Nature film makers John and Janet Foster, who live near Tweed, tell me they spend as much time in Algonquin Provincial Park as they can. It is a special place to them. When I told them that my wife and I were there one October morning, and had enjoyed lunch at a picnic spot along Opeongo Road, at Costello Creek, Janet was quick to point out that this was the very location where she had filmed the otters that appear in their Algonquin show. Opeongo Road is special, she says, as it takes one down a long stretch of good habitats with wonderful chances for filming. When we did the 9 km drive along the road which ends at the Lake Opeongo Store and Outfitters, we passed two groups of birders, and numerous photographers along the way.
The Fosters’ favourite season in Algonquin is winter though, and they enjoy exploring the trails on snowshoes, and filming as they go. I have included myself in a "bunch of the boys" who get together every winter, usually in February, and take in the wonders of the Park scene at this special time of the year. Here, snow will be deep, but enough people visit its trails and facilities to keep the trails well packed. It is a time of the year when gray jays and black-capped chickadees land on your shoulders for pieces of sandwiches. Some of my best winter shots have been taken in Algonquin Park where the sun glistens on clumps of snow hanging off the conifers, here and there a few open patches of water gurgling in the wetlands surrounded by abstract snow mounds that the winds constantly sculp around tall, grassy vegetation. And it is here and there, too, where the gray jays often catch up to us.
When my wife and I arrived one weekend in early October, the colours had not yet climaxed in the east end of the park, but were quite spectacular nearer the west end. We spent part of our time on the Big Pines Trail, one of my favourites among the 14 interpretive hiking trails that Algonquin has to offer. Big Pines is one of the more recent trails to be established in the park, made possible through the financial support of the Friends of Algonquin and the Algonquin Forestry Authority. As the name suggests, it is the white pines we come to see, but these are impressive behemoths, at least 75 of them, reaching into the sky for at least 100 feet. Much of the park’s human history centres around the winter cutting of white pine and the spring river drives by the early lumberman.
Big Pines Trail, the Spruce Bog Boardwalk and the Logging Museum are just a few of the attractions we try to include on any bus tours I organize there. In fact, Foley Bus Lines of Madoc, and I, are already working on a fall colour tour to the park on October 8th next year. The trip will feature a short interpretive hike, a visit to the logging museum, lunch at the Visitor Centre and a road tour of the Park itself as I point out some of the campgrounds and hiking trails and other features along the way. On board videos of the Park and supper at Bancroft will also be included in this trip we are planning. And on the way home, a video from the icons of Algonquin Park themselves, John & Janet Foster.
Algonquin Park is such a special place to visit, at any time of the year. There is so much to see, with each visit offering new sights and sounds. There are well over a dozen different hiking trails to explore, ranging from barely over a kilometre in length, to over 10 km. One of my favourites for introducing park visitors to the some of the flora and fauna of Algonquin is the Spruce Bog Boardwalk Tail, located almost across from the Visitor Centre. As the name suggests, the 1.5 km trail, upgraded last year to be handicapped accessible, accesses two separate bogs, providing visitors with a detailed look at some of the plants that can be found in these areas including leatherleaf, sweet gale, speckled alder and Labrador tea. On our visit there this summer, we were treated to visits by Gray jays and at least one singing white-winged crossbill. Spruce grouse can often be found here in the winter. And if you are up to the challenge, I will even introduce you to the taste of rock tripe !
Part of the success of today’s educational and interpretive programs in the park can be attributed to the Friends of Algonquin, founded in 1983. They have developed over 70 new publications and other educational products, and have raised an incredible one million dollars for the new Visitor Centre and Logging Museum, have annually staffed these facilities and contributed towards many of the existing interpretive programs. The Algonquin Park website at www.algonquinpark.on.ca is actually managed by the volunteer group. Of course, their spectacular nature store in the Visitor Centre is always a big hit where one can purchase sounds of nature recordings, videos/DVDs, souvenirs, clothing, and books on just about every conceivable natural history subject.
