nature is a wonderful way to exercise, relax and see the wonders of the earth. We will continue to hike in Gatineau Park during the remaining time we have here. Al also belongs to several groups which hike in the Ottawa area and he has done some forest bathing with one group. What is forest bathing?  Forest bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way, using your senses. Forest bathing in nature allows the stressed portions of your brain to relax. This practice has become very popular in recent years. What did Al think of it? Well, I will let him comment on that.

Al here.  My opinion? Although it was peaceful and serene to listen to the sounds of the forest; I don't put much stock into meditation.  So, an interesting experience, but I don't plan to do it regularly.
   

    More hikes to come...