The three of us agreed, we love experiencing the ‘bare bones’ of the November landscape, so we planned to hike off trail today, to do some bushwhacking and hike on some very old unofficial abandoned trails. I had wanted to explore the area north of Meech Lake between the Carbide Ruins and the Hope Trail into the Meech Creek Valley. Mark and Cynthia do this often so were confident following GPS and online topo maps. I was content to relax, knowing I was in capable hands.
Something happens to me when I’m bushwhacking and following old unofficial trails – I become one with the landscape. My mind slows down. My body enjoys the way it moves clamouring over fallen trees, manoeuvring my way over creeks, and climbing up and down rocky outcrops. It hums in a way it doesn’t when I’m striding along one of the well-used trails. But mostly, I love the way I notice more. Noticing it all –the number of trees attacked by woodpeckers and the variety of their patterns, bear claw marks from bears climbing up Beech trees (yummy beechnuts), the tree falls from the recent storms, the half made beaver dam on Meech Creek, and, a muskrat slide, the first one I’d ever seen (this one was on the bank of Meech Creek as it entered into Meech Creek Valley, and was very impressive with its length and steepness). I also experienced a sadness seeing the old abandoned roads deteriorated and bridges removed to discourage this type of exploration. Others could experience the pleasures we were, if access were easier.
I was so busy experiencing our outing that I’ve few photos to share but these may convey a bit of the ‘bare bones’ experience.
