You see, he’d been going up to the park for some 40 years, or more, and during this time had hiked most every trail. However, growing old(er), with failing legs the search for a trail neither difficult, nor easy, something in between, was becoming more and more difficult to find. This one day a young couple with two teenage daughters had been on to him to suggest a trail for the family to hike together. He’d thought for a few minutes then came up with the Highlands Hiking Trail. Now, if you were to hike the entire trail you’re into an overnight, two day, somewhat arduous hike, but if you hiked from the parking area just off Highway 60, and travel to the bridge over the Madawaska River and return on the same trail, then it would involve only an afternoon, perhaps, no more than 3-4 hours. He hadn’t hiked the trail for several years, but remembered that despite a couple of hilly parts the trail was not difficult, passed by a lookout onto Mew Lake, and ended at a pleasant picnic ares with a small waterfall. Yes, as he was remembering he recalled pleasant moments picnicking and soaking one’s tired feet in the cool water of the river before heading on up to Provoking Lake. Good times, very good times, once upon a time. So, without hesitation he recommended the trail to the young couple with the two teenage daughters.
The next day coming upon the young couple he enquired about their hiking experience. Turned out that they had hiked the trail for no more than a half hour, and had given up believing that the trail was too arduous. The old guy was taken aback, and could only shake his head and think that the young couple and their teenage daughters were sadly out of shape.
To prove this point the following day he and his wife decided to hike the Highlands Hiking Trail into the Madawaska River. It was a beautiful day, sunny, not too hot, and not too cold. A perfect day actually, and made even more perfect by the fact that his leg and feet were aching only minimally. Over the years the wearing of improperly fitting foot ware had permanently damaged his legs, and feet. It was the times. Off the shelve shoes and boots were not of the best quality forcing one to fight through the discomfort and painful calluses. Now, he was suffering with scarcely a good day to be had. Best, he thought, to take advantage of this good day and challenge the trail.
From the parking lot there was a slight rise onto the trail proper, then a flat stretch and another gradual rise leading to a “hill”. “Funny", he thought, "I don’t remember this hill". They climbed the hill, went down the other side and were greeted by another steeper meandering hill made difficult by exposed tree roots forcing one to sidestep, and almost climb up over the depressions made by years of foot traffic. One hill seemed to lead to another hill. He began to believe that he’d gotten the various trails mixed up in his head, and at the top of one of the hills he even had thoughts of turning around and heading back. Both he and his wife were puffing, and they weren’t even halfway to the Madawaska River. They rested for a few minutes then decided that they’d continue on, at least to the lookout over Mew Lake. Fifteen minutes later, after climbing the seemingly longest hill that they’d ever climbed, they reached the outlook. They rested, enjoyed the view, and thought to continue on. Afterall, going back woud be all downhill, wouldn’t it? They continued on, down from the outlook to a relatively flat area then on a bit and around a corner, and came face to face with another steep hill. They both looked at each other, and without saying anything turned around, and headed back to the trailhead. Many pauses later to inspect mushrooms and plant growth along the way found them back at the trailhead, legs barely moving and ready to be elevated.
While driving back to the resort the old guy thought to himself that yes, it was true that they were older, that they had bad legs and tired hearts, but there must be some other reason for the trail to seem so much harder than they’d experience years before. Then, it dawned on him, 12,000 years ago there was a mile high glacier sitiing on this area. With the glaciers receding a great weight was taken off the area and the land would rise. "Post Glacial Rebound”, that’s what it was called. No doubt during the years between their last hiking the trail the land had risen, and the hills had gotten higher. “Yes”, he thought to himself, “That was it, it had nothing to do with growing old(er).”
Getting serious for a moment, Post Glacial Rebound had nothing to do with the old guy’s problem. He’s loathe to admit it, but he is getting old(er). Oh, it’s true, over the years the hills on the trail have, during his lifetime, gotten a bit higher, but only by a few millimetres.
Changing the subject, and the key word here is change, Algonquin, the Earth for that matter, has undergone tremendous change since the last Ice Age, and the change is still going on. In part it’s a natural phenomenon, or cycle, that the Earth goes through, from an Ice Age to a period where the Earth heats up dramatically before heading back into another Ice Age. It’s referred to as Global Warming, and unfortunately the acceleration of this natural phenomenon is probably due to human activities. Yes, it’s true, I admit it, humans have had a hand in ramping up Global Warming, but like Post Glacial Rebound, only by a tiny bit. Unfortunately, this little bit seems to have sped up the process. How did we do it? If we turn back time a few thousand years the cause becomes quite obvious. It has to do with the first seed being planted and our moved away from being hunter gathers, and becoming farmers. The result was an ever increasing human population, the needs of of which resulted in an never ending need for more and more energy, resulting in the production of excess CO2 causing the acceleration of global warming. Unfortunately, as no one is prepared to reduce the ever increasing world population, we have a real dilemna. Some believe that we should change our source of power from non renewable sources such as coal and oil, to renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, and that this will stop global warming. Wishful thinking, I believe. It’s sort of like throwing a glass of water on a roaring campfire, there’s a sizzle, a bit of steam, and the campfire roars back to life. The scary part about global warming is that the intelligentsia is plotting to leave planet Earth for Mars, the moon, or anywhere possible to avoid what’s happening on Earth. It’s as if they know something that we don’t. Change will occur, of that there’s no doubt. Like dominos falling, there’s no way to stop this natural phenomenon. Hopefully, we can learn to adapt, and, eventually, come to grips with reality enabling humans to survive on planet Earth for another few thousand years.
As for the old guy, well he’s finally admitted that he’s old, and that it’s time to slow down a bit. However, for now he intends to continue to challenge the trails, and make the odd sketch here and there, all the while enjoying the solitude that is Algonquin Provincial Park.
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| Algonquin - View From The Corridor P&I Sketch 2017 |
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| Norther Landscape P&I Sketch 2017 |
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