Elk Island National Park - Beaver Pond Trail

We missed a weekly hike after our trip to Cooking Lake earlier this month – my runner’s knee flared up and I wasn’t confident that it was feeling well enough to risk another hike. Both Mom and I suffered for not getting out into nature – by the end of that week, both of us were feeling out of sorts and depression was sinking in. Fortunately, despite an already busy weekend, we managed to get out this past Saturday morning for a final trip out to Elk Island National Park.

We wanted to finish the group of trails we had originally planned on doing this summer within the park – you might remember we had to bail on our previous attempt at the Beaver Pond trail due to hordes of mosquitos. Not a single mosquito this time! It helped that it was very windy and chilly out (we both wore hoodies/coats and even brought gloves and toques just in case!). Autumn has definitely arrived.

Beaver Pond trail is fairly easy with only minimal hills; with a distance of approx. 2.5 miles it took us just over an hour. You get some wonderful views of the ponds/sloughs/marsh areas and there is definitely beaver activity! We didn’t see any active wildlife other than some ducks and we heard a few geese getting ready to fly south for the winter. Similar to the other trails in the park, the pathways are not very wide – basically enough room to walk single file with an occasional wider spot to walk side by side. Personally I love it because it makes you feel closer to nature and like you’re definitely in the wild.

We saw a number of people on the trail this time around – maybe Saturdays are busier? However we also took time before the hike to do the Bison Loop and saw A TON of bison. There was also a number of solo bison hanging out in number of spots along the road so we ended up starting our hike later than usual.

That’s likely it for us in terms of hikes to Elk Island this year. As our pass has expired we have to pay the daily rate and that could start to get expensive so the last few we’ll do this week will be in some of the Provincial Parks or recreation areas. Still lovely and plenty of nature to hang out with!

 

Strathcona Wilderness Centre

Its Sunday which means a new Hiking post! But first a garden update. We're not going full force ahead with our balcony garden until next summer but we did try out a couple of things this year including radishes. I can report that after quickly sprouting despite Hudson's best attempt to disrupt our attempt at planting, my radishes have done ... Sweet Fuck All. Nothing, Nada. Zip. Zilch. I ended up pulling them all and will dump the dirt next weekend. So disappointing but I am eager to try again next year. Ok, onto the report...

This week, Mom and I headed out to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre for our weekly hike. We had visited there last year and were happy to try out a new to us trail. Now, we're early risers and like to try and get out in the wilderness first thing in the morning - and I mean FIRST thing. However, unlike most places we hike, the SWC doesn't open until 9:00am each morning. We had not bother to look up operating times as we had completely forgotten this from last year. Fortunately for us, the person working at the visitor information centre was opening the gate when we arrived at 8:30 and very kindly let us in. 

After a quick potty break, off we went. It was nice and cool for the first time in it seems like forever with a fantastic cool breeze. The sun was shining brightly but the cooler temps made for a perfect morning. We opted for one of their beginner trails, the Owl Loop which we combined with part of the Wagon Loop and a shortcut thru Coyote Run for a hike of 2.12 miles / 3.4 km. 

The trails are all very well maintained and very wide - 4-5 people could easily walk together along most of the trails without feeling squished together side by side. While the trails are groomed, they are mostly grass and clover with a few muddy patches (we finally got some rain!) which they occasionally cover with woodchips. 

The only wildlife we encountered on this hike were a bunch of little tiny frogs racing from one side of the trail to the other. We did hear a woodpecker and a squirrel but didn't see anything. We also only encountered 3 other people (all together) that were on a short hike from the lodge where they were staying. The perks of going early!!!! 

We also didn't see any bodies of water on our hike which is usally a must for us but the trail was lovely and we'll definitely keep it on our list of must do local hikes each year. So far all of our hikes have pretty much made this list. 

Near the end of our trail there was a side path and boardwalk that led to a spruce bog. Its part of a forest study and I think they use it as part of their kids programming. Once you get onto the boardwalk, the forest changes quickly an becomes darker, like something out of a horror movie. You almost expect a bunch of scantily clad teens to run past screaming as they try to escape the local maniac in a hockey mask. However, since the bog is filled with squirrel nests/warrens, some unlucky busty blonde would twist an ankle and quickly die a horrigle death. I digress......  The path leading you into the bog and onto the boardwalk though is lovely and sunny although a bit narrow. After spending an hour hiking the super wide trails, it was quite a switch.

Other than our feet getting completely soaked from the dew and remnants of rain, no complaints this week (not even any mosquito bites to report!)

Solo Hike

This morning I headed out for the weekly hike on my own. Mommikins signed up for the Edmonton Marathon's 10K road race today so she wasn't able to join our weekly jaunt into the wilderness. I contemplated staying home and tackling chores like laundry and cleaning but I knew, from a mental health perspective, that if I didn't go and commune with Mother Nature, I was likely not going to do well.

Rather than attempt a new to us trail, I stuck with something simple and not too far out there just in case. You can never be too careful as a solo hiker, especially a female one. So, I ended up at Beaver Hills Biosphere not so bright but certainly early this morning. Designated a UNESCO biosphere in 2016, Beaver Hills is about 40-45 minutes eastof Edmonton, just past Sherwood Park. The trail is approximately 2KM, with some gentle rolling hills but nothing difficult. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash.

We had done this hike last year when we first began exploring hiking spots near Edmotnon. It was very quiet this morning although I did hear a few ducks and the occasional squirrel letting his buddies there was a human in their midst. Not much in the way of wildlife to be seen this morning although I did encounter two adorable bunnies who bounded off into the bushes when I huffed and puffed my way towards them, and a squirrel who seemed as shocked to see me as I was to see him as I trundled around a bend in the trail. There was also a moth/butterfly type insect that flew into my chest and in very typical Canadian style, I apologized to it.

Typical of the areas we tend to frequent on our hikes, there were plenty of ripe wild raspberries to be found, as well as a couple of other berries I'm not familiar with but see all the time. If anyone knowns wht they are (upper right and lower left in the photo below) I'd be grateful. I think the berries in the lower left are bear berries - I came across some that were red but a lot that were white (unripe?). Additionally, the trail had tons of this lovely purple flower which I believe are smooth blue asters. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me in the comments. 

The trail at Beaver Hills is well maintained and fairly wide; certainly wide enough for two people to walk side by side if you're walking or hiking with a friend. Its well marked and broken into smaller sections so for beginners the distances are too daunting. The signs are a bit dark compared to other parks/trails and blend well into the foilage, at least at this time of year. If you're not looking or paying attention, you might miss one. However, everyone sign tells you exactly where you are on the trail so its easy to figure out how much further to go, what's coming up next etc. 

There are also a couple of lookout spots where you can rest and take in the scenery. The first one, which veers off from the main trail is well worth the extra short distance to see it. While you can't tell from the picture below, there were a number of ducks on the far side of this pond/marsh/slough frolicking about (probably just regular duck business but it sounds more interesting to say frolicking). A great spot for a picnic lunch too if you're so inclined. 

Next week, its back to hiking with Mommikins and hopefully a regular blog feature. At least during the summer and fall months. 

Stay Frosty!