Gould Lake Gold

Wed. 17 August:  Gould Lake Gold

Exploring the blue side trails:
I wonder what the drama might have been behind these lost keys?

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

If this trail had been competing in the Olympics, it would have walked away with the gold medal.

Yet, how many people explore these trails on the east side of Gould Lake?  Not many I would guess.  Certain lakeside beauty spots along the route are popular with paddlers - we saw a few canoes today - and the main route of the Rideau Trail runs along the west side of the lake.  But on this east side, visitors are less frequent.  At night it falls silent, since there is no camping allowed at any point along the lake.

This adventure was part of my quest to hike all the “side trails” of the Rideau Trail, marked with blue triangle markers as opposed to the orange markers on the main trail.  I suspect that not many people have taken the time to walk every blue trail.  I am finding many hidden gems.

Our starting point was not easy to find. The blue trail marker was hidden in the trees beside Bedford Road, but we found it.  We marched north up the road for a few hundred metres, beside pretty Cronk Lake, before diving into the rugged Shield country.

So what makes a gold-medal winning trail?   This one was challenging – take a look at the elevation profile below.  It was picturesque in the extreme – several high rocky viewpoints overlooking Gould Lake, and perfect swimming areas at the water’s edge.  The trail glittered with little pieces of mica, and we passed several dangerous, but fascinating, holes in the ground where once the mica was mined.  Wildlife seemed unconcerned by our presence.  We saw an osprey, lots of tiny frogs, watched a loon catching and swallowing a fish, spotted two deer hiding in the trees.  We met no other hikers, but chatted to three friendly people in a canoe.  Four other canoes were heading across the sparkling waters of the lake.  The trail markers, especially at the junctions, made sure we would not get lost in this rugged, energy-sapping terrain.   The final stretch along the “wagon trail” was a perfect woodland stroll.  

Add it all up and you have a winner!

The early splashes of colour in the woods were not a good sign.  This has been a long, dry summer, and some of the trees have given up the struggle already.  Nevertheless, a return journey during the magical autumn season would guarantee another gold medal.

 

Good trail signs

Deep, dangerous mica pits

Long snake skin - rat snake?

Gould Lake:  Rideau Trail runs above the opposite (west) shore
This artistic photo courtesy of Nancy Gaudreau

A  tempting swimming spot

A tiny frog joins us for lunch

Catching a fish...

...and swallowing it

Rugged landscape - lots of climbs and drops

Another grand viewpoint - canoes can be seen across the water

Looking back to our ideal lunch stop on the point
Beautifully captured by Nancy Gaudreau

A woodland stroll back to the car