The Great Awakening

After a brief yet intense winter, spring is once again resurrecting the slumbering landscapes of Algonquin. Just a few weeks ago we were snowshoeing in knee deep snow, racing down Nordic Ski trails and busting our backs shovelling yet another new snow fall. Now the ski trails are officially closed for the season, the snowshoes are hung for another year, and the snow shovels, thank God, are being hidden out of sight for at least 8 months!

On Friday, March 23rd Miko and I went for a short hike around Whiskey Rapids, in Algonquin Park. The trail was a bit icy in sections as it was early in the morning. It was Spring Meets Winter All round.

Miko, who loves to swim, had been out of the water for nearly 6 months, which had resulted in her being dirty and smelly, in dire need of a bath! She is an extremely intelligent and obedient dog and I had to give her the ok on heading on in for a swim. Oh the excitement! Even though the water was still frigid the sun was warm and Miko, stick in mouth, looked as if she was in heaven.

On Sunday the 25th Robin and I decided on an afternoon hike with some guests, across the road, on the Beetle Lake Trail. The warm sun once again doin’ it’s thing and the freshness of the Algonquin spring air was a force too strong to ignore.

I was amazed at how little snow was present in the forest, a lot less than 2 days prior. In patches the sun had melted the snow right away from the forest floor, where it found hundreds of maple keys. The tiny seeds had just jumped into action and began to germinate, producing tiny seedlings.

We paused briefly at the 2 really impressive lookouts over Oxtongue Lake and bathed in the afternoon sun.

There were a few soakers along the way, but all in all it was a great day out. I love this time of year. You can feel and smell life coming, well back to life I guess. Moose are once again being seen along the road, coming to lick the salt and eat the early plants in the ditches. For getting new gear, local stores, like Algonquin Outfitters are unloading all of their winter stock at great prices! Although whenever I go in I can’t help but look at all of the canoeing stuff.
Any day now the first of the magnificent spring wildflowers, the trout lily will poke out a leaf or 2. Today, the 28th of March, I noticed that the Oxtongue River across the road from the Wolf Den has been freed. I looked over towards my canoe in building anticipation. Maybe next week, Pontiac (16’ fibreglass) will get to be like Miko and take it’s first swim of the year!