After lots of hikes this fall outside the city, some with rocky trails and strenuous climbs to lookouts, we decided to keep it close and simple last Sunday, with a hike at Cap St Jacques. Is it too close, too familiar and too flat to be considered a “real” hike? Regardless, it proved to be a popular enough choice for the 25 people who gathered in the parking lot at 9:30 am, under a cloudy sky and with a temp of 0 C. Many of them likely had low expectations. How exciting, or even enjoyable, could a hike at CSJ be?
Before the hike, the requisite group photo. Two of our crack photographers set up their cameras on a car trunk and used the self-timers to get a couple of great shots with all 25 of us in it. That does not often happen!
We set out at 9:40 am. While shorts-clad Bruce set out for a lengthy run, the rest of us followed the winter-version of the Red Rabbit trail. This is the ski trail marked as 10.9 km on the trail map. This route is a popular mid-week ski run for many members during the winter. The trails were clear and easy to walk — the snow we had received a week and half earlier had disappeared during last week’s warm spell.
About halfway along, we ran into club member Marc, who was out for a late-season bike ride on the asphalt trails of the park. He received a warm reception from several of the other female members! (See the “Picture of the Week” on the Info page.)
We noted that some interesting trail maintenance had been done during the summer and fall. On one section, a solid boardwalk had been built over a low-lying section of ground. Hmm, not bad. But the most interesting find was a new feature at the “Havre aux Tortues” on the western side of the park. This somewhat bizarre looking structure was so recently completed you could still smell the freshly cut lumber. Apparently, it is designed to serve as an observation point so people can watch the many turtles that come ashore there without disturbing them. There were no turtles there this day, must be out of season.
A bit further along, we came upon evidence of fervent activity on the part of our namesake creature, the mighty beaver. Indeed, they had been chewing through some substantial trees. Some had already been felled, while others were most of the way there. Being nocturnal, they were also nowhere to seen when we passed by.
The hike unfolded at a comfortable pace for everyone. With the well-marked and familiar trail, we were each able to go at our own speed, which meant we spread out a bit. We regrouped a couple of times, and then we all arrived back at the parking lot within 10 minutes of each other. The final tally was 11 km in 2 hr 20 min. Everyone enjoyed their outing. The final consensus? It may only have been CSJ, but it was a great Sunday morning hike!