Tag Archives: Hiking

Photography

View of Silver Peak

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David7459

Two years ago my wife Maureen and I made a five day trip into David Lake by Bell Lake in Killarney Provincial Park. After carrying over the first portage with our canoe and gear we took an extended break. This was Maureen’s first trip out since before the kids were born. That is going back at least thirty years now. I spotted Silver Peak to my left. There was a piece of narrow swamp leading my eye to Silver Peak. So I thought this might be interesting. Keeping some shoreline on the left to lead the eye to the swamp which you then follow up to Silver Peak. Silver Peak is the highest elevation in the La Cloche Mountain Range. It rises to a height of 1782 feet. Silver Peak is a very popular destination for hikers to take in the view from the top.

I have just completed a softcover book through Blurb. There is also an ebook available as well. Check them out here.

http://www.blurb.ca/my/book/detail/3996210-wilderness-scenes

 

Well that is it for this week. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time happy trails.

 

Photography

Didn’t Make it

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This is a photo that I had taken the Labor Day weekend.I had decided to hike the trail down to the  historic Recollet Falls located in the French River Provincial Park .I left the visitors center late that evening to catch the warm lighting that you get at that time of day.For some reason I had difficulty  staying on the path and I kept loosing the trail.I managed to get back on track a number of times.Now the sun was getting below the tree line and I had still not gotten to Recollet Falls. I noticed an easy drop to the river shoreline  so I made my way down to the ledge and composed the above photo.There was a yellow cast in the sky that was just visible and the horizon had a pink tinge.It was a very quiet still evening.The way I like it.

In the background is Recollet Falls.The rock detail and reflections were wonderful.It was now starting to get darker and I figured It was time to head back.I made it back to the visitor’s center with plenty of time.

I was chosen as  One Life Featured Photographer by Artist Wanted on Facebook,

You can check this out here.

http://www.facebook.com/ArtistsWanted

So until next time happy trails.

Photography

The Cranberry Bog

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As I was driving South to Killarney Provincial Park late yesterday morning,I decided to hike the Cranberry Bog trail.As I was making my way along the Killarney highway a black bear  dashed across the highway,disappearing into the bush.

Entering the Park I drove down to the parking lot at George Lake.The parking spaces are at a premium at this time of year,but I managed to get my vehicle parked.Being near lunch time I grabbed a sandwich and bottle of water and sat at a picnic table on the beach.

The Cranberry Bog trail is a 4 km loop trail that is about 2.5 hours in duration.I decided to start at the hike by going up to A Y Jackson Lake.As I approached A Y Jackson Lake I noticed a couple sitting on a rock enjoying the afternoon scenery.Continuing on I turned off onto the left trail.A ruffed grouse ran across the trail ahead of me.The neck feathers were ruffled out,so this may have been a male.I was soon going uphill again.This end of the trail is the most rugged to traverse.The forest here is covered with large White Pine,Maple,Birch and oak.Another couple was hiking towards me and I was asked if I had seen any deer.They informed me that they would like to see a deer.After further discussion I continued on.As I was walking along I noticed acorns on top of flat rocks now and then.There was an abundance of chipmunks to be seen along the trail.The acorns were broken into pieces.Another critter that was quite common this day were half inch or smaller frogs hopping to the side of the trail.All told I must have seen four or five of them.

The trail was now skirting the Cranberry Bog.This is a very large wetland.The first thing I noticed was the beautiful Granite rock outcroppings situated here and there.This would be a great place in the Fall for fall colors.The North side of the bog is pretty much all Oak and Maple.You can also see a bit of the La Clothe Mountains in the background.

Following the trail I came across two ladies from Hamilton sitting on a rock outcrop painting.After a brief chat I continued on until I came upon a small wooden bridge running parallel to a beaver dam.The scene before me is what you see above.But taken in the evening.Heading back out the trail was easy going.I spotted a clump of mushrooms growing at the base of of White Pine.I setup the camera and tripod and produced a series of photos.

The trail exited near campsite 103 of the main campgrounds.It was now 3:00 pm.With time on my hands till evening I headed into the town of Killarney for a coffee.There is a restaurant on the waterfront that serves good coffee and fresh cinnamon buns.Returning to the park I set up my chair on the beach and read my novel

By early evening I was heading back into the Cranberry Bog.I went in by campsite 103.Upon arrival at the bridge I set up to take the above photo.There was heavy cloud cover moving in and the wind as not letting up yet.As I waited lily pads started moving in front of me.There was something moving underwater.I was able to follow its movement by watching the disturbed lily pads.Then in a small opening among the pads I made out the form of a turtle.I could just make out the moving feet.You never know what you will see.Around 8:00 pm I had a window of about 20 minutes to work with.With that said I set up and composed the above photo.The bridge is to my left out of sight.As you come up to the bog there is a rise of rock which I used for may foreground.Some of the beaver dam is seen on the left.This is a very nice rock structure here.It had caught my eye when I was first here.The wind was soon causing problems and it was time to head home.

While that is it for this week.I will be setting up my art work at the French River Provincial Park for two days this weekend.If you have time come for a visit.That is it for this week so happy trails.

 

Photography

Pink Rocks

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Last Friday I took a late afternoon hike into Killarney Provincial Park.I parked at the East end of the campgrounds.There were a few campers camping here as I made my way to the hiking trail.First on the list is a fairly steep climb up a ridge and then walking down off of the same ridge.I arrived at the Eastern shorelines of A Y Jackson lake.This is one of my favorite lakes to photograph.It has all the components for an excellent composition.

I gazed up at the mountain sides in the distance and noticed that there was a lot of bare trees yet.It would be a few weeks before there was good color on the hillsides.I continued my trek and the next stop would be Little Shegelander Lake.I made my way down to the only campsite on this lake and a pretty location it is.As I looked around I counted 13 piles of Moose dropping around the campsite area.A moose had spent the winter here.

I walked back up the trail and continued East.I was heading for the East side of the lake.The walking was good and soon I left the trail and made my way back down to the lake.There is a wonderful view as you walk the trail above the lake.You can also view parts of George Lake.

While walking through the bush I spotted a small tree growing on the side of a cliff.The neat thing was the patterns that were created by the rocks.Also there was a section of pink granite running at an angle.In Killarney Provincial Park you will come across this type of granite in different locales.The wind was blowing,so reflections were out of the question.There was some vegetation on the opposite site of the pink granite.But as I set up my 7D Canon on my tripod The tree in the clevis was in shade.I sat down under a Pine Tree along the shore.The thing now was to wait and see how the lighting would be as time passed.After a half an hour or so the sunlight started to light up part of the little tree.I waited a little longer and there was more sunlight splashing on the tree.Also the vegetation located on the right hand side of the pink granite lit up from the sunlight.

Then something neat happen.The pink granite took on a different hue.I quickly took a number of shots at different settings.I looked at the sun behind me and saw no cloud cover,the sky was blue and I have no idea what changed the lighting.After a couple minutes the effect disappeared.I had captured a moment in time.

I soon finished up shooting here and moved on.The wind was not quieting down and there was a coolness on the evening breeze.I found a sunny nook out of the wind.I settled down among some rocks and eat my sandwich while I listened to the water gently lapping up on the rocks.

While that is it for this week.I thank everyone for there comments,much appreciated.I now have greeting cards available at the Killarney Provincial Park office.So until next week happy trails

Photography

Hiking Along A River

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It has been a hot and dry summer so far and with very low water levels and I have been able to get some interesting shots.With the extraordinary low water there are more rocks exposed and more color.

A couple of days ago I drove up the Westbranch behind Webbwood  to explore the Wakonassin River.I drove up to the 37 mile mark on gravel roads where I started hiking.I have found that you will walk many a mile sometimes before an interesting composition presents itself.Because of the low shutter speeds I shot at,the wind is a constant problem.One must be very patient and wait till the wind stops blowing. I have stayed at a setup for an hour or more waiting for that wind to stop.I am forever watching the trees waiting for the calm to come.At times you may only get a few seconds or a few minutes to get that photo.Be sure that there is no ripple on the water if it is reflections you are looking at.I will at times bring my fishing pole and fish while I am waiting for the wind to abate or the lighting to change.

I was walking downstream when I noticed some nicely colored rocks at the back end of a bend in the river.There was a fair  amount of reflection of the rocks into the river.As the water is constantly moving you will never get a perfect reflection here.But that is okay.You will also notice that the predominant color is green in this photo.The trees are also reflecting into the water giving a green cast.There was a cedar tree in the foreground that I used to give depth and also to add more contrast and shadows to break up the background.I also have a boulder to the right of the photo that helped break up the green color and to again add depth.The old tree trunk on the left adds more interest to the photo,but I find the old tree on the right a bit of a hindrance but I can live with it.

This photo was shot at 115 mm at 1/5 sec @ f22.The wind as I have explained previously was a problem and I had to play the waiting game.I didn’t catch any Brook Trout that day but it still was a beautiful day to be in the wilderness.So until next time watch the wind and happy trails