This morning is warm though overcast, perfect weather to get out before the showers come this afternoon and threaten to put a damper on Halloween night. At least this year parents won’t have to bundle up the kids in coats and hats, but they might need an umbrella or canoe. After a quick search on my hiking app, I chose a nearby route that offered several hiking options. I should have looked more closely at different apps, as things did not quite go as planned.
Tucked away off road 33 near Six Mile Lake is the Gibson River Provincial Nature Reserve. This is a non-operating park, with no amenities, and as I quickly found out, no parking. The small lot to enter the park is only for locals. Hmm, well, by the time anyone comes to give me a ticket I will be long gone, so I took a chance and parked. I quietly closed the car doors, and almost tiptoed to the trail holding on to my bearbells to not be heard. Already this hike is unusual, and I feel like I am trespassing, even though the park is a public space.
The path heads up a small hill and across exposed bedrock. This section had been frequently used by ATV’s and was a mess of deep ruts and grooves filled with muddy water. As I gingerly attempted to traverse this area, using my poles to steady me, my weak left leg gave out. Not even my poles could save me this time and down I went right into one of those muddy ruts. A stunned moment, with me lying on my right side in a warm but very wet puddle. I went through a quick inventory in my head; knee, ok, and no extra injury. Car keys, still in my pocket. Phone, nope, not in my pocket, ah there it is, near my head and deep in the mud. Ok, now to get to my feet, with one gimpy knee and slippery mud on all sides. Sigh, there is no help for it, and I plunged my arms into the warm goo to help steady myself as I pulled myself to my feet. Thick mud covered my shoes and legs, and up to my mid back was wet and muddy. If I came out of the bush now, I would be mistaken for the swamp thing. It is Halloween, so here is my ready-made costume!
Once back on my feet, I continued on for less than 20 feet before turning back in disgust. The entire way is just chewed up trail. It is extremely rare for me to give up so early, but my vibe today was just not going well. I was almost back to the trail head when I noticed a chunk of exposed rock that just might lead to a trail. I could see my car, and I was dripping with muddy water, but stubborn me just could not pass by without seeing if there was a trail, and there was! A much nicer trail than the one I had been on, that came out to another ATV trail that was much easier to traverse. I had no idea where I was and the app for the trails was useless. I noticed a yellow blaze that veered away from the ATV trail and led deeper into the forest. Ok, sure, why not, what could go wrong, said every female on Halloween.
I followed the yellow blazes through forests, thick with yellow and brown leaves. There was no visible trail, so I had to be extra cautious to follow those blazes. The scenery was lovely, and it was incredibly quiet. Just the type of hike I like, except that I never really shook off this lingering feeling of trepidation. I swear I could feel eyes watching me and feel icy fingers reaching out to touch me. Perhaps I have spooked myself with Halloween horrors, and my poor start to the hike did not help. I travelled a few kilometers and decided to turn around and head back. I did get to show off my mudwoman outfit though. I stopped to get some much-needed gas for my car, and had to laugh at the looks I got as I squelched out of my car at the pump. Grey mud clung to most parts of my body, and dry flakes cascaded around me. Muck oozed up around my shoes with every step and globs dropped off my forearms onto the asphalt. I even left a muddy handprint on the pump. So if tonight, with the moon bright and the sky dark, you see a limping mud person shambling towards you, wailing with anguish, don’t be concerned. I just forgot to buy wine. Happy Halloween!!!